63 replies to this topic

[007Bond007]

without a doubt, Bonds flat should definetly appear in Bond 23, and while were at it Bonds Scottish treasure, May, should appear in the next movie as well.

[Vauxhall]

without a doubt, Bonds flat should definetly appear in Bond 23, and while were at it Bonds Scottish treasure, May, should appear in the next movie as well.

I can't really see the latter happening. It seems pretty inconceivable that a spy would have a maid in this day and age. Admittedly, realism probably isn't high on the list of priorities but I still don't see it!

[The Shark]

without a doubt, Bonds flat should definetly appear in Bond 23, and while were at it Bonds Scottish treasure, May, should appear in the next movie as well.

I can't really see the latter happening. It seems pretty inconceivable that a spy would have a maid in this day and age. Admittedly, realism probably isn't high on the list of priorities but I still don't see it!

Can't she just be a cleaning lady?

[Vauxhall]

without a doubt, Bonds flat should definetly appear in Bond 23, and while were at it Bonds Scottish treasure, May, should appear in the next movie as well.

I can't really see the latter happening. It seems pretty inconceivable that a spy would have a maid in this day and age. Admittedly, realism probably isn't high on the list of priorities but I still don't see it!

Can't she just be a cleaning lady?

Well, then I argue that she wouldn't be the same character so why have her at all?

[The Shark]

without a doubt, Bonds flat should definetly appear in Bond 23, and while were at it Bonds Scottish treasure, May, should appear in the next movie as well.

I can't really see the latter happening. It seems pretty inconceivable that a spy would have a maid in this day and age. Admittedly, realism probably isn't high on the list of priorities but I still don't see it!

Can't she just be a cleaning lady?

Well, then I argue that she wouldn't be the same character so why have her at all?

She could still be the same Scottish lady, with the same personality, the only difference being her job.

[Captain Tightpants]

I don't know why I posted this..I suppose it was to get any feedback I can but what I really wish I could do is send a postcard to the producers or the screenwriters for the next film and request they stick in a scene of Bond at his flat with his housekeeper May. Not only would this continue the thread of opening up and further grounding Bond's character, it would help me forget the beginning scene from LALD with M visiting Roger Moore at Bond's flat. It played out like something from a screwball comedy. That fit right in with Moore's persona and the whole comedy style he set for his films, but it actually depressed me when I first saw it. I knew from that moment that if they continued with Moore the next series of films would all be just big action joke machines. I don't mind some levity..in fact I'd welcome it back in the next film (lightly done mind you - think of the golf match in Goldfinger). They can even bring in Moneypenny and or Q. I really would like to see just a touch of Bond at home though, even it were only for a minute or two of screentime. However, since the producers seem bent on having him bounce around the world in photogenic land and seascapes from one scene to the next, I doubt if my wish will ever come true.

First rule of film-making: if it slows the film down, it gets cut. Anything with May in it would simply slow things down because it's not relevant to the plot.

[The Shark]

I don't know why I posted this..I suppose it was to get any feedback I can but what I really wish I could do is send a postcard to the producers or the screenwriters for the next film and request they stick in a scene of Bond at his flat with his housekeeper May. Not only would this continue the thread of opening up and further grounding Bond's character, it would help me forget the beginning scene from LALD with M visiting Roger Moore at Bond's flat. It played out like something from a screwball comedy. That fit right in with Moore's persona and the whole comedy style he set for his films, but it actually depressed me when I first saw it. I knew from that moment that if they continued with Moore the next series of films would all be just big action joke machines. I don't mind some levity..in fact I'd welcome it back in the next film (lightly done mind you - think of the golf match in Goldfinger). They can even bring in Moneypenny and or Q. I really would like to see just a touch of Bond at home though, even it were only for a minute or two of screentime. However, since the producers seem bent on having him bounce around the world in photogenic land and seascapes from one scene to the next, I doubt if my wish will ever come true.

First rule of film-making: if it slows the film down, it gets cut. Anything with May in it would simply slow things down because it's not relevant to the plot.

What about all of the classic 60s scenes with Moneypenny, Bond with Silvia in FRWL, Bond in Oxford studying Danish in TND, or various off-duty affairs.

There's no reason the scene at Bond's flat would have to be protracted, Bond could get a call, and be off.

[Guy Haines]

It'd be neat if M broke into Bond's flat this time around.

Beyond that, supposing the opposition broke in while he was still inside? Unless he's moved from one place to another around London on a regular basis, you can't tell me that at least some of the villains haven't worked out where he lives? Not after all these years.

It would be an interesting scrap, especially if he had one of two concealed weapons lying around to use, or if it was a fight similar to the kitchen scene in TLD.

