Spy-Fi & Superspies: August 2015

Monday, August 31, 2015

Bond's Aston Martin Sighted in Beverly Hills....Day 243 of Bond 365

Since I don't happen to have a historical event to report on today, I was thankful that a co-worker, who know about my affection for Bond, mentioned she saw a news article about a scaled down model of the Aston Martin DB5 that featured in Goldfinger.

Prop Shop UK is currently building 100 one-third scale models of the million-dollar DB5 and replicates all the bells, whistles and gadgets we know and love from the film. And, if you live in or within driving distance of Aston Martin Beverly Hills (125 South Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills), then you are in for a treat: one of the models is on display in the showroom window.

If you salivating for your own and you happen to have an extra $45,000 burning a hole in your wallet, then you could have your very own!

Here's a link to the news video that aired on Channel 7 Eyewitness News - enjoy!

Please note that I'll be off-line for a National Academy of Recording Arts event in Los Angeles tomorrow, but Bond 365 will be back on Wednesday!

© Copyright. Michele Brittany. 2011 - 2015. All rights reserved. All text, graphics, and photos are protected by US and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without written permission.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

GoldenEye Remembered in MI6 Confidential….Day 242 of Bond 365

As a yearly subscriber to MI6 Confidential, as soon as I receive an email notification that an issue is available, I know I’ll be receiving said issue shortly thereafter. Sent in a plain brown mailing envelope and several Royal Mail stamps, here’s the cover that came into view as I pulled the magazine out of the large envelope:

Editor Hugh Maddocks introduced the Issue 31 with the following, “GoldenEye understandably holds an important place in the minds of Bond aficionados and was a milestone in many ways. It introduced Pierce Brosnan and Dame Judi Dench, conducted the franchise’s first experiment with CGI, and as its director tells us, honoured all that had gone before by explicitly harking back to the fun and adventure of the ‘60s 007 outings…”

With the movie set to celebrate its 20^th anniversary, the issue begins with a retrospective of Ian Fleming’s Goldeneye estate in Jamaica. If you are interested in learning more about Fleming’s life at his home away from London, then check out Matthew Parker’s 2014 book, Goldeneye. Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming’s Jamaica (my review is here).

After a six year hiatus and many people questioning whether James Bond would actually be back to the silver screen, The GoldenEye Dossier writer Nicolas Suszczy evaluates the 17^th film that breathed new life into the franchise and introduced a new James Bond to the world.

Other features in the magazine include an interview with director Martin Campbell, in depth articles regarding the second unit direction, shooting the pre-title sequence, model effects, Bond Girls Isabella Scorupco (Natalya Simonova) and Famke Janssen (Xenia Onatopp), gadgets, and well, several other goodies.

Issues are still available at the MI6 Confidential website, but don’t wait long. These beauties go quick!

Friday, August 28, 2015

Advertisements al a James Bond….Day 240 of Bond 365

Back in 1978, the world witnessed the passing of Robert Shaw. Since I featured Shaw earlier this month, I figured I could direct you to that day’s entry here and then go in a bit of a different direction with Bond 365 today.

Trying to beat the muggy heat of Southern California this evening and ignore the poolside chatter of kids playing “Marco Polo” for some reason my mind drifted to the concept of advertisements. In particular, I was curious about advertisements that featured James Bond.

Sean Connery

James Bond has been known for many things, including his choice of alcohol. In this case, it was Connery and Jim Beam.

George Lazenby

Here’s a Marlboro advertisement, which directly lifted scenes from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

And, let’s not forget the prominent product placement of Playboy as James Bond waited for his documents to finish being mimeographed.

Roger Moore

I found a couple of interesting advertisements featuring Moore. The Compomotive one provided a Bond movie plug.

Timothy Dalton

It was difficult to find any advertisements featuring Dalton as Bond. I finally found Lark cigarettes and an ad I’m guessing that ran in Asia.

Pierce Brosnan

The Omega watch ads were slick. I found this nice one of Brosnan, however finding ads of him, Dalton and Lazenby was challenging. I figured Dalton and Lazenby was on account of playing Bond the least of the group of actors, but it could be more about what was available/not available on the internet, or perhaps it was contractually based.

Daniel Craig

The current face of James Bond, Daniel Craig also advertised Omega watches. Fascinating to see the different mood and tone of Brosnan’s (relaxed) vs. Craig’s (vigilant).

