12 replies to this topic

[Xenobia]

Triton made an interesting point in the thread where we discuss the old possibility that James Brolin could have been an American Bond. ("James Brolin as James Bond" http://forums.comman...&threadid=12779)

Triton wondered what would have happened had John Gavin been the Bond in DAF instead of Sean Connery. What would the press scrunity have been like? Would have been the same or worse than what Lazenby got when he filmed OHMSS?

I feel that Gavin rougher press scrunity 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.

The only time folks really worried about the series was in the late eighties, early nineties because of the lawsuit that just would not end.
But what if Connery hadn't come back for DAF, and it was Gavin? Could the press surrounding the filming, and the possibility that Gavin couldn't make the role work, killed the series back then?

-- Xenobia

[[dark]]

Originally posted by Xenobia
The only time folks really worried about the series was in the late eighties, early nineties because of the lawsuit that just would not end.
But what if Connery hadn't come back for DAF, and it was Gavin?  Could the press surrounding the filming, and the possibility that Gavin couldn't make the role work, killed the series back then?

I'd say so. Was Gavin a well-known actor at that point?

If it wouldn't have killed it, I think the series would have been Americanised considerably [moreso than in the early 70s, i.e. Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die].

[Xenobia]

Alas, I was not alive at that point, so someone alive and old enough to remember, help us out...was Gavin famous? Only in the US? Did his films or TV programs get sent overseas?

-- Xenobia

[Triton]

The All Movie Guide has the following biography of actor John Gavin:

Born Jack Golenor, this brawny, handsome leading man of Hollywood films appeared onscreen from 1956; he was once hyped as the next Rock Hudson. From 1952-56 he was an air intelligence officer with the Navy, specializing in Pan American Affairs. When a friend offered him a screen test, he was signed by Universal and played leads for a decade-plus, after which his film work decreased; he also served for a time as president of the Screen Actors Guild. After starring on the TV series Destry and Convoy, he debuted on Broadway in Seesaw in 1973. In 1981 Gavin was appointed by President Reagan as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, a position he held for five years. Besides his Navy service, he had other qualifications for the post: having been born to a Spanish mother, he spoke impeccable Spanish; he had studied Latin American issues in college; and during his years of screen stardom he served as special advisor to Jose Mora and Galo Plaza, secretaries general of the Organization of American States.  

John Gavin also plays a young Julius Caesar in Stanley Kubrick's Sparticus. He can be seen in the bath house speaking with Charles Laughton playing Sempronius Gracchus. Its such a small role that I cannot tell if he would have been a good James Bond or not.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

Gavin also portrayed Janet Leigh's boyfriend in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Julie Andrews' boss in Thorougly Modern Millie.

If his British accent from 1960's Midnight Lace is any indication, I think he would have been all wrong for Bond but he would have made an acceptable Felix Leiter.

[Brix Bond]

My name's Gavin...

[Sensualist]

Originally posted by Xenobia
...what would have happened had John Gavin been the Bond in DAF instead of Sean Connery.  

Could the press surrounding the filming, and the possibility that Gavin couldn't make the role work, killed the series back then?

-- Xenobia

Yes....

[Sensualist]

...Until Connery was enticed to do the next James Bond film, that is.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Xenobia

I feel that Gavin rougher press scrunity 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 Gavin would have had a rougher ride than Lazenby did...After all Lazenby was from a British commonwealth country whereas Gavin is American.

I also think Gavin's casting would have led to a much more Americanized 007. Many have already pointed out how American Diamonds Are Forever is.

[Sensualist]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
I also think Gavin's casting would have led to a much more Americanized 007. Many have already pointed out how American Diamonds Are Forever is.

Yes. All we needed was to have an American even further Americanizing a film that's been voted as the weakest in the series (DAF) to propel the whole thing into oblivion.

Lovely.

[CommanderBond]

yeah bond as an american ...ah not a good idea. But he had the look .

[DLibrasnow]

Barry Nelson pointed out in the 1987 book "James Bond: A Celebration" that although he played Bond as an American, he was sure that the characters eventual success was because he was so British.

[TheSaint]

Very interesting thread. I'm hoping that Doublenaughtspy chimes in, as he
is a big Gavin fan. Could you imagine just getting into Bond around the time of OHMSS and, in the space of 5 years, see Bond portrayed by 3 different actors?