[MkB]

without a doubt, Bonds flat should definetly appear in Bond 23, and while were at it Bonds Scottish treasure, May, should appear in the next movie as well.

I can't really see the latter happening. It seems pretty inconceivable that a spy would have a maid in this day and age. Admittedly, realism probably isn't high on the list of priorities but I still don't see it!

I concur. Not only Bond having a maid would be unrealistic, but more importantly it would make him unattractive.
No, really, what woman would date a single man who needs a maid?

[The Shark]

without a doubt, Bonds flat should definetly appear in Bond 23, and while were at it Bonds Scottish treasure, May, should appear in the next movie as well.

I can't really see the latter happening. It seems pretty inconceivable that a spy would have a maid in this day and age. Admittedly, realism probably isn't high on the list of priorities but I still don't see it!

I concur. Not only Bond having a maid would be unrealistic, but more importantly it would make him unattractive.
No, really, what woman would date a single man who needs a maid?

Why not a cleaner?

And no, Bond doesn't 'date'. He seduces, screws then leaves them. I don't think Bond having a maid or not comes into the equation.

[sharpshooter]

It seems pretty inconceivable that a spy would have a maid in this day and age. Admittedly, realism probably isn't high on the list of priorities but I still don't see it!

Neither do I. The idea worked fine in Fleming's day, but now, not so much.

[The Shark]

People still have cleaners. I can imagine Bond would need one, especially to clean up the previous night's squalid hedonism - condoms, whips, cigarettes, vibrators, chains, and some sort of beverage.

Miriam Margolyes could play May.

[MkB]

without a doubt, Bonds flat should definetly appear in Bond 23, and while were at it Bonds Scottish treasure, May, should appear in the next movie as well.

I can't really see the latter happening. It seems pretty inconceivable that a spy would have a maid in this day and age. Admittedly, realism probably isn't high on the list of priorities but I still don't see it!

I concur. Not only Bond having a maid would be unrealistic, but more importantly it would make him unattractive.
No, really, what woman would date a single man who needs a maid?

Why not a cleaner?

And no, Bond doesn't 'date'. He seduces, screws then leaves them. I don't think Bond having a maid or not comes into the equation.

To each his Bond
Seriously, the literary Bond definitely "dates". He even proposes (or considers proposing) very often, and if memory serves he's more often left than he leaves.

And yes, people have cleaners, but I don't see the point of introducing a cleaner character in the Bond universe. In the film franchise, some features of the May character (slightly older woman, closest thing to family in Bond's everyday life, etc.) have sometimes been attributed to the Moneypenny character (a character very different in the books and in the films), I'd rather keep it this way.

[Bryce (003)]

I'd like to see it, but - for Craig's Bond - I suspect it wouldn't be too posh but rather utilitarian. He's hardly ever there, doesn't entertain much but the Naval "galley style" kitchen would be very much in his standards.

A large study in place of a living room and two if not three book cases with a variety of books and the odd piece of art or bits and a dining area and the bedroom and maybe one and half bath. The master bath would probably just have and oversized shower as I don't see him requiring a tub. The bedroom would be spacious and the bed itself would be large.

As to the style, very much wood/oak and a lot of brass fixtures in going with a traditional cross between Victorian and nautical style as well as some large area carpets.

I'm no interior designer, but that's the way I'd like to see it. A simple bar cart in the den with just one or two bottles. Good russian vodka and single malt scotch along with an ice bucket. A few tumblers but there would always be one bottle of good champagne in the fridge. The silver tea and coffee pot would be a nice touch. Queen Anne of course coupled with a Pavoni coffee press but also a contemporary grind/brew coffee maker.

As to what art Bond would have, who knows? Classic, modern, abstract, an old noir movie poster? It's a different Bond and a man raised in the 70's now. Does Bond have a favorite movie or taste in music beyond jazz?

If they did do Bond's flat, how much would Craig, BB or MGW have to say?

Subtle "winks" or none at all?

If even for only two minutes of screen time, it would be nice to see. Just say Bond packing and talking on the phone as he does.

Just a thought.

[Shadowman]

This post was deleted because due to innaccuracies.

Edited by Shadowman, 16 March 2010 - 01:58 PM.

[Shadowman]

"First rule of film-making: if it slows the film down, it gets cut. Anything with May in it would simply slow things down because it's not relevant to the plot."


