1) Tee-Hee's part is expanded from the novel, much as it was in the film
2) The racial elements seem to have been removed entirely (I may have missed one or two on first listening)
3) It's very faithful to the novel otherwise
4) There may have been a very small in-joke when a meal is listed- an emphasis on the word "broccoli"? )
5) The cast were all excellent
6) My usual feelings about the music (see above)
I've listened to a few of these radio plays starring Toby Stephens and have enjoyed them a lot. I really must catch up and listen to them all.
On a related note I recently bought the complete collection of BBC Radio adaptations of Le Carre's George Smiley books on Audible. I hope that when they've finally completed all of the Fleming books that the Bond collection will be officially released in the same way.
Barbel which post has the download link for Live and Let Die?
its not post 21, where you compiled the links for the earlier radioplays
and emtiem's link in post 31 leads to Page Not Found
Goldfinger (2010) Sir Ian McKellen plays a wonderful Goldfinger, though the image of Gert Frobe (and the voice of Michael Collins) still reign. Being a faithful adaptation, we don't get "Do you expect me to talk? No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die!" but we do hear most of Fleming's ruder original (unbroadcastable, covered by sound effects). Rosamund Pike (Miranda Frost) as Pussy Galore! This production has an almost unique distinction among all other James Bond film/TV/radio/etc adventures- can anyone identify it?
No takers? Well, unless you count the 1967 version of Casino Royale (and who wants to?), this is the only James Bond dramatic production in which the actor playing James Bond does not get top billing. That honour goes to Sir Ian McKellen as Goldfinger, rather than Toby Stephens as Bond. Perhaps understandably- I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Stephens himself had insisted upon it. Or his mum ..
I've been watching the Jack Ryan TV series, in which the part of Jim Greer (memorably played in the movies by James Earl Jones) is played by an actor called Wendell Pierce. Other than being a little short, it has struck me that he would have made a great Mr Big and possibly better than Kevin Daniels in the Radio 4 production mentioned above (where obviously height wouldn't have mattered).
I listened to 'From Russia With Love' on Saturday. I must say I was disappointed. This, in my opinion, was the weakest of the radio plays. It is the first time I have listened to it.
I listened to 'From Russia With Love' on Saturday. I must say I was disappointed. This, in my opinion, was the weakest of the radio plays. It is the first time I have listened to it.
I thought it an ok production but Stevens over eggs it
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
I think Stephens is better as Our Chap than he was as Gustav Graves, though I don't think he'd be acceptable in a film. He does a not bad Philip Marlowe in a similar series of Raymond Chandler adaptations.
The most OTT performance in the Radio 4 Bond series IMHO is David Suchet as Dr No!
I’m currently listening to these radio adaptations.
I would prefer it if the novels were simply read out rather than just have the dialogue extracted and made into a radio play. The dialogue on its own, without Fleming’s marvellous descriptive skills, leaves the stories bereft of substance. And the dialogue alone can never compare to watching a Bond film in all its visual glory. It is like doing a radio adaptation of just the dialogue of 2001: A Space Odyssey—what would be the point of that?
I like John Standing's portrayal of M. He humanises M, and makes him less of a grump than Bernard Lee’s M. Toby Stephens similarly humanises Bond, but too much in my view. His Bond comes across as a little too “everyman” and cheery. Dalton’s Bond was also human, but his had a nervous edge, which a man who is in constant danger would have.
The most OTT performance in the Radio 4 Bond series IMHO is David Suchet as Dr No!
I agree! His accent was totally absurd! I believe he is the actor who played paro (I don't know the spelling) the detective. I have never seen this but if he was as bad as in Dr No I am glad I never watched it!
I’m currently listening to these radio adaptations.
I would prefer it if the novels were simply read out rather than just have the dialogue extracted and made into a radio play. The dialogue on its own, without Fleming’s marvellous descriptive skills, leaves the stories bereft of substance. And the dialogue alone can never compare to watching a Bond film in all its visual glory. It is like doing a radio adaptation of just the dialogue of 2001: A Space Odyssey—what would be the point of that?
