40 Years Of Ursula Andress

It was almost 40 years ago to the day that Ursula Andress stepped out from the water in Dr No’s “Crab Key”, at that very moment, and despite being unaware at the time, Andress was creating what has now become one of the most recognised images in cinematic history, a scene kept sacred by Bond fans the world over. She was the first of a new breed of female lead roles. The very first Bond girl.

The Swiss beauty arose from the waves wearing a white bikini, and hunting knife, which she strapped to her side. This stunning scene amazed fans worldwide including Michael Apted, who would later go on to direct the 19^th Bond film; The World Is Not Enough. Apted says that he himself and his generation “never really recovered from seeing Ursula Andress coming out of the water”, costume designers throughout the years have tried to play homage to this scene in Dr No, none more that 007’s current costume designer; Lindy Hemming.

Working on GoldenEye, Lindy was required to produce a look for modern woman, Natalya (played by Izabella Scorupco), one of which was a white bikini needed for a scene that takes place on a Cuban beach. When asked in interview Lindy revealed the bikini was “from La Pearla” and was her “homage to Ursula Andress”. With the 20^th film in the series now nearing completion, it is also known that Bond girl Jinx, who is played by Halle Berry, also wears one of Lindy’s homage’s to Ursula; an orange bikini in a similar style, with the added touch of a hunting knife.

Although relatively unknown at the time the movie was released, and still kept quiet by Bond bosses today… this woman – Ursula Andress who has been honoured and billed as the ultimate Bond girl (something she still likes to be called in today’s world of politically correctness) had in fact had her entire dialogue dubbed by another actress. There are a few odd pieces of sound heard from Ursula, but on the most part all of Honey Ryder’s sounds, and all of her spoken words are the work of an actress who to this day, the Bond bosses at Eon Productions have refused reveal the identity of.

Although her beauty was unsurpassed, it has to be said the acting was not the best seen in cinema at that time, ever her voice-work was not her own… so why do most of us still grant Ursula the title of the “Ultimate Bond Girl”? Well, it’s simple, in the entire 40 year history of the Bond movies, never have we seen a character who brought with them such a presence and on-screen qualities that made us feel that we no longer required to watch and see, even acknowledge the appearance of the man the movie was about… Mr James Bond.

For example, in the scene where we first meet her, both Bond and the audience almost instantly falls in love with the character, and the actress who makes her physically possible, we feel that we need to know more about her, to understand who and what she is, and become closer to her. All the time we are doing this we place this character, 007, to one side, and leave the suave agent until a few moments later. She is one of only a few people throughout the series who have been able to do this, it is indeed something very special to be able to borrow the attention from the man who is perhaps the most followed, and admired action hero in cinematic history.

Andress has become somewhat of a model to all of today’s Bond women, they dream of being able to have the effect and leave such a meaningful and lasting impression upon the world, to catch the magic that was Honey Ryder for 2 hours of film. It is an actresses fantasy, but alas it isn’t possible, many have tried and all have failed, to try and become this historic character is an impossible and one time only event. For this reason, the women in Bond have evolved, chosen to select the greatest merits of the character – her glamour, and presence, tried to embrace them, and using this knowledge create their own fun, sexy, and aptly named “Bond Girl” with which they can honour the woman who started it all… 40 years ago.

Details On Arnold's Score

Paul Tonks, from ‘Movie Poop Shoot‘, was lucky enough to attend a scoring session for Die Another Day at Air Studio’s in London last week. And here’s what he had to say about the soundtrack and the score;

This week I attended a scoring session for DIE ANOTHER DAY at Air Studios in London. It made for a pleasant trilogy of Bond memories, having also been there for TOMORROW NEVER DIES and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH. There’ll be a full feature here on the score including my interview with David Arnold to coincide with the film and album release. What I’m at liberty to tell you in advance is that the album will contain around 40 minutes of score comprised from the best of around 100 minutes written. The reason for such a small release is that the Warner Bros. disc is otherwise filled by the Madonna song, her music video, a Paul Oakenfold remix, and another interactive video element. It’s not the best of situations for a Bond score, and David would like a second volume (as happened with TOMORROW NEVER DIES), but nothing’s guaranteed.

I can tell you that this score is very much an extension of David’s previous two. To paraphrase his own description: “This is as far as this style of music can go before there’ll need to be a radical change.” This is in reference to what he began with “Backseat Driver” utilising The Propellerheads and culminates now in some seriously advanced channel mixing, samples and distortion. Expect the unexpected, including the first use of a choir in a Bond score and no single instance of any of the Bond Themes played in its entirety. The film opens November 22nd and the Warner album precedes it on the 19th.

Not all of the information is quite clear, especially what Tonks means when he refers to none of the ‘Bond Themes’ being used its/there entirety.

If you’d like to discuss the news please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.

