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    Donald Pleasence was not the first choice to play Donald Pleasence was not the first choice to play Ernst Stavro Blofled in You Only Live Twice. 

Czech actor and playwright Jan Werich was cast to play the 007 supervillain.

Werich was Bond producer Harry Saltzman personal choice to play Blofeld. He felt his theatrical experience and artistic flair would produce a unique and dynamic presence to the leader of Spectre. Co-producer Cubby Broccoli thought it was a gamble, but agreed it could work. Director Lewis Gilbert wasn't sold on the idea and was apprehensive about the choice.

It didn't take long for them all to realize that Werich was badly miscast. Filming with Werich took place for five days as the filmmakers tried to make the casting work - and it just wasn't happening. 

Werich didn't project the required malice the character needed. He struggled with the English dialogue and he just didn't look menacing at all. Gilbert described him looking like a "benevolent Santa Claus".

The producers and director all agreed recasting was necessary. Gilbert was familiar with Pleasence and believed he was the man for the job. They called him and he was hired. Pleasence didn't have much time to prepare. After considering ideas of giving the character a limp, a hump or an injured hand, they decided Blofeld would have a facial scar. The white cat was always going to be present.

Several shots that Werich had filmed were used in the final film, rather than reshooting all of it with Pleasence and to save some money. This included shots of Werich's hands, shots of the back of his chair as he's sitting in it and the close-up shot of Sean Connery reacting to Blofeld's face reveal in the film.

Pleasence filmed for about three weeks in the volcano lair set at Pinewood Studios. His shooting schedule was intensive was to make up for the lost time. He later said about his experience filming You Only Live Twice that he "took the money and ran, as it were". 

Since Werich was already contracted to play Blofeld and even though he filmed for only five days, he was paid his full salary just to be dismissed from the film. 

Imagine how different the character would have been with Werich as Blofeld.
    On October 5, 1986, near the start of principal ph On October 5, 1986, near the start of principal photography of The Living Daylights, a press conference was held at Vienna Rathaus (City Hall) in Austria with Cubby Broccoli, director John Glen, Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Abo and the cast of The Living Daylights where they all fielded questions from the international press.

Dalton said, "I intend to approach this project with a sense of responsibility to the work of Ian Fleming and to the project the film The Living Daylights as written by Michael and Richard Maibaum. 

Outside City Hall the brand new Aston Martin V8 Volante was parked. The filmmakers were happy to show the press that this new 007 was going back to driving his signature car brand, the Aston Martin. It had been offscreen since On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Dalton and d'Abo posed for photos for the press - some really cool photos from that day.
    Somewhere In Time, 1980. The film is based on the Somewhere In Time, 1980.

The film is based on the 1975 sci-fi romance novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson. He would also write the screenplay.

Director Jeannot Szwarc wanted to make the film and presented it to Universal Pictures. At first they refused, then Szwarc reminded them about the success of Jaws 2, which he directed and it became Universal's biggest box office hit in 1978. The studio agreed to green light Somewhere In Time if the budget stayed at $4 million. 

Reeve had gotten ahold of the script, loved it and took a lower salary to play the lead role. Of course, Superman had just come out, was a massive success, so his agents were reluctant at the decision. However, Reeve was eager to prove he could play a romantic lead and got the role.

Numerous actresses auditioned for the role of 1912 stage star Elise McKenna. Szwarc would ask the actresses if they had ever been deeply in love. Seymour was the only actress who said, "No.". That answer won her the role with Szwarc feeling the character needed to be innocent and who hadn't experienced a life-changing romance yet.

Reeve and Seymour had instant chemistry on-screen. Years later Seymour revealed they genuinely fell in love with one another during the making of the film. Both single at the time, they had an off-screen romance, which they kept secret from the crew. They maintained a lifelong friendship. Seymour would later name one of her sons after him.

When it was released, Somewhere in Time was a disappointment at the box office in the U.S., but was a massive hit in Asia. The film would later be discovered from airings on cable tv and home video. The film became more popular years after its original release and has become a fan favorite. 

An annual fan convention takes place a the historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan where the movie was filmed. Fans come dressed in 1912 costumes, take tours, watch the film and listen to music. Both Seymour and Reeve have attended past conventions. 

Reeve would say he felt the film was ahead of its time and called it one of his proudest moments, right alongside Superman.
    Bond POV in Tomorrow Never Dies #BondPOV #Tomorro Bond POV in Tomorrow Never Dies

#BondPOV #TomorrowNeverDies
    You Only Live Twice, 1967. On September 30, 1966 L You Only Live Twice, 1967. On September 30, 1966 Lewis Gilbert filmed the scene of Q giving James Bond 'Little Nellie'.

