JULY 2017 - An exclusive interview with two-time Bond Girl Nadja
Regin
16 July 2017
“The biggest
strength you can have is love!”
One of the few
actresses to appear in two Bond films as two different
characters, Nadja Regin’s off-screen life story is more dramatic
and heart-rending than any Hollywood movie, as Luke G. Williams
discovered when he met her for a rare in-depth interview.
Since
her retirement from acting to pursue a variety of literary endeavours,
Nadja Regin, who featured as the seductive nightclub dancer Bonita in the
iconic pre-credits sequence to Goldfinger, has given very few
interviews. It was therefore a considerable honour when she recently
agreed to meet me for coffee in a West London hotel to discuss her life
and career. A gentle, elegant and softly spoken lady, Nadja was charmingly
devoid of any showbusiness airs and graces; instead, she exuded warmth and
modesty throughout our conversation, which ran for nearly two hours...
JULY 2017 - OMEGA release a new watch inspired by Commander Bond
9 July 2017
Inspired by Bond’s
rank and regalia, OMEGA has created the "Commander’s Watch". The
timepiece salutes the ensign colours of the British Royal Navy, with
touches of white, blue and red found throughout the watch, creating a
suave and stately look.
At an event held on 5
July 2017 at London’s Tate Britain gallery, Swiss watchmaker OMEGA
unveiled a new timepiece that celebrates the rank and regalia of James
Bond. Known as the Seamaster Diver 300M “Commander’s Watch” Limited
Edition, OMEGA President and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann revealed the
watch alongside Bond film producer Michael G. Wilson and Samantha Bond
(Moneypenny in the Pierce Brosnan James Bond films 1995-2002).
British world
champion wrestler and actor Joseph (Joe) Robinson, best known
for his performance as Peter Franks inDiamonds Are Forever(1971) has died at the age of 90.
Probably the deadliest exponent of the
Martial Arts in Britain at the height of his career (he held an 8th Dan
in Judo and a 5th Dan in Karate), Joe Robinson came from a family of
championship wrestlers who eventually moved into the entertainment
industry.
By way of RADA, Joe was eventually cast by director Sir Carol Reed for the
pivotal lead role of Sam in the magical film A Kid For Two Farthings
(1955) in which he wrestled the gigantic Primo Carnera. About this
time Joe found his impressively muscular frame (he has a 50-inch chest)
much in demand in 60’s Italian cinema, appearing in many ‘sword and
sandal’ epics such as King of Brute Force (1962), Ursus and the
Tartar Girl (1962), and also opposite Anthony Quinn and Jack Palance
in Richard Fleischer’s affecting and memorable epic Barabbas
(1962).
A long-time
supporter of 007 MAGAZINE,
Robinson accompanied Graham Rye to Las Vegas in 1993, where
Rye's newly restored Diamonds Are Forever Moon Buggy
featured as the centrepiece at Planet Hollywood's newest
restaurant.
JULY 2017 - Exclusive new article - The Japanese Greta Garbos?
8 July 2017
In search of
Mie Hama and Akiko Wakabayashi
by LUKE G. WILLIAMS
Of all the actresses who
have appeared in the James Bond series, Japanese duo Mie Hama and Akiko
Wakabayashi – who played Kissy Suzuki and Aki respectively in Lewis
Gilbert’s 1967 epic You Only Live Twice – both are undisputedly the
most enigmatic and low profile.
007 MAGAZINE
presents an exclusive new article profiling the careers of two
of the elusive stars of You Only Live Twice, which
celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
7 July 2017 40 years ago, on the evening of Thursday 7th July 1977,
The Spy Who Loved Me had its Royal World Charity Premiere at
the ODEON Leicester Square in London.
To celebrate
the 40th Anniversary of The Spy Who Loved Me, 007
MAGAZINE looks back at the production of the tenth James Bond
adventure, one fraught with difficulties and which was the
biggest gamble in the series' history up to that point.
From its
jaw-dropping pre-title sequence; through the marvellous main
titles by Maurice Binder (with Marvin Hamlisch and Carly
Simon's 'Nobody Does It Better' torch-song); Richard Kiel's
larger-than-life henchman, Ken Adam's Oscar nominated production design;
Derek Meddings' realistic miniatures, and the iconic Lotus Esprit, The
Spy Who Loved Me reaches middle-age with a wry smile and a
tongue-in-cheek twinkle that only it's late lamented star could pull off.
