GET M4ORE – ‘Live and Let Die’ turns 40!

LIVE AND LET DIE @ Forty (c) Mark O’Connell 22-06-13 www.markoconnell.co.uk

40 years ago 007 took a walk on the occult side of death, leading him from Harlem’s colourful backstreets to a Dixieland excursion in New Orleans and a survey of Louisiana’s native fauna. Seldom did Bond try so hard to blend in with his surroundings. Charming a High Priestess, trading his code book for a deck of – marked – tarot cards and equipped with a wheelgun to defeat a Voodoo master, Bond is not just a lover but also a fool in this one. The supernatural comes astoundingly natural in ‘Live and Let Die’, so much so that the last laugh is rightfully that of a ghost.

CommanderBond.net celebrates this anniversary in this thread.

Grateful thanks to Mark O’Connell ( http://markoconnell.co.uk/) for the above image!

Eight arms, twelve girls, three villains plus 007 – Octopussy turns 30!

‘Octopussy @ 30’ by Mark O’Connell, used with kind permission

Today it is 30 years since ‘Octopussy’ premièred at London’s Odeon Leicester Square. The first time audiences actually saw Bond crossing behind the Iron Curtain. A film showcasing many jewels, the biggest of which has to be the former ‘jewel in the crown’ – India. Never was a sari used more artistically in a Bond film, never frowned the clown with more explosive business on his hands. A hell of a circus for Bond and a colourful spectacle for audiences. CBners commemorate this unique 007 adventure in this thread.

Grateful thanks to Mark O’Connell ( http://markoconnell.co.uk/ ) for the kind permission to use the above image.

Happy Birthday Mr Fleming!

Photo by Christian Yorke (c)

Today it’s 105 years since Ian Fleming was born. Happy Birthday from CommanderBond.net and millions of fans around the world. Wherever you may be, we raise our glasses to you, Mr Fleming!*

*Incidentally a certain Mr Blofeld also was born on the same date.

Another Oscar for Skyfall!

After marking the very first live performance of Skyfall tonight, Adele, fought off top rivals Les Miserables and Life of Pi to claim the number one spot for best original song. James Bond is back on track.

Skyfall: An Oscar Winning Bond film.

After sadly missing out to Cinematography and Sound Design, The James Bond franchise has picked up it’s first Oscar in 46 years. Tied with Zero Dark Thirty, Skyfall has managed to secure it’s first Oscar for Sound Editing. Congratulations to all involved! Remember, there’s still ‘best original song’ and ‘best soundtrack’ to go. Will Skyfall go away with three Oscars in one evening?

No Bond reunion at this year´s Oscars

The producers of this year´s telecast have now officially denied that all Bond actors will reunite on stage for the Bond tribute.

See: http://www.deadline.com/2013/02/oscars-ceremony-producers-want-to-uphold-tradition-and-modernize/

Happy centenary to you, Aston Martin!

Over the five decades of his cinematic history James Bond has survived countless dangerous situations and hair-raising perils. A whole arsenal of ingenious gadgets and secret weapons helped Her Majesty’s agent 007 in saving the world – and his life – time and again. One of the most exclusive of these accessories has become so closely related to Bond’s status as cultural icon as to be regarded as near synonymous with him today: Aston Martin. In 2013 the marque – a jewel in Britain’s automotive industry – celebrates its 100th birthday.

‘Catching Bullets‘ author Mark O’Connell and CommanderBond.net congratulate Aston Martin on 100 years of high performance in style on the roads of Britain and the world. And on providing a fitting means of transport for 007.

Here’s to the next hundred years and countless future adventures in Her Majesty’s Secret Service!

(Artwork kindly provided by ‘Catching Bullets’/Mark O’Connell)

Happy Anniversary, Aston Martin!

“That interesting car of yours…” Goldfinger said, before telling James Bond about his newest toy, a leaser beam which he intended to use for cutting 007 in half. “That interesting car” is, of course, the vehicle which was earlier introduced by Q: “You’ll be using this Aston Martin DB5, with modifications… ” Windscreen bulletproof, as on the side and the rear windows. Revolving number plates, valid all countries. A Homer transmitting device, with, reception on the dashboard. Smokescreen, oil slick, rear bulletproof screen and left and right front-wing machine guns – and of course the famous ejector seat. The beginning of a beautiful friendship between one of the most famous cars in the world with one of the world’s most famous movie characters. People from all around the world have been associating James Bond and Aston Martin ever since.

From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, every James Bond has been driving an Aston, except for Roger Moore (who made up leeway in his role as James Bond wannabe in “Cannonball Run II”). Connery drove the aforementioned DB5, George Lazenby pursued his future wife Tracy in a DBS, Timothy Dalton had optional extras installed in his V8 Vantage Volante, and Pierce Brosnan had again a DB5 as his personal car and the “invisible” Vanquish. Present day Bond Daniel Craig drove a DBS V12 as company car, and won his DB5 in a poker game against Alex Dimitrios. Apparently, he handed that car over to Q branch to have some of the extras of the Goldfinger car installed.

