38 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

I don't remember seeing THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS on the big screen, although I can't imagine why I wouldn't have done so, since I was a press cuttings-collecting dyed-in-the-wool Bond fan even then, and vividly recall the excitement over Dalton's casting and over the film's bold and brilliant new direction for the series. Still, I've no recollection of seeing it "at the pictures". If I did do so, it would have been at the Cannon, Gerrards Cross, where I caught OCTOPUSSY, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN and A VIEW TO A KILL (had to pass on LICENCE TO KILL during its theatrical release since I was too young to get in). Anyone here able to go "snap" on that venue?

[Qwerty]

Now on the CBn main page...

'The Living Daylights' Celebrates 20 Years

CBn Forum members on seeing Timothy Dalton's debut Bond film for the first time

[Doctor Shatterhand]

The Place: Washington, DC
The Date: July 30, 1987

I was in line to see the advanced screening of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS. The event was for the VERY SPECIAL ARTS, a non-profit organization that was put together by the Kennedy Family for special needs kids. My father was a VP at one of the local big banking corporations in town and he was able to get an invitation. He gave it to me and my future bride.

The theater was swarming with media and a duplicate Aston Martin was parked outside with security surrounding it.

In attendence was Maryam d'Abo, Jeroen Krabbe, and Virginia Hey. All three sitting right behind me. Sadly, Timothy Dalton was in New York that evening for interviews. But perhaps the most exciting moment was sitting two rows behind me - Cubby Broccoli who graciously accepted a warm greeting from the audience before the show began.

With so many political figures in the audience who were greeting the stars and Broccoli that evening, I felt completely withdrawn and could not muster enough nerve to meet him. My loss, but it was still cool to be in the same theater watching a Bond film with THE MAN himself.

Somewhere in the middle of the film, the air conditioning unit broke down and the theater was a balmy 90 degrees before it was over. I can remember feeling uncomfortable while watching the desert scenes. However, when the scene where Bond and Necros are battling it out outside the Hercules aircraft, the audience went wild. Never have I heard such a thunderous applause in any film. I'm sure Cubby was pleased with the results.

20 years later, I still lift up my martini glass to his memory. Thanks for 25 wonderful years that has grown into 45 and still counting.

[DLibrasnow]

Cool!!! So do you know Berwick well? I am from Newcastle. I also saw Goldeneye at the MetroCentre, and also DAD for the 2nd time there. I was there this time last year on our holiday back in the UK.

I spent a great deal of my childhood in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, we had family there and would visit. It was at the Berwick Playhouse that I saw STAR WARS for the first time.
I haven't been back to the UK since Jan. 1998 when a business trip took me over there for all of three days. For the most part I play host to visiting family members and friends here in the USA.
When I was there un 1998 I went with my family to a screening of Tomorrow Never Dies at - you guessed it, The MetroCentre.
I did see the trailer for GoldenEye at the MetroCentre (on before FIRST KNIGHT), but by the time it hit the theaters I had already emigrated.I saw that movie at the Mall of America in Minnesota.

[DLibrasnow]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the North of England, is it

On the contrary, it proves that we are great travellers and adventurers, but Geordieland will always be home to me...

There are a lot of transplanted Geordie's around the world from Sting to Mike Figgis and Ridley Scott. I don't consider myself a Geordie, but I certainly had a great time there as a teen. The centre of Newcastle comes alive on a Saturday night.

[DaveBond21]

The centre of Newcastle comes alive on a Saturday night.

It was voted 4th best place in the WORLD (!!) for a night out.


Also, between Newcastle and Berwick, there is some of the most beautiful scenery and castles in Britain.

[Scottlee]

The Living Daylights was the first Bond film I ever saw at the cinema, and as such will always be a special one for me in the canon. It was also the last one I would see on the big screen for ten years for one reason or another. I saw TLD in Rugeley, Staffordshire. I was only 7 years old at the time and under the supervision of my grandmother, who was taking me to the cinema for a treat.

I can't remember much about the occasion other than those few basic details. I was very young at the time but already a big Bond fan.

[Genrewriter]

If A View to a Kill got me interested in Bond, The Living Daylights pushed into serious fan territory. It was the first one I saw in the theater and from there, I was hooked.

[Cruiserweight]

It was i believe one of the later films i saw on vhs as i collected the Moore and Connery films first but it now ranks up in my top ten i'd say.

Edited by Cruiserweight, 05 August 2007 - 06:49 PM.