83 replies to this topic

[Bryce (003)]

SPLIT from HaPpY bIrThDaY -- ZENCAT!!!

Is it possible that James Bond is a Disney fan?
_______________________________________

"You know, the first time I went to the Magic Kingdom, in Orlando, I didn't think I was going to like it." Bond thought he might put the man at ease by telling him the truth. "Funny, I went with a girlfriend and we only booked for two days. I thought the whole thing would be tasteless, tawdry, and a bit phony. In the end we stayed for a week. The great thing about Disneyland is that it works."

- Chapter 18 "The White Knight" - Never Send Flowers.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
Let me know on the drinks John - I'm around until the 18th. Looks like you guys had a great time.

"You know, the first time I went to the Magic Kingdom, in Orlando, I didn't think I was going to like it." Bond thought he might put the man at ease by telling him the truth. "Funny, I went with a girlfriend and we only booked for two days. I thought the whole thing would be tasteless, tawdry, and a bit phony.In the end we stayed for a week. The great thing about Disneyland is that it works."

- Chapter 18 "The White Knight" - Never Send Flowers.

Thanks for that quote, Bryce. I've always wondered if Gardner was forced to include a pro-Disney paragraph like this in order to use the park in the book. I'm sure they had approval. Has anyone ever asked Gardner about this in an interview, I wonder?

I also wonder which "girlfriend" Bond brought to Disneyworld? Solitare maybe?

[Athena007]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
"Funny, I went with a girlfriend..."

Originally posted by ZenCat
I also wonder which "girlfriend" Bond brought to Disneyworld?

Bond would never say "girlfriend"... WHY did Gardner write that? Anyone?

[zencat]

I think I'm going to break this Bond Disneyland thing into it's own thread, starting with Bryce's quote post.

[Bryce (003)]

It's been implied in Fleming, Gardner and Benson that Bond is usually always seeing someone.

He IS Bond after all;)

[Athena007]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
It's been implied in Fleming, Gardner and Benson that Bond is usually always seeing someone. He IS Bond after all

Ya that's true... but I just don't see Bond using the WORD "girlfriend"... I don't think he'd say that. "woman" perhaps, but not "girlfriend". Don't you think?

[DLibrasnow]

What is this thread about???

What I find funny about the quote is that DisneyLAND is in California, whereas DisneyWORLD is in Orlando.

I dated a lifeguard for Disney a couple of years back. She told me you could fit the entire Disneyland park in the parking lot for the Disneyworld Magic Kingdom.

Personally I never liked "Magic Kingdom", I prefer "Animal Kingdom" much more!

[Genrewriter]

I agree, Athena. As for Bond in Disneyland in general, it seemed like something the cinematic Bond might do as opposed to the literary Bond. I could easily see Roger Mloore's Bond tracking a villain through Tomorrowland. That being said, it is the best part of the book.

[Bryce (003)]

Girlfriend is fine. It never bothered me. He's always got a name or number in what must be the most amazing "little black book" ever compiled.

As to the pro Disney statement, who knows. Gardner always expressed a lot of his own opinions as Bond while still keeping the character on track. I really enjoyed all of his novels.

*grabs copy of For Special Services and tosses it next to Christmas airline tickets*

Think I'll re-read that over the holidays.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)

*grabs copy of For Special Services and tosses it next to Christmas airline tickets*

Think I'll re-read that over the holidays.

You have exceptionally good taste 003!!

[Bryce (003)]

In all sorts of things;)

Thanks DLibra

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)

"You know, the first time I went to the Magic Kingdom, in Orlando, I didn't think I was going to like it." Bond thought he might put the man at ease by telling him the truth. "Funny, I went with a girlfriend and we only booked for two days. I thought the whole thing would be tasteless, tawdry, and a bit phony. In the end we stayed for a week. The great thing about Disneyland is that it works."

Oh, I do so love these little nails in the coffin of Fleming's Bond.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Athena007


Ya that's true... but I just don't see Bond using the WORD "girlfriend"... I don't think he'd say that. "woman" perhaps, but not "girlfriend". Don't you think?

You're absolutely right, Athena. Bond would say "woman" and not "girlfriend." But this was the problem with late-term Gardner. I think he started writing himself instead of Bond.

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
What is this thread about???

I was just wondering how we feel about OO7's warm feelings toward Disney as expressed in NSF? Is this at all conceivable? Or was this a necessary ***-kiss in order to use the park in the book?

Oh, for the record, I like the Disney aspect of NSF. It sort of works with the actor villain and the whole theatrical theme of the book.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by zencat

Or was this a necessary ***-kiss in order to use the park in the book?

I've not read the novel, but I gather there's a line to the following effect: "It says much for the efficiency of the Disney organization that staff at the theme park had cleared away all the blood and bodies before the authorities arrived." Now, that might be seen as a bit of a backhanded compliment, mightn't it? In other words, that they're so ruthlessly dedicated to making money that they won't allow even a massacre to disrupt business or tarnish the image of the Mouse for longer than absolutely necessary.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Loomis
"It says much for the efficiency of the Disney organization that staff at the theme park had cleared away all the blood and bodies before the authorities arrived." Now, that might be seen as a bit of a backhanded compliment, mightn't it?

LOL! That's a crack-up. These are GREAT quotes. I remember there being something about "vaule for the money, thought Bond."

[Bryce (003)]

Then again, given the bad business Euro Disney was doing at the time, they might have allowed it just for PR.