The scene of the Little Nellie parts being brought out in four suitcases and the quick cutting assembly of it was filmed at Pinewood Studios.

In reality the real autogyro could not be broken down and fit in four suitcases. The production crew built a special non-flying mock-up specifically for the 'unboxing' and 'assembly' scene.

Ken Wallis, the inventor and pilot of the real Wallis WA-116 Agile autogyro, supposedly loved the idea of his aircraft being packed into suitcases and how it was introduced in the film so much, he kept the four huge suitcases as a memento.
    Monica Belluci as Lucia Sciarra in Spectre. When Monica Belluci as Lucia Sciarra in Spectre.

When Belluci was contacted about a role in Spectre she was initially confused. She was told by her agent that Sam Mendes wanted to meet her for a role in the James Bond film. Belluci flew to London for a dinner with Mendes.

Bellucci arrived at the restaurant, "I just blurted out, 'I’m not a girl, I’m a mature woman. Do I have to replace Judi Dench?'”

"He was laughing, and I was, like, “Why do you call me? I’m 50 years old. What am I going to do in James Bond?” He said, “For the first time in history, James Bond is going to have a story with a mature woman. The concept is revolutionary”‘.

Despite all the promotion and interviews that revolved around Belluci appearing in a Bond film, her character has very little screen time. What did you think of Belluci's Lucia? Did she deserve to have a more prominent role?

#jamesbond #monicabelluci #bondgirl #spectre
    CORRECTION! I have to set the record straight for CORRECTION!
I have to set the record straight for the Bond community.

In a previous post about the final pool scene in Never Say Never Again, I described how it was filmed at Sean Connery’s estate in Nice, France - THAT IS INCORRECT!

Fortunately, some fellow Bond fans contacted me to point out the error and correct me that the final scene of NSNA was actually filmed at producer Kevin McClory’s waterfront estate on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, which was called Sigrist Estate.

Several Bond fans reminded me of the book The Battle for Bond by Robert Sellers. It recounts the history of McClory, Ian Fleming, the Bond lawsuits, and how the rights to Thunderball became McClory’s, who subsequently went on to produce the unofficial Bond film NSNA.

The book details a visit to McClory’s Bahamas home years after NSNA when the estate fell in disrepair - “There was the obligatory swimming pool, a beautiful lagoon-like pool that had been designed by Larry Hagman’s wife. It had featured at the end of Never Say Never Again; Rowan Atkinson was thrown into it. In fact that whole final scene, Connery relaxing in an outside Jacuzzi etc, was filmed on McClory’s estate. In one shot you can clearly see the house in the background.”

Simon Firth author of Filming James Bond in The Bahamas - and certainly knows 007 locations in the Bahamas - also contacted me. He said, “that scene was filmed at Kevin McClory’s now demolished house on Paradise Island. The space has been taken up by the Atlantis Resort complex.”

Thank you for the correction @simonjamesfirth

So, there you have it. As a massive Bond fan I don’t want to pass on faulty 007 lore. I wanted to correct it as soon as I learned of my error - especially considering it was Connery’s final film scene as 007. Thank you for the debriefing Bond fans!

If anyone happens to know the date the scene was filmed, that would be an added bonus to know!

Anyway, McClory’s Bahamas estate is long gone. So there’s no chance of any of us fans going to visit it, tossing Rowan Atkinson in a pool and winking at a camera. 

Special thanks to the @Thunderballs007 for the great behind the scenes photos of NSNA!
    Filming the final scene of Never Say Never Again a Filming the final scene of Never Say Never Again at producer Kevin McClory's Bahamas estate.
    Martine Beswick has one of the unique honors of ap Martine Beswick has one of the unique honors of appearing in two Bond films - as different characters .

The Jamaican-British actress and model originally met with director Terence Young for a role in Dr. No. Young felt she was too young and didn't have enough experience. However, he felt there was a possible role for Beswick down the road. Fast forward to From Russia With Love and Young cast her as Zora, one of the fighting gypsy girls. Beswick and Young became friends.

While Young was casting for Thunderball and facing problems of finding an actress to play agent Paula Capian who is an 'island girl', he thought of Beswick and she was cast. Beswick was living in London at the time she no longer had a tan. For two weeks before filming began in the Bahamas, she was instructed to sunbathe everyday.

