11 replies to this topic

[doublenoughtspy]

I was interested to see that Fleming put forward Peter Finch to play Bond back in 59 - see this article from 007 Magazine: http://www.007magazi...le_for_bond.htm

Here is the most Bond like image I could find, from Elephant Walk (1954) with Elizabeth Taylor:

[triviachamp]

Who didn't Fleming want to play Bond? Well we now know that Fleming did like Jimmy Stewart for Bond and not Granger.

[Mister Asterix]

‘I’M MAD AS HELL AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY... I mean... I’m Bond... James Bond.


I’d have to see Finch’s late fifties early sixties work to understand the choice I think.

Interesting that Fleming more conceded Jimmy Stewart to get Hitchcock than he did choose him. Fascinating. But if you’re going to concede someone to get Hitch, why not Cary Grant? (Though for the record I think Stewart could have been an excellent Bond.)

[triviachamp]

As for that letter: did Bryce have a homosexual attraction to Fleming?

[Mister Asterix]

As for that letter: did Bryce have a homosexual attraction to Fleming?

Who knows. He could have simply been joking around, sweetie.

[triviachamp]

As for that letter: did Bryce have a homosexual attraction to Fleming?

Who knows. He could have simply been joking around, sweetie.

Yeah, that letter than McClory supposedly had could have been refering to anything, dear.

[Single-O-Seven]

I hope the Jimmy Stewart you're talking about isn't the one seen in Vertigo, Rear Window, etc, because that's not the actor Fleming was referring to. The James Stewart Fleming wanted was actually a British actor. Maybe somebody here can add more detail, but I've heard this story over and over, and it's definitely not the Jimmy Stewart most people are thinking of.

[triviachamp]

I hope the Jimmy Stewart you're talking about isn't the one seen in Vertigo, Rear Window, etc, because that's not the actor Fleming was referring to. The James Stewart Fleming wanted was actually a British actor. Maybe somebody here can add more detail, but I've heard this story over and over, and it's definitely not the Jimmy Stewart most people are thinking of.

That must be a myth. Stewart Granger was a Brit whose real name was James Stewart but he had been known by that name since the 1940s. Judging by the letters that this Sellers guy had he must have been refering to the American actor James Maitland Stewart.

[triviachamp]

Interesting that Jimmy was supposed to be in North by Northwest but was replaced with Grant apparently due to a falling with him and Hitch. That would have occured around the time these letters were being written.

[Mister Asterix]

I hope the Jimmy Stewart you're talking about isn't the one seen in Vertigo, Rear Window, etc, because that's not the actor Fleming was referring to. The James Stewart Fleming wanted was actually a British actor. Maybe somebody here can add more detail, but I've heard this story over and over, and it's definitely not the Jimmy Stewart most people are thinking of.

‘Hitchcock is in search of a vehicle, particularly for James Stewart but, whether our story would suit Stewart or not, he is definitely interested and wants to see (a script).’

-Ian Fleming

That is not Stewart Granger that Fleming is talking about. Another Fleming myth busted.

[plankattack]

Who didn't Fleming want to play Bond? Well we now know that Fleming did like Jimmy Stewart for Bond and not Granger.

Agreed. I do have a theory that all of Fleming's "choices" were nothing more that lists of actors that he liked, rather than who he actually envisaged as 007. In the same way that we all speculate on potential casting, these lists of were nothing more than that - speculation.

I never see any of these faces or pesona when I read the books. What I mean is, there is never a moment when I go, "gosh, Bond is behaving just like Jimmy Stewart did in....." The more I read these things, the more I become sure that the only actor that Fleming consciously felt his creation reminded him of was Hoagy Carmichael.

It's like me saying that I'd love to have George Clooney or Bruce Willis play me, because I like their work as actors, rather than that they share any trait or characteristic with me.

Well, I think Bruce is left-handed......

[triviachamp]

I get the feeling that Fleming wanted any big star as Bond in order to get a movie made and to get a hit. If that Ratoff had made his Susan Hayward Casino Royale and it was a hit would Fleming have cared?