44 replies to this topic

[zencat]

I don't know how we didn't hear about this until now, but Clive Owen has a cameo in the new Pink Panther movie as "Agent 006." A look at what could have been? If anyone is brave enough to actually pay to see this movie, I'd love to hear about Clive's spy turn.

[Monsieur B]

Zencat, I'm on the case!

[zencat]

Whoops. I put this in Gen Bond Film Discussion. Can someone move it to Spies Spoofs and Spin-offs?

[Athena007]

moved. Ya, that's really odd that we've not heard of Clive Owen's cameo in this film yet. It's not even on IMDb. Too bad the film doesn't look so great.


[box]http://commanderbond...item&item=28711

Clive Owen has a cameo in The Pink Panther as a British agent with the code name Agent 006.

[Loomis]

I don't know how we didn't hear about this until now

Erm, well, we did - several months ago, as I recall! Still, I always assumed it was just a BS fanboy/tabloid rumour, since I thought that PANTHER was in the can long before Owen was supposed to have shot his scenes. But I guess they did reshoots. Frankly, this film seems to have been stinking to high heaven for years now, and I doubt I'd see it even if Craig had a scene as the real Bond!

[trumanlodge89]

looks like someone misses the "next bond" spotlight.

[zencat]

BTW, this movie was called The Birth of the Pink Panther for a long time, leading me to assume it was another film in the Panther series. But now it's just called The Pink Panther. But it's clearly not a remake, so I'm guessing they are now trying to sell this as a contemporary "restart" of the Panther franchise. Hmmm. Sound familiar?

[ACE]

I've been a big Panther fan for some time. There is a huge, fascinating and eerily similar Bond/Panther nexus. It includes:

1 Pinewood and assorted crew
2 Several recasts of an iconic lead actor - who leaves the part and then returns - Sellars, overlooked, underrated one-off Alan Arkin, Sellars again, a very embarrassing uncredited Roger Moore in underrated Curse of...(we'll leave the son, Bengnini out!)
3 A tight, drawing room, class-comedy style burgeoning, with success, to huge, expensive burlesque set pieces.
4 A shifting, broader central characterization
5 Consistant regular supporting characters (Dreyfus, Kato, Prof Balls etc)
6 Many foxy femmes fatales
7 An indispensible memorable theme tune by a legendary house composer (Henry Mancini)
8 Distinguished opening credits (the DePatie/Freleng animation tradion carried on by Richard William studio - he did the Casino Royale credits too)
9 A constant creative driving force (Cubby/Blake Edwards for most though not this one)
10 United Artists/MGM teaming with an independant production company (Eon; Mirisch - although no longer)
11 A hiatus in the run leading to tantalizing unrealised work (Dalton - Bond 17; Death of Sellars halting The Romance Of The Pink Panther)
12 Excellent John Cork extras on the DVDs!

Did you know that there has never been an English language book on the character? (there is a French book and a beautiful-looking, English "Legacy" type book is going to be published now)

I knew about Owen as 006 in Panther. I thought it was no secret. People have even commented on it on the forums.

Yes, the concept does sound similar. Let's hope it will be Dirty Rotten Soundrels Martin rather than Sgt. Bilko Martin.

PP '06 has been much maligned (and delayed), but the trailer is funny, Martin seems to have the sensibility of the Clouseau character: falling into the concierge and then asking for fresh towels is classic Clouseau. With Jean Reno and Kevin Kline (who last worked together in underrated rom-com, French Kiss) in support, Beyonce hot as Xania (Hmmmm!), this could be a pleasant surprise....

I know trailers can have the best bits, that the PP diamond reduced to a football club owner's ring, that there have been ominous delays and that the director's previous franchise was Cheaper By The Dozen BUT...I like what I've seen so far.

I hope they keep the animated opening credits.

[MarcAngeDraco]

Looks like I might have to see this one...

[Napoleon Solo]

In 1975, my grandparents were still alive and my grandmother bought a supermarket tablioid. (It may have been the National Enquirer, but I'm not sure.) One of the articles claimed the next Cleuseau movie would have Mike Connors playing James Bond.