Although a silhouette, the likeness is Craig for Coca Cola Zero – he is cognizant of his calorie intake.

I love this advertisement for British tourism – all the symbols that consumers would recognize as uniquely Britain....I want to live like Bond - well, maybe more like, can I have the car?

You

Yes, you! You know you want to smell like 007, hopefully just after a shower but not after a long intro scene leading up to the opening credits!

And lastly, an advertisement that didn’t need James Bond or anyone for that matter…

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Saluting Agent XXX….Day 239 of Bond 365

Barbara Bach

Born this day in 1947

Major Anya Amasova / Agent XXX in The Spy Who Loved Me

The oldest of five children, Barbara Goldbach was born in Queens, New York. At the age of 19, Bach was working as a model in New York when she met Augusto Gregorini, who was visiting from Italy for business. She followed him back to Italy and they married within two years of meeting. They had two children.

Bach started acting in 1968 in Italy. Her first role was in the television mini-series Odissea where she played Nausicaa. She was cast in the various popular genre films in Italy at the time – comedy, crime, and gallo – before moving to Los Angeles in 1975.

Her move to Southern California signaled the beginning of the end of her marriage to Gregorini and they divorced in 1978. She starred in a number of American films, but it was in 1981 when she was cast as Lana in the comedy Caveman that she met her future husband and star of the movie, Beatle’s drummer Ringo Starr. Interestingly, a few short years later, she starred opposite another former Beatle, Paul McCartney in the 1984 Give My Regards to Broad Street. Her last role was in a little known comedy in which she starred opposite Starr in To the North of Katmandu (1986).

After her exit from show business, Bach and Starr went through a treatment program for alcoholism in 1988 and in 1993, she earned a master’s degree in Psychology from UCLA. She put it to use by starting S.H.A.R.P., Self Help Addiction Recovery Program that helps individuals with addictions. And, Bach and Starr established a charity organization The Lotus Foundation, which contains several sub-charities.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

There’s A New Bond in Town…..Day 238 of Bond 365

I’m sorry, but I have to interrupt Bond 365...

Do I have your attention?

If you are not into comics, then maybe this will entice you to head down to your local comic book shop and pick up a Previews catalogue. Flip right to page 308. Drool. Turn page. Drool some more. Then, immediately sign up to start a subscription (pull list) and put the new James Bond series from Dynamite at the top of your list!

Finally!

The first story arc of this ongoing series is titled “Vargr” and is written by award winning writer Warren Ellis (Hellblazer, Red, Fell, Transmetropolitan, Judge Dredd) with interiors by artist Jason Masters (Wolverines, Legends of the Dark Knight, The Vampire Diaries).

Here’s the description of the series from the September 2015 issue of Previews:

James Bond returns to London after a mission of vengeance in Helsinki to take up the workload of a fallen 00 Section agent. But something evil is moving through the back streets of the city, and sinister plans are being laid for Bond in Berlin… (p. 309)

Here is the main cover by Dom Reardon, who has worked on Tharg’s Terror Tales, Caballistics, Inc. and Raven’s Gate (adapted by Tony Lee from Bond author Anthony Horowitz’s novel):

Oh yeah! Fantastic cover!

But, if that cover isn’t quite to your liking, there are several incentive covers by fantastic artists in the industry today to choose from:

Some tough decisions ahead, or just buy one of each!

Cover artists include: Francesco Francavilla (Fear Agent, The Black Beetle, Marvel’s Captain America), Stephen Mooney (Grayson, Secret Origins), Dan Panosian (Wolverine, Incredible Hulk, WitchBlade), Gabriel Hardman (Invisible Republic, Kinski), Glenn Fabry (Judge Dredd, Preacher, Hellblazer), Jock (Judge Dredd, The Losers, Detective Comics), and Jason Masters. Or, if you are an artist or have an artist in mind to do a cover for you, then pick up a couple of blank covers. I know I want one of each!

Blam is right -- British powerhouse artist Jock!!

And.....to help push you toward the world of comics, a page of interiors were included in the catalogue's coverage. The final art will be in color, but it looks pretty good in black and white.

Looks like Bond will be knee deep in life or death situations!

The series drops on November 4 (Happy birthday to me!), so you can get some reading done before SPECTRE opens in US cinemas on November 6!

The name's Bond. James Bond.

