JAMES BOND: Breaking the Fourth Wall (video)

Sure, he's always shooting at us through that gun barrel. 

But how many times has James Bond really broken the 4th wall and acknowledged our presence? And maybe even talked to us?

I count three, and here they are... 

 

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material. Just having some fun with it. Thanks for watching!

JAMES BOND: Breaking the Fourth Wall (video)

Dog Lifts Leg In "THUNDERBALL" (James Bond, 1965) (video)

 

Bond's in trouble...

Wounded, and chased by armed thugs...
...led by lovely but deadly Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi).

And as if that weren't enough...
Could that be Agent 00-K9, providing a distraction for Bond?

Oh well, they did say "Thunderball" would be Bond's wettest adventure yet.

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it. Thanks for watching!

Dog Lifts Leg In "THUNDERBALL" (James Bond, 1965) (video)

JAMES BOND: Breaking The Fourth Wall (video)

 

Sure, he's always shooting at us through that gun barrel. 

 

But how often has James Bond really broken the 4th wall and acknowledged our presence? 

Or even talked to us? 

I count three, and here they are... 

 

 I neither own nor claim any rights to this material. Just having some fun with it. Thanks for watching!

 

JAMES BOND: Breaking The Fourth Wall (video)

James Bond's Best Friend: All The Felix Leiters (1962-2008) (video)

 

James Bond's best friend is American CIA operative Felix Leiter.  

In the unofficial Bond film "Never Say Never Again" (1983) he's played by Bernie Casey.

In the official Eon films Leiter has been played by 7 different actors.

"Dr. No" (1962) Jack Lord
"Goldfinger" (1964) Cec Linder
"Thunderball" (1965) Rik Van Nutter
"Diamonds Are Forever" (1971) Norman Burton
"Live and Let Die" (1973) David Hedison
"The Living Daylights" (1987) John Terry
"License to Kill" (1989) David Hedison
"Casino Royale" (2006) Jeffrey Wright
"Quantum of Solace" (2008) Jeffrey Wright

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

 

James Bond's Best Friend: All The Felix Leiters (1962-2008) (video)

Was "You Only Live Twice" Inspired By "Lost In Space"? (video)

The Jupiter 16 space capsule hijack scene in the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice" (1967)…

...bears a strong similarity to the Jupiter 2 hijack scene...

...in "Lost In Space" Season 1: Episode 2 "The Derelict" (1965).

(Watch them both and see if you agree.)

Coincidence? Or inspiration?


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Was "You Only Live Twice" Inspired By "Lost In Space"? (video)

Sean Connery's Kid Brother In A James Bond Rip-Off? ("Operation Kid Brother", 1967) (video)

Sean Connery's James Bond movies were so popular in the 60s...

...that in 1967, Sean's younger brother Neil was courted to star in a Bond clone.
It was called "Operation Kid Brother", aka "O.K. Connery."

Neil bore a resemblance to Sean, but with little of his screen presence.
And although he sounded much like his brother, Neil's voice was dubbed by another actor...
...because he'd suffered a throat injury prior to the ADR sessions.

The producers cast as many familiar faces as possible from the actual Bond films.

The music was composed by Ennio Morricone and Bruno Nicolai.
The movie itself was your typical Italian "spy-ghetti" romp.

Sean Connery was so upset by it that he didn't speak to any of the participants for some time.
But most earned more for this film than for their Bond movie roles.

And it still has its fans.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Sean Connery's Kid Brother In A James Bond Rip-Off? ("Operation Kid Brother", 1967) (video)

James Bond Car Stunt Blooper: "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971) (video)

Sean Connery's final official Bond film... 

...contains a cool car chase in downtown Las Vegas...
...as Bond and Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) elude the local police.

In some shots you can see the crowds gathered on the sidewalks to watch the filming.

The scene's highlight is when Bond navigates a narrow alley on two wheels.
But it contains a blooper.

The stunt begins with Bond's side of the car in the air.
The car seems to level out.
But now, inexplicably, Tiffany's side is in the air.

But it's still a cool stunt...and a fun scene.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

James Bond Car Stunt Blooper: "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971) (video)

"Goldfinger": Bond's Atomic Bomb Countdown Blooper (video)

(spoilers)

In the exciting climax of "Goldfinger", the atomic bomb is deactivated...

...with only 007 seconds (get it?) to spare.

But apparently the bomb was originally intended to stop at three seconds.

Thus, this discrepancy in the dialogue which still remains...

"Three more ticks"


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

"Goldfinger": Bond's Atomic Bomb Countdown Blooper (video)

Nudity In The Sean Connery "James Bond" Films? (video)

Connery's Bond operated in the less-permissive 60s.  

Thus, little or no nudity was seen.

Ursula Andress seems to briefly bare all in "Dr. No."
But a closer look reveals her dignity remains intact.

As for the bedroom shot of Daniela Bianchi in "From Russia With Love"...
...is she, or isn't she?

