CommanderBond.net

From CBn's Main Page...

Bond Girls Are Forever In July 2006
A James Bond Girls Celebration at Pinewood Studios, 2 July 2006

Wow....
"Tania Mallet - Tilly Masterson in Goldfinger"

That's amazing, I had always read that she had tried to distance herself from her role in GOLDFINGER.

What with Roger Moore appearing at the Bond festival in Quebec this month and now Tania Mallet at this, perhaps Barbara Bach will return too?!

I'll say this much for you, Dlibra-you're a hopeful one.

Definitely going to consider attending thsi "Bond Girls are Forever" event. I had hoped to go to London in 2005 and was unable to so, have to rectify that in 2006.

Yeah I know that hoping Barbara Bach will return to the fold is a VERY long-shot but I had always thought Mallet was too. Then there is Roger Moore who is attending his first Bond convention this month.

I live in hope!

I think sounds like a very hopeful event so far. Can't wait to see what other Bond girls they get signed up to attend.

not wishing to rain on anyone's parade, but in the 'credit where its due' dept Tania Mallet's first, and to date, last appearance at a 'signing' was the JBIFC's Pinewood event in 1996, which was also attended by Shirley Eaton at her first signing. I am sure BondStars event will be great fun for all who attend, but they are merely copying a format that was pioneered over a decade ago. Some lead, others are destined only to follow........

This post has been edited by dr. watson: 13 February 2006 - 09:21

Tania and Shirley appeared together at the NEC in April 2005 for Bondstars, and later in the year Bondstars arranged an appearance for her at the VinMag Store in London, InfinitelyBetter in Swindon and the Heerlen Film Fair in the Netherlands. You could hardly say 1996 was her first and last signing.

This is Bondstars' third event at Pinewood, and judging by reponse to the others they have surpassed anything held there prior, and given far better value.

If you wish to rain on our parade I would suggest you verify your facts before posting. I would hardly say a signing event was an original concept or something that is pioneering.

If our events were not successful and did not give value for money people would not attend. We'd have no problem if the JBIFC organised event and we certainly wouldn't go griping on here about it.

I attended the event with Richard Kiel and it was just fantastic, extremelly well organized and a huge success. I'll also attend this new one and I can't wait to be in July !

By the way, any of the CBn members to attend ?

This post has been edited by Lady Templar: 14 February 2006 - 14:54

The person posting on behalf of the old JBIFC is missing a few obvious points in their criticism of what Bondstars and others have done. No one is taking away from the fact that for years the JBIFC did indeed pioneer and develop some very nice Bond-related events at Pinewood. At that point in my life, I couldn't attend most of them, but in fairness word of mouth was always very good from those I knew who did attend. However, a downside of these events that people complained about was hearing the guy who put these together moaning to the crowd about how much work he put into it, how under-appreciated he was and how he was never going to throw another event. My friend showed me a video of one of their events in the early 90s, I think. The head of the club comes out on stage looking haggard and grouchy and informing everyone of how much work it all was- some way to start a festive occasion! When an organiser runs an event, the paying public's "appreciation" does not need to extend beyond buying a ticket and showing up. They are not there to get lectures about how much else is "owed" the organiser. If you feel the event itself has not been profitable or an honour to run, then simply don't do them.

Thus, the JBIFC obviously decided many years ago to stop organising Bond events. It does not take away from the great work they contributed to the fan community that ultimately, someone else has taken up the challenge. If the JBIFC feels there is an urgent need for them to do more events, why haven't they sponsored events over the last number of years? Bondstars events are equally classy affairs and provide an excellent value for the money. I have attended a couple and found them to be highly enjoyable and first-class, including their signing sessions at the NEC and their outstanding OHMSS and Thunderball celebrations. The critic who posted his message bizarrely brings up that Tania Mallet first appeared at their show years ago. Who cares? What relevance is that to fans? I never saw people like Earl Cameron and some of the other stars until they emerged through Bondstars, but again, is it important who was the first to "premiere" someone at a convention? Much was recently made over Ursula Andress making her "first signing appearance" at a show in England, but ten years ago, she signed hundreds of autographs (for free!) at a Bond Festival in Jamiaca.

It's a competitive world and success only extends to people who prove to be movers and shakers in any industry or business. It's naive to think just because someone did something well years ago there should be a hiatus on anyone else attempting to do the same. There has obviously been a void that needed to be filled for Bond fans in terms of events. There have been many events that Bondstars had nothing to do with that were also terrific, such as the old Bond conventions run by Creation - one of which even had Pierce Brosnan and Michael Wilson in attendance. Thus, no one ever had a monopoly on excellent Bond conventions. All these events have been well-attended or no one would throw new ones. If the JBIFC wishes to throw a new convention, I am certain it, too, will be appreciated and well-patronised. I certainly hope they do. However, talk is cheap and you can't live off past glories. The people who are willing to get off their bums and do the hard work will get the rewards, both financial and in terms of prestige. That's life.

Well said! However, we should make clear that the JBIFC of the Nineties is not the same JBIFC that exists today.

The original James Bond Fan Club, under the presidency of Ross Hendry, was the driving force behind the first conventions held in the UK. The "some lead, others are destined only to follow" quote from Dr Watson is equally true of Ross's successor - only, as you rightly pointed out, the presentation left a lot to be desired.

I have attended most of Bondstars events and have thoroghly enjoyed the professionalism of the organisation, the quality of the guests (and quantity!), and the quality of the film screenings. You only have to compare last year's OHMSS event which featured MGM's complete, uncut, flawless, archive print of the movie to the crappy home projector screenings of old to appreciate what Bondstars do.

Instead of "some lead, others are destined to follow", perhaps the following is more appropriate - "where others have screwed up, nobody does it better than Bondstars!"

Anyone else going to join just to rip into each other's anoraks?

It's interesting to see that along with Tania Mallett, Bondstars has Zena Marshall coming, Deborah Moore, Britt Ekland and Maud Adams - great names!!

I've not read one bad thing about their events. Sure they're a bit pricey, but heck they give more than the money's worth, and do it with such style.

They're great guys.

Wonder if they are married???

Welcome to the CBn Forums, kellytaylor.