I like John Standing's portrayal of M. He humanises M, and makes him less of a grump than Bernard Lee’s M. Toby Stephens similarly humanises Bond, but too much in my view. His Bond comes across as a little too “everyman” and cheery. Dalton’s Bond was also human, but his had a nervous edge, which a man who is in constant danger would have.
I understand this. The fact that lots were missing was the fact I did not really like From Russia With Love. For me the best of the plays is Moonraker. If you have not already, you should perhaps try listening to that.
The most OTT performance in the Radio 4 Bond series IMHO is David Suchet as Dr No!
I agree! His accent was totally absurd! I believe he is the actor who played paro (I don't know the spelling) the detective. I have never seen this but if he was as bad as in Dr No I am glad I never watched it!
He is perfect as Poirot, I think the best ever. Give it a go!
This is good news! I have listened to all the radio plays several times on night duties. Although I will not be able to listen to it on Saturday, I will download this when it comes on you tube and add it to my collection.
Comments
1) Tee-Hee's part is expanded from the novel, much as it was in the film
2) The racial elements seem to have been removed entirely (I may have missed one or two on first listening)
3) It's very faithful to the novel otherwise
4) There may have been a very small in-joke when a meal is listed- an emphasis on the word "broccoli"?
5) The cast were all excellent
6) My usual feelings about the music (see above)
On a related note I recently bought the complete collection of BBC Radio adaptations of Le Carre's George Smiley books on Audible. I hope that when they've finally completed all of the Fleming books that the Bond collection will be officially released in the same way.
its not post 21, where you compiled the links for the earlier radioplays
and emtiem's link in post 31 leads to Page Not Found
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBT0SLN6_ew
I should have just thought to do the search myself
No takers? Well, unless you count the 1967 version of Casino Royale (and who wants to?), this is the only James Bond dramatic production in which the actor playing James Bond does not get top billing. That honour goes to Sir Ian McKellen as Goldfinger, rather than Toby Stephens as Bond. Perhaps understandably- I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Stephens himself had insisted upon it. Or his mum
I've been watching the Jack Ryan TV series, in which the part of Jim Greer (memorably played in the movies by James Earl Jones) is played by an actor called Wendell Pierce. Other than being a little short, it has struck me that he would have made a great Mr Big and possibly better than Kevin Daniels in the Radio 4 production mentioned above (where obviously height wouldn't have mattered).
Indeed they have, in 2012. I think that was the first one was I listened to.
I thought it an ok production but Stevens over eggs it
The most OTT performance in the Radio 4 Bond series IMHO is David Suchet as Dr No!
I would prefer it if the novels were simply read out rather than just have the dialogue extracted and made into a radio play. The dialogue on its own, without Fleming’s marvellous descriptive skills, leaves the stories bereft of substance. And the dialogue alone can never compare to watching a Bond film in all its visual glory. It is like doing a radio adaptation of just the dialogue of 2001: A Space Odyssey—what would be the point of that?
I like John Standing's portrayal of M. He humanises M, and makes him less of a grump than Bernard Lee’s M. Toby Stephens similarly humanises Bond, but too much in my view. His Bond comes across as a little too “everyman” and cheery. Dalton’s Bond was also human, but his had a nervous edge, which a man who is in constant danger would have.
I agree! His accent was totally absurd! I believe he is the actor who played paro (I don't know the spelling) the detective. I have never seen this but if he was as bad as in Dr No I am glad I never watched it!
I understand this. The fact that lots were missing was the fact I did not really like From Russia With Love. For me the best of the plays is Moonraker. If you have not already, you should perhaps try listening to that.
He is perfect as Poirot, I think the best ever. Give it a go!
14 March 2020
Do domebody know how to download it?