James Bond - All that Glitters is Goldfinger: In Conversation with Guy Hamilton - Film Talk Tuesdays

Early this year. Film4 held their Film4 Summer Screen 2010 Festival at Somerset House. As you by now no doubt know the Film4 Summer Screen Festival features eleven nights of movies on the giant open air screen at Somerset House with an accompanying season of insider talks, discussions and special events in Behind the Screen in collaboration with Film4 and BAFTA.

One of the highlights of the Behind the Screen sessions was BAFTA celebrating the works of long time James Bond director Guy Hamilton. The discussion was hosted by master Bond composer David Arnold (@davidgarnold), was focussed on Guy Hamilton's Bond directorial debut Goldfinger and included the Goldfinger's golden girl the lovely Ms. Shirley Eaton (http://www.shirleyeaton.net/).

James Bond - All that Glitters is Goldfinger: In Conversation with Guy Hamilton - Film Talk Tuesdays

Film4 Summer Screen returns for 2010

Film4 Summer Screen returns to the glorious Somerset House for 2010. A highlight of the summer calendar, the series features everything from special previews to cult classics, all showing on a state-of-the-art screen with full surround-sound.

There’s more than just the movies. Arrive early; come and picnic in the magnificent Edmond J. Safra courtyard while DJs play or attend one of the companion events in Behind the Screen.

Fri 30 July
Kill Bill Vol. 1 (18) /Enter the Dragon (18)
The Somerset House courtyard becomes an arena for savage stand-offs, kung fu carnage and martial-arts mayhem.

Sat 31 July
Team America: World Police (15) / Special Preview: A Town Called Panic (PG)
Outrageous humour from the South Park gang, followed by a special preview of a brilliantly bonkers new toy story.

Sun 1 August
Manhattan (12A)
Woody Allen’s rapturous love letter to New York: romance, heartbreak and fireworks in luminous black-and-white.

Mon 2 August
Goldfinger (PG)
The 007 series at its best, as Sean Connery’s Bond mixes it up with memorable characters Oddjob and Pussy Galore.

Tues 3 August
Black Narcissus (U)
Powell & Pressburger‘s beautiful tale of a convent’s descent into madness, deep in the Himalayas.


Wed 4 August
Paths of Glory (PG)
Stanley Kubrick's riveting and emotional wartime drama, powerful enough to bring any audience together in awestruck silence.

Thu 5 August
Cabaret (15)
Liza Minnelli steps into the spotlight for high drama, dazzling set-pieces and the decadence of 1930s Berlin.

Fri 6 August
Mulholland Drive (15)
Mystery, magic, fear and desire swirl together in David Lynch’s intoxicating and troubling adult fairytale.

Sat 7 Aug
Let the Right One In (15) / The Lost Boys (15)
A moody modern masterpiece of Swedish-style bloodsucking, followed by cool Californian creatures of the night.

Sun 8 August
Master and Commander
Russell Crowe stars as Captain Jack Aubrey in this stirring tale of naval warfare and spectacular high-seas adventure.

Film4 Summer Screen returns for 2010

Where:
Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA

When:
Tues 29 July - Mon 9 Aug, 2010

More info:
Over at the Somerset House website or book tickets directly at Ticketmaster

Jeffery Deaver to write the new James Bond novel #007px

Jeffery Deaver to write the new James Bond novel

The press release reads:

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd has chosen international bestselling thriller writer, Jeffery Deaver, to write a new James Bond book.

The novel, currently known as Project X, will be published one year from today for Ian Fleming’s birthday – May 28, 2011. It will be published by Jeffery Deaver’s publishers Hodder & Stoughton in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US.

Jeffery Deaver has written 26 novels and sold more than 20 million books worldwide. His books have topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and he has been described as ‘the most creative, skilled and intriguing thriller writer in the world’ (Daily Telegraph) and ‘the master of ticking-bomb suspense’ (People magazine).

007 came to life fully-formed in 1952 when Ian Fleming wrote Casino Royale. Since then over 100 million James Bond books have sold worldwide.

In 2004, Deaver won the Crime Writers’ Association’s Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for his book Garden of Beasts. In his acceptance speech he talked about his life-long admiration of Fleming’s writing.

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, was in the audience. She explains, ‘I’d always enjoyed Jeffery Deaver’s thrillers, but I particularly liked Garden of Beasts: it demonstrated that he was not only a master of the contemporary American thriller but could also write compelling novels of period suspense within a European setting. I didn’t know anything about the author himself and expected a fairly low key response from him when he received our award.

