45 replies to this topic

[Dr Noah]

Reading the thread about "TMWTGG" in the Roger Moore section has set me thinking.

LALD is one of my favourite Bond movies, in TMWTGG Hamiltion seems to understand the Moore Bond better than anyone (and Moore gives his best perfomance in that movie). DAF is a fun movie, one of my favourites, and Goldfinger, is of course THE Bond movie!

So four great movies. Does this make Guy the best director?

[kevrichardson]

I believe that Guy Hamilton was a hack two(2) bit british director who attempted to destroy James Bond . By making action comedy especially DAF . LALD is a good low-key Bond film . In the tradition of "FRWL" . "Normal" believible villians . "TMWTGG" he tried to destroy if not actually succeeded in . By have Moore and Christopher Lee ( the best actor to play a Bond Villian ) waste there talents . By having them play everything lightly . His whole career in Bond is built on "GoldFinger" . Which has created the myth of him as a Bond Film Director. He has said in interviews with the press around the topic of Bond . He (Hamilton) thought that Bond was in danger of becoming a SUPERMAN. So he set about to change that . After "GoldFinger" he left because he said he ran out of ideas .

[doublenoughtspy]

While Goldfinger is a masterpiece, L&LD is ok, but DAF and MWGG are horrible. It's hard to believe the same person directed all 4. Then again - they were at very different stages of the writers and actors careers.

Terrence Young said "I directed the first, the best, and the one that made the most money" Referring of course to DN, FRWL, and TBALL.

I would say Peter Hunt is the best director of them all though. OHMSS is usually considered the best directed of all the films (and not just by hard core Bond fans - I have many other reviews from film critics pointing out the same thing.)

Hunt's influence was also felt for a long time because he brought in John Glen, who would go on to direct the most of any of the directors (5).

But most people, Hunt and Hamilton included, will tell you that they owe an extreme debt to Terrence for getting the ball rolling and setting the style.

[Doubleshot]

Hamilton's Goldfinger came at a time when too much deviation from Terence Young's directing style and Ian Fleming's novels would have been a hand of death to the series' growth. When we got into Bond 7 and Bond 8, screw-ups were forgiven because the audience knew if they didn't like this one, the next one might be better. I find it hard to swallow that the same director of Goldfinger churned out Diamonds are Forever. Live & Let Die is a fun film - not at all like Hamilton's first two, and that's how I look at it. It's pure, brainless 007 fun. The Man With the Golden Gun has a very interesting and involving story, and that it is so underated is a crime.

My personal favorite is Terence Young. Without the balls he had to evolve the character in the first two films, the cinematic James Bond would never have survived. Lee Tamahori is the same way, though many don't give him credit for it.

[rafterman]

I put Hamilton at the bottom of the Bond directors, but I think it all comes down to more of a collaboration thing, his work on GF is great, but his work on the other three isn't as good....I think it depends more on who the writers are...

[Mr. Kidd]

Hamilton's Bonds are my favorites. While he takes his
lumps in these forums, I wonder where the Bond series would have
gone if Terence Young would have directed the films of the early
seventies. I feel Hamilton's style eased Bond into the Roger Moore
era better than young's style.

[Dr Noah]

He was also EON's first choice to direct Dr No, but turned it down.

He also directed the Harry Saltman spy movie Funeral In Berlin, which is a great movie.

[1q2w3e4r]

I believe I read somewhere that Terence did some post work on Goldfinger, apparently Hamilton had Bond captured by Goldfinger much earlier in the movie from what I read and he came in and helped fix the sequencing up with Peter Hunt??

When you look at Goldfinger and Hamilton's other three films, it fits in much more with Young's directing style so it does add weight to that particular theory.

[Doubleshot]

I seem to recall reading the same thing in one of Young's more recent interviews before he passed away.

[Dr Noah]

"I believe I read somewhere that Terence did some post work on Goldfinger, apparently Hamilton had Bond captured by Goldfinger much earlier in the movie from what I read and he came in and helped fix the sequencing up with Peter Hunt??"

