32 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Not sure if anyone has posted these, but check out these photos from a 1968 Life Magazine spread about the search for the new Bond.

http://images.google...g...en&safe=off

I love that one pic of Laz walking down a street in swinging London with a "bird" on his arm. Oh to freeze that moment in time.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

I've read that before. Cool article with cool pics. I wonder if that did the Tatiana Romanova scene from FRWL(the standard test scene whenever a new actor screentests for the role of Bond). I think Adam West was considered for the role about this time also. Would've been interesting if Batman was in the same photo with Lazenby and the other contenders.

[Mr. Blofeld]

You know, it actually looks like they're doing the "suppose I were to kill you for a thrill" scene, instead.

[sharpshooter]

I love that one pic of Laz walking down a street in swinging London with a "bird" on his arm. Oh to freeze that moment in time.

Indeed. Thanks for sharing, zencat.

[zencat]

How about being a tall, handsome 29-year-old Australian model up for the biggest movie role in the world in London in 1968.

I'd love the Laz to write a book about this time and his experience. Yes, it didn't last, but I suspect Laz had the most intense transformative experience of any of the Bond actors.

And the ladies... The mind boggles.

[zencat]

You know, it actually looks like they're doing the "suppose I were to kill you for a thrill" scene, instead.

Yep. Pics of Brozzo's test in '86 also show they are using this scene. I suspect they did this scene and the FRWL scene (there's a pic which is clearly FRWL). One to show him seducing a lady. One to show him disarming a lady. Filmed screen-tests are usually a few different scenes. I also know they used the GoldenEye casino scene in the Bond 6 search.

[Pierce - Daniel]

what Brosnan photos

[zencat]

what Brosnan photos

They were in 007 magazine. Pics of his '86 screen test. Sorry, I can't find which issue.

[007 Magazine]

what Brosnan photos

They were in 007 magazine. Pics of his '86 screen test. Sorry, I can't find which issue.

The pics can be seen in the online issue #50 along with screentests for other Bond actors over the years.

[Mr. Blofeld]

You know, it actually looks like they're doing the "suppose I were to kill you for a thrill" scene, instead.

Yep. Pics of Brozzo's test in '86 also show they are using this scene. I suspect they did this scene and the FRWL scene (there's a pic which is clearly FRWL).

You sure it's not from the next scene in the film, "Consider me as a woman you've just bought"?

[Jeff007]

You can see Peter Hunt in this one.

[Tybre]

Looking at these, even more glad Lazenby got the part. The other actors all look a bit out of place in their screentests. Maybe it's just because I'm used to Lazenby, but eh. My vote goes to Robert Campbell out of the other people though.

[Double-Oh Agent]

Looking at those pictures of the other candidates, there's no question that EON hired the right man to replace Sean Connery.

[Publius]

I didn't know Ben Stiller was a Bond contender. Or that he was an adult man in the 60s.

[Forward Look]

I think Adam West was considered for the role about this time also. Would've been interesting if Batman was in the same photo with Lazenby and the other contenders.

Adam West was considered for DAF, in an interview with Dana Broccoli on the DAF SE-DVD.

[Matt_13]

Looking at those pictures of the other candidates, there's no question that EON hired the right man to replace Sean Connery.

I was thinking the same thing.

[ChandlerBing]

My goodness, it's no wonder Lazenby got the part. The rest of them were so bad, they made him look good! It's also no wonder they hung onto Roger Moore long past his sell by date. No one was around to replace him for the longest time, either.

[Mr. Blofeld]

My goodness, it's no wonder Lazenby got the part. The rest of them were so bad, they made him look good! It's also no wonder they hung onto Roger Moore long past his sell by date. No one was around to replace him for the longest time, either.

Not true; they had Ogilvy, Billingsley, and Warbeck hanging around in the shadows for years unofficially, as well as Brolin officially for a few months, as well.

[Gustav Graves]

Looking at these, even more glad Lazenby got the part. The other actors all look a bit out of place in their screentests. Maybe it's just because I'm used to Lazenby, but eh. My vote goes to Robert Campbell out of the other people though.

As I am a proud Dutchman, my vote goes to Hans de Vries. AND he was the only actor that got a brief cameo in the Casino scene.

[00Twelve]

Who's the guy in the upper left? Is that Hans De Vries? Didn't see a screentest photo for him, but by that group picture, he looks like he jumped straight out of the Bond novels. Would have loved to have seen his screentest just for fun.

[David Schofield]

Always wondered how these poor buggers must have felt after Lazenby made a balls of it by jacking the part in a year later.

Were none of them ever considered again? ONE OF THEM must have come second to Lazenby in the OHMSS auditions. (Hey, what would have happened had the none-too-bright Aussie turned Bond down in the first place, reckoning being a chocolate box carrier was a better career move in the late 60s world of hippies and free love? ) Even worse, imagine how pissed-off Cubby and Harry must have been by not casting Mr Second Place and having to suck-up to Connery to do DAF...

