44 replies to this topic

[dinovelvet]

Still working my way through the OP DVD. So, the James Brolin screentests. From what Brolin himself says, it looks like he was a lot further along in the process of being Bond than I thought; he talks about he and Cubby looking for flats in London where he'd be staying for the OP shoot. It seems this was more than just someone who auditioned, he really was being groomed as the new 007.
What do you think of Brolin in the screentests? He comes across as a soft-spoken Bond, he didn't remind me of any of the other actors, which I guess is good. I really don't know what he would have been like. Different, certainly. The most interesting thing about it is that apparently Cubby thought Brolin should speak in his natural American accent. SAY WHUT? Was Cubby quite mad by that point? He'd tried to get a yank as Bond previously, with John Gavin even signed to the role for DAF (and Burt Reynolds said he was offered the same gig) before Connery came back at the 11th hour.
Another interesting thing is that we sort of get an OP deleted scene, in the screentest with Vijay, Vijay has some expository dialogue about Kamal which gives some insight into Kamal's character.

[Bryce (003)]

Brolin did (at the time) look the part, but I can't believe Cubby wanted the true voice.

I saw Reynolds not to long ago on some talk show. He said something to the affect of turning it down because he felt that Bond had to be English and he couldn't do a decent or passable one that didn't sound like a bad Cary Grant impersonation.

Another great bit from Burt is in the LWT "James Bond - The first 21 Years" in 1983 -

"We're very jealous of him here in America. As a matter of fact, we tried to have him killed a bunch of times, but they sent back eleven CIA guys just beaten all to Hell."

Brolin...Nope...Just could never see it. Sam Neil's test on the TLD DVD had potential before they went with Tim IMO.

[David Schofield]

An interesting one.

I certainly thought Brolin looked far better physically for the role in 83 than Rog. I DO think we'd have got an enthusiastic performance from Brolin rather than Rog's pension effort. His Bond would certainly have had more energy (though that's not saying much) and therefore credibility. That said, Brolin brings a touch of the cheap "made for TV" look that in many ways dogged Brozza in GE.

An American as Bond? I have no real problem even with the actor sounding American if he can't manage an English accent (did Robert Redford's lack of effort spoil Out of Africa?) as long as there isn't some ludicrous 50s British movie effort to explain him away as Canadian or having an American mom.

However, it is essential if you are to pass yourself of as an Englishman that you avoid clangers such as order "yow...gurt".

Next candidate, please.

[Jim]

Wasn't there a rumour that he had once referred to Broccoli as "The Godfather", a comment about as welcome as AIDS in a bun?

[dinovelvet]

Wasn't there a rumour that he had once referred to Broccoli as "The Godfather", a comment about as welcome as AIDS in a bun?

I think that one was Lewis Collins, presumably he was also being looked at for OP

[Andrew]

He was hamming it up pretty badly in those screentests. Sure, it would've been interesting to see...for one movie.

[Jim]

Wasn't there a rumour that he had once referred to Broccoli as "The Godfather", a comment about as welcome as AIDS in a bun?

I think that one was Lewis Collins, presumably he was also being looked at for OP

Ah, that's right. My mistake. Or his.

[Loomis]

Still working my way through the OP DVD. So, the James Brolin screentests. From what Brolin himself says, it looks like he was a lot further along in the process of being Bond than I thought; he talks about he and Cubby looking for flats in London where he'd be staying for the OP shoot. It seems this was more than just someone who auditioned, he really was being groomed as the new 007.

That's what I've always understood (not that I have any insider info, mind). It was only an eleventh-hour-and-fifty-ninth-minute deal with Rog that spared us Brolin.

Although I guess Brolin, for his part, spared us Brosnan, who was supposedly one of the actors to audition for Bond in OCTOPUSSY.

Anyone know whether Simon MacCorkindale (31 in 1983) was considered for OCTOPUSSY, or at any other time in the '80s? I think he'd have been.... well, quite good, at least. I'm surprised his name never seems to come up in old Bond fandom yarns of close contenders like Collins and Ollie Reed. He'd have combined the suaveness of Moore with the good looks of a young Brosnan and the hair colour of Daniel Craig.

What do you think of Brolin in the screentests?

Awful. Wooden and dull beyond measure - Bond meets THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. Acting-wise, he'd have made Brosnan look like Craig. And I don't think he even looked the part, particularly.

Seems very, very odd that he was the final choice for the role. Was there no one else?

The most interesting thing about it is that apparently Cubby thought Brolin should speak in his natural American accent.

Bizarre but believable. I don't get the impression that "Cubby" was exactly a fiend for continuity. A lot of people knock the late Moore period as the series' nadir, but it may well be that Moore's wearing out his welcome rescued the franchise from something quite extraordinarily horrible.

