But Legends Never Truly Die...
Well, that's it now, isn't it? Just about all the celebrity heroes we considered family friends when we were growing up are gone, aren't they? Leslie Crowther, Peter Glaze, Johnny Morris, Rodney Bewes, Adam West, John Noakes, James Garner, Roger Moore, Bobby Ball, and a whole host of others... which sadly now also includes Sean Connery, the big screen's first James Bond.
When Big Tam first played Bond, he was in his early 30s; when he gave it up, he was in his early 40s - and when he reprised the role one more time, he was only 53 or so, several years younger than I am now. And yet each of these landmarks in my life seem like only the recent past to me, so how can the man who was Bond... James Bond, seemingly only a short time ago, be old enough to have died?
I'll leave it to others to cover his life and career; I just didn't want to ignore his passing as Sean's Bond was, and I'm sure it's the same for many others, a fixture of sorts in my life for the last 48 years. Think I'll play a Bond soundtrack and make believe that Sean's still around - which, in so many ways, he still is and always will be.
Kid,
ReplyDeleteWhile there is no question that Sean Connery made 007 famous, James Bond first appeared on the smaller screen in 1954, in Casino Royale on CBS’s Climax which starred Barry Nelson as James Bond and Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre, the villain. It was so bad they learned what they should NOT do with the character.
While people think that this TV show might be irrelevant, it’s importance in the James Bond history is important. First, it meant that Casino Royal could not be “packaged” with the other novels for EON productions. So we got that terrible Casino Royale in 1968. The rights to this novel bounced around in different courtrooms for a half a century before until EON and the Bond estate finally got it back.
Although it looks British, EON was an American company. But they learned from Climax that Bond must be British, not American.
Second, the failure of the TV Show motivated Fleming to look to the movies and work with Kevin McCloy on what was to become Thunderball. The fight over this, which ended just a decade ago, caused SPECTRE and Blofeld to be “banned” from the movies since 1972.
We will read, often, that Connery was the first Bond, but it was not true. But he was the Best of his time.
PS: I still have that record album of YOLT
For me Sean was and always will be THE 007, very sad but 90 years is a fair age Strange the difference in what we consider celeb heroes , all of those mentioned are of course icons but your list are almost solely grounded in childhood. Nothing wrong with that just interesting to see as it ties into all your posts
ReplyDeleteI grew up thinking that George Reeves would always be my Superman. Christopher Reeve changed that.
ReplyDeleteSome thought that Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett, was the best Sherlock Holmes. I liked Benedict Cumberbatch.
So I think that it is not just the strength of an actor that makes him posses his role, but the age of the viewer. Someone seeing a Bond movie today, for the first time, might think Daniel Craig is HE JAMES BOND. It won’t be George Lazenby!
Hi, BP, thanks for commenting. Yes, I knew about Barry Nelson's 'Jimmy' Bond on TV, which is why I said that Sean was the big screen's first James Bond. Did you know that 'EON' stands for 'Everything Or Nothing', which reflected Broccoli's and Saltzman's determination in getting Bond off the ground? Incidentally, an unnamed Blofeld appeared in the pre-credits sequence of For Your Eyes Only. Although he's not referred to by name, we know it's him by his white cat, which was an invention of the filmmakers as it's never mentioned in any of the books. The YOLT cover is scanned from a cd, but I still have my original LP from the '70s, which is when I first saw a JB movie.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to Sherlock Holmes, Vincent Price regarded Rathbone and Brett as joint equals, and I think I probably share that view. I like Cumberbatch in the role, but he strikes me as a tad too young, I also think I'd have preferred to see the series set in the proper period. I suppose when it comes to favourites, it's usually going to be the actor you see in the role first, eh? Depending on what age you are probably.
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Hi, McS - well, I wouldn't say that Bobby Ball was a childhood hero as I was in my late teens or early 20s when he first appeared on the telly, but I know what you mean. The reason I mentioned earlier icons is because I 'grew up' with them, and although there must be some more contemporary TV and movie celebs (can't think of any off the top of my head though), they don't reflect my childhood so I don't really consider them. And when you think of it, it's hardly surprising that someone called 'Kid' perpetually refers back to childhood, eh? Not sure I even think of myself as an adult. (Or is that just sad?) As for Sean, as I've said before, I think he was the Bond of his time, especially in the first three films, but I enjoyed Roger in the role every bit as much. Alas, both gone now.
"Did you know that 'EON' stands for 'Everything Or Nothing'" No it doesn't. Believe or not that was made up a half a century later. There are books out on that. The latest was "When Harry met Cubby" and "The Battle for Bond."
ReplyDeleteCheck your email for my Bond references.
There seems to be confusion over the issue, BP. Michael G. Wilson says it didn't, Dana Broccoli says it did. Cubby and Harry apparently said it didn't, but at the same time as they were denying it, sources close to them were saying it did. It was Steven J. Rubin in his 1983 (I think) book who says it did.
ReplyDeleteThere was even an officially approved documentary called Everything Or Nothing. Who should we believe?
Another link with our past now gone, but the memories, and the movies, will live on. Think I'll put on my DVD of Goldfinger tonight to remember the great man.
ReplyDeleteHe lived to a decent age, had his time in the spotlight and personified one of the great cultural and literary icons, in the eyes of many the definitive portrayel of James Bond. Not to overlook also being a great actor outside of that role.
I also admire actors who manage to stay grounded in a profession that can lead to a certain belief in their own publicity, for want of a better description. He also seemed to avoid all of traps of 'celebrity' (a term greatly devalued in recent years).
RIP Sean, you certainly added extra value to my film viewing experiences over the years.
Hard to believe that Sean and Roger are both gone now, PC. I know I say this sort of thing all the time perhaps to the point of tedium, but it really doesn't seem that I saw my first two Bond movies at my local cinema 48 years ago, on Saturday, November 25th 1972 - it just doesn't seem all that long ago. Ah, well, nothing to do but remember the hours of cinematic enjoyment they gave us, eh?
ReplyDeleteSo many public figures whom I've thought of as a part of my youth are gone now... David Bowie, Sean Connery, Frank Bough (yes, really- despite the scandals he was involved in, he was a part of my youth. I used to watch Grandstand with my grandfather every Saturday afternoon).
ReplyDeleteAt least we have all the great work they left behind, great songs and films will live forever.
And even if we didn't have their work, DS, we'd remember them anyway. After all, they were part of the fabric of our young lives.
ReplyDelete