‘I was surprised and delighted when he spoke very fondly of Ian and about the influence that the Bond books had had on his own writing career. It was at that point that I first thought that James Bond could have an interesting adventure in Jeffery Deaver’s hands.’

Deaver comments, ‘I can’t describe the thrill I felt when first approached by Ian Fleming's estate to ask if I'd be interested in writing the next book in the James Bond series. I began reading them when I was about nine or ten, ignorant of the Cold War politics they explored but enthralled by their sense of adventure and derring-do. I continued to read and reread them, which was fortunate because as a teen and adult I found, of course, nuances, that were invisible to a child.’

He continues, ‘The Bond books were important parts of my life – both literarily and personally. They appealed to me as wonderful stories but they also stood as singular examples of a thriller writer’s craft. I learned, through osmosis as well as design, much technique from Mr. Fleming’s work; compactness, attention to detail, heroic though flawed characters, fast-pacing, concrete imagery and straight-forward prose.’

Unlike Sebastian Faulks’ centenary novel, Devil May Care, Project X will be set in the present day. Jeffery Deaver has started work on the book and his title is yet to be revealed.

David Rosenthal, Executive vice-president and Publisher of Simon & Schuster, comments, “For Simon & Schuster, Deaver and Bond are a peerless combination: clever, suspenseful and sophisticated. Jeff Deaver will produce a popular entertainment of the highest order.”

Jeffery Deaver is the author of a number of internationally bestselling crime series. He is best known for his Kathryn Dance and Lincoln Rhyme books, most notably The Bone Collector, which was adapted for film in 1999, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Deaver has also written two award-winning short story collections, as well as stand-alone novels including Garden of Beasts and The Bodies Left Behind, which was named Novel of the Year at the International Thriller Writers’ Awards in 2009.

Jeffery Deaver was born near Chicago in 1950. Before becoming a full-time author in 1990, he was a journalist, like Fleming, and attorney. He started writing suspense novels on the long commute to and from his office on Wall Street. His books are now translated into 25 languages. Deaver lives in North Carolina.

Jeffery Deaver’s latest Lincoln Rhyme thriller, The Burning Wire, will be published in the US on June 1st and in the UK on July 22nd. A standalone thriller titled Edge will follow in November 2010 in both the US and the UK.

The original Fleming novels are published worldwide by Penguin Books.

More info:
Over at http://www.jamesbondprojectx.com/

An Audience With Britt Ekland

Icon and movie star, as famous for her love life as her films... but who is she really?

In a candid show, the legendary beauty tells about her childhood in Sweden, her big breaks and her doomed marriage to Peter Sellers. She also reveals all about her relationships with Rod Stewart, George Hamilton, Lou Adler, and Slim Jim Phantom.

Find out how she feels about motherhood and why she became patron of the Alzheimer's Society. This is one star that just keeps shining!

An Audience With Britt Ekland

Where:
Arts Depot
5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA

When:
8:00pm, Sat 22 May, 2010

More info:
Over at Arts Depot website

Meet Bond Director Lewis Gilbert

In the wake of Fan Fest at the astounding London Film Museum, the home of all things film. James Bond movie director LEWIS GILBERT will be signing his autobiography, ALL MY FLASHBACKS, at the Forbidden Planet Megastore.

Reach for the Sky, Carve Her Name With Pride, Sink the Bismarck!, Alfie, You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine ... a remarkably varied collection of subjects and just some of the films directed by Lewis Gilbert during the course of seven decades in the industry.

In All My Flashbacks Lewis Gilbert recalls his tragic childhood as a music hall entertainer, his traumatic wartime service in the RAF and ultimately one of the most distinguished careers in British cinema. Along the way he describes working with such diverse personalities as Laurence Olivier, Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Liza Minnelli.

Lewis Gilbert was born in 1920 and began his career as a director while attached to the US Army Air Corps in the Second World War. He went on to direct over 40 films, including three James Bond movies and such classics as Sink the Bismarck! and Shirley Valentine. Also a prolific writer and producer, Gilbert’s numerous awards include two BAFTAs (Reach for the Sky and Educating Rita) and a Golden Globe (Friends). His 1966 movie Alfie was nominated for numerous Academy Awards.