But, feeding their grandkids Worthers originals from their rocking chairs, how pissed off at Laz must these guys be today? I'd happily wager not one would have made the -stupid decision Lazenby did!

These guys difted into anonymity. Lazenby actually voted for it!

[Zorin Industries]

Always wondered how these poor buggers must have felt after Lazenby made a balls of it by jacking the part in a year later.

Were none of them ever considered again? ONE OF THEM must have come second to Lazenby in the OHMSS auditions. (Hey, what would have happened had the none-too-bright Aussie turned Bond down in the first place, reckoning being a chocolate box carrier was a better career move in the late 60s world of hippies and free love? ) Even worse, imagine how pissed-off Cubby and Harry must have been by not casting Mr Second Place and having to suck-up to Connery to do DAF...

I think the whole Connery 67 / Lazenby 69 / Connery 71 / Moore 73 saga ensured we still have a series now. It proved that one actor was not bigger than the role and that the films could "regenerate".

[volante]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing

[Simon]

I think the whole Connery 67 / Lazenby 69 / Connery 71 / Moore 73 saga ensured we still have a series now. It proved that one actor was not bigger than the role and that the films could "regenerate".

And to take it one confusing stage further;
Niven 67 / Connery 67 / Lazenby 69 / Connery 71 / Moore 73

[Napoleon Solo]

I think Adam West was considered for the role about this time also. Would've been interesting if Batman was in the same photo with Lazenby and the other contenders.

Adam West was considered for DAF, in an interview with Dana Broccoli on the DAF SE-DVD.

UPDATE: Disregard the following. I tried to find my copy of the autobiography and can't find it. I tried to check some other reference sources (such as Wikipedia) and they place it at 1970. (Wikipedia is of two minds on this: it says West was offered the 007 role in OHMSS under the "Batman" TV series entry while its Adam West entry says he was offered the role for Diamonds Are Forever). I 'm puzzled why Dana Broccoli made the comment about West being under contract because that shouldn't have been an issue in 1970. But since I can't locate my copy of the West autobiography, I can't comment for sure.

<<While Inside Diamonds Are Forever presents it that way, I believe it's in error and that Dana Broccoli was either referring to OHMSS or had simply remembered it incorrectly. A couple of reasons why that may be so:

1. Dana Broccoli refers to West being "under contract" to play Batman. Batman was canceled in early 1968. His contract would have expired by 1970-71.

2. West, in his autobiography, says he was considered for OHMSS and describes his meetings with Albert R. Broccoli.>>

Edited by Napoleon Solo, 27 November 2009 - 03:43 AM.

[Simon]

DAF was originally offered, with contract, to John Gavin.

So am presuming West was considered for OHMSS, and perhaps DAF. But no offers materialised like they did for Lazenby, Gavin and Connery respectively.

[elizabeth]

i'd have died if any of them besides laz had been picked. o.o

[Tybre]

i'd have died if any of them besides laz had been picked. o.o

I dunno, I still think Robbie Campbell looks like he was a good choice if Laz hadn't followed through. Looks like. Know nothing of any of their acting. Still try to work out who the De Vries chap is, though. Top left looks a bit like it could be Campbell if you go by that pick. But then bottom center looks like he could be, too. The way the lip curls, and the shape of the nose are a bit more in line with the bottom center, but other aspects, like the eyes and the apparent lack of stubble (which granted is an easy fix) are more in line with top left. Regardless of which one is Campbell and which one is Hans De Vries, they both look like they could have made very good Bonds if Lazenby hadn't won the part.

Now, some googling says Hans De Vries was uncredited as a control room technician on YOLT. He also appeared in The Saint episode "Paper Chase" as an unnamed Sergeant. Also, fun IMDB credit, though it's useless in this case -- Hans De Vries is credited as having played a Cyberman in Tomb of the Cybermen (which means his face is obscured and his voice dubbed with the retro Cyberman voice). The rest of his credits, via IMDB, are here. If anyone out there wants to scan all of the control room technicians on YOLT, happens to have that particular episode of the Saint on video somewhere, or has any of his other credits and it would be a bit interesting to see if nothing else.

[Bond Bombshell]

Hans De Vries is definitely top left. Robert Campbell is front centre. Here's Hans De Vries in an episode of UFO. He appears at about 24 minutes in.

http://video.google....=...ombs&hl=en#

I've seen all of these contenders on screen apart from Robert Campbell. I asked if anybody knew anything about him on this Laz forum earlier in the year, but didn't get any replies. The man seems something of a mystery.

[Mr. Somerset]

Looking at these, even more glad Lazenby got the part. The other actors all look a bit out of place in their screentests. Maybe it's just because I'm used to Lazenby, but eh. My vote goes to Robert Campbell out of the other people though.

As I am a proud Dutchman, my vote goes to Hans de Vries. AND he was the only actor that got a brief cameo in the Casino scene.

Where is he in the casino?