'Battle for Bond' book

[author]

Thought you might be interested in a book I've written that traces the controversial history behind the very first attempts to bring James Bond to the screen back in 1959.

Fleming wanted Richard Burton to play 007 and for Alfred Hitchcock to direct.

Fleming teamed up with Irish maverick producer Kevin McClory to make Thunderball, but things turned sour and they ended up in court in the famous 1963 trial in which McClory won the rights to Thunderball, maing it in 1965 in conjunction with Broccoli and Saltzman, and then re-making it in 1983 as Never Say Never Again.

The book uncovers hitherto unknown facts thanks to the use of hundreds of never before seen letters and documents. The book also reproduces, for the first time anywhere, production artwork for the aborted 1959 Thunderball film, and the never made 1977 McClory Bond film - Warhead.

The book is called 'Battle for Bond' and will be published in June by Tomahawk Press.

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by author Fleming wanted Richard Burton to play 007 and for Alfred Hitchcock to direct.

I thought Ian Fleming was a Patrick Mcgoohan fan?
Fleming's first choice as Bond was Cary Grant but he was too expensive and the role eventually went to Sean Connery, whom many now believe to have been the best 007 of all. (...)

Others on Fleming's 1961 list of actors with the right faces were David Niven, James Mason, Patrick McGoohan, Rex Harrison, Richard Burton, and Stewart Granger. (...)"
Anglophenia

These fellows are so fickle....

[Mr Cosmo]

This is one of those things that will never be cleared up like who auditioned for the Monkees. No doubt others will have some other conflicting evidence and I think already people will be ready to argue the toss with the book.
What's the betting Ian Fleming wanted Charles Manson to play Bond. No wait - that's The Monkees. In fact Charles Manson was in jail at the time of The Monkees auditions. In fact ..... what's this thread about again? Where;s my medication....

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Looks to be an interesting book (regardless of whether 'Author' is actually the author or not... I just wonder why the real Robert Sellers would post two messages on this board about his books and nothing more... I think he would have had more of interest to say if he was making time out of his writing career)... Here's the link... http://www.tomahawkmedia.co.uk/tomahawk.html

[christoph404]

Originally Posted by Moor Larkin I thought Ian Fleming was a Patrick Mcgoohan fan? Fleming's first choice as Bond was Cary Grant but he was too expensive and the role eventually went to Sean Connery, whom many now believe to have been the best 007 of all. (...) Others on Fleming's 1961 list of actors with the right faces were David Niven, James Mason, Patrick McGoohan, Rex Harrison, Richard Burton, and Stewart Granger. (...)" Anglophenia These fellows are so fickle....

Didn't Flemming think of Trevor Howard as being close to how he imagined Bond as well? I thought Cary Grant liked the idea of Bond but said he would only sign on for one film (as well as being too expensive!) Difficult to imagine any one else other than Connery......except McGoohan, did he really turn down a firm offer of the part? I always thought he was actor of huge intensity and presence and could have been a huge movie star if he had wanted to be, I get the feeling he chose not to .Interesting fellow!

[Hell_driver]

Originally Posted by Moor Larkin Fleming's first choice as Bond was Cary Grant but he was too expensive and the role eventually went to Sean Connery, whom many now believe to have been the best 007 of all. (...) Others on Fleming's 1961 list of actors with the right faces were David Niven, James Mason, Patrick McGoohan, Rex Harrison, Richard Burton, and Stewart Granger. (...)" Anglophenia These fellows are so fickle....

I have read that Fleming wanted George Baker to play Bond. (Think I read it in Baker's autobiography but could've been elsewhere)

[christoph404]

Originally Posted by Hell_driver I have read that Fleming wanted George Baker to play Bond. (Think I read it in Baker's autobiography but could've been elsewhere)

yep, I've heard that too, I guess there were so many actors in the running, one could probably make a very large list! At least Baker got to be the "Voice" of Bond for a little while, dubbing George Lazenby in his Sir Hilary disguise sequences.

