49 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Athena and I are getting ready to head out to our first day at the San Diego Comic Con and I just saw that B-movie star Sybil Danning is on the autograph schedule. On timers like me will remember in '82 the sci-fi fan mags were rife with "Sybil Danning will be Octopussy" rumors...one mag even featured her on the cover in a wetsuit and holding a PPK. I'm sure this was just Ms Danning promoting herself for the part, but I thought it would fun to ask her about this and maybe even have her sign my Bond Girls book in the Octopussy section.

Anyone else remember these Sybil Danning/Octopussy rumors? Does anyone know if they had any basis in truth?

[Roebuck]

Hard to imagine when you look at all the straight-to-video howlers on her CV but in the eighties she was up for a lot of big roles, including being a candidate for the part of Vasquez in Aliens. (There's a long and weird story about how she lost out on that one)

Or she might have just been drumming up some publicity for Black Diamond, a ''female James Bond'' project she was involved it that was based on a short lived comic book. The film died a death after a serious back injury that limited what she could do in the way of action roles.

[Simon]

Yup, definitely remember those stories.

Was there as much self promotion in those days along the lines of "Indian actress to be in next film" as there is today. Maybe I was not so media savvy then (read, cynical) but it seemed most of what I heard about was really happening if not actually to be be signed up.

The main actress in the Octopussy role line up was Faye Dunaway though wasn't she?

[Triton]

I distinctly remember the Prevue magazine cover with Sybil Danning in the black vulcanized rubber suit zipped down to the navel holding a handgun with the caption in large letters "SYBIL DANNING Will she make love or war to James Bond in OCTOPUSSY?" My first reaction was one of horror. With all the makeup on her face, and the suggestive pose, I felt that a white trash tart would be introduced to the world of 007.

I don't know how Cubby Broccoli reacted to Sybil Danning's self-promotion by posing for fashion photographer Firooz Zahedi in black leather and evening gowns with the obligatory hand gun. But seeing the photos certainly turned me off of Sybil Danning. I was thinking that the world of 007 needs a person with more class.

The whole incident reminds me of Sean Young's self-promotion trying to get the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns in which she made public appearances in a Catwoman costume.

After Mommie Dearest, and Faye Dunaway's excellent and sometimes shocking portrayal of Joan Crawford in 1981, could audiences accept Dunaway as the Bond girl?

[Genrewriter]

The only things I've seen Sybil Danning in are Conan the Destroyer and Howling II-Your Sister is a Werewolf. Not sure how good of an Octopussy she would have been. Some other Bond Girl? Sure, why not?

[DLibrasnow]

Sybil Danning was in CONAN: THE DESTROYER? I must have missed that part.

The one movie I remember her in was BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS!

[Genrewriter]

Whoops, my mistake. I was thinking of someone else.

[Qwerty]

Not sure how good of an Octopussy she would have been. Some other Bond Girl? Sure, why not?

I agree. No one did like Octopussy like Maud Adams did.

I don't believe I'd heard this rumor before though.

[Genrewriter]

First time I've heard it as well.

[Blofeld's Cat]

I don't know how Cubby Broccoli reacted to Sybil Danning's self-promotion by posing for fashion photographer Firooz Zahedi in black leather and evening gowns with the obligatory hand gun.

It may of had some effect as she's actually in the movie, but whether it was specifically due to that photo shoot or not is debatable.

In any case, it wasn't the big role she hoped for (no speaking part & barely any screen time) and I'm surprised she accepted it, but she may've been that desperate to be in a Bond movie any way possible.

[Blofeld's Cat]

The one movie I remember her in was BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS!

Oooooohh Yeah!! She was "big" in that movie.



And I remember her in "Chained Heat," being naked in a prison shower scene with an equally naked Linda Blair. Two "big" girls in one shot.

[Triton]

I don't know how Cubby Broccoli reacted to Sybil Danning's self-promotion by posing for fashion photographer Firooz Zahedi in black leather and evening gowns with the obligatory hand gun.

It may of had some effect as she's actually in the movie, but whether it was specifically due to that photo shoot or not is debatable.

In any case, it wasn't the big role she hoped for (no speaking part & barely any screen time) and I'm surprised she accepted it, but she may've been that desperate to be in a Bond movie any way possible.

Who could blame her for wanting to break out of the B-movie action/adventures and the soft core pørnography? An appearance in Bond may have led to bigger and better things.

When does Danning appear in Octopussy, Blofeld's Cat? I don't recall seeing her in the film.

[Qwerty]

The one movie I remember her in was BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS!

Oooooohh Yeah!! She was "big" in that movie.



And I remember her in "Chained Heat," being naked in a prison shower scene with an equally naked Linda Blair. Two "big" girls in one shot.

Wow BC, that's a rather interesting shot there. Never saw her in that though, I guess I haven't seen much of her at all.

[Triton]

The one movie I remember her in was BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS!

Oooooohh Yeah!! She was "big" in that movie.



And I remember her in "Chained Heat," being naked in a prison shower scene with an equally naked Linda Blair. Two "big" girls in one shot.

Ah yes, Saint-Exmin of the Valkyrie.