Obviously, this did not come to pass. But the film (I forget the variation of the title, but it came out at Christmas 1976) definitely had Bondish overtones, including a publicity still of Peter Seller (with hat and overcoat) aiming a pistol at the camera in a very Bond-like manner. In the movie, Dreyfus goes totally over the edge and forms a SPECTRE-like crime organization to blackmail the world into killing Cleuseau or else. In Dreyfus's HQS, there was a world map that looked an awfully lot like the map in Blofeld's volcano HQs in You Only Live Twice. The movie was filmed at Pinewood, so perhaps it was the same prop.

[DLibrasnow]

I've been a big Panther fan for some time

I have also...it always amazes me how many Americans though are just familiar with the cartoons. Watching "Strikes Again" about a year ago my roommate turned to me and asked why they had done a live-action version of the cartoon.

I knew about Owen as 006 in Panther. I thought it was no secret. People have even commented on it on the forums.

Yes it was commented on in the forums. I think this was quite well known that Owen appeared as 006 in the movie.

[zencat]

I knew about Owen as 006 in Panther. I thought it was no secret. People have even commented on it on the forums.

Yes it was commented on in the forums. I think this was quite well known that Owen appeared as 006 in the movie.

Sorry. Never saw that thread, so it was news to me. Did anyone ever use this as "evidence" that Bond #6 must be Owen?

[ACE]

Sorry. Never saw that thread, so it was news to me. Did anyone ever use this as "evidence" that Bond #6 must be Owen?

Doubt it, Zen, but that was many moons ago now. You could say it was...ahem, an...eon ago! (sniggers like Beavis!)

Maybe because I've been closely following this Panther for many years now, I was more alert to it.

[Turn]

In 1975, my grandparents were still alive and my grandmother bought a supermarket tablioid. (It may have been the National Enquirer, but I'm not sure.) One of the articles claimed the next Cleuseau movie would have Mike Connors playing James Bond.

Obviously, this did not come to pass. But the film (I forget the variation of the title, but it came out at Christmas 1976) definitely had Bondish overtones, including a publicity still of Peter Seller (with hat and overcoat) aiming a pistol at the camera in a very Bond-like manner. In the movie, Dreyfus goes totally over the edge and forms a SPECTRE-like crime organization to blackmail the world into killing Cleuseau or else. In Dreyfus's HQS, there was a world map that looked an awfully lot like the map in Blofeld's volcano HQs in You Only Live Twice. The movie was filmed at Pinewood, so perhaps it was the same prop.

You speak of The Pink Panther Strikes Again. Yeah, I love that film. There is also a subplot with Clouseau working with a female Russian spy nearly 8 or so months before TSWLM came out.

Mike Connors, wow, there's a name from the past. He seems like he could be an action guy, Leiter or somebody like Jack Lord, but Bond? That's the Enquirer for you.

[deth]

for me, the best PP film is The Return of the Pink Panther.... but I love them all (the ones with Sellers)

I suspect this new film is going to be a train-wreck.... but I'm going to see it anyway just because I hold out hope that it might capture some of the old magic....

now this 006 thing gives me more reason...

[DLibrasnow]

of The Pink Panther Strikes Again. Yeah, I love that film. There is also a subplot with Clouseau working with a female Russian spy nearly 8 or so months before TSWLM came out.

And what an amazing-looking spy, played by Lesley Anne Down if I remember correctly. She is one of my favorite actresses from that era, a shame that she never appeared in a Bond girl role because she would have topped my list above my current favorite Barbara Bach,

BTW, I was pleased to see that Bach's Anya Amasova was the top-rated Bond girl of the 1970s in the most recent edition of 007 Magazine.

[Bondesque]

I saw the Pink Panther yesterday. OWen had a cameo as Agent 006. OWen looked very handsome but yet somehow he still had this "nerd" factor. Yes, it was a spoof but after seeing him as a secret agent I came away glad that EON went another direction.

Has anyone else seen Owen as 006? Thoughts?