Really? Having made films myself and had formal film school training by professionals I must disagree with this. There are no film "rules" laid out in any order of degree of importance. Pacing slows down in films in order for the audience to get familiar with the characters and the plot, or they would end up looking like a Road Runner cartoon. The trick is how long to slow it down and where to slow it down. In a Bond film or any action film, one does not want extended periods of slow pace but there has to be some...the scene of Craig and Dench in M's apartment in CR, for example. Having a minute in Bond's flat, even with May, would not hurt the pace or story if what took place in that scene was related to the plot (for example, May is serving Craig breakfast and he sees someone suspicious outside his flat, or he gets a call from M, etc.

If there were a "first rule" in filmmaking, it would be PLAN EVERYTHING WITH AS MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE and SHOOT AS MUCH COVERAGE AS POSSIBLE FOR THE EDITOR.
If everything is planned, it leaves less to go wrong and if you shoot as much coverage as you can, the editor and director have a great variety of choices in putting scenes together to create the right pacing.

[MajorB]

I too would love to see Bond's flat. And while it would be fun to see May, I agree that it wouldn't work for film Bond, especilaly in this day and age. (Although I've wondered if the existence of a housekeeper or maid was implied in Dr.No: When Bond gets home after talking to M, his mail is sitting on a table by the door. If a maid or housekeeper didn't put it there, who did?)

As to decor, I like some of the suggestions--something traditional and masculine. Fleming's Bond didn't have extravagant tastes, but he liked quality in the things that he owned and used. I can see Craig's Bond being the same way: Not a ton of possessions, but quality stuff well preserved. Whatever the style, I'd like to see the flat look less like a movie set than it did in Dr. No and LALD. I'd like to see some semi-realistic clutter--not a lot, but making it look like a place someone actually lives. The picture of the kitchen in the earlier post, for instance, showed a place that was generally well kept but had some miscellaneous stuff stowed above the cabinets rather than meticulously tucked away. A hint of that would make the place seem more real.

[Shadowman]

I would add that obviously not all flats near the King's Road in Chelsea or Fulham look the same. I can say with certainty that no-one here would be impressed if Bond lived in a flat like mine for instance.

[Shadowman]

In response to some of the member's comments:

It seems pretty inconceivable that a spy would have a maid in this day and age. Admittedly, realism probably isn't high on the list of priorities but I still don't see it!

I concur. Not only Bond having a maid would be unrealistic, but more importantly it would make him unattractive.
No, really, what woman would date a single man who needs a maid?


- I personally am aware of people in diplomatic and intelligence circles who have
housekeepers on a daily or weekly basis..there is nothing inconceivable or
unrealistic about it at all.

- Make him unattractive? Whaaat? Bond does not "date". He beds married women
in what little spare time he has, and never at his flat, so no one would even
know he had a housekeeper.

Seriously, the literary Bond definitely "dates".

- Of course the literary Bond "dates". Even the early films "date" now for
various reasons. That is no reason for not showing a housekeeper in the future.


Yes, people have cleaners, but I don't see the point of introducing a cleaner character in the Bond universe. In the film franchise, some features of the May character (slightly older woman, closest thing to family in Bond's everyday life, etc.) have sometimes been attributed to the Moneypenny character (a character very different in the books and in the films), I'd rather keep it this way.

- Introducing a cleaner character in the Bond universe? May is not a "cleaner
character". She is Bond's "treasured housekeeper".


I would add that obviously not all flats near the King's Road in Chelsea or Fulham look the same. I can say with certainty that no-one here would be impressed if Bond lived in a flat like mine for instance.

- No, not all look the same. Also, remember Bond's flat is a "converted" Regency
period building.

Edited by Shadowman, 17 March 2010 - 06:28 PM.

[MkB]

- Make him unattractive? Whaaat? Bond does not "date". He beds married women
in what little spare time he has, and never at his flat, so no one would even
know he had a housekeeper.

Anyway, it would make him unattractive to the women in the audience! And that's the best reason why the producers won't give Bond a "Scottish treasure" of a housekeeper.

[The Shark]

- Make him unattractive? Whaaat? Bond does not "date". He beds married women
in what little spare time he has, and never at his flat, so no one would even
know he had a housekeeper.

Anyway, it would make him unattractive to the women in the audience! And that's the best reason why the producers won't give Bond a "Scottish treasure" of a housekeeper.

Have Bond walk around his apartment shirtless or naked, while May oggles at the size of his manhood.

[MkB]

- Make him unattractive? Whaaat? Bond does not "date". He beds married women
in what little spare time he has, and never at his flat, so no one would even
know he had a housekeeper.

Anyway, it would make him unattractive to the women in the audience! And that's the best reason why the producers won't give Bond a "Scottish treasure" of a housekeeper.