Only a few months after the 50th anniversary of the Bond movies, the Aston Martin company doubles the numbers and celebrates its 100th anniversary on January 15th. The company has also planned a number of events, culminating in the Centenary week from July 15th to July 21st 2013. For further information, please read the press release below. Commanderbond.net wishes a Happy Anniversary to Aston Martin. Here’s to he next 100 years, of both Aston Martin and the James Bond movies.

Aston Martin Press release:

17 December 2012, Gaydon: 2013 sees Aston Martin celebrate its centenary with a year-long calendar of exceptional events.

The globally-renowned British luxury sports car maker will mark its first 100 years with a series of UK and international celebrations highlighting the unique success of the brand worldwide.
 Boasting the strongest product line-up in its 99 years to date, Aston Martin has recently introduced its new ultimate GT – the exceptional Vanquish – and timeless new DB9. The new cars have been unveiled to global media acclaim and, in the case of the Vanquish, numerous prestigious awards. 
Aston Martin has also played a key role in one of the year’s most hotly-anticipated films, with the iconic DB5 stealing the automotive limelight in the latest James Bond blockbuster, Skyfall.

Centenary launch 


15 January 2013 marks the official incorporation of the company 100 years ago and to commemorate the historic occasion the oldest surviving Aston Martin – A3 – and a stunning new Vanquish, the brand’s ultimate GT, will take their places at a photo call at Henniker Mews in Chelsea – the original home of Aston Martin – where a commemorative plaque will be unveiled. 
In the evening of 15 January the Aston Martin Heritage Trust Walter Hayes Memorial Lecture will take place in central London with A3 and Vanquish again guest starring alongside actor Sir John Standing as Lionel Martin, telling the story of his early days and his experience of making the first Aston Martin in Lionel Martin’s own words.

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Book launch – Nikki van der Zyl: For Your Ears Only

It’s the scene from Dr. No that made cinema history: like Boticelli’s Venus, Ursula Andress, as Honey Ryder, emerges from the sea. Clad in a Bikini that was a sensation at the time, with a knife strapped to her tigh and singing ‘Underneath the Mango Tree’. A sight and sound that makes James Bond do something that he’s never done ever since in the subsequent 22 Bond movies: he makes his presence known by singing. But was it really Ursula Andress who sang?

The Swiss born actress – like many actresses of her time – was purely cast for her looks. Even though she spoke fluent English, her heavy Swiss-German accent was a problem, which was to be solved by a then common method: she was re-dubbed by a voice actress, one that in her career would lend her voice to many Bond Girls: Nikki van der Zyl. Eunice Gayson as Sylvia Trench in both ‘Dr. No’ and ‘From Russia with Love’, Shirley Eaton as Jill Masterson in ‘Goldfinger’, Claudine Auger as Domino Derval in ‘Thunderball’ are just a few examples. Her voice could be heard in no less than ten Bond movies, without ever getting proper credit and not much recognition for it, as revoicing may have been a common method at the time, but movie producers always preferred to keep the use of this trick a secret.

Nikki van der Zyl and her husband George Rooker

In her autobiography ‘For Your Ears Only’, Nikki van der Zyl now tells the fascinating story of her life. The book begins as Nikki flees Nazi Germany as a child to start a new life in England, and goes on to describe the many twists and turns in her professional and personal life. She describes the traumatic years in the High Court, fighting to keep her children from being taken from her after the divorce from her first husband. It would prompt a new career as a barrister and lead to her assisting the High Court Judge in the infamous Baader-Meinhof terrorist case.

After a stint as political assistant to MPs in the House of Commons she worked in the Press Gallery reporting for a TV company, and later became an accredited lobby correspondent with regular access to no. 10 Downing Street.

Nikki van der Zyl will present her book with a signing and Q&A session at The Cinema Museum, The Master’s House, 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road), Kennington, London SE11 4TH on Monday, January 14th, 7pm to 9 pm. The book contains a foreword by Goldfinger’s Oscar winning sound editor Norman Wanstall and is available as paperback, ebook and Limited Edition hardcover. Further information at www.nikkivanderzyl.co.uk.

All 6 Bond actors for Oscar Tribute?

As a special Bond segment has been already been confirmed for this years Oscar Ceremony, Bond fans could very well be in for another brilliant treat. According to Daily Record, all 6 James Bond actors are set to take to the stage to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of James Bond. Speaking to an unknown Oscar source, the news came in that Sir Sean Connery may even make an appearance.

“Sir Sean has been invited to take to the stage along with Daniel and the other 007s. As yet, we’ve not had a no from him. Normally he is quick to turn things down.

“Sean’s relationship with the Oscars is good and we’re hoping he’ll appear.

“His issues with the Bond producers are not our business and we hope he will overlook that as we pay tribute to what he has done.

“It would be magnificent to see him up there with the other actors – and quite a coup.”

If true, then this will mark the first public appearance of all six James Bond actors, since Daniel Craig took over the role in 2005.