Meet Bond Director Lewis Gilber

Where:
Forbidden Planet Megastore
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR

When:
8:00pm, Thurs 29 Apr, 2010

More info at Forbidden Planet

QA Olivia Williams & The Ghost Screening

Roman Polanski's The Ghost is a tense political thriller with Ewan McGregor leading a stellar ensemble as a ghost writer researching the shady past of an ex-British prime minister (Pierce Brosnan)

Ewan McGregor leads a stellar ensemble as a ghost writer researching the shady past of an ex-British prime minister (Pierce Brosnan) who becomes embroiled in a dangerous game in which he must battle for the truth against those with their own power agenda. The consistently excellent Olivia Williams steals the show as the PM’s manipulative, neurotic, highly intelligent wife, in a film that catapaults Polanski back into the limelight as a director at the top of his game. The Ghost also stars Kim Cattrall and Tom Wilkinson, with a screenplay co-written by Harris and Polanski himself.

In partnership with The Script Factory, Barbican Film will be hosting a Q&A with actress Olivia Williams (An Education, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll). The Ghost is on general release in the UK right now.



QA Olivia Williams & The Ghost Screening

Where
The Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

When
6:00pm, 16 - 22 April 2010, 2010

More info & tickets here Barbican.org.uk

James Bond Awesomeness! Little Nellie lands at The London Film Museum

This morning my inbox has been full of the good stuff but non as awesome as the teasing hi rez photo I received of Little Nellie safely unpacked and on display at The London Film Museum.


If you are a regular reader you will know that a little while ago I was fortunate enough to pop into the London Film Museum (LFM) very briefly. This has been my third visit and I'm almost embarrassed to confess that every time I'm there the little maturity I still have left melts and I revert to a kid who has just found the golden ticket and gets to visit Willie Wonka's chocolate factory.

The exhibitions and displays change constantly, unfortunately I haven't had time to edit and upload the pics from my last visit but I was lucky enough to see a Dinosaur size animatronic model of Rexy (the Tyrannosaurus Rex from Night at the Museum 2), a display of costumes from John Boorman's classic Sword & Sorcery epic Excalibur including the armour suits from all the main characters, the actual face mask used by an ape in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey as well as explore some of the areas of the London Film Museum used as locations in films. The foyer of the entrance furthest away from the river has been used in Mission Impossible as the Foyer for the Langley CIA headquarters, where Ethan Hunt breaks into to steal the NOC list and more recently as the Foyer for the villainous Frank D'Amico in the build up to the finale of Kick-Ass. But more about all of that in an upcoming post.

Little Nellie as seen in the promotional poster above for You Only Live Twice is the autogyro that Bond uses to great effect in You Only Live Twice .

Behold Little Nellie in all her glory

Little Nellie can be transported in four large suitcases and then assembled into a formidable aircraft. She is equipped with two fixed machine guns (synchronised to a range of 100 yards), smoke emitters, air-to-air missiles, a flame thrower (with a range of 80 yards) and aerial mines.

Little Nellie will be viewable as part of the display for Fan Fest a Bond extravaganza weekend being held over the 24 & 25th April at the London Film Museum. For more info head over to http://www.fanfestival.co.uk/

James Bond Awesomeness! Little Nellie lands at The London Film Museum

Where
The London Film Museum
County Hall, Riverside Building next to London Eye
South Bank, London SE1

When
10:00am to 6:00pm, Sat 24th & Sun 25th April, 2010 (Last entry at 5pm)

More info and tickets available at FAN FEST or at The London Film Museum

JAMES BOND mania at Fan Fest 2010

Fan Fest and the London Film Museum have teamed up to bring us Fan Fest - The Ultimate Spy And Sci-fi Event. Although this is not an official Bond event but looking at the programme it promises to be the biggest and best Bond related event this year, as well as a must visit for film fans.

Fan Festival is proud to present their first collectors convention and signing event at the London Film Museum in County Hall.

Fan Fest events include:
- An exhibition Of Original Props And Costumes
- Spy School For Jr. Spies
- Collectibles
- Real Spy Experiences
- Speed Boat Rides On The Thames
- Biggest Signing Of Bond And Sci Fi Actors & Actresses
- QA Sessions with the stars
- An exclusive lifetime achievement award ceremony hosted by Cinema Retro Magazine for Sir Christopher Lee (Separate tickets for this are available)

The weekend of the 24th and 25th April 2010 will be packed with opportunities to meet some of your favourite actors and actresses from the movie industry. Stars of the British film industry will be on hand for signings among the collector’s tables and exhibition pieces on display.

Exhibition pieces on display will include:
Little Nellie – The autogyro from You Only Live Twice.