Please note that the cover art shown in Previews is pending licensing approval, so the final covers could change.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Birthday Wishes to Sir Sean Connery…Day 237 of Bond 365

Sean Connery

Born this day in 1930

Bond. James Bond.

Connery as an infant

Thomas Sean Connery was born to blue-collar parents in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh and is of Irish and Scottish descent. He has a younger brother named Neil, who followed in his older brother’s footsteps by becoming an actor.

Connery as a child - such a cutie!

Connery held a number labor jobs before going into acting. One of the most unusual jobs, and perhaps a bit macabre, was coffin polisher. For a time, he was a body builder and served in the Royal Navy. IMDB states that he received a medical discharge (stomach ulcers). At the age of 23, he decided to pursue acting.

In the Royal Navy

In 1954, IMDB has Connery’s first role (uncredited) in Let’s Make Up a romantic comedy starring Errol Flynn and Anna Neagle. However, 1957 was Connery’s first good year in acting in which he had his first major role in the film No Road Back and then in the television film Anna Christie the same year.

Connery when he was a bodybuilder

The biggest break came in 1962 of course when, in a smoke filled London club, audience-goers were introduced to Connery as he suavely stated “Bond. James Bond” in Dr. No. He would go on to star as Bond in seven films and voice Bond in the video game James Bond 007: From Russia with Love (2005).

A reflecting Connery

Cemented as a star with the James Bond franchise, Connery has had a successful acting career. I picked out stills from some of the films I have seen him in and enjoyed:

Michael Caine and Connery, The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Connery, Highlander (1986)

Christian Slater and Connery, The Name of the Rose (1986)

Connery, The Hunt for the Red October (1990)

Connery, A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

Connery has been married twice. His first marriage to Diane Cilento resulted in a son Jason Connery, who became an actor and married actress Mia Sara. They had a son, Dashiell Quinn Connery in 1997. During his career, Connery has been nominated and won many acting awards including multiple lifetime awards. He officially retired from acting in 2006.

Connery in Maclean hunting tartan kilt

On a personal note, I do get to say that I am related (distantly) to Connery as we are both from the clan Maclean.

Connery, in reflection

Monday, August 24, 2015

Happy Fourth Birthday Spyfi & Superspies!

It doesn’t seem like it has been four years since my first blog in which I posted a call for papers for the 33^rd annual Southwest Texas Popular/American Culture association’s conference, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was my first turn as the Area Chair of James Bond, Espionage and Eurospy studies and I was nervous taking the reins of an area of study that has been both glorified and vilified.

Over the four years, I became submersed in the spy/espionage genre, and about two years I gained the courage to step up to an acquisitions manager and pitch a book proposal. I was fortunate; it was picked up and within a month, I had contract in hand. And, last November, the James Bond and Popular Culture: Essays on the Influence of the Fictional Superspy (McFarland & Company) was released. It is still a surreal moment in my life and one I had been working towards for many years.

Over the years, I have met fascinating individuals associated with James Bond, either academics, authors, or in show business. Through my associations, my anthology essayists, and most recently my series Bond 365, I have gained a deeper appreciation for Bond and the genre as a whole.

To commemorate fours of Spyfi & Superspies, I thought I would pick four of my favourite posts. I hope you enjoy my picks and if you have a moment, it would be wonderful to hear your favorite moments from the James Bond universe!

McAnderson212: Even A Spy Needs A Little Help Sometimes

Monday, March 3, 2014

I’m a huge fan of the television show, Person of Interest, and while watching “Bury My Lede” (Season 2, Episode 5), I was struck with profound inspiration to spoof John Reese’s bogus profile on Match-Heart.com that Harold Finch creates so that Reese can meet the target for that week’s episode. I need to pick up and continue watching this show!

You Can Call Him Hari, You Can Call Him Agent Vinod

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Released by Illuminati Films and Eros Entertainment in 2012, Agent Vinod remains one of my favourite spy-oriented films from India. Directed by Sriram Raghavan and starring Saif Ali Khan, this is a slick film with toe-tapping/head bobbing music. While there are still the customary songs, they are integrated into the action of the film rather than obviously set apart. I believe this is a decidedly Western film and as such, box office receipts were a disappointment and sadly, no Agent Vinod II is on the sun-baked horizon....I'm a sad spy girl.