"Goldfinger" comes close a couple of times.

Most of the time, however, a bit of suggestion was enough.

(Note: the emphasis here is on shots intentionally staged by the director, not accidental slips.)


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Nudity In The Sean Connery "James Bond" Films? (video)

James Bond's Best Friend: All the Felix Leiters (1962-2008) (video)

James Bond's best friend is American CIA operative Felix Leiter.  

In the unofficial Bond film "Never Say Never Again" (1983) he's played by Bernie Casey.

In the official Eon films Leiter has been played by 7 different actors.

"Dr. No" (1962) Jack Lord
"Goldfinger" (1964) Cec Linder
"Thunderball" (1965) Rik Van Nutter
"Diamonds Are Forever" (1971) Norman Burton
"Live and Let Die" (1973) David Hedison
"The Living Daylights" (1987) John Terry
"License to Kill" (1989) David Hedison
"Casino Royale" (2006) Jeffrey Wright
"Quantum of Solace" (2008) Jeffrey Wright

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

James Bond's Best Friend: All the Felix Leiters (1962-2008) (video)

First Time We See James Bond Kill: "Dr. No" (1962) (video)

We first meet Sean Connery's James Bond 007 in 1962's "Dr. No."

He has a license to kill...but his first foe offs himself.

His next ones crash and burn of their own accord.

It's Bond's encounter with Dr. No's wretched henchman Dent where we see his first kill...

...and get a definitive look at Bond at his most ruthless. 


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

First Time We See James Bond Kill: "Dr. No" (1962) (video)

He Acted In 2 Of The Most Iconic Films Of The 60s (video)

In 1964, Richard Vernon gained cinematic immortality...

...by appearing in two of the most iconic films of the decade.

"Goldfinger" (1964)
As Col. Smithers, he gives M and 007 a briefing on one Auric Goldfinger.

"A Hard Day's Night" (1964)
Here, he appears as the Beatles' grumpy traveling companion. 


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

He Acted In 2 Of The Most Iconic Films Of The 60s (video)

Where 007 Got His "Bond...James Bond" Intro ("Dr. No", 1962)

We've all heard him introduce himself many times as "Bond...James Bond."

But what is the origin of that famous phrase?

It's right here in Bond's very first screen appearance in "Dr. No" (1962).

"I admire your courage, Miss..."

"Trench...Sylvia Trench.  And I admire your luck, Mister..."

"Bond... James Bond."


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Where 007 Got His "Bond...James Bond" Intro ("Dr. No", 1962)

Phantom Henchman in "GOLDFINGER" (James Bond, 1964) (video)

James Bond, Goldfinger, and pilot Pussy Galore are supposed to be the only ones on the plane.

So who's that guy standing behind Goldfinger in the doorway?

There are further glimpses of him during the scene, but his presence is never acknowledged.

He is, without a doubt, one of the most useless henchmen in movie history.

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Special thanks to Mark Redfield. Thanks for watching!

Phantom Henchman in "GOLDFINGER" (James Bond, 1964) (video)

Sean Connery/James Bond's One-Time-Only Goofy Grin

We've seen Sean Connery's Bond smile a lot in the Bond movies.

But in the gypsy camp sequence in "From Russia With Love" (1965)...

...there's a broad, almost goofy grin we've not seen before or since.

What was Connery reacting to in such an openly ecstatic way? (The dancer? She isn't in the shot.)

Whatever it was, we would never see Connery's Bond look that genuinely delighted again.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Hope you enjoy it!

Sean Connery/James Bond's One-Time-Only Goofy Grin

Dog Lifts Leg in "THUNDERBALL" (United Artists, 1965): James Bond

Bond's in trouble...

Wounded, and chased by armed thugs...
...led by lovely but deadly Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi).

And as if that weren't enough...
Could that be Agent 00-K9, providing a distraction for Bond?

Oh well, they did say "Thunderball" would be Bond's wettest adventure yet.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it. Thanks for watching!

Dog Lifts Leg in "THUNDERBALL" (United Artists, 1965): James Bond

Switcheroo Stunt in "DR. NO" (1962) James Bond

It's a common but fun trick when the star "becomes" the stunt person in one unbroken take.

My favorite example is in the first James Bond film, "Dr. No."  First, we see Sean Connery and Ursula Andress.

They run behind some scenery, and, without cutting away, the stunt people emerge to dazzle and amaze us. 


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it. Thanks for watching!

Switcheroo Stunt in "DR. NO" (1962) James Bond

Phantom Hand Blooper in "From Russia With Love" (1963)

When Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) greets Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) at the door in the second James Bond movie "From Russia With Love" (1963, with Sean Connery), something odd happens--a phantom hand appears where you might least expect it.  See if you can spot it!


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material. Just having some fun with it. Hope you enjoy it!

Phantom Hand Blooper in "From Russia With Love" (1963)