theuofc

Thanks to NickD for this article. Instead of Daniel Craig, we could be talking about Sid James as 007!

Barbara
---------------

'The name's Bond. Sid James Bond' | News | Guardian Unlimited Film

'The name's Bond. Sid James Bond'

Xan Brooks
Saturday April 1, 2006
*

The list of the actors who have auditioned for the role of James Bond
is almost as long as the complete credits of a 007 production. Now an
extra name can be set alongside the likes of David Niven, James Mason
and Cary Grant - that of Carry On star Sid James.

A recently discovered screen test, filmed back in 1962, confirms a
long-standing rumour that the bawdy comedian auditioned for the lead
role in Dr No, the first film in the 007 series. James is believed to
have been the favoured choice of Bond author Ian Fleming, but
eventually rejected the role due to concerns that he might be typecast.
The producers eventually offered the part to Scottish actor Sean
Connery.

The screen test, included as an extra on the forthcoming DVD box-set of
Bless This House, shows James brandishing a Walther PPK as he confronts
the film's villain at the movie's climax. Apparently due to budgetary
constraints, the other characters in the scene are played by James's
regular Carry On co-stars. Barbara Windsor is Honey Ryder, a role that
would eventually be taken by Ursula Andress. Kenneth Williams cameos as
M, while Charles Hawtrey brings a silky menace to the character of Dr
No.

"The story that Sid was offered the role of James Bond has been known
within industry circles for years," explained Michael Sharona, author
of the James biography, Carry On Sidney. "But it is wonderful to have
it finally proved. Sid might seem like a surprising choice, but he is
extremely good in the role. There is an elegance and a sense of mystery
about him. It reveals a side of himself he did not often get the chance
to show in his other films."

After turning down the Bond role, James went on to make a number of
other successful Carry On comedies. At the time of his death, in 1976,
he was reported to have signed to star in an unofficial sequel to Carry
On Cabbie. According to sources, the film - entitled Taxi Driver and
set in New York - would have revealed a darker side to the Sid James
screen persona.

Johnny Rico

Interior - Whitehall .The Offices of M.

M ( Kenneth Williams )
Bond ( Sid James )

M :'Ere Look. Stop Messin About, Bond .
Bond : BWAHAHA ' Cor' Blimey - 'Ere whats that in yer' And?
M : Ooh Sauce!
Bond : Nah , Yer other 'And BWAHAHAHA
M : It's a Parcel , Ducky
Bond : 'Oos it for?
M : For Q !
Bond : I was only askin !!! BWAHAHAHA

Trombone: WAHHHH WAHHHH
--------------------------------------------------------------------

( Yet some people worry about Daniel Craig in the role! )

Couldn't You just try acting , Old Boy...It's so much easier

arty-dave

Blimey, Barbara - it's as obvious as the one in today's Independent about unlikely romantic couplings. They had Bamber Gasgoine's "romance" with Barbara Windsor and Jasper Carrotts "fling" with Condoleeza Rice (amongst others)

Harbottle

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img] Very good theofc. I wish it had been true and that Sid had played Bond [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

smudge

And didn't Sid Boggle - at least once ?

CAMPING, I think it was....

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

foha80

Nice one,Barbara,
It took me all day to realise that it was a wind up,I'm getting more gullible as i get older.


Terry

Stephen Pickard

Just the other night I was watching "Another Time, Another Place" in which Sid and Sean play a few scenes together!
Incidentally, this is a superb looking dvd, mastered from VistaVision elements. Available on both Pal region 2 and NTSC region 1.

Stephen Pickard

theuofc

Hello, Stephen Pickard,

A very enjoyable film also with Lana and Gynis Johns. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img] Very good to know the dvd is available. Your comments reminded me that Sid James did many roles in the 40s and 50s, including several films with Dirk Bogarde, before his long line of Carry On films.

Best,

Barbara

theuofc

Thanks, Harbottle. "Carry On Bond" certainly would have been a fun spoof series. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Best,

Barbara

theuofc

I had the same reaction as you, Terry, when I first read it. What really fooled me was the quote from Michael Sharona, but I blinked at the Taxi Driver bit at the end and realised I'd bit a phony penny.

It was a good laugh, wasn't it. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

Best,

Barbara

theuofc

Truly matches made in heaven! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Best,

Barbara

theuofc

That's a clever and funny exchange, Johnny Rico! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

Best,

Barbara

Marky B

For a moment,just a moment,you had me going there,Barbara,you little minx [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]
Ta Ta
Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know

theuofc

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]-->I aim to please. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] That's just too funny, Marky B. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

The article had me going also until well into it. Not knowing much about Sid James' career pre-Carry On days, I was a perfect setup. When I saw the hilarious photo of James in a tux, accompanying the article at the Guardian site, well, the rest was laughter.

Barbara

Wolfgang

Barbara, you may find this interesting:

http://www.geocities.com/simonbermuda/