Behind-the-Scenes of Editing James Bond and Popular Culture

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

It was a dream come true to see my name on the cover of a book that I had worked on for over a year, bringing together several voices from around the world into a cohesive anthology to talk about the influence of James Bond in popular culture. In this post, I pealed back the veneer and explained the process of putting together this collection with all of its peaks and valleys. And, I have just started down that road again, this time with the tentatively titled Essays on Space Horror in Films, 1950s – 2000s, due out late 2016.

Fleming Family Had More Than One Writer (Bond 365 Series)

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

The concept for the Bond 365 series was born out of a challenge to myself to be seriously committed to Spyfi & Superspies and what better way than showing up everyday with a new post. Except for a three-week hiatus because of back-to-back conventions (one being the San Diego International Comic Con) and the sad passing of one of my beloved felines, I have shown up and honestly, I have learned so much the people involved with James Bond whether in film, television, radio, comics, books, video games, etc. There were so many posts to choose from, but I decided on this recent on about Peter Fleming, Ian’s older brother. Their life choices were similar in many ways and others, completely different, but they remain utterly fascinating.

I hope my posts have been interesting, enlightening, and entertaining over these past four years. As always, I value you for stopping by and I hope you’ll bookmark Spyfi & Superspies and make it a regular stop. I have some plans brewing for 2016 that will be solidified in the coming months. I’ll be revealing more by the end of the year. So, come on back and put some James Bond into your life!

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Celebrating Cinematographer Edmund Gibson…Day 235 of Bond 365

Edmund and Joe Gibson from 1972 (eBay)

Edmund Gibson

Born this day in 1915

Underwater Photographer for Thunderball

Born in New York City as Hugh Edmund Gibson and whose father was Joe Gibson, had been a cinematographer in the early days of cinema. The family moved to Florida where the elder Gibson was a newsreel cameraman.

According to an obituary in the American Cinematographer, the young Gibson was working freelance as an assistant cameraman for many of the leading filmmakers that were making films in Florida. However, according to IMDB, his first listing was for Thunderball as an uncredited underwater photographer.

Gibson only had a dozen credits listed on IMDB and they were spread between the camera/electrical department and cinematography for about a total of 15 years. Other than working on the Bond franchise, Gibson worked in a few projects in which animals were featured: the television series Flipper (1967), Gentle Giant (1967), the precursor to the television show Gentle Ben, and Barracuda (1978). Of special note, Gibson ran into Bond alum Harold Sakata (Oddjob) in the 1974 film Impulse starring William Shatner.

Gibson was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and passed away in 1995 at the age of 79.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

She’s Sexy at 90 – Honor Blackman….Day 234 of Bond 365

Honor Blackman

Born this day in 1925

Pussy Galore in Goldfinger

Londoner Honor Blackman was one of four children who attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. During the war, she became a dispatch rider and developed an athleticism that she has called upon in her acting career over the decades.

After the war, she took to the stage in London’s West End, first as an understudy then with roles in “The Gleam” (1946) and “The Blind Goddess” (1947). Her first onscreen role in the Michael Redgrave film Fame Is the Spur (1947) established an odd pattern in which Blackman’s characters would meet untimely deaths – sort of reminds me of Sean Bean’s characters always dying. Anyway, Blackman found steady work as an actor through the end of the decade.

During the 1950s, Blackman’s career suffered a personal setback when she and her husband, Bill Sankey, divorced. She took a couple of years to regain her health; she had to rebuild her acting career in the B films. Her calling came in 1961.

Decked in leather from head to toe, Blackman was cast as Mrs Cathy Gale opposite Patrick Macnee’s John Steed in the hugely influential television series The Avengers. Sexy and confidant, Blackman became a figure that inspired women as the feminist movement sparked to life during the 1960s and became a movement into the 1970s.

I have seen Jason and the Argonauts (1963) several times and I’m still surprised to learn that Blackman was Hera, the Greek goddess. A year later, she was Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. Like other Bond Girls after her, Blackman continued to work steady in the industry, but she never went on to bigger, brighter, memorable roles since then.

Blackman has been cast as a semi-regular character on several television series include Doctor Who (1986) as Professor Lasky, as Rula Romanoff in the soap opera Coronation Street (2004), and as Laura West in The Upper Hand (1990-1996).

Blackman is a Liberal Democrat; hence when she was asked if she would accept the honor of a CBE, she declined.