2 replies to this topic

[ACE]

The following is based on the two unfilmed Fleming short stories from FYEO, The Hildebrand Rarity and Quantum of Solace. The concept of this idea was stitching together as many unused Eon ideas from that time that I could think of. The names and sequence-in-a-skyscraper idea and oriental setting all came from the end of the MGW & Alfonse Ruggerio Bond 17 Treatment (as do the names WEBB, KOHONI, CRISP & YUPLAND) as well as the plot revolving around a stolen piece of technology. The ending was set in a vast automated building. I was trying to go for that and a Die Hard vibe for the PTS. Also casting suggestions and ideas for Bond 16 (ultimately junked for what became LTK). In 1987-88 Broccoli and co. all went to China to set up Bond 16. The story was going to revolve around the Snow Leopard Brotherhood from the previous film and feature Chinese art treasures, the terracotta army, a motorbike chase on the Great Wall and other stuff. This was around the time of The Last Emperor and all things Chinese were in. I think the infrastructure was not suitable for Eon and also those gardamm Carmmies wanted to vet the script. But my rationale is that after Tiananmen Sq, the authorities would want a PR push and what better than a Bond film to deal with East West tensions and advertise the studio facilities of the Chinese. I imagine THR to be made in China with their facilities enabling vital budget savings to be made! I have tried to keep to the old Eon way of casting models for the females and lesser stars for the villains. After the relative BO disappointment of LTK, Dalton was given a rocket about publicity. Here he is "performing" the title song, guest hosting Johnny Carson the week of US release (July 1991) and having a homes and lovelive spread in People Magazine. He is advertising Lark cigarettes, the new Ford and American Express as well as Diet Pepsi. Sitting back in his favourite Chiswick pub, Dalton tells his luvvie pals he's sold out so much, it makes him puke all the way to the bank! THR also touches on the events of the world back in 1990-1991 including the fall of Communism, Tiananmen Square, the shift to economic espionage, closer European integration, eco-terrorism and the notion of The End of History coined by Francis Fukuyama. Er, thank you. Don't call us, we'll call you. Next please!

1987 - The Living Daylights
1989 - Licence to Kill
1991 - THE HILDEBRAND RARITY

Starring
James Bond : Timothy Dalton
Etienne Harvey Miller: Powers Booth
Rhodia Masters: Liz Hurley
Fidelle Barbey : Naomi Campbell
Xan Kohoni : John Lone
Connie Webb : Cindy Crawford
Prof. Denholm Crisp : Ian Holm
Felix Leiter : David Hedison
M: Robert Brown
Q: Desmond Llewelyn
Moneypenny: Caroline Bliss
Minister of Defence: Geoffrey Keen
David Yupland: Hugh Laurie


Directed by John McKenzie

Locations: Brussels - Belgium, London - UK, Beijing, the Yangste, Great Wall and various locations in China

Plot:

PTS - A skyscraper overlooking the Forbidden City, BEIJING, CHINA.
Ostensibly attending a champagne auction in the skyscraper hosted by Hong Kong Chinese billionaire, XAN KOHONI, we find Bond flirting with beautiful insurance expert CONNIE WEBB but is really there to protect a revolutionary piece of nano-technology called THE END OF HISTORY which to be handed to SIS under the guise of KOHONI's trade mission. However, in a daring abseil assault on the building by Chinese terrorists, the chip is stolen. Bonds ends swinging from one end of the skyscraper to the other in a dinner jacket with WEBB in his arms drinking vintage champagne before abseiling down them, catching a base jumping terrorist on the way and apprehending him and rescuing the chip.

MAIN TITLE
A Chinese themed title sequence featuring new footage of Dalton is designed by Maurice Binder (after designing titles for Bertollucci's The Last Emperor, Binder begins work but dies midway through shooting the sequence. His work was completed by pop video and advert director, Daniel Kleinman). Bondian, atmospheric, instrumental theme tune called "T.H.R." (featuring Dalton's line reading "The Hildebrand Rarity" sampled throughout and chants of T. H. R.) is performed by ambient dance act, The Shamen. (The song is later nominated for an Oscar, and during The Shamen's performance at the televised ceremony, Dalton appears live on stage, saying the line. They lose but Dalton is distinguished by being the only Bond actor to "perform" the film's title track!)

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
French Canadian gas billionaire and industrialist and rabid capitalist ETIENNE HARVEY MILLER (from QOS short story) addresses a Brussels conference of Euro movers and shakers. Suggesting that, with the demise of the Cold War, the Pacific Rim industries threaten European interests, he suggest a trade embargo. At a party in the Atonium to celebrate securing a new NATO contract, Miller and his wife, RHODIA (changed slightly from Quantum of Solace story)is introduced by the Minister of Defence, Sir Frederick Gray to Bond and Felix Leiter (on secondment to NATO HQ). Bond also meets the Seychellois business advisor to Miller, FIDELLE BARBEY (changed to a female from THR short story). The party is crashed by more Chinese terrorists who attempt to kidnap MILLER. Foiled by Leiter (he is sprayed with machine gunfire in his artifical arm and leg), they kidnap BARBEY. A gun battle ensues in the tubular structure of the Atonium. The terrorists then escape but are foiled and Barbey rescued after a high speed car chase through the streets with Bond employing the full arsenal of his gadget laden Aston Martin Volante.

LONDON, UK
In London, M with his new young advisor, David Yupland, Q and the Minister of Defence go through Bond

[Tarl_Cabot]

I was hoping for Icebreaker with Jurgen Prochnow in '91. I still think they could do it...that ice torture scene would certainly work...anyway, neat article ACE. THB did get some representation in LTK with the Milton Wavecrest character. Anthony Zerbe was that guy. John Lone...now that's a Bond villian that should have happend!

[ACE]

Thanks Tarl.

Anthony Zerbe was Krest, yes, but it was a waste of a wonderful Fleming monster. He's probably my favourite villain because of the humanity of the piece.