#jamesbond #thunderball #fromrussiawithlove #martinebeswick #bondgirl
    Follow on Instagram
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNy63FbgqhQ
    haphazardstuff HaphazardStuff @haphazardstuff ·
    10 Sep

    Bond girls in blue

    #jamesbond #bondgirls #bondgirl

    Reply on Twitter 2097961279512019230 Retweet on Twitter 2097961279512019230 1 Like on Twitter 2097961279512019230 8 Twitter 2097961279512019230
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    Donald Pleasence was not the first choice to play Donald Pleasence was not the first choice to play Ernst Stavro Blofled in You Only Live Twice. 

Czech actor and playwright Jan Werich was cast to play the 007 supervillain.

Werich was Bond producer Harry Saltzman personal choice to play Blofeld. He felt his theatrical experience and artistic flair would produce a unique and dynamic presence to the leader of Spectre. Co-producer Cubby Broccoli thought it was a gamble, but agreed it could work. Director Lewis Gilbert wasn't sold on the idea and was apprehensive about the choice.

It didn't take long for them all to realize that Werich was badly miscast. Filming with Werich took place for five days as the filmmakers tried to make the casting work - and it just wasn't happening. 

Werich didn't project the required malice the character needed. He struggled with the English dialogue and he just didn't look menacing at all. Gilbert described him looking like a "benevolent Santa Claus".

The producers and director all agreed recasting was necessary. Gilbert was familiar with Pleasence and believed he was the man for the job. They called him and he was hired. Pleasence didn't have much time to prepare. After considering ideas of giving the character a limp, a hump or an injured hand, they decided Blofeld would have a facial scar. The white cat was always going to be present.

Several shots that Werich had filmed were used in the final film, rather than reshooting all of it with Pleasence and to save some money. This included shots of Werich's hands, shots of the back of his chair as he's sitting in it and the close-up shot of Sean Connery reacting to Blofeld's face reveal in the film.

Pleasence filmed for about three weeks in the volcano lair set at Pinewood Studios. His shooting schedule was intensive was to make up for the lost time. He later said about his experience filming You Only Live Twice that he "took the money and ran, as it were". 

Since Werich was already contracted to play Blofeld and even though he filmed for only five days, he was paid his full salary just to be dismissed from the film. 

Imagine how different the character would have been with Werich as Blofeld.
    On October 5, 1986, near the start of principal ph On October 5, 1986, near the start of principal photography of The Living Daylights, a press conference was held at Vienna Rathaus (City Hall) in Austria with Cubby Broccoli, director John Glen, Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Abo and the cast of The Living Daylights where they all fielded questions from the international press.

Dalton said, "I intend to approach this project with a sense of responsibility to the work of Ian Fleming and to the project the film The Living Daylights as written by Michael and Richard Maibaum. 

Outside City Hall the brand new Aston Martin V8 Volante was parked. The filmmakers were happy to show the press that this new 007 was going back to driving his signature car brand, the Aston Martin. It had been offscreen since On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Dalton and d'Abo posed for photos for the press - some really cool photos from that day.
    Somewhere In Time, 1980. The film is based on the Somewhere In Time, 1980.

The film is based on the 1975 sci-fi romance novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson. He would also write the screenplay.

Director Jeannot Szwarc wanted to make the film and presented it to Universal Pictures. At first they refused, then Szwarc reminded them about the success of Jaws 2, which he directed and it became Universal's biggest box office hit in 1978. The studio agreed to green light Somewhere In Time if the budget stayed at $4 million. 

Reeve had gotten ahold of the script, loved it and took a lower salary to play the lead role. Of course, Superman had just come out, was a massive success, so his agents were reluctant at the decision. However, Reeve was eager to prove he could play a romantic lead and got the role.

Numerous actresses auditioned for the role of 1912 stage star Elise McKenna. Szwarc would ask the actresses if they had ever been deeply in love. Seymour was the only actress who said, "No.". That answer won her the role with Szwarc feeling the character needed to be innocent and who hadn't experienced a life-changing romance yet.

Reeve and Seymour had instant chemistry on-screen. Years later Seymour revealed they genuinely fell in love with one another during the making of the film. Both single at the time, they had an off-screen romance, which they kept secret from the crew. They maintained a lifelong friendship. Seymour would later name one of her sons after him.

When it was released, Somewhere in Time was a disappointment at the box office in the U.S., but was a massive hit in Asia. The film would later be discovered from airings on cable tv and home video. The film became more popular years after its original release and has become a fan favorite. 

An annual fan convention takes place a the historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan where the movie was filmed. Fans come dressed in 1912 costumes, take tours, watch the film and listen to music. Both Seymour and Reeve have attended past conventions. 