Battle Beyond the Stars is a classic B-movie ripoff of a classic film ( The Magnificent Seven), which itself is a ripoff of a classic film ( The Seven Samurai).

[Blofeld's Cat]

When does Danning appear in Octopussy, Blofeld's Cat?  I don't recall seeing her in the film.

Gee, I thought this was common knowledge Trition.

She is one of the girls escorting Bond to Octopussy on her island. I need to remind myself with a another viewing of the scene, but Sybil looks at Bond's back as he enters Occy's boudoir, then turns away abruptly.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Battle Beyond the Stars is a classic B-movie ripoff of a classic film ( The Magnificent Seven), which itself is a ripoff of a classic film ( The Seven Samurai).

And it brought new-comer composer James Horner to everyone's attention. I'm luckily enough to have the LP.

[Triton]

Battle Beyond the Stars is a classic B-movie ripoff of a classic film ( The Magnificent Seven), which itself is a ripoff of a classic film ( The Seven Samurai).

And it brought new-comer composer James Horner to everyone's attention. I'm luckily enough to have the LP.

James Horner's magnificent score certainly elevated the film.

[Genrewriter]

It was also a cash-in on the Star Wars franchise.

[TheSaint]

She is one of the girls escorting Bond to Octopussy on her island. I need to remind myself with a another viewing of the scene, but Sybil looks at Bond's back as he enters Occy's boudoir, then turns away abruptly.[/color]

Bond wasn't escorted to Octopussy on her island. I think you're thinking of when Kamal Khan was escorted to Octopussy. And that wasn't Sybil Danning doing the escorting, that was Suzanne Jerome.

That cover of Mediascene Prevue featuring Sybil is one of my favorite magazine covers of all time. I had her sign that cover at Chiller Con in October 2003. While I don't think Sybil would've made a better Octopussy, I do think she would've made a great Magda(the character Kristina Wayborn).

Attached Files

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[Blofeld's Cat]

She is one of the girls escorting Bond to Octopussy on her island. I need to remind myself with a another viewing of the scene, but Sybil looks at Bond's back as he enters Occy's boudoir, then turns away abruptly.

Bond wasn't escorted to Octopussy on her island. I think you're thinking of when Kamal Khan was escorted to Octopussy. And that wasn't Sybil Danning doing the escorting, that was Suzanne Jerome.

Yep, you seem to be right on both cases there, TheSaint.

I was relying on my hazy memory about the scene, but I've assumed for a long time that Sybil was in the movie. Maybe I took her self-publicity too much at face value.

[Athena007]

Does anyone have any of the pictures of her dressed as Octopussy for that photoshoot?

[zencat]

Does anyone have any of the pictures of her dressed as Octopussy for that photoshoot?

Here you go. The famous cover.

[Blofeld's Cat]

She can play with my walther anytime.

[Qwerty]

"Will she make love or war..."

She looks quite scary.

[TheSaint]

She looks quite tasty, and she didn't pose as Octopussy in any of the photos inside-as was pointed out by an earlier poster the photos of her were for the aborted Black Diamond movie.

[zencat]

I did ask her about the Octopussy thing at Comic Con, and while she never auditioned, she did say she talked to Cubby (or someone talked to Cubby on her behalf) and Cubby felt she was too "strong" to be cast against Moore at that time. But she was very pleased that her friend Maud Adams got the part. That's her story and she's sticking to it (and it does make sense).

She was very nice, btw.

She gave me her card: www.sybildanning.net

[zencat]

"Octopussy" meets May Day.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Reminds me a bit of Farrah Fawcett's wetsuit clad form in Sunburn 4 or so years earlier.

[TheSaint]

I did ask her about the Octopussy thing at Comic Con, and while she never auditioned, she did say she talked to Cubby (or someone talked to Cubby on her behalf) and Cubby felt she was too "strong" to be cast against Moore at that time. But she was very pleased that her friend Maud Adams got the part. That's her story and she's sticking to it (and it does make sense). 

That has to be the saddest thing I've ever read. A B list actress too strong to be cast against an A list actor? Yeah, I'll buy that. I love Sybil and I would've loved to have seen her in a Bond film while she was still in top form but, I think she's just a little too full of herself.

Edited by TheSaint, 28 July 2004 - 12:58 AM.

[Cairo]

Sybil did her own "Bondesque" photo shoot and wanted desparately to be in a big budget mainstream action movie. I have heard several stories as to why she did not get the part. Here are some of those stories

1. She was picked to play opposite Bond in "For Your Eyes Only" but lost out to that other actress (Corinne Clearie?) because she was "French" and the movie had "French Financing".

2. She was a finalist for Octopussy, but they chose Maud Adams over her.

3. Sybil was too strong of a character for Bond and they thought she would make Moore look wimpy.

4. She never had a snowball's chance in hell, but she really wanted to be in a Bond Movie. She had the body, but she did not have the glamouras, angelic and clean facial looks that the producer's wanted. Too much of a hardened bad girl look.

I think she would have been great and would have been the Bond Girl with the best cleavage. Sybil has bared her breasts so many times in film that you could draw them from memory!