Five for Five: Squire, Rhys-Davies, Terry, Dubin, and Adele….Day 125 of Bond 365

If you celebrate, I wish you a wonderful Cinco de Mayo! Today, it just so happens I have five extraordinary individuals featuring on Day 125 of Bond 365….so many fives!

Anthony Squire

Born this day in 1914

Second Unit Director for Casino Royale (1967), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Stock Car Sequence Director in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Son of a poet, Jack Francis Anthony Squire was born in London just as the world was perched for the First World War of the modern era. There was little that I could find on Squire than he was a World War II pilot and worked in the RAF film unit, gaining experience that he would utilize for his first time as a second unit director. Having piloting and filming experience, he was a natural choice for filming the flying sequences in Breaking the Sound Barrier (1952).

Squire did sit in the director’s seat for a little over a dozen films, however he stated, “I tended to get stuck with the second-unit label, which I’ve never been able to shake. I’ve done a few films on my own, but nothing terrific” (IMDB). Looking over his directorial credits, nothing stood out that I recognized. His last directing credit was in 1985, which may have been when he retired. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 86.

John Rhys-Davies

Born this day in 1944

General Puskin in The Living Daylights

I smile every time I see John Rhys-Davies. I think it is because he has inhabited a number of roles that were part of the fun film experience of my youth, specifically with the Indiana Jones films in which he played Sallah and more recently, as Gimli in the unforgettable Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Born in Wales and raised in Wales, England and Africa, Rhys-Davies graduated from the University of East Anglia and attended RADA. His early travels created an interest in classic literature, acting  and writing. He made his first television appearance as Gareth in the television series 1964 when he was 20. Fifty years and 235 acting credits later, I am excited that he will be in a new television series, Lantern City, as Desmond Wilhorn which will also be released in comic book form from BOOM! Studio in a couple of weeks. Along the way, he has picked up several nominations and awards (many for Lord of the Rings).

Bond trivia: Rhys-Davies is the only actor to have played in three hugely successful franchises: James Bond, Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones.

John Terry

Born this day in 1950

Felix Leiter in The Living Daylights

John Terry has an unusual path to acting. A native of Florida, he was building log cabins in North Carolina when he discovered acting. He performed in local theatre productions and then moved to Alaska where he started a business.

When Terry turned 30, he moved to New York where he pursued acting full-time. He was making one-episode appearances in a variety of television series and supporting roles in films. In 1987, he landed the role of Lt. Lockhart in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, the same year that he was cast as Felix Leiter in The Living Daylights.

As with other supporting actors, Terry returned to television and continued in film. In 1994, he was Dr. David ‘Div’ Cvetic’ in the hit hospital drama ER. And in 2002-2003, he was Bob Warner for 12 episodes for the “real time” crime drama 24. More recently, he had recurring roles on Trauma, Lost, Brothers & Sisters, and Charlie’s Angels.

Gary Dubin

Born this day in 1959

Boy in Diamonds Are Forever

He is the little boy that could. Gary Dubin was born in Edinburgh, Scotland (or according to Wiki, in Los Angeles) and already 14 acting credits under his belt by the time he was cast as an uncredited “Boy” in Diamonds Are Forever in 1971. He acted in film, television and lent his voice for several video games and cartoons. He even has a singing credit for his voice role on The AristoCats (1970) performing “Scales and Arpeggios”. His most recent work was in 2013 on RockBarnes: The Emperor in You.

Adele

Born this day in 1988

Singer for Skyfall Theme Song

Adele has had an amazing musical career. She has won many awards and has been in the Guinness Book of World Records for her numerous achievements. In 2013, she won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Skyfall”. I am dumbfounded that it was the first time that a James Bond song won and that only five Bond songs have been nominated of all the fantastic songs that have come from the films.

I am pleased that she actually co-wrote the song, along with producer Paul Epworth, which they developed from having read the script. The music, her voice, and the video capture the haunting dark mood of the film. The process of first draft to recording with a full orchestra was 18 months, being reviewed by Sam Mendes, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig – all were apparently moved by Adele’s song.

I think the franchise made the right choice with Adele who captures an underlining melancholy sadness that is reflected in the film. Let’s have a look at the official video:

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