[Lounge Lizard]

I believe that in the planning stages of Octopussy, there was also talk of a big female star like Faye Dunaway being offered the role of the title character, to cover the fact that a lesser known (American) actor was playing Bond. Had Moore not returned, Octopussy (which ended up being a conventional middle-period Bond flick) would have been the most radical break of tradition and continuity in the entire series, more so than Casino Royale. It baffles the mind.

Brolin was very tense and humorless during his screentests, and more slimy than charming, sporting a Troy McClure haircut and an abundance of growth on his back. When he was kissing Maud Adams, I was reminded of Naomi Watts's audition scene from Mulholland Drive. Had Brolin been used for a Bond / superspy spoof the way Leslie Nielsen was used for The Naked Gun series, he would have been perfect (alas, they made that spoof with Nielsen himself and named it Spy Hard).

Still, 'Brolla' was very gracious in allowing his screentest to be used for the Octopussy DVD; as a curiosity, the clip is one of the highlights of the Ultimate Edition set.

[jaguar007]

I think the main reason Cubby wanted Moore back for Octopussy had to do with NSNA. If they were going to compete against another Bond film starring Connery, they would want a Bond people were familiar with in the role rather than breaking in a new actor.

As far as Brolin's screen tests, the acting (to be polite) was uninspired. However, if he had slightly shorter hair, he would physically be very close to the Bond look I envision when i read the books.

[Safari Suit]

Sorry, but while I have enjoyed Brolin in other films, I thought his Screen Tests were simply disastrous. Granted, Screen Tests are probably not an accurate reflection of how good he would have been, but from what evidence I have I must say that I would take a "pension" Moore over Brolin any day!

Nice of him to contribute to the UE DVD though.

[Terry]

Hello and please pardon my intrusion into this subject thread. I have just signed up and am a bit unsure of Forum etiquette.

The subject of the Bond screentests is fascinating to me and it's always a pleasure when EON opens their vaults to reveal some rare gems like this. I don't argue that Brolin would have made a good Bond (at the time, I longed for a younger and tougher actor to fill the role), instead, it the rare glimpse inside the process of choosing the actor to portray Bond that is so valuable.

I have followed the Lewis Collins as Bond story closely and do not believe Collins was the actor director John Glen referred to in his excellant bio as having called Cubby "the Godfather round here". The clues Glen offered weren't much and only that the actor was 1. Born in England but lived in America. I believe Collins had vacationed in California around that time (and resides there now) but lived with his father in England. 2. Had a fun personality. I suppose Collins could be a fun guy to be around he had stated in UK articles that he didn't hit it off with Cubby during a short meeting in 1980. 3. Wasn't particulary tall or handsome. In fact, he didn't look anything like Bond at all. One major factor that hurt Collins chances at the 007 role was he lacked a couple of inches in height. I would argue that he could certainly 'look' like a James Bond. I point to Euan Lloyd's WHO DARES WINS.

I am planning to research the candidates of that time and hope to come up with an idea who Glen is writing about.

Edited by Terry, 27 February 2007 - 02:46 AM.

[Safari Suit]

Welcome to the forums, Terry.

I can't claim to be any great authority on the subject, but I know that Collins said something along the lines of "It would be nice to get back to the books, a character who, like myself, is not particularly tall or handsom", so that part of the story checks out.

I love "The Professionals" and "Who Dares Wins" by the way.

[Terry]

Thanks for your kind welcome. I must say I am impressed by the members of this Forum. They are active and keep posting fascinating subjects. Good job.

The Lewis Collins quote you mention is from an August 26, 1982 article from the Daily Star titled WHY I'LL NEVER BE BOND. Great article and while we are wary of anything coming from the tabloids, this seems to be genuine info from Mr. Collins. In an article from the same paper dated April 26, 1983 (AT 36, I'VE HAD MY DAY)Collins says "I lack three inches for that role - and I think height is most important to the way producers think."

In a interview that a friend and I conducted with Euan LLoyd (published over four issues in CINEMA RETRO magazine), Mr. Lloyd siad he believes Collins lost out on the role due to his not dressing properly for his interview with Cubby Broccoli. From what I've been able to find, I don't think Collins was ever a favorite of Cubby Broccoli. Then there is the story of Bob Simmons and Collins....

It is amazing to see how far they went with Jim Brolin. Three days of extensive tests, looking for living quarters, meeting Cubby's friends. It could have happened. John Glen comments that he thought Brolin provided an excellant screen test so there must have been something there. Hard for me to see it, however.

[spynovelfan]

Imagine if it had happened. 'He has the same initials as 007 - born to be Bond!'

