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How time flies, eh? I remember, back in 1974, a friend informing me in school one day that the back catalogue of JAMES BOND movies had just been sold to ITV for showing on British television. It wasn't until 1975 (after I had left school) that the first film - DR NO - made its small screen debut, and I recall watching it and reliving my memories of having first seen it in my local cinema around three years earlier.
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So, what has that to do with the price of cheese? Just this - October 5th was the 50th anniversary of the premiere of Dr No back in 1962. Apparently, ITV's contract to show Bond movies on U.K. TV also expires this month, with SKY now having the rights in that department. I find that rather amazing - the fact that an agreement first set up when I was still a mere schoolboy is only just now coming to an end, 38 years later. In that period of time, five different actors have played Bond... James Bond, and the latest - DANIEL CRAIG - has just signed up for another two movies in the ongoing blockbuster franchise.
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On November 25th, another anniversary takes place - the 40th anniversary of the first time I saw agent 007 (in the person of big TAM CONNERY - SEAN to you) go through his paces on the largest cinema screen in Scotland. He had a licence to kill, chill and thrill - and the world's favourite secret agent is still going strong umpteen years later.
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The latest movie, SKYFALL, is due in U.K. cinemas from October 26th, and U.S. cinemas from November 9th. Don't dare miss it - 'cos NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN BOND!
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I'm definitely looking forward to Skyfall... and so is my son who is, at 13, finally old enough to see Bond at the cinema. Bloody 12A ratings!
ReplyDeleteIt will seem strange not to see ITV wheeling out the inevitable Bond movies every Bank Holiday... or when they've got nothing else to schedule opposite Doctor Who :-)
I had just turned 14 when I saw my first Bond double-bill. I was fortunate enough to see all of the Connery Bonds on the big screen before they were sold to TV, but Big Tam had already retired from the role by the time I saw my first film. About 7 or 8 months later, Roger - at the age of 45 - made the role his own for the next 12 years. Great days. No doubt one day your boy will look back on his first cinematic taste of 007 in the same way as I do mine.
ReplyDeleteI can remember seeing The Man With The Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker ( all with my dad ) at our local fleapit but I became disenchanted with Moore's increasingly-creaky portrayal of Bond... and the likes of Star Wars, CE3K and Indiana Jones were calling...
ReplyDeleteConsequently I never saw another big screen Bond until the fantastic Casino Royale - although I did watch them all on ITV of course :-)
I enjoyed Roger's Bonds as much as Sean's, although his last one, 'A View To A Kill' was a little lacklustre. (As Rog himself admits.) Sean's 'Never Say Never Again' was a big disappointment (and you should hear how he describes it), although it seems to work better on telly. As for the Tim Dalton ones, the best thing about them was Desmond Llewelyn's increased screen time in 'Licence To Kill'. 'Skyfall' looks as if it's going to be great - let's just hope it lives up to expectations.
ReplyDeleteI can picture the TV Times feature on From Russia With Love when it was first shown on ITV in the mid-70s.
ReplyDeleteI was interested in the dates because I first read You Only Live Twice in First Year at Strathaven Academy. That was probably during the early months of 1976.
Over this summer, I finally read the original Dr. No, Live and Let Die and Goldfinger. The rhapsodic recounts of sumptuous meals must have been thrilling in Ration Book Britain.
It's been a good many years since I first read the Bond books, Dougie. I think the first one I read may have been 'Live & Let Die' - at the time of the movie in 1973. Must reread them someday.
ReplyDeleteWow, no more Bond on ITV? That'll be weird. It'll also explain the adverts for the "Bond Channel" I've been told about.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a lot younger, Licence To Kill was my favourite. It had sharks, maggots, a lorry chase and a superpowered lighter. Now I'd say my favourite is... Live And Let Die. Crazy voodoo stuff.
First one I saw in the cinema was Tomorrow Never Dies!
Perhaps ITV may reach an agreement for showing them on a picture-to-picture basis in the future. Remember, never say never (again).
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