8 replies to this topic

[tim partridge]

I was watching DAF and MWTGG recently, and I couldn't help but notice that the action was terrible, the stunts photographed in an inexcusably shoddy manner and completely unthrilling. Look at all the great second unit work done throughout the franchise by Peter Hunt, John Glen, Ernest Day, Anthony Squire, Arthur Wooster, Willy Bogner, Ian Sharp, Alex Witt, even Vic Armstrong. NOBODY seemed to be behind the action wheel of the Hamilton trio.

Can someone please tell me why DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, LIVE AND LET DIE and MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN all lacked a second unit? I know Peter Hunt had graduated to full out director by this point, but John Glen did the amazing Tobogan sequence from OHMSS, Anthony Squire the stock car chase from the same movie- why couldn't these guys have been rehired? It pains me to think that Squire particularly went on to do CONDORMAN, which has far greater "Bondian" stunt action than any of these three Hamilton movies. He ws perfect for these movies. What a wasted opportunity.

How come veteran Hollywood cameraman Harold Wellman receives a second unit cinematography credit for DAF when there is no credited second unit director?

Is this all explained on the DVD?

I hope someone can please enlighten me on the facts.

Many thanks

PS judging by what is on display in these three Hamilton Bonds that I mentioned, it's painfully obvious to see how much influence Peter Hunt had on GOLDFINGER as second unit director/editor.

[tim partridge]

Derek Cracknell was the first on all of these Hamilton movies I mention. He is often known for directing second unit in addition to ADing the main unit. Did he have a hand in any of this? And if so, how come KRULL and LIFEFORCE have comparitively excellent action sequences??

[Royal Dalton]

What was the name of the actress Derek Cracknell was married to?

[doublenoughtspy]

From what I've heard, he was pretty much a control freak (probably not unusual for a director).

He wasn't happy with some of Hunt's Ft Knox aerial footage and re-shot it.

He and Hunt did not get along.

He essentially edited in the camera - he didn't give as much leeway for Hunt to work his magic the way Terence Young did.

He claimed at one point (I think it's in one of the documentaries, maybe on the banned Criterion one) that one of the Goldfinger reels went to the premiere entirely unedited - which was a ridiculous claim and more a dig at Hunt than anything else.

Interesting question though - and you are right - just because someone is an AD doesn't mean they have anything to do with the 2nd unit.

[tim partridge]

I've heard this about Hamilton, and everything seems to indicate that most of the good set pieces in GOLDFINGER (that relied on pace and editing and even tone) were down to Hunt. While I find it to be a horribly self concious movie, GOLDFINGER is slicker and pacier than the later Hamilton movies (although I do like LIVE AND LET DIE).

BTW- Guy Hamilton started his career as an assistant director, so I would have imagined he'd taken a liking to Derek Cracknell, particularly as they worked so much together from BATTLE OF BRITAIN onwards- plus Cracknell I think even directed some aerial work on BATTLE OF BRITAIN, maybe even uncredited. Overseeing Hamilton's second unit seems pretty natural, especially given the second unit work Cracknell did on films like KRULL later on.

Royal Dalton (who is your alias, btw? )

I don't know who Cracknell was married to, but as you probably know his daughter is the lead singer of ST ETIENNE.

[DaveBond21]

I agree that LALD and TMWTGG do not match Goldfinger in terms of action scenes or craftsmanship.

Sometimes it seems like a completely different director did LALD.

[Turn]

Could the lower budgets for DAF, LALD and TMWTGG perhaps have something to do with the quality of the scenes?

I've read some of the money for Connery's salary meant the special effects budget was slashed for DAF. They also cut back from the widescreen 2:35 to 1:85 aspect ratio on LALD and TMWTGG, so maybe they thought things needed to be a little less spectacular with the smaller scale.

[Royal Dalton]

Royal Dalton (who is your alias, btw? )

My name scarcely matters. John Scarcely-Matters.

I don't know who Cracknell was married to, but as you probably know his daughter is the lead singer of ST ETIENNE.

His wife was someone quite famous. But I've forgotten who she was now.

[scaramunga]

Why were the budgets lower for DAF, LALD, and TMWTGG? Were all of these films done in a hurry?

I just posted about the aspect ratios. Interesting. Shot Flat I guess?

I am a big fan of these Guy Hamilton movies. I thought the action was decent in them. Is it seen as not as intense in terms of fight action as Goldfinger?

I do feel that the lack of Ken Adam on Live And Let Die and TMWTGG also add a bit to them not seeming as BIG film wise as Diamonds and Spy!

Why was Ken Adam not involved on LALD and TMWTGG? He was missed!