drewshi
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Post by drewshi on Apr 3, 2010 7:22:10 GMT -5
I'm going through the Adam West series of Batman thanks to picking up a set of the original ABC prints on DVD from eBay. I just watched the Minstrel episode with Van Johnson. Now, I know West was considered for the part of Bond, but was Johnson? I ask as there is a Bond reference in the show when the Minstrel tells the Gotham City Stock Exchange to wire their protection money to a Mister Brocoli with the account number 007. Was that just a nod to West or was there something more?
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Post by Derrick on Apr 3, 2010 15:16:14 GMT -5
I don't know for certain if Van Johnson was considered to play James Bond but I wouldn't be a bit surprised. From various articles I've read, just about every actor working during that period was given serious consideration to play Bond. I'd have really liked to have seen Oliver Reed give it a shot. He'd have been the scariest Bond imaginable. Sam Neill was also considered at one time and I'd have liked to seen what he would have done as 007.
The oddest actors given consideration? That would have to be Lee Marvin, Rex Harrison and James Brolin. Much as I love me some Lee Marvin I wouldn't have been able to have bought him as Bond at all and if Harrison was Bond I'd be waiting through the whole movie for him to break out in song-speak.
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Post by Eddie Love on Apr 3, 2010 21:15:11 GMT -5
Hmmmmmm. Perhaps you're thinking of RICHARD Johnson, who was the the only other actor really in the running for DR. NO besides Sean -- once they had ruled out the notion they would use an established star. I've never heard that Van was in the mix, it would really surprise me as he was long past his sell-by date as a movie star. I think this may have just been a throw-away joke.
I think the only American actors ever given serious consideration throughout the course of the series were James Brolin (tested around the time of OCTOPUSSY), Burt Reynolds (too short, considered around the time of L&LD) and John Gavin(paid for DAF, even though he obviously didn't perform the role once Connery came back.)
Adam West (according to his autobiography, and I'm not sure what else) claims he was considered around the time of L&LD, which would have post-dated his stint as Batman.
I think actors "considered / offered" the role of Bond are like people who say they were at Woodstock. They can't possibly all have legitimate claims. Plus, Broccoli & Co tended to come back to the same names (Dalton, Michael Billington) whenever they were shopping for a new 007. That's why, take my word (for what it's worth) -- when Craig is retired / quits, look for Henry Cavill, an actor currently on THE TUDORS to take up the license.
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drewshi
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Post by drewshi on Apr 8, 2010 6:31:22 GMT -5
Eddie,
Van Johnson played the Minstrel in the episode, which was why I was wondering.
As for Adam West, and I'd need to find my source material, it was my understanding he was mulling trying out for Bond at the time he accepted Batman as Sean Connery had left, but I can find no mention of it anywhere else. According to Wikipedia, he was offered the role by Brocolli for Diamonds are Forever and turned it down, feeling it should be played by someone British.
Now, what I didn't know was that Dalton was asked to play Bond in OHMSS. Was this something they guys referenced when they covered it?
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Post by tombitd on Apr 9, 2010 9:47:22 GMT -5
Now, what I didn't know was that Dalton was asked to play Bond in OHMSS. Was this something they guys referenced when they covered it? Yes. Yes we did.
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