I wonder if he is related to Christian Bale:

[doublenoughtspy]

Imagine his AAMCO commercials..."I never trust my Aston Martin's transmission to anyone but AAMCO" along with him firing at the letters ala the Goldeneye trailer.

[triviachamp]

I believe that in the planning stages of Octopussy, there was also talk of a big female star like Faye Dunaway being offered the role of the title character, to cover the fact that a lesser known (American) actor was playing Bond.

No Faberge Eggs...Ever!

[Blonde Bond]

Imagine if it had happened. 'He has the same initials as 007 - born to be Bond!'

I wonder if he is related to Christian Bale:

You know, when I saw "Westworld" last year, the same thought crossed my mind. I wasn't familiar with this younger Brolin, and I though he looked exactly like Christian Bale, but few year older. I made it my priority to check from IMDB if this man was actually CB's father.

The word "lovechild" springs to mind

[Mr Twilight]

I recieved my copy of OP UE yesterday and I did check out the screentests at once with great intressed. Very interesting indeed. I must admit that my opinion about Moore as Bond in the 80s is that he should have stepped down after FYOE.

Brolin as Bond? The screentests was ok, i think. There are alway small details to complain about, as his haircut, accent, but it didn't was a total disaster in my eyes. I was specially impressed about the fight scene, which I thought looked very good compairing to Moore's fight scenes. Could have something to do with the age as Brolin (born 1940) is 13 years younger than Moore.

I believe too that Broccoli and EON feared to lose the Battle of Bonds to NSNA if they didn't get Moore in the end. It's a pity, cause it would have been interesting to see Brolin (as someone wrote) at least once as Bond.

Brolin as Bond

[marktmurphy]

Still, 'Brolla' was very gracious in allowing his screentest to be used for the Octopussy DVD; as a curiosity, the clip is one of the highlights of the Ultimate Edition set.

Yeah- it's a great little feature. Especially good to have him talking about it.

[Bondian]

Imagine if it had happened. 'He has the same initials as 007 - born to be Bond!'

I wonder if he is related to Christian Bale:

You know, when I saw "Westworld" last year, the same thought crossed my mind. I wasn't familiar with this younger Brolin, and I though he looked exactly like Christian Bale, but few year older. I made it my priority to check from IMDB if this man was actually CB's father.

The word "lovechild" springs to mind

Yeah. I thought the same when I saw him in 'The Prestige'.

Have always though this young fella looks like Brolin.



Oh. And there's one more thing...

[LadySylvia]

The more I see Sir Roger in movies in FYEO, OP and AVTAK, the more I am glad that he made them. His Bond during that era was probably the most mature I have ever seen the character during EON's 45-year existence.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Oh. And there's one more thing...

Look, it's Topol!

[RazorBlade]

The more I see Sir Roger in movies in FYEO, OP and AVTAK, the more I am glad that he made them. His Bond during that era was probably the most mature I have ever seen the character during EON's 45-year existence.

Not me. Cartoonish comes to mind, not maturity.

[Mr. Blofeld]

The more I see Sir Roger in movies in FYEO, OP and AVTAK, the more I am glad that he made them. His Bond during that era was probably the most mature I have ever seen the character during EON's 45-year existence.

Not me. Cartoonish comes to mind, not maturity.

For Octopussy and AVTAK, of course, but certainly not for FYEO.

[TheSaint]

Having re-watched the screen tests again, I definitely caught a wooden Connery vibe there, with the voice & the eyebrows. I'm surprised he was so stiff because he had been acting since the mid-60's. Nice of him to talk about his experience. It's a shame they didn't do the same with Sam Neill for the TLD Ultimate dvd.

Now Terry, what's the story of Lewis Collins & Bob Simmons?

[Mr. Blofeld]

Now Terry, what's the story of Lewis Collins & Bob Simmons?

Yes, I'm sure we'd all like to hear that...

[Bondian]

The more I see Sir Roger in movies in FYEO, OP and AVTAK, the more I am glad that he made them. His Bond during that era was probably the most mature I have ever seen the character during EON's 45-year existence.

Damned right. I doubt if even Craig could walk into a Harlem "fillet 'o sole" and act so nonchalantly like Moore does.

Oh. And there's one more thing...

Look, it's Topol!

LOL.

[Mr. Blofeld]

The more I see Sir Roger in movies in FYEO, OP and AVTAK, the more I am glad that he made them. His Bond during that era was probably the most mature I have ever seen the character during EON's 45-year existence.

Damned right. I doubt if even Craig could walk into a Harlem "fillet 'o sole" and act so nonchalantly like Moore does.

Well, the name says it all: "Fillet of Soul"...

[deth]

it's these things that sometimes make you question the supposed brilliance of Broccoli...