Reeve would say he felt the film was ahead of its time and called it one of his proudest moments, right alongside Superman.
    Bond POV in Tomorrow Never Dies #BondPOV #Tomorro Bond POV in Tomorrow Never Dies

#BondPOV #TomorrowNeverDies
    You Only Live Twice, 1967. On September 30, 1966 L You Only Live Twice, 1967. On September 30, 1966 Lewis Gilbert filmed the scene of Q giving James Bond 'Little Nellie'.

The scene of the Little Nellie parts being brought out in four suitcases and the quick cutting assembly of it was filmed at Pinewood Studios.

In reality the real autogyro could not be broken down and fit in four suitcases. The production crew built a special non-flying mock-up specifically for the 'unboxing' and 'assembly' scene.

Ken Wallis, the inventor and pilot of the real Wallis WA-116 Agile autogyro, supposedly loved the idea of his aircraft being packed into suitcases and how it was introduced in the film so much, he kept the four huge suitcases as a memento.
    Monica Belluci as Lucia Sciarra in Spectre. When Monica Belluci as Lucia Sciarra in Spectre.

When Belluci was contacted about a role in Spectre she was initially confused. She was told by her agent that Sam Mendes wanted to meet her for a role in the James Bond film. Belluci flew to London for a dinner with Mendes.

Bellucci arrived at the restaurant, "I just blurted out, 'I’m not a girl, I’m a mature woman. Do I have to replace Judi Dench?'”

"He was laughing, and I was, like, “Why do you call me? I’m 50 years old. What am I going to do in James Bond?” He said, “For the first time in history, James Bond is going to have a story with a mature woman. The concept is revolutionary”‘.

Despite all the promotion and interviews that revolved around Belluci appearing in a Bond film, her character has very little screen time. What did you think of Belluci's Lucia? Did she deserve to have a more prominent role?

#jamesbond #monicabelluci #bondgirl #spectre
    CORRECTION! I have to set the record straight for CORRECTION!
I have to set the record straight for the Bond community.

In a previous post about the final pool scene in Never Say Never Again, I described how it was filmed at Sean Connery’s estate in Nice, France - THAT IS INCORRECT!

Fortunately, some fellow Bond fans contacted me to point out the error and correct me that the final scene of NSNA was actually filmed at producer Kevin McClory’s waterfront estate on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, which was called Sigrist Estate.

Several Bond fans reminded me of the book The Battle for Bond by Robert Sellers. It recounts the history of McClory, Ian Fleming, the Bond lawsuits, and how the rights to Thunderball became McClory’s, who subsequently went on to produce the unofficial Bond film NSNA.

The book details a visit to McClory’s Bahamas home years after NSNA when the estate fell in disrepair - “There was the obligatory swimming pool, a beautiful lagoon-like pool that had been designed by Larry Hagman’s wife. It had featured at the end of Never Say Never Again; Rowan Atkinson was thrown into it. In fact that whole final scene, Connery relaxing in an outside Jacuzzi etc, was filmed on McClory’s estate. In one shot you can clearly see the house in the background.”

Simon Firth author of Filming James Bond in The Bahamas - and certainly knows 007 locations in the Bahamas - also contacted me. He said, “that scene was filmed at Kevin McClory’s now demolished house on Paradise Island. The space has been taken up by the Atlantis Resort complex.”

Thank you for the correction @simonjamesfirth

So, there you have it. As a massive Bond fan I don’t want to pass on faulty 007 lore. I wanted to correct it as soon as I learned of my error - especially considering it was Connery’s final film scene as 007. Thank you for the debriefing Bond fans!

If anyone happens to know the date the scene was filmed, that would be an added bonus to know!

Anyway, McClory’s Bahamas estate is long gone. So there’s no chance of any of us fans going to visit it, tossing Rowan Atkinson in a pool and winking at a camera. 

Special thanks to the @Thunderballs007 for the great behind the scenes photos of NSNA!
    Filming the final scene of Never Say Never Again a Filming the final scene of Never Say Never Again at producer Kevin McClory's Bahamas estate.
    Martine Beswick has one of the unique honors of ap Martine Beswick has one of the unique honors of appearing in two Bond films - as different characters .

The Jamaican-British actress and model originally met with director Terence Young for a role in Dr. No. Young felt she was too young and didn't have enough experience. However, he felt there was a possible role for Beswick down the road. Fast forward to From Russia With Love and Young cast her as Zora, one of the fighting gypsy girls. Beswick and Young became friends.

While Young was casting for Thunderball and facing problems of finding an actress to play agent Paula Capian who is an 'island girl', he thought of Beswick and she was cast. Beswick was living in London at the time she no longer had a tan. For two weeks before filming began in the Bahamas, she was instructed to sunbathe everyday.

#jamesbond #thunderball #fromrussiawithlove #martinebeswick #bondgirl
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