And a big thanks to Rich for alerting us to the news!

Goldfinger and the 7 Henchmen

Frankly, the finale of Goldfinger in which James Bond and Pussy Galore defeat Goldfinger wasn’t a fair fight. All pussys have nine lives and 007 himself has two (he only lives twice). That’s a total of eleven lives against one, the gold obsessed one never stood a chance. It’s only right that he should be allowed reinforcement, to create a level playing field and all that. Now, we don’t know for certain how many lives Pussy Galore has lost before the film, but being a pilot and all, let’s for the sake or arguement say three, reducing the balance to eight vs one. This means that Goldfinger is entitled to seven dwarfs. Did I say dwarfs? Sorry, I meant henchmen, but I’m sure that the seven henchmen that Snow White, er, I mean Goldfinger, selected would have the same quailities and abilities as those beard wearing, ballad singing, vertically challenged miners. Goldfinger knew henchmen talent when he saw it, and I’m sure that he would have made some very first-rate selections for his team. Perhaps his choices would look a little something like this…

Red Grant as Doc – Red Grant is perfect for the leadership role of ‘Doc’. He may not have the PhD usually accosiated with ‘Doc’, but then again the only henchman who does is Dr Kauffman from Tomorrow Never Dies, and you wouldn’t get that clumsy shmuck to organise a chook raffle let alone a team of henchmen. Red Grant on the other had is fit, adjile, and can put on a bad English accent, all vital credentials for being the leader of a group like this.

Odd Job as Happy – Who wouldn’t be happy when your job involves painting naked women? Odd Job may appear stern and serious most of the time, but if you look closely the smile of a very elated individual occasionally forces it’s way out. And it’s no wonder he’s in high spirits, not only does he get to drive a Rolls Royce, cheat at golf and decapitate statutes, he also get’s paid for it!! What a dream occupation, one can only imagine the number of applicants Goldfinger had when he advertised for that position in the paper. Odd Job is a very lucky man, and a happy man too I’m sure.

Jaws as Grumpy – I’d be grumpy too If I had the problems he does getting though those metal detectors at the airport, and having to duck your head everytime there’s a door way can’t be easy on the old stress level either. Jaws was able to take it all in his stride for a while, but eventually it all wore him down and he became very angry and violent. His only relief came from extreme sports; jumping out of planes, rowing off water falls, riding on the of cable lifts, participating in Mardi Gras. Thankfully, these dangerous stunts came to and end when he found love, and he’s been considerbly less grumpy since.

Nick Nack as Bashful – Bond with Mary Goodnight, Scaramanga with Andrea, JW Pepper with Mrs Pepper, M with Moneypenny (deleted scene), seems that all the fellas in The Man with the Golden Gun are getting some action, except for poor Nick Nack that is. And it’s not his hieght thats the problem, in this film not even a third nipple will turn the women off. Nick Nack definatly has the potential to be a devil with the ladies, but it is his bashfulness that prevents him from trying out a few of his famous pick up lines.

Baron Samedi as Sneezy – It’s not well known, but Voodoo Prince Baron Samedi used to have chronic hayfever. One sneeze and half his body paint flew off. It was getting to be quite a problem, so much so that he was perscribed mediaction. But later he, like so many others before him, got addicted and the results pretty much speak for themselves in Live and Let Die. C’mon, you all suspected as much, people don’t dance around, play flutes and laugh hysterically unless they are doped up on something. But on the plus side, he no longer has a sneezing problem.

Xenia as Sleepy – Okay, she’s not actually alseep, but she is in bed when she kills most of her victims, and that’s as close as I could get to having a logical explaintation for having someone in the ‘Sleepy’ role. Her thigh crushing capabilites would certainly come in handy in a tight situation, and while it may be a bit of a squeeze on Goldfingers henchman salary cap, the team would be hard pressed to win without her (I am a clever chap).

Vargus as Dopey – Perhaps he should be playing ‘Bashful’, since he shuns the limelight and isn’t near as famous as some of his colleages, but his total quietness, ineptness and inability more than earned him the position of Dopey. Look at his death scene, shot with a harpoon gun by the very person he’s trying to sneak up on, that sort of dopeiness can’t be taught, you ever have it you don’t, and Vargus definatly has it.

And now its eight vs. eight and the stage is set for the greatest battle of all time. James Bond and Pussy Galore in the red corner, Goldfinger and his seven henchmen in the blue. What was previously a one-sided dust up is now a promoters dream, the sort of battle that is certian to go down in history as one of the all time classics.

Until next time,

Freemo

The Product Placement of Dr No

If you think that product placement is something that has just recently became a part of the world of James Bond, think again. With the 40^th anniversary we can also celebrate the lifelong partnership with product placement. “My books are spattered with branded products of one sort or another as I think it is stupid to invent bogus names for products which are household words,” replies Ian Fleming in his biography written by Andrew Lycett when someone remarked that his books are “the only modern thrillers with built-in commercials”.