R.I.P Sir Roger Moore and a happy 40th to The Spy Who Loved Me!
12 June 2017
"It was 50
years ago today..."
Two weeks after the release of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's
Lonely Heart's Club Band, the fifth James Bond film You Only Live Twice
premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square on the evening of Monday June
12, 1967 in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip. Sean
Connery attended along with his actress wife Diane Cilento; screenwriter
Roald Dahl was accompanied by his actress wife Patricia Neal and the late
Ian Fleming’s close friend Ivar Bryce. The film then opened at The Astor
in New York on 13 June 1967.
JUNE 2017 - Vintage James Bond posters to be auctioned in London
15 June
2017
Bloomsbury
Auctions’ upcoming Vintage Posters sale in London on 15th June
2017 comprises 216 lots, with estimates ranging from
£500-£6,000.
Sale highlights
include posters from the iconic spaghetti westerns, A Fistful
of Dollars and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, as
well as rare posters from the perennially popular James Bond
films: Dr. No (Lot 154 est. £5,000-£7,000), From
Russia With Love (Lot 155 est. £4,000-£6,000),
Goldfinger (Lot 165 est. £3,000-£5,000), Thunderball
(Lot 164 est. £2,000-£4,000), You Only Live Twice (Lot
156 est. £1,500-£2,500) and On Her Majesty's Secret Service
(Lot 166 est. £1,000-£1,500). Posters from other iconic
British and American films are also featured in the auction.
MAY 2017 - Two classic James Bond films return to cinemas in tribute
to Sir Roger Moore
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Studios (MGM), Park Circus and EON Productions have announced a series of
special screenings in memory of Sir Roger Moore, to take place at cinemas
across the world including: ODEON Cinemas (UK), AMC Theatres (U.S.) and
HOYTS (Australia, New Zealand), beginning 31 May 2017. Additional
locations to be announced soon.
The newly restored 4K versions of The Spy Who Loved Me and For
Your Eyes Only will be screened with 50 percent of all proceeds
benefitting UNICEF. As a Goodwill Ambassador, Sir Roger had been a
dedicated and passionate supporter of UNICEF since 1991.
23
May 2017 Sir Roger Moore, the third actor to play James Bond in seven
films from 1973-1985, has died in Switzerland at the age of 89.
His family
issued the following statement via his official Twitter account
today:
With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that
our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all
devastated.
James Bond
Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have released
the following statement: "We are heartbroken at the news of Sir
Roger Moore’s passing. On the screen, he reinvented the role of
James Bond with tremendous skill, charisma and humour. In real
life, he was a genuine hero working as a UNICEF Goodwill
Ambassador for many years dedicating his life to alleviating the
suffering of children all over the world. He was a loyal and
beloved friend and his legacy shall live on through his films
and the millions of lives he touched. We shall miss him
enormously. Our love and thoughts are with Deborah, Geoffrey,
Christian his grandchildren and his wife Kristina.”
MAY 2017 - Chris Cornell (1964-2017)
18 May 2017 Chris Cornell (born Christopher John Boyle), the American
musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead
vocalist, primary songwriter and rhythm guitarist for Seattle
rock band Soundgarden and as lead vocalist and songwriter
for the group Audioslave has died at the age of 52.
Cornell will be
remembered by James Bond fans as the singer of the title song
for Daniel Craig's debut as 007 in Casino Royale (2006).
Cornell co-wrote the song with Casino Royale composer
David Arnold. Although the song does not appear on the
soundtrack album for the film, it later appeared on Cornell's
2007 solo album Carry On.
Bond Producer
Barbara Broccoli paid tribute by saying: “Chris Cornell ushered
in the new era of Bond with his adrenaline fuelled song “You
Know My Name” for Casino Royale. He was a gentleman and a
true artist and we loved every moment of our collaboration with
him. Michael and I and the entire Bond family mourn his tragic
loss.”
APRIL 2017 - Clifton James (1920-2017)
15 April
2017 American actor Clifton James who played Sheriff J.W. Pepper
in Live And Let Die (1973) and The Man With The Golden
Gun (1974) has died at the age of 96.
In a career
spanning seven decades, James appeared in over 100 films and TV
series including The Chase (1966) and Cool Hand Luke
(1967). Later films included The Last Detail (1973),
Superman II (1980) and The Untouchables (1987).