[batman]

Originally Posted by Hell_driver I have read that Fleming wanted George Baker to play Bond. (Think I read it in Baker's autobiography but could've been elsewhere)

The version I read was that Baker wanted to play Bond and approached Eon when he heard they were struggling to find an actor everyone liked and who they could afford. Either Saltzman or Broccoli was keen (can't remember which) but the other wasn't so they took the idea to Fleming out of courtesy and he said 'No' because he thought Baker too lightweight to convey the darker side of the character. They then approached McGoohan, who had some reservations about the character but seriously considered it before turning it down. (I saw an interview with Bernard Braden once where he said he persuaded McGoohan to turn it down as only one film was on offer at that time, and someone else had offered McGoohan a three picture deal and that he should take that instead, which apparently he did). Connery then appeared on the scene and the rest is history.

Of course, that may all be a load of old poppycock!

Bats.

Then, in 1967, Connery quit and ............ let's not start that again !!!!!!

[Hackett]

Sir Micheal Gambon tells a funny story of how he was tested for Bond with a lot of other actors. He says that Patrick Mower was picked in the end. I with my own eye's watched the Bond screen tests of Oliver Tobias and James Brolin.
I always thought Lewis Collins would have made a good Bond.

[Hanseat]

Originally Posted by Hackett I always thought Lewis Collins would have made a good Bond.

Passed over twice - there is no justice in this world.

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by Hackett Sir Micheal Gambon tells a funny story of how he was tested for Bond with a lot of other actors.

Isn't he rather reputed to tell outrageously funny..... but completely untrue........ stories, just to tease interviewers?

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Originally Posted by Moor Larkin Isn't he rather reputed to tell outrageously funny..... but completely untrue........ stories, just to tease interviewers?

Yes. He's notorious for it.

[batman]

Originally Posted by Moor Larkin Isn't he rather reputed to tell outrageously funny..... but completely untrue........ stories, just to tease interviewers?

IMHO Michael Gambon is the best story teller since David Niven ... he is wickedly funny.

Bats.

[christoph404]

Originally Posted by Hackett Sir Micheal Gambon tells a funny story of how he was tested for Bond with a lot of other actors. He says that Patrick Mower was picked in the end. I with my own eye's watched the Bond screen tests of Oliver Tobias and James Brolin. I always thought Lewis Collins would have made a good Bond.

James Brolin!! can't imagine him at all as Bond, and I don't think he is British and as far as I am concerned Bond has to be a Brit actor!! I thought Lewis Collins would have been great as Bond, there was a huge amount of publicity attatched to his name in connection to the role, I remember all the newspapers at the time more or less stating that he was going to be the next Bond. What a shame it didn't work out, much as I admire Tim Dalton as an actor I never thought he was right for Bond, would have much preferred Collins. I believe he is presently living modestly in California with his wife and family, he seemed to disapear from our screens when the Bond role didn't work out.

[batman]

Originally Posted by Hackett Sir Micheal Gambon tells a funny story of how he was tested for Bond with a lot of other actors. He says that Patrick Mower was picked in the end. I with my own eye's watched the Bond screen tests of Oliver Tobias and James Brolin. I always thought Lewis Collins would have made a good Bond.

Brolin's screen test is on one of the Bond extras dvds ... he was awful, trying to be all smooth and sexy but just coming across as really creepy. Poor ol' Babs. Sam Neill's is on one of the other dvds. His is a lot better but just not Bond enough, if you know what I mean. I am a big fan of Patrick Mower's but I think he would not have been Bond enough either. It would be interesting to be able to see some of the other tests .... did Lewis Collins actually do a screen test? In an interview he gave he implied he never got further than a chat with Cubby who, he said, took an instant dislike to him. Shame. I have Collins' Italian movies on DVD and (apart from a dodgy haircut) he comes across really well.

Bats .