17 replies to this topic

[Simon Bermuda]

It’s pretty common knowledge that before the role of 007 was cast in 1961, an English newspaper — according to John Pearson’s biography of Ian Fleming, it was the Daily Express — ran a competition to find the ‘ideal’ James Bond. Apparently the winner was ‘a 28-year-old model named Peter Anthony’, who is said to have ‘looked the part’ but, in the event, was considered ‘unsuitable’.

I’d often wondered what this Peter Anthony looked like - don't know if anyone else has seen this photo I recently stumbled across:

Peter Anthony

As the photo is dated 1960, was taken in London, and the model’s name is listed as Peter Anthony, it’s a fair bet that this is the guy in question.

[MkB]

Interesting, Simon! Thanks for posting. I had never heard about him.
I quite like this other picture of him on the website, looks like a classic Noir artwork

[Doctor Whom]

It’s pretty common knowledge that before the role of 007 was cast in 1961, an English newspaper — according to John Pearson’s biography of Ian Fleming, it was the Daily Express — ran a competition to find the ‘ideal’ James Bond. Apparently the winner was ‘a 28-year-old model named Peter Anthony’, who is said to have ‘looked the part’ but, in the event, was considered ‘unsuitable’.

I’d often wondered what this Peter Anthony looked like - don't know if anyone else has seen this photo I recently stumbled across:

Peter Anthony

As the photo is dated 1960, was taken in London, and the model’s name is listed as Peter Anthony, it’s a fair bet that this is the guy in question.

Cool. I kind of wonder how seriously they considered him, really. It seems odd that they would give much thought to casting an inexperienced actor in the lead role in a major...oh, wait. They did do that.

[dinovelvet]

He looks not unlike Brosnan...

[Simon]

Cool. I kind of wonder how seriously they considered him, really. It seems odd that they would give much thought to casting an inexperienced actor in the lead role in a major.

This was the paper running the competition, not the Eon production team - if understood correctly.

[zencat]

Interesting. Thanks for posting this.

[Single-O-Seven]

Well, he does look the part... Maybe he'll get his just desserts when Craig resigns. I'm in the mood for an 80-something Bond.

[Doctor Whom]

Now, if I could only find a picture of the mysterious Finlay Light.

[Simon Bermuda]

Now, if I could only find a picture of the mysterious Finlay Light.

Maybe this 'Finlay Light' is like 'George Kaplan' in North By Northwest.

Before I read somewhere that although he was offered a small role, Peter Anthony didn't appear in Dr No, I used to suspect that he was that tall, well-spoken fellow at the casino who says, in impeccable cut-glass tones: "I'm looking for Mr James Bond."

I wonder if it was deliberate, the stark contrast between the MI6 man's stereotypical Englishness and Connery's panther-in-a-tux persona?

[Mr. Blofeld]

He looks a bit like John Slattery, doesn't he?

[dogmanstar]

Now, if I could only find a picture of the mysterious Finlay Light.

How about this? Finley Light????

[Simon]

I do remember seeing his name bandied about, together with a picture.

If I remember correctly, he was being touted for The Living Daylights when all hell was being let loose in the daily press as to who was likely to replace the irreplaceable.

The only image I saw of him was of a mulletted chap who looked about as likely a candidate for James Bond as a plate of putty.

[jaguar007]

Now, if I could only find a picture of the mysterious Finlay Light.

How about this? Finley Light????

wow, I always wondered if Finlay Light actually existed or if he was just a made up name someone threw out to the press just to get them off their back for a few minutes.

[Doctor Whom]

Now, if I could only find a picture of the mysterious Finlay Light.

How about this? Finley Light????

Cool. I'd always thought of him as some of quasi-mythical figure, like Bigfoot. But now that I've seen him (and learned how to correctly spell his name), I can't imagine what they saw in him.

[Mr. Blofeld]

You know who he reminds me of, with his arms crossed, glaring modelishly into the camera? Robert Campbell... and they both had about the same chances of getting the Bond role, which was zilch.

[Simon Bermuda]

Great find - so the mysterious Mr Light DOES exist after all.

So can anyone think of any more of these obscure contenders?

[Binyamin]

I don't know -- if he IS the real man, there is a wonderful brooding quality about him that might have worked as Bond:

http://www.gettyimag...detail/51147274

[jaguar007]

He has a good masculine face, I wonder how he would have looked with a Bond haircut and in a suit.