Have Bond walk around his apartment shirtless or naked, while May oggles at the size of his manhood.

OK, now even the men in the audience will retch!

[The Shark]

- Make him unattractive? Whaaat? Bond does not "date". He beds married women
in what little spare time he has, and never at his flat, so no one would even
know he had a housekeeper.

Anyway, it would make him unattractive to the women in the audience! And that's the best reason why the producers won't give Bond a "Scottish treasure" of a housekeeper.

Have Bond walk around his apartment shirtless or naked, while May oggles at the size of his manhood.

OK, now even the men in the audience will retch!

It's no worse than sitting through the speedo scene. But with BARBARA BROCCOLI in control of Bond, I wouldn't be surprised if something like that happens.

[Shadowman]

I asked a number of women at a party (single and married) if they showed Craig or any future Bond with a housekeeper in a film and none said they would find it objectionable. In fact, they said it would make sense since they don't seem to think his character is really "marriage or dating material" because of his dangerous job...and some of these women have firefighters and police officers for husbands! They agreed that given his lifestyle he would have a houskeeper. His attraction to them is his ability to survive in tough situations and win (and his appearance and character of course). So as far as turning off female audience members, I think my small sampling negates this. I would be interested in a really large poll to see what the results would be.

[Sark2.0]

- Make him unattractive? Whaaat? Bond does not "date". He beds married women
in what little spare time he has, and never at his flat, so no one would even
know he had a housekeeper.

Anyway, it would make him unattractive to the women in the audience! And that's the best reason why the producers won't give Bond a "Scottish treasure" of a housekeeper.

I highly doubt that. In addition to the reasons people have already mentioned, are you familiar with Two and a Half Men? It's an awful show starring chronic woman abuser Charlie Sheen. His character has a housekeeper. And it's one of the most popular shows on TV. Perhaps that audience is exclusively male, but I doubt it.

[Aris007]

People still have cleaners. I can imagine Bond would need one, especially to clean up the previous night's squalid hedonism - condoms, whips, cigarettes, vibrators, chains, and some sort of beverage.

Miriam Margolyes could play May.

I remember reading in Colonel Sun that Bond doesn't use condoms! (Highly irrelevant)

[MkB]

OK, let's just agree to disagree about Bond having a housekeeper.

About Bond's flat, I've been sent this link:
http://hiddenpassageway.com/
most impressive... a firm of "creative home engineering", proposing to equip your home with hidden passages, secret doors and stashes...

Although, this might be "too much" in Bond's flat... too much of a caricature...

[mummyboy11]

Yeah, defiantly. It would great to see Bond's daily chain smoking, workout routine, May, breakfast, then have Bond go out find his car won't start, so he takes the tube to work.

I'd love to see that...of course it's hard to get that in film. It seems these days producers and directors just don't seem to give the fans a little treat!! It's all cutted and trimmed to the second...Gosh. It's not like it will ever win an Oscar...take it easy fellas.

PS: It would be a good punchline to throw at Q's first appearance: "Thanks a lot Q! The car you lend me didn't start this morning...had to take the subway!" and John Cleese would respond "And yet the Earth still revolves, double-O...what's the number again?"

PS2: If they bring back Q's character it's Cleese, right? Like in The World Is Not Enough, he was presented as Desmond's substitute.

[The Shark]

PS2: If they bring back Q's character it's Cleese, right? Like in The World Is Not Enough, he was presented as Desmond's substitute.

I doubt it. They'll probably re-cast Q as a younger, entirely different character.

[AMC Hornet]

Where and how Bond lives is not important. He was missing for 14 months in DAD and upon his return to London the first thing on his mind wasn't getting home and checking his backlog of mail for his Publisher's Clearing House prize announcement. We have never seen where John McClane, Indiana Jones or Rambo live either, and I can live with that. And if we'd never seen Bond's flat in Dr. No or LALD, I wouldn't have noticed it missing. In fact, the fact that his digs have only been worked in twice in a 22-episode franchise is all that makes its appearance significant.

And for what it's worth, I liked his flat in LALD better than the one in Dr. No (yes, I'm the one). There was something too dainty about the chairs in the vestibule, and someone - I think it was John Pearson - mentioned that Bond did not own a television set.

So what do you want to see Bond doing at home, swigging Guinness while watching American Idol? Banging another Italian agent? If the writers could have thought of something genuinely interesting for Bond to be doing at home, they probably would have filmed such a scene sometime in the last 27 years.

Bond is an international man of mystery - an enigma, "The man who was only a silhouette." Like his predecessors, Daniel Craig is more interesting on the road, staying at grand hotels, than he is at home.

IMCO.