[SeanSean]

I'm over Owen, however I do have this nagging curiosity to see him as Agent 006. I'm contemplating going to theatre to see something else, then sneaking into the Pink Panther for a few minutes just to catch Owen.

[DLibrasnow]

I've heard great things about this remake. Our reviewer (who is often very brutal to big Hollywood productions) had some really high praise for the movie and said it was much funnier than the trailer made it appear to be.

[zencat]

Well, it looks like Panther opened to $21 million! That's way beyond estimates that I read. Looks like MGM/Sony is going to have the last laugh here. I'm sure this also validates the "restart" concept.

[marktmurphy]

And I've got to admit that I thought the trailer was funnier than I expected it to be. Not exactly high art, but wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be.

[dinovelvet]

Well, it looks like Panther opened to $21 million! That's way beyond estimates that I read. Looks like MGM/Sony is going to have the last laugh here. I'm sure this also validates the "restart" concept.

With a production budget of $80 million, they aren't laughing just yet...it all depends how it will do over the next few weeks, at this point it could either end up with $45 million or $100 million depending on word of mouth.

[deth]

I'm going tonight... has anybody here seen it yet?

anyway, I'll report back about the 006 thing.....

[Lounge Lizard]

How much of a 'Bond spoof' was it, Bondesque? Was Owen wearing a tux? Were there gadgets involved?

I'll probably go and see the film too. I love the old Panther movies and I've always had a soft spot for Steve Martin.

[British Chap]

How much of a 'Bond spoof' was it, Bondesque? Was Owen wearing a tux? Were there gadgets involved?

I'll probably go and see the film too. I love the old Panther movies and I've always had a soft spot for Steve Martin.

He was basically playing James Bond. It was funny.

[Seannery]

I've heard great things about this remake. Our reviewer (who is often very brutal to big Hollywood productions) had some really high praise for the movie and said it was much funnier than the trailer made it appear to be.

I saw the movie and I thought it was very funny--Martin was really good though not quite Sellers. For those who have a tolerance for silliness they should enjoy this film.


Clive Owen though DID NOT impress. It's a very Bondian cameo BUT Owen came off weak. He verified what I always believed--that Clive Owen WOULD NOT be a good Bond. He comes off without any Bondian spark and his voice is just AWFUL. Thank god they did not pick Owen--he's good in other roles but totally inappropiate for 007.

[Bondesque]

As 006 Clive Owen was playing Bond. He wore a tux was in the middle of a secret assignment and attempted to be debonair. He had a casino environment and an action sequence.

It was a comedy and a send up of James Bond however it really showed me that Owen would have been a mistake. He was in my top three (Jackman, Butler, Owen) but believe me he didn't impress in this cameo. He was handsome but sad to say...dorkey.

The movie was surprisingly good. A pleasant throw back to the old Pink Panther films.

[SeanSean]

I'm a bit surprised that Owen comes off as so inappropriate for the role of 007. In the BMW films and Croupier he looks so right for the role, it's surprising that when he actually is playing 007 that he comes off as weak and 'nerdy'. I think I'm going to have to check this out.

[DLibrasnow]

Well, it looks like Panther opened to $21 million! That's way beyond estimates that I read. Looks like MGM/Sony is going to have the last laugh here. I'm sure this also validates the "restart" concept.

With a production budget of $80 million, they aren't laughing just yet...it all depends how it will do over the next few weeks, at this point it could either end up with $45 million or $100 million depending on word of mouth.

Well dino....word of mouth is VERY good! So, I think this is going to be a real success for MGM/Sony.

[Seannery]

Well, it looks like Panther opened to $21 million! That's way beyond estimates that I read. Looks like MGM/Sony is going to have the last laugh here. I'm sure this also validates the "restart" concept.

With a production budget of $80 million, they aren't laughing just yet...it all depends how it will do over the next few weeks, at this point it could either end up with $45 million or $100 million depending on word of mouth.

Well dino....word of mouth is VERY good! So, I think this is going to be a real success for MGM/Sony.

I hope so--I want to see more sequels. Maybe they can bring back a more appropriate 006 next time(someone who is truly Bondian)--Pierce Brosnan!