53 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

Is anyone here able to confirm that James Brolin was not merely considered to play James Bond in OCTOPUSSY, but was actually signed for the role before Moore returned to the series at the eleventh hour?

Also, does anyone feel that Brolin would have been a good choice?

[DLibrasnow]

I think the screen test shown on the OP DVD proves he was a terrible choice!

[Qwerty]

I also wouldn't have liked him. If you try to really look, you can see that he has the 'Bond look' slightly, however I really don't think he would have been able to interact with all the other characters- villains, girls, etc... Also, I'm pretty sure he wasn't signed up for the role, although not positive. I'm sure someone can give you a definite answer Loomis!

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Qwerty

I'm sure someone can give you a definite answer Loomis!

*Brosnanesque smirk* *Wheeze*

Hope.... springs eternal.



I can't be bothered to check out the DVD doc, so I thought I'd ask the good folk of CBn.

[Bryce (003)]

His look seemed to work, but an American playing Bond just would not have flown with the fans IMO.

I've always thought it was a scare tactic to get Roger to sign back on for OP.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)

I've always thought it was a scare tactic to get Roger to sign back on for OP.

But why Brolin of all people? As you point out, an American would have been a very controversial choice. They could have staged a scare tactic with any old British actor, surely? And would Brolin (a fairly successful guy by that time, if I'm not mistaken) have gone along with it unless he'd been led to believe he had a pretty good chance of landing the part?

[Bryce (003)]

Well, from all I've gathered, on his last two (OP & AVTAK) Roger was notorious for waiting until almost the first day of production to actually sign his contract and always saying he wasn't sure if he'd do it. Once shooting started, he'd always give 100%. No disrespect Sir Rog;)

It's either fact or the infamous "Urban-Bond-Fan-Myth". Back before the net, it all came word-of-mouth or in the press.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)

Well, from all I've gathered, on his last two (OP & AVTAK) Roger was notorious for waiting until almost the first day of production to actually sign his contract and always saying he wasn't sure if he'd do it.  

I think Moore's reputation for always trying to get the best possible deal preceded OCTOPUSSY.

*Takes book from shelf*

From a report on the 1982 Oscars in "The Film Yearbook 1983", edited by Al Clark (published by Virgin in 1982, at which point FOR YOUR EYES ONLY was the most recent Bond):

"The minor awards are handed out, punctuated by all the customary waffle about creativity and collaboration. Nobody wishes to appear self-glorifying, so they all recite these endless lists, apparently memorised, of people whose help made it all possible. Everybody applauds dutifully. Then there are the special awards. Cubby Broccoli, winner of the Irving Thalberg Award, has it presented to him by Roger Moore, with whom he spends months haggling over money before the announcement of each new James Bond film."

BTW, the article continues:

"The nominated songs, which are staged throughout the show at points where it might be in danger of lapsing into torpor, are staged with varying degrees of ostentation, most notably by Sheena Easton who performs 'For Your Eyes Only' with enough dancers and outer-space hardware to suggest a takeover of Cape Canaveral by the cast of Fame. The budget for this three-minute interlude of risible excess would comfortably finance a week's shooting on a modest feature film, but nobody blinks an eyelid."

[Bryce (003)]

Ohhhh....

THAT Oscar number....

*shudders*

[Triton]

The Biography television series on the A&E network in the United States recently had the life story of actor James Brolin. During this program, Brolin revealed that Cubby Broccoli verbally told him he had the James Bond part and Brolin was looking for an apartment in London with the expectation that he would soon begin filming Octopussy at Pinewood studios. Within days, Roger Moore signed to do Octopussy at the last minute. There is no mention if Brolin actually signed a contract to play the role, but Cubby Broccoli verbally set the expectation that Brolin had the part.

Roger's last minute return was a major blow to James Brolin because he felt that he needed the part to rejuvenate his career. Luckily, Brolin was soon signed for the lead role in the television series Hotel.

I don't know why Cubby Broccoli was so interested in casting James Brolin as James Bond. Was Broccoli serious about casting Brolin as James Bond and was drawing up the contracts? Or did he threaten to hire James Brolin to persuade Roger Moore to return to the role?

Perhaps these events are explained in Broccoli's auto biography When the Snow Melts?

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Triton

Was Broccoli serious about casting Brolin as James Bond and was drawing up the contracts?  Or did he threaten to hire James Brolin to persuade Roger Moore to return to the role?

It sounds as though Broccoli was indeed serious about hiring Brolin, but only if Moore passed. After all, there were plenty of lesser-known actors he could have used - no, let's be blunt, exploited - if all he wanted was a pawn for a battle over money with Moore. Obviously, he was using Brolin as a pawn, but a pawn he fully intended to cast as James Bond if Moore decided to walk.

And it also sounds as though Broccoli was damn lucky Brolin didn't sue him. Sure, it may have been a verbal contract, but wouldn't there have been legal precedent for Brolin to take action? Kim Basinger was sued by the makers of BOXING HELENA for reneging on a verbal promise, I believe. And they won. Ah, well, perhaps Brolin got a damn good payoff when Moore reappeared on the scene.

[Xenobia]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
Ohhhh....

THAT Oscar number....

*shudders*

Save the shudders for SnowWhite and Rob Lowe.

Originally posted by Triton
The Biography television series on the A&E network in the United States recently had the life story of actor James Brolin. During this program, Brolin revealed that Cubby Broccoli verbally told him he had the James Bond part and Brolin was looking for an apartment in London with the expectation that he would soon begin filming Octopussy at Pinewood studios. Within days, Roger Moore signed to do Octopussy at the last minute. There is no mention if Brolin actually signed a contract to play the role, but Cubby Broccoli verbally set the expectation that Brolin had the part.