I read the exact opposite in Lane & Simpson's Bond Files. Apparently Young did some post-production work on Goldfinger and helped contribute to early drafts of the script, but then left the project. (I read somewhere else that Young demanded a share of the profits but EON turned him down flat).

Remember, Hamilton was the first choice to direct Thunderball, but turned it down.

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by Dr Noah
He was also EON's first choice to direct Dr No, but turned it down.
He also directed the Harry Saltman spy movie Funeral In Berlin, which is a great movie.

Yes he was the original choice to direct Dr.No . And the producers want the villian to be a Monkey . So what , he was a horrible director for Bond after LALD . He ruined TMWTGG . The was pencled in to direct "TSWLM" but left to do "Superman" and got fired from that gig .

[Johnson Galore]

Guy Hamilton is over-rated due to the success of GF. The other 3 were just not that good, although each had its strengths. (I'm actually kinda partial to TMWTGG). Terence Young is THE Bond director of note. Much of Connery's performance is based not only Young's direction, but also his personal style. Kev, I'm interested in your Superman comment. I had no idea he had anything to do with that series. I knew Richard Donner was canned after the 1st one and Richard Lester was brought in to finish the 2nd one. Where did Hamilton fit in?

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

Johnson, surely not THE richard lester, aka "father of MTV" ?

anyway, to answer the question pertaining to Guy Hamilton - in a word, withouut doubt, YES.

[Johnson Galore]

Originally posted by The Girl With The Golden Gun
Johnson, surely not THE richard lester, aka "father of MTV" ?

anyway, to answer the question pertaining to Guy Hamilton - in a word, withouut doubt, YES.

The one and only, as in A Hard Day's Night.

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

Originally posted by doublenoughtspy


I would say Peter Hunt is the best director of them all though. OHMSS is usually considered the best directed of all the films (and not just by hard core Bond fans - I have many other reviews from film critics pointing out the same thing.)

Hunt's influence was also felt for a long time because he brought in John Glen, who would go on to direct the most of any of the directors (5).

But most people, Hunt and Hamilton included, will tell you that they owe an extreme debt to Terrence for getting the ball rolling and setting the style.

re: setting the style - Hunt's editing on GF was also innovative in that previously, audiences had been more used to seeing ie. slow fades between scenes, and brought a new and inventive twist to the action/adventure genre. perhaps in this way, from GF onwards, it could be said that Bond became a genre in its own right.
Quite rightly too that after GF, Hunt wanted to direct his own Bond. i also share the belief that OHMSS is the best directed of all the Bonds ,with DAD being the worse - sorry, it has to be said!!.

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by The Girl With The Golden Gun

Quite rightly too that after GF, Hunt wanted to direct his own Bond. i also share the belief that OHMSS is the best directed of all the Bonds ,with DAD being the worse - sorry, it has to be said!!.

Peter Hunt was promised "YOLT" but was relive of that since EON (Harry Salzman) hired Lewis Gilbert . Peter Hunt was not just Editor but by the time of TB the second unit director also . Young /Hunt set the Bond style . Hamilton is just overrated based on just one film .

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

i was recently talking to a friend of mine about this thread and we came up with the idea that maybe Hamilton got lucky! GF is certainly the biggest Bond of the 60's owing to the gadgets, locations, villains and playful sexuality which struck a chord with audiences worldwide. GF may not be the best bond, but it is certainly the definitive bond - there is a difference!

[kevrichardson]

Yes he did . there is a interesting Book on "GoldFinger" part of a history of film series . I read the review .It details the exchanges between the producers and the screenwriters . I doubt that Hamilton made any significant ideas to "Goldfinger" . Other than getiing rid of Syvlia Trench . Which prove he did not do any worth while .