You're right Zencat, Gardner did write Bond more as himself in the last few books.

Then again, Bond could have really had a good time at Disney. Maybe he'll visit Universal Studios next;)

[Athena007]

Originally posted by zencat
I remember there being something about "vaule for the money, thought Bond."

*silence*
HAAAA!!!
*claps her hands over her mouth*

Originally posted by zencat
Then again, Bond could have really had a good time at Disney. Maybe he'll vsit Universal Studios next.

Or Knotts Berry Farm... or Magic Mountian. LOL... I just thought of something funny... IF Bond was to have a favorite theme park, WHICH park would it be? I think Bond would be more of a Knotts Berry Farm kind of man... maybe.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
...Then again, Bond could have really had a good time at Disney. Maybe he'll vsit Universal Studios next;)

hehe

"James Bond felt Solitaire clutch his hand in nervous excitement as the shark from Jaws leap at their tram. 'What amazing special effects,' thought Bond, recalling a very different experience they had with a shark...so many years ago."

[Athena007]

Originally posted by zencat
"James Bond felt Solitaire clutch his hand in nervous excitement as the shark from Jaws leap at their tram. 'What amazing special effects,' thought Bond, recalling a very different experience they had with a shark...so many years ago."

OMG!!! I just blew apple juice out my nose! LOL!!! that was too funny!!!

[zencat]

Originally posted by Athena007
I just thought of something funny... IF Bond was to have a favorite theme park, WHICH park would it be? I think Bond would be more of a Knotts Berry Farm kind of man... maybe.

No, Magic Mountain. A lot more gunplay there.

Originally posted by Athena007
*silence*
HAAAA!!!
*claps her hands over her mouth*

Careful. Remember the mysterious mini bar. They know everything.

[Genrewriter]

Very nice, John.

An alternate visit:

"Bond lept backwards as the shark came out at him. Chuckling softly as the girl next to him grasped his arm, he reflected on how he had used to enjoy the movie the shark was in until he had a bad experience or two in Egypt."

[Bryce (003)]

Not to mention some of the wildest coasters around.

Here's a funny idea for Universal - Bond is involved in a running gun battle all over the lot and the security people ignore it thinking it's just another movie being filmed.

Liked the Jaws bit Zencat;)

[Simon]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)


"You know, the first time I went to the Magic Kingdom, in Orlando, I didn't think I was going to like it." Bond thought he might put the man at ease by telling him the truth. "Funny, I went with a girlfriend and we only booked for two days. I thought the whole thing would be tasteless, tawdry, and a bit phony. In the end we stayed for a week. The great thing about Disneyland is that it works."

- Chapter 18 "The White Knight" - Never Send Flowers.

I feel sure this paragraph was a test by Gardner to see just what he could get away with. It is so un-Bond, it ain't true.

He had to be having a private laugh.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Genrewriter
Very nice, John.  

An alternate visit:

"Bond lept backwards as the shark came out at him.  Chuckling softly as the girl next to him grasped his arm, he reflected on how he had used to enjoy the movie the shark was in until he had a bad experience or two in Egypt."

Ha! Nice.

Am I crazy or should Bond have hooked up with one of those sexy Princess actresses (or is "cast member" the correct expression) that wander the park?

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
..Here's a funny idea for Universal - Bond is involved in a running gun battle all over the lot and the security people ignore it thinking it's just another movie being filmed...

Actually this was sort of done in Benson's NDOD (in a TV studio). But it was also done in Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Yikes! But in a twisted way I like this idea. I'm dying to see Bond in Hollywood.

[Genrewriter]

Good idea, John. Might be interesting to use theme parks as a location in my next fan script.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
Then again, given the bad business Euro Disney was doing at the time, they might have allowed it just for PR.

That's true. What's kind of cool about NSF is that it was written when it was still called "EuroDisney." Disney changed the name to Disneyland Paris when "EuroDisney" became synonymous with "white elephant."

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
What I find funny about the quote is that DisneyLAND is in California, whereas DisneyWORLD is in Orlando.

That's right. The Disneyland section of DisneyWorld is called "The Magic Kingdom." And now the Anaheim Disneyland (THE original Disneyland) is officially called Disneyland Resort. I have mixed feelings about how they've changed it. I miss the big giant parking lot. That was somehow part of the experience.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Athena007
. IF Bond was to have a favorite theme park, WHICH park would it be?

Animal Kingdom - no doubt about it! That park kicks a**...I especially love the 'A Bugs Life' 3D show - totally freaked me out!

[Genrewriter]

Sounds cool, Darren. Where is it located?

[DLibrasnow]

Its one of the parks that make up DisneyWorld in Orlando....

In total DISNEYWORLD consists of several parks there is Magic Kingdom, Disney/MGM Studios. EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and several other smaller parks all under the Disneyworld banner.

If you have never been there it is huge....As I mentioned earlier you can fit the entire California "Disneyland" park INSIDE the parking lot of "Disneyworld's" Magic Kingdom.

[zencat]

You know, I could swear I read an interview with John Gardner where he talks about working with Disney on NSF. I can remember him saying he was a big fan (not surprising in that Gardner is an amateur magician, movie buff, theater buff, etc) and that he said Disney would only let him stage the climactic action/gunplay in a closed park (Gardner wanted to do it during operating hours). He also talked about being taken down into the huge tunnel system below the park. I don't know where I'm remembering all this from so I could be wrong. But this is sticking in my head.

Does anyone else remember reading this?