007 is a milestone in the history of moviemaking. Over the past forty years the name and his licence to kill have evolved into a brandname. Bond has become a product of it’s own with a licence to entertain and to sell. He has been blessed with a high media profile, so naturally everybody wants to get a piece of the action and the spotlight. The films have become a way for advertising agencies and corporations to associate their product with 007, and so get the media attention they’re seeking. A way to advertise a product is through product placement. You make a deal with the filmmakers that your product will be used in the film, one way or the other. When and what you define as product placement is open for debate. Do you have to see the brandname, the logo or not? Does the character has to use or mention it in the scene? Or is it enough that the product is part of the set decoration? I say that product placement occurs when you see or hear a product in the film and are able to identify it as an existing product that consumers can buy.

In general E.T. The Extra Terrestrial directed by Steven Spielberg is referred to as the film that made product placement possible. But long before E.T. hit the big screen there was already a famous movie character that used product placement: Bond, James Bond. Knowing that Fleming used real products in his books it seems natural that product placement also found it’s way into the films. The only difference is that supposedly it wasn’t a money making process with the early Bond films, unlike today. You need props to make a film. If there’s a scene where James Bond drives a car, you need a car. In Dr. No it could very well have been a different one than the Sunbeam Alpine. Nowadays it’s not unlikely that you first get the car and then write a scene.

For my thesis I did research on product placement and James Bond. It shows that there’s product placement in every single Bond film. In fact, every Bond film opens with a form of product placement: the Bond theme. It wouldn’t be fair to John Barry and Monty Norman if you don’t acknowledge that. Music is a product that the creator wants to sell and we as a consumer are willing to buy. And so every time we hear the Bond theme, a themesong or a different song it’s product placement. In the case of the Bond theme in Dr. No it can be heard in 28 shots for a total time of 3.48 minutes. You also have the songs Three Blind Mice (6 shots and 51 seconds), Under The Mango Tree (23 shots and 2.51 minutes) and Jump Up (13 shots and 1.52 minutes).

Including the music I found at least 17 products in Dr. No, that can be seen in 191 different shots. These shots are good for a total of 19.47 minutes of screen time. On the amount of products Dr. No is the second lowest film, next to YOLT. On the other points the film has the lowest amount of shots and screen time when you compare it to the other Bond films. The obvious forms of product placement include Pan American, Chevrolet, Ford, Dom Perignon and Rolex. But sometimes you have to read a lot of articles and books to find the product. For instance in Dr. No when James Bond visits Miss Taro at her house he helps himself to a drink before awaiting the arrival of Professor Dent. The bottle he uses is Smirnoff. You never see the label but thanks to merchandising and advertising there’s a poster of Sean Connery in the same room holding the same bottle with the Smirnoff label pointing to the camera. That way we can identify the bottle as product placement. Once you know the product you can search for it in different scenes and than you’ll find that a Smirnoff bottle also appears in Bond’s hotel room.

With the absence of Smirnoff in Die Another Day you can say that a little piece of history vanishes. I for one always enjoyed their advertisements. But we don’t need to fear. Die Another Day will have a lot of product placement for all of us to enjoy. So, happy birthday 007 and a happy birthday to product placement.

Didier Van Hoorebeke
Bondianbelgium

Daily Telegragh To Feature 007 Special

In brief news, Sydney based newspaper ‘The Daily Telegraph’ will feature a special article based upon the 40th Anniversary of James Bond.

The special article will feature in this Saturdays paper, perfect timing as Saturday is exactly 40 years since the premier of the first James Bond film, Dr No, in London.

Final US Trailer Now Online

The final Die Another Day trailer has now debuted online at the official James Bond site and at Apple Trailers.

The US orientated trailer features a variety of news scenes from Die Another Day including some first looks at the Graves’ Icarus weapon in space, a variety of news scenes in Iceland and Cuba and a look at the Q-Branch scene.

The trailers theme orientates around Bond’s capture in the pre-titles sequence of the film, and his subsequent hand-over by General Moon. The trailer plays heavily on the plot line of Bond having been set up in North Korea to be captured, and a supposed betrayal by M.

If you’d like to join in the discussion of the trailer please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.

Official Site Confirms Release Of Trailer Tonight

The official James Bond web site, jamesbond.com has confirmed that the DAD Trailer will go online tonight after the showing on Hollywood Tonight.

You can countdown to the release in this thread in the Die Another Day forums.

Trailer May Debut Online Today

With the full Die Another Day trailer set to premier on tonights edition of Access Hollywood, film news site Dark Horizons is indicating that the trailer will then debut on the Internet not long after.