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

Originally posted by kevrichardson
Yes he did . there is a interesting Book on "GoldFinger" part of a history of film series

do u have any details about this book? pls email me at [email protected].

as for getting rid of sylvia trench - we can't have a character like Bond running round with the same woman on his arm, can we? its crucial for his character that he remains alone. even tracy got killed, and i don't know what wil happen to Jinx other than she will (hopefully) get her own series

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by The Girl With The Golden Gun

as for getting rid of sylvia trench - we can't have a character like Bond running round with the same woman on his arm, can we? its crucial for his character that he remains alone. even tracy got killed, and i don't know what wil happen to Jinx other than she will (hopefully) get her own series  

I disagree ! it was a idea of Terance Young . It was a runing joke . About how every time Bond/Sylvia would start to make love he got called way on assignment. Not a bad idea ! Hamilton just got lucky . Plus Young did all the early pre-production . Look at the 3 books i recommanded . Quite a lot of information in all of them.

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

yes, hamilton just got lucky, but you have to admire him for what he created at the time. thanks for the email kev, i'll certainly check out those books. i'm in the UK so unfortunately a trip to Strands (book store) isn't on the cards at the moment!

[kevrichardson]

You could order it by mail . They have a website www.strandbooks.com . I recommend the Chapman book . Yes he was very lucky . The is a interview in 007 magazine part of MKKBB on the www.ianfleming.org website with Guy Hamilton .

[Dr Noah]

Hamiltion is a fine actor's director. Moore is on top form in LALD & THMWTGG, while Christopher Lee sings his praises and gives Hamiltion a lot of credit for the success of his performance.

[Mr. Kidd]

Originally posted by Dr Noah
Hamiltion is a fine actor's director.  Moore is on top form in LALD & THMWTGG, while Christopher Lee sings his praises and gives Hamiltion a lot of credit for the success of his performance.

Right on,Doc! If he was just "Lucky" that GF was a success with him
at the helm,what about the box office success of DAF & LALD? YES,
TMWTGG did not live up to his other efforts box-office wise,BUT neither
did OHMSS live up to it's predesessors, yet Peter Hunt is regarded as one of the best directors of the entire series. The point is, Hamilton's
tenure with the Bond series(love him or hate him)was a success.

[kevrichardson]

LALD was a film at the producers madein order to bring Bond back from the comic book heorics and cartoon humor of "DAF" .It was a small scale Bond compared to "DAF" . I.E. not doomsday theme ( no world domination) . the same with "TMWTGG" . I can't agree with you no that ascept of Hamilton's "Tenure" as a Bond director. Calling it a success . And foolishly comparing Peter Hunt ( who was a long time Bond/EON editor in at the begining of the series) to Hamilton is not just . Hamilton was walked into a project that was firmly established . Young , Saltzman , Broccoli , Hunt, Maibaum , Paul Dehn all began pre-production . well before the change of Directors .

[Mr. Kidd]

You'll get NO disagreement from me that Hunt is a BETTER
director than Hamilton. I was not comparing the two, only making
the point that just as poor box office for OHMSS does not reflect
Hunt's skill, that weak box office for TMWTGG should not reflect directly on Hamilton's and that while we disagree on how good Hamilton's direction was he successfully kept the franchise going.

[Dr Noah]

If Hamiltion "just got lucky" how come he was EON's premier director?

After all, he was first choice for "Dr No", "Thunderball", "TSWLM", turning them down (he had to be talked into directing LAD), while Saltman used him for "Funeral In Berlin" and "Battle Of Britian"

[kevrichardson]

Hamilton directed Saltzman "Funeral in Berlin" with Micheal Caine . One of my favorite spy films . In addition to that he directed the Saltzman war epic "The Battle of Britain" great war epic . Hamilton rep is based on just "GoldFinger" . The other Bonds that he directed he had a direct influnce on the quaility of the films.

[Dr Noah]

"Hamilton directed Saltzman "Funeral in Berlin" with Micheal Caine . One of my favorite spy films "

And mine too! I love the "Harry Palmer" movies

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by Dr Noah
"Hamilton directed Saltzman "Funeral in Berlin" with Micheal Caine . One of my favorite spy films "
And mine too!  I love the "Harry Palmer" movies

Nice to know we agree on something and have the same taste . Harry Palmer was the "Anti Bond" . I enjoyed all the Harry Palmer films including the two(2) direct to video jobs . "Bullets to Beijing"(1995) and "Midnight in St.Petersburg" (1995) .