25 replies to this topic

[xmd]

Do you think that Desmond Llewelyn will be commemorated with the symbolic "In loving memory.." at the end of the movie and the begginng of the end credtis? As we all know , Desmond died shortly after TWINE release , so there was no chance to include that short statement at the end, though there was a small "goodbye" to his character in the movie. Cubby had sthg like that in TND, so I think that it would be very tactless not to extend the same honor for dear old Desmond. I mean, he was not Broccoli, he was not "the big boss", but he was an irreplaceable part of the bond family, and everybody knows that.

I would also like for Q to have a small refference in the movie, not something big, but something that would just emphasise that the crew and production staff didn't forget about him, though the bond franchise had to move on. What are your thoughts on this?

Oh, and one more thing. With all the exciment about the high quality of DAD aren't you guys a little bit worried that without Desmond Llewelyn as Q, it won't be actually the same? Sure we will have John Cleese, who will probably be great, but much of the bond franchise is about tradition, things that tie up all the movies together - and much of this tradition was DL, imho. I just get the feeling that I might feel nostalgic in the theatre...

[1q2w3e4r]

John Cleese is a terrific comedic actor, he'll carry on Q's legacy with style.

Derrick Meddings had GoldenEye tributed to him as well remember. I think it would be nice, and the producers will defiantly do so, but you can't include Desmond and ignore the passing of Peter Hunt.

Im sure the producers will handle it properly and in an appropriate manner.

[Predator_007]

Agree completely. I think it appropriate to have a simple "Dedicated to DL and PH" at the head of the end credits ...

[brendan007]

i disagree. as much as i loved desmond, and he will be missed terribly, i think the tribute on the TWINE dvd and video is sufficent. i dont mean to sound insensitive, but TWINE was his last film and the tribute is there and is not needed in DAD.
John Cleese will never replace Q, but we have to move forward and Cleese is the best man for the job. i dont think DAD will even need to mention lewellyn, the Q scene in TWINE was perfect in sending off the character and introducing Cleese.

[xmd]

brendan007-> yes, but what you're talking about is a tribute to a CHARACTER. What I was talking about was mainly a tribute to the ACTOR, (as a man who was involved in the production of almost all bonds and recently passed away). I mean, think about it - the situation would be a whole different if Desmond was still a live and just retirig from the role of Q. But the man had died, for God's sake, so tribute like "in memory of" is somtehing that he deserves. As for the mention of Q in DAD, I was just thinking of a one small sentence - sthg much like the Goldeneye talk between Bond and M ("Your predecessor...."), just a little nod to the man, hidden somwhere in the dialog lines (presumably in the Brosnan/Cleese scene) - and the very LAST nod, not for the character this time, but for the actor, because, like you said, Q already had his "escape plan". Desmond - didn't.

[brendan007]

ok, but why should desmond get a tribute or in memory of when there have been many other people who didnt. just because q was so beloved doesnt make him more important than people like Harry Saltzman, Terence Young, Bernard Lee, Pedro Armendariz. they didnt get an in loving memory on films and it cheapens their memory to put one on DAD for desmond.
as to having a line saying 'your predecessor' that tributes the CHARACTER, not the ACTOR. having a line like that is not a tribute to desmond, its a tribute to Q.
all im saying is desmond doesnt need another tribute in DAD, he got one in TWINE

[rafterman]

he got the tribute at the end of the TWINE DVD and his character had a goodbye, end of story....sorry, but while Desmond was great there is such a thing as too much, it's been long enough, no one will forget him, but he got his goodbye...

[Predator_007]

... what about Peter Hunt then ...

James Bond and the making of the James Bond films are all about tradition and family. While I agree that Desmond Llewelyn had a very nice tribute on the TWINE DVD, he (and certainly) Peter Hunt contributed much to the series as a whole and should be honoured by their peers at Eon in the film itself.

[rafterman]

how about this-a tribute to all of those lost in the forty years of making the films, either a general statement at the end or a list of all the people...since it is the fortieth anniversary...

[Predator_007]

Yes ... a very good compromise. Perhaps just a general page before the titles, then on the DVD release they could do an 'Oscars'-style roll of honour ... (with Nobody Does It Better playing over it - a bit corny?)

I think Bond 20 (and on) owes an awfully big debt of gratitude to some of the early Bond pioneers ...

[Tedley King]

I don't mean to sound disrespectful but I think it is time for change, and with that change, people need to realise that he's gone and he wont be back so to accept Cleese as he, like Llewlyn, a great actor!
There is a sloight mention to the former Q in the Bond - Quartermaster scene, although I can't remember what is said, I wouldn't post it for those spoiler free people out there (I know there is the spolier tag but as I said I don't remember what is said).

[HUNTER C.]

The line was something like:

Spoiler

"like my predecesors, I never joke about my work"

but I'm sure thats not the exact quote. Its a nice nod/wink though.