Thankfully, the debut will be in Quicktime format at the Apple Movie Trailers site. It currently features only the first and second teaser trailers.

CommanderBond.net recommends that visitors also keep an eye on Yahoo! Movies as with the past two teaser trailers Fox International have presented their version of the trailers on the site. While the Windows Media Format features less quality than the Quicktime version, the second International Teaser Trailer did feature slightly different footage from the US Teaser Trailer.

The Musical Beginnings

Forty years ago, nearly to the day, Doctor No, the first James Bond film, was about to be unleashed upon an unexpecting world. The first of many, this film was to be a trendsetter for the series; featuring elaborate sets, malevolent enemies and luscious women aplenty. But as many people, David Arnold included, note; a film does not truly feel like a Bond film until they hear the instantly recognisable sound of Bond.

Though Bond films have adapted to current music trends throughout the years, possibly the only element that has remained consistent throughout (GoldenEye potentially being an exception) is the use of the ‘James Bond Theme’. This magnificent piece of music held in a deadlock of debate as to who actually composed it, some say John Barry was drafted in to do the job that composer Monty Norman didn’t do to the satisfaction of Dr No’s producers, while others say that Barry merely re-orchestrated Norman’s groundwork. However, that being said, I shall not delve into the perplexed musical ruminations of many a Bond fan.

Quite simply put, the James Bond Theme is superb, catchy, and the archetype of 1960s spy film music, a staccato, calm, almost nonchalant riff stabs over an urgent bass line, which suddenly explodes into a burst of dirty brass over a swing beat, encapsulating the very essence of Bond’s persona; composed in the face of danger, and ready to act when all hell breaks loose around him (which, unsurprisingly after 40 years in the spy game, it often does). Understandably, the theme arises many times during this first Bond film, however, strangely, when Norman does use it, he picks the riff out in brass rather than a guitar, and also he refuses to underlay the riff with the bass line. Refer to the scene into which 007 enters his apartment before his second encounter with Sylvia Trench for an example of this. By the end of the film, the James Bond Theme is securely stamped in our minds, and when we hear the first few bars of it, we instantly associate it with our dapper secret agent. Interestingly though, the theme is always heard in its raw, Barry-arranged form, apart from in Norman’s irregular use of it, never re-orchestrated to suit the particular scene of the film in which it’s used (refer to the scene in Le Cercle, and the introduction of Bond for an example of this), thus further cementing Barry’s orchestration in the filmgoers’ minds.

Other cues in the soundtrack, however, are fairly lacklustre, which becomes disappointing with the almost non-existent use of the Bond Theme, and rather than carving his own niche in the music world as Barry did with his later soundtracks, Norman uses rather traditional film-music styles of the time that now sound shamefully dated, Bond music (as we now so originally refer to the genre) was no more than a year away with the release of the next film, and certainly was not evident in style with Doctor No.

Second from the James Bond Theme, the song “Underneath The Mango Tree” is used heavily throughout the film, most prominently during Bond’s meeting with Honey, in which Connery sings a bar of it (an action never repeated by Bond since) another great musical influence on the film is the contemporary Jamaican music, most notably “Jamaican Jump Up” performed by Byron Lee and The Dragoneers during the scene in Pussfeller’s club where Bond warns off the so-called “photographer” from The Daily Gleaner, Marguerite Lewars (Lee’s singing in this scene was badly dubbed, as was the music; the band were obviously not playing their instruments, and it’s clear Lee was told to keep his mouth as close to the large microphone as possible, so the audience couldn’t see the poor lip-sync), this sound was particularly hip during the 1960s, and Norman wanted to tap into it, so, naturally, he sought to find the most popular song in Jamaica, and “Jamaica Jump Up” was playing in all the clubs at the time.

This exotic element so prevalent in the soundtrack, coupled with the sexy, brassy Bond Theme, though not entirely setting the standard for the Bond soundtracks, that accolade arguably goes to Barry’s superior soundtrack to From Russia With Love, does hold it’s own in the series and is definitely a good place for the most successful series to find its humble musical beginnings.

Water, Shaken Not Stirred

It seems that Bolinger and Finlanda Vodka won’t be the only drinks to grace the silver in Die Another Day this November, water will be too. And it won’t just come in the form of a melting Ice Palace.

Welsh mineral water company Ty Nant will have their ‘blue bottled’ water featured in Die Another Day scenes set in Gustav Graves’ Ice Palace. A Ty Nant spokesman revealed that “The producers [of Die Another Day] thought our new bottle would be perfect for the scene because it looks like it’s made from ice.”

While PR is pushing that Bond will be passing on his trademark Vodka Martini and ordering Ty Nant instead, the recently revealed product placement with Finlanda Vodka indicates otherwise.

If you’d like to discuss the companies product placement please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.

Thanks to ‘MBE’ for alerting us to the news!