Often cast as
Southern American law men, James was actually born in Spokane,
Washington. Sheriff J.W. Pepper was created by Live And Let
Die screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz as comic relief as he didn't
want the audience laughing at the African American villains in
the film. The character was so popular that James was asked to
reprise the role in the next film in the series The Man With
The Golden Gun.
Clifton James
was one of several James Bond alumni who attended Autographica 2005 where
the biggest
name by far on the guest list, courtesy of Graham Rye and 007
MAGAZINE, was Ursula Andress.
APRIL 2017 - Casino Royale at 50 - The film that is still too
much for one James Bond!
1 April 2017 50 years ago Casino Royale was
released on an unsuspecting British public following it's Royal Charity
premiere on 13 April 1967. Despite some poor reviews in the British press,
the film went on to do brisk business at the Odeon Leicester Square in the
weeks before Sean Connery's fifth 007 outing You Only Live Twice
premiered there on 13 June. Casino Royale opened at the
LOEW'S Capitol Theatre in
New York on 28 April 1967, and for six weeks it was the
highest-grossing film in the United States, eventually becoming
the thirteenth most successful film of the year.
The story
behind how the 1967 version of Ian Fleming's first James Bond
novel was made would make a fascinating film in itself, and the
many behind-the-scenes stories surrounding its troubled
production have since become legend.
To celebrate
the 50th Anniversary of the release of Casino Royale, 007
MAGAZINE presents 007 little-known facts about the film that was
too big for one James Bond! Casino Royale
at 50
MARCH 2017 - Becoming Bond - a new 90-minute docu-drama
premieres at the SXSW Festival
11 March
2017
Becoming Bond, a new 90-minute docu-drama has premiered at
the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. The film will be
available to stream on HULU from 20 May 2017.
Written and directed by Josh Greenbaum, the film, described as a
“unique documentary/narrative hybrid” chronicles
“stranger-than-fiction true story of George Lazenby, a poor
Australian car mechanic who, through an unbelievable set of
circumstances, landed the role of James Bond in On Her
Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), despite having never acted
a day in his life. Then after being offered the next seven Bond
films and a $1 million signing bonus, he turned it all down.”
Australian actor Josh Lawson stars as George Lazenby. Also
appearing in Becoming Bond is former Bond girl Jane
Seymour who played Solitaire in Live And Let Die (1973).
MARCH 2017 - Ian Fleming and Book Collecting - A Special
Issue of The Book Collector
Everyone knows
about Bond but few are aware of Fleming’s passion for collecting
books. In 1952, the same year he wrote CASINO ROYALE, he
launched The Book Collector. By then he was well into his
collection of first editions of the crucial books of modern
civilisation (on TV, atomic fission, X-rays, birth control, the
motor car and penicillin among other things). As an idea it was
unique. When he died in 1964 it was bought by the Lilly Library,
Indiana University.
• “James Bond
Invades America”
• “Collecting Ian Fleming”
• “You Only Live Twice, the dust-wrapper”
• “Two Bond Collectors: Why Bond?”
• “The Bond Market: an 007 Price Index”
These are only
a few of the articles you’ll find in the March Special Issue.
Much of the material comes from unseen family papers. It will be
a unique publication in the vast history of the Bond phenomenon.
FULL STORY
FEBRUARY 2017 - Alec McCowen (1925-2017)
6 February
2017
Alec McCowen, the respected stage and film actor has died at the
age of 91. Remembered by Bond fans as 'Q' [Algernon] inNever Say Never Again (1983), he gave a brief but
memorable performance opposite Sean Connery who returned to the
role of James Bond for the first time in over a decade. McCowen
provided the most memorable lines in the film during his brief
exchange with Connery in the Q-branch scene.
McCowen made
his film debut in The Cruel Sea in 1953 and later joined
the Old Vic Company for its 1959–60 season at the Royal Court
Theatre. Moving to the Royal Shakespeare Company he played many
important roles in the early 1960s.
Perhaps his
most famous screen role was in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy
(1972) when he played Chief Inspector Oxford, whose pretentious
gourmet cook wife (played by Vivien Merchant) offered comic
relief in the master director's penultimate film. Returning to
the stage in 1973 he originated the role of child psychiatrist
Dr. Martin Dysart opposite Peter Firth in the world premiere of
Peter Shaffer's Equus, which ran at the National Theatre
in London from 1973 to 1975.