If you didn't see my previous Bond 23 catchup post, this is an excerpt regarding Nellie.

"Whilst chatting to the London Film Museum team (@ldnfilmmuseum) it was mentioned that Little Nellie (James Bond's Gyroscope from You Only Live Twice) had arrived for Fan Fest and was in the building. No need to mention that my anticipation level for Fan Fest shot up. With the lineup they are programming Fan Fest may be the best film event this year."

Picture taken at the Imperial War Museum as part of the For Your Eyes Only Exhibition

From Iron Man – Tony Stack’s prototype suit he uses to escape the desert as worn by Robert Downey Jr.
To celebrate the launch of Clash of the Titans we shall have original props and costumes on display.

Guests attending will include:

James Bond himself
James Bond - George Lazenby (On Her Majesty's Secret Service)

Bond Villains
Jaws - Richard Kiel (Mean Machine, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker)
Mr. White - Jesper Christensen (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace)
Necros - Andreas Wisniewski (The Living Daylights)
Eric Kriegler - John Wyman (For Your Eyes Only)
The Meyer Twins (Octopussy)
Mr. Ling - Burt Kwouk (Pink Panther Series, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice )

Bond Allies
Shane Rimmer (The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds are Forever, Thunderbirds)
Christopher Muncke (The Spy Who Loved Me, Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope)
Sadruddin - Albert Moses (Octopussy, Man Who Would Be King, The Awakening)
Stanley Morgan (Dr No)
John Moreno (For Your Eyes Only, Sweeney)
Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy)
Santos - Alkis Kritikos (For Your Eyes Only)

Bond Girls
Octopussy - Maud Adams - (The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy)
Carole Ashby (Octopussy, A View to A Kill)
Martine Beswick (From Russia with Love, Thunderball, 1,000,000 years BC, Hammer films)
Pussy Galore - Honor Blackman (The Avengers, Goldfinger)
Miss Moneypenny - Caroline Bliss
Naomi - Caroline Munro (Hammer, Bond, The Abominable Dr. Phibes)
Marayam d'Abo (The Living Daylights, Leon the Pigfarmer, Dr. Zhivago, TV)
Edward De Souza (Hammer, Bond)
Jill Masterson - Shirley Eaton (Goldfinger, Carry On)
Mary Goodnight - Britt Ekland (Wicker Man, Get Carter, The Man with the Golden Gun)
Caron Gardner (Goldfinger, The Saint)
Sylvia Trench - Eunice Gayson (Dr. No, From Russia With Love)
Kate Gayson (Goldeneye)
Jenny Hanley (Magpie, Bond, Hammer)
Helene Hunt (Octopussy)
Madeline Smith (Countess Dracula, Live and Let Die)
Dolly - Blanche Ravalec (Moonraker)
The Golden Girl - Margaret Nolan (Goldfinger, Carry On)
Deborah Moore (Goldeneye, Die Another Day )
Tilly Masterson - Tania Mallet (Goldfinger)
Valerie Leon (Carry On Films, Hammer Films, The Spy Who Loved Me, The Italian Job, Never Say Never Again, Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Hai Karate Girl )
Bettine LeBeau (Dr No)

And makers of the magic
World famous armourer - Terry English (Clash of the Titans 2010 Excalibur, Aliens, Sword of the Valiant)
Double Oscar Winning Special Effects Wizard - Brian Johnson (Alien)
Special Effects legend - Bob Keen (Hellraiser, Highlander, Empire Strikes Back)

James BOND mania at Fan Fest 2010
Where
The London Film Museum
County Hall, Riverside Building next to London Eye
South Bank, London SE1

When
10:00am to 6:00pm, Sat 24th & Sun 25th April, 2010 (Last entry at 5pm)

More info and tickets available at FAN FEST or at The London Film Museum

Bond 23 catchup

With the Internet typically alive with rumours in the build up to a Bond film we thought that we would take a look at some of them.



Plot
The current rumour is that the plot may be based around the Heroin trade and Afghanistan may feature. Bear in mind that this may only be a small part of the story or just the opening sequence to Bond 23.

These rumours have been kicking around fans sites fuelled by The Guardian who reported that "Speculation has arisen that at least some of the next Bond movie will take place in Helmand province in Afghanistan after a member of the Foreign Office's drug task force in the country reportedly signed on as a consultant for the franchise. " However the Guardian also says that the source of this piece of information is a fan website.