[Turn]

The difference with a remembrance for Desmond Llewelyn in DAD as opposed to many of those others mentioned who did not receive memoriam tributes is that he was a part of the series for 17 of the 19 movies. The Q scene was always a hallmark for the Bonds. M has changed as has Moneypenny, but as new actors replaced the originals, Q was a constant, loved by fans and many who aren't huge fans, a link to the past and symbol of the Bond legacy for each succeeding picture.

Sure he got a tribute on the DVD, but that was like preaching to the choir. Most all the fans knew of his passing. But a memorial tribute in DAD may let others who are not huge fans of the series as we are that he has passed. How many people will go into this film and wonder where Q is? He had that going away scene in TWINE, but in interviews, Desmond stated he wasn't necessarily giving up the role. That was just a sadly ironic fate adn it would just be fitting to give him a proper farewell.

As for another tribute on a future DVD to the other luminaries of the series, well, I'm all for it. I always thought Peter Hunt deserved one of those little tributes of his own anyway. The man deserves his due.

[HUNTER C.]

I agree that maybe a page of tributes to those who have contributed and passed on during the 40 years should be shown. If there's a cleverer way of doing it, then, great. But it'd be kind of a nice memorial.

[General Koskov]

I think that a Cubby Broccoli-style tribute ('In loving memory of ~') should be made for Hunt and Llewellyn. The DVD (and VHS) tributes were good, but I hardly think another two lines in the credits will give either too much credit, or keep us from moving on.

[cocklea]

Just a joke that i make. Sorry if it's not funny.

Bond: I miss Q, R
R: Well, what can i say. When my time comes, you will miss me also but you will be working with an "S". Good Luck!!

[freemo]

I say "why not ?" Just a line before the end credits, whats the big deal ? Definatly not at the beginning of the film, people have suggested that and I don't really like the sound of that. I'd do it the same as the Derrick Meddings one, no more, no less.

[Blue Eyes]

The passing of Peter Hunt brings up an issue. Do we dedicated Die Another Day to Desmond, Peter or both. Personally, I favour both.

[mattbowyer]

Desmond is special and was always part of the films - others like Hunt made a contribution many years ago but they moved on from the bond films. Desmond is so special to bond, he deserves special credit.

I want Bond to ask about Q, to be told he is living happily in the Bahamas - fishing.

[Xenobia]

I think DAD should be dedicated to both as well because those two made such an overwheleming contribution to the series.

Fans understand that the series has moved on...John Cleese is Q....there have been others who have filled Hunt's shoes...but it is nice to remember them...and all the others that have gone before.

As for how to do it...I know in FYEO's commentary, they remember Cassandra Harris, perhaps the other older videos do the same for those who worked on the films and passed on.

-- Xenobia

[Hardyboy]

I dunno, I can see why people would want to have a tribute to Desmond--the actor who has been in the most Bond movies--but I think that if EON adds Peter Hunt to the tribute, a lot of people might get miffed. There were no dedications to Harry Saltzman, Terence Young, and Richard Maibaum--all of whom were as instrumental to the success as Bond as anyone else.

[rafterman]

yeah, a lot of other people have passed who were just as important or beloved as Desmond, you can't forget them....how fair is it to Harry or Maibaum if Desmond gets a dedication at the end of the TWINE DVD(which would certainly have been on the film if he'd died before it hit theaters) and one on DAD...two "in loving memory of"s....I say all or nothing...Desmond got his, let's give some other people their due...

[xmd]

for those who don't have TWINE on DVD - could someone tell what kind of homage Desmond had? I mean, I don't have the dvd myself, but I do have TWINE on divx, ripped out of the DVD, and having have watched the end credtits, I didn't notice any dedication...

[Predator_007]

It was a best of, with Nobody Does It Better playing over it as I recall. Nice, but as you say, if you don't have a DVD then you don't see it. If there is an actual "In memory of ..." on the print of DAD itself, it'll stay there forever.

It's pretty poor that TY, GH, HS et al didn't receive such credit (nor Fleming himself), but that doesn't mean we shouldn't start now ...

[Xenobia]

I can't speak for the other two, but I know that Terrance Young got his own documentary on one of the SE Bond DVDs. For all we know, as more movies are made...or on the re-release of the SE editions, there could be tributes to these men as well.

-- Xenobia

[Predator_007]

Yes Xen, but I was thinking about actually on the print of the film a la Derek Meddings ... Those making of featurettes are very cool and explain a lot about the huge contribution made to the series by Terence Young, Harry Saltzman, Peter Hunt, Maurice Binder etc, but my point is that any tribute should stand the test of time. What happens in 5 years when MGM (or whoever) rerelease the films on sDVDs or whatever the current format is then - if there is tribute actually on the film print, it is highly unlikely to be taken off - what's the point of a temporary tribute?