I didn't realize things were *that* serious with Brolin. He wasn't that good in the screen test, and I don't think he really had the Bond look either.

I hate to say this, but Broccoli really did play fast and loose with some of these actors...Brolin, Brosnan, Part I, not to mention Gavin, who I think was supposed to be DAF.

I guess you really don't know if you are Bond until you start filming.

For your filming only, darling.

-- Xenobia

[Tarl_Cabot]

He sucked on Hotel. Thank God he wasn't OO7! :eek:

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Xenobia

I hate to say this, but Broccoli really did play fast and loose with some of these actors...Brolin, Brosnan, Part I, not to mention Gavin, who I think was supposed to be DAF.

In what way(s) did Broccoli play fast and loose with Brosnan? As I understand it, it was the makers of REMINGTON STEELE who stopped Brosnan playing Bond in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, not Broccoli (who was hoping to sign Brosnan after it turned out that Dalton was unavailable to do the film).

Broccoli approached Dalton. Dalton was too busy. Broccoli then approached Brosnan. Brosnan was too busy (thanks to RS). Broccoli then went to Dalton again. Dalton was no longer too busy.

That's always been my understanding of what went on, anyway. If I've got it wrong, please set me straight.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
I think the screen test shown on the OP DVD proves he was a terrible choice!

Having him naked with a towel wrapped around him was a seriouis mistake. Clearly, too much towel was required to wrap around his ample girth. Heaven knows what Maud Adams (who was also in the screen test) thought of his physique.

Definitely not the way to try out a prospective Bond actor who carried excess baggage.

[Turn]

I remember reading this years ago and just thinking "why?"

[Simon]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
I think the screen test shown on the OP DVD proves he was a terrible choice!

Yup, just horrendous.

Sam Neil's effort was much more the deal.

[Genrewriter]

I agree, he made Burt Reynolds look like a great idea.

*Shudder*

As for the FYEO Oscar clip-Bryce, I agree with you all the way. *Shudder*

[Xenobia]

Originally posted by Loomis


In what way(s) did Broccoli play fast and loose with Brosnan? As I understand it, it was the makers of REMINGTON STEELE who stopped Brosnan playing Bond in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, not Broccoli (who was hoping to sign Brosnan after it turned out that Dalton was unavailable to do the film).

Broccoli approached Dalton. Dalton was too busy. Broccoli then approached Brosnan. Brosnan was too busy (thanks to RS). Broccoli then went to Dalton again. Dalton was no longer too busy.  

That's always been my understanding of what went on, anyway. If I've got it wrong, please set me straight.

To me Loomis, it really was a matter of unfortunate timing. If Cubby hadn't been so stubborn, and agreed to push things back just a little more, Brosnan could still have been able to do it, and Broccoli would have won out in the end, because they wound up cancelling the series anyway.

C'est la vie.

-- Xenobia

[Simon]

As for the initial thread question, I believe the only person to be signed was the chap for DAF before Connery came on board at the eleventh hour.

This from the DVDs.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Xenobia

To me Loomis, it really was a matter of unfortunate timing.  If Cubby hadn't been so stubborn, and agreed to push things back just a little more, Brosnan could still have been able to do it, and Broccoli would have won out in the end, because they wound up cancelling the series anyway.

Well, obviously, as a Dalton fan I'm extremely pleased with the way things worked out in 1986!

Originally posted by Simon

As for the initial thread question, I believe the only person to be signed was the chap for DAF before Connery came on board at the eleventh hour.

Cheers, Simon.

[Qwerty]

Yeah, you mean John Gavin, I suspect. One thing that really shows good character about him is how he graciously stepped out of a role they had only just hired him to! I guess, he really knew the importance of the series. I wonder how he would have done though, and how many films he would've stuck around for.

[Simon]

Yeah, that's the chap.

I believe he got some decent payoff for his time, trouble and any potential embarrassment.

[Qwerty]

I'm pretty sure in the DAF documentary that they paid him like a full salary for a certain amount of time, so, it does show the appreciation of the Bond company.

[Triton]

My understanding is that John Gavin was paid in full according to the terms of his contract. I wonder if Gavin breathed a sigh of relief that he didn't star in Diamonds Are Forever. I wonder if Gavin would have had to endure the same scrutiny and hostility of the press that George Lazenby endured during the making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

[Xenobia]

Triton you make some good points. Gavin probably would have had to endure some rough press scrunity, perhaps rougher than what Lazenby faced because it was another new Bond, which some cyncial press members would have taken that to be a bad sign for the series.

I think in the long run, Gavin would have realized that, and yes, breathed a big sigh of relief.

Then again, given that he wound up being an Ambassador, maybe this guy really knew how to be Bond.

-- Xenobia

[Triton]

Did Roger Moore have a tough time with the press when he agreed to do Live and Let Die?

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Xenobia

Then again, given that he wound up being an Ambassador, maybe this guy really knew how to be Bond.  

-- Xenobia

I never knew that Xenobia....

I would also be interested in hearing what kind of reaction Roger Moore received upon being cast as 007.

[Turn]

I've never read anything about how the reaction to the casting of Moore was. The reviews I've read from the day kind of give a "okay, a new Bond is here" kind of reaction. Most peg Moore as kind of bland. But he had yet to hit his stride.

[DLibrasnow]

Since Roger Moore was a bit of a known commodity having spent a number of years on TV as The Saint I suspect he was greeted more warmly than Lazenby.