More than likely this rumour has come about as the Heroin trade was central to the plot of Devil May Care the Sebastian Faulks's novel written to commemorate Ian Fleming's centenary and chronologically picks up straight after Ian Fleming's James Bond run ended at the height of the Cold War. In it the brutal death of an Algerian drug runner on the desolate outskirts of Paris sparks the adventure that follows. Bond is tasked with shadowing the mysterious Dr. Julius Gorner, a power-crazed pharmaceutical magnate. The evil genius is out to destroy Britain by flooding England with heroin as well as more nefarious plans.

After finding a willing accomplice in the shape of a glamorous Parisian named Scarlett Papava, Bond rushes to stop a chain of events that threaten to lead to global catastrophe.

That added with the fact that in Risico one of the 5 short stories along with Quantum of Solace to be found in Ian Fleming's 1960 For Your Eyes Only compilation. Bond tackles double crossing criminal masterminds that aim to demoralize England by supplying it with cheap drugs. Make it easy for Bond aficionados to see the possibility.

All that we currently know for sure is that Peter Morgan a Bond 23 writer has said that Bond 23 will have "a shocking story."

Title
Both of Daniel Craig's Bond films have used Ian Fleming titles. So it follows that one of Ian Fleming's remaing 4 unused titles; The Hildebrand Rarity, Risico, The Property Of A Lady and 007 in New York. May be title of Bond 23. However I guess we can rule out 007 in New York.

Casting

We know that both Daniel Craig and Dame Judi Dench will be back. Jesper Christensen (Mr. White) will not be back. As for the Bond girls, by now you know that Olivia Wilde has denied any involvement in Bond 23 -

“Despite the rumors, I have no plans to do Bond, but the Internet may be confused as I am doing Cowboys & Aliens with Daniel Craig. fun!”
- 7:32 PM Mar 22nd from @Oliviawilde

And on the same day Frieda Pinto's spokesperson issued the following statement:

“I would like to confirm that as of today, Freida Pinto has not been approached to be part of the next Bond film. It is of course very flattering to even be rumoured to be part of a Bond film but she has certainly not been approached for the role of the next Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig”

Adding "as yet" at the end.

Dates
My understanding is that the current financial difficulties that MGM (who hold the film rights to James Bond) have been holding back Bond 23 production. Close to bankruptcy they have been hoping for a buy out but as yet have not been offered anywhere near there target off £1.3 billion.

However in the clip below, taken last year Daniel Craig mentions at 1:01 that the next Bond should start production "at the end of next year (2010)" So as far as we know all is still going to plan.

If you are a Bond fan there is only one place to be this April 24 & 25t, Fan Fest! The Ultimate Spy and Sci-Fi Event. Last night I was fortunate to visit the London Film Museum for a private viewing of portraits of Sir Michael Caine In Film by Paul Karslake. To celebrate the launch of Harry Brown on DVD. Full report up soon.

Whilst chatting to the London Film Museum team (@ldnfilmmuseum) it was mentioned that Little Nellie (James Bond's Gyroscope from You Only Live Twice) had arrived for Fan Fest and was in the building. No need to mention that my anticipation level for Fan Fest shot up. With the lineup they are programming Fan Fest may be the best film event this year.

Picture taken at the Imperial War Museum as part of the For Your Eyes Only E£xhibition

Bond 23 catchup

Freida Pinto in Bond 23?

Earlier today The Mirror ran an article confirming that Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto will be a Bond girl.

There has been speculation over the last week on Pinto starring in the next Bond film and it seems that they are the first to confirm this. Bear in mind no official statment has been made as yet.

In the article here they also say that:

• Freida Pinto has been cast in a multimillion Pound deal
• Olivia Wilde (House, Tron@ Legacy) is being sought to play "a double-crossing UN worker".
• A location for Bond 23 will be Afghanistan.

We already know that Sam Mendes will direct the Peter Morgan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade screenplay.


Freida Pinto in Bond 23?

David Arnold Movie Music Master Class in March 2010

The Space and the Duke of York's present a movie music masterclass with Grammy-winning composer David Arnold and Oscar-winning composer Anne Dudley.

David Arnold and Anne Dudley will discuss their favourite and some classic film music. This will be illustrated with a selection of memorable film scenes, highlighting the power and magic of the combination of film and music, and how the two art forms merge to such great effect.

Our special guests will also demonstrate how they have conceived some of their compositions for film and TV.

DAVID ARNOLD
Few British composers have attained such international acclaim as David Arnold. A successful debut with The Young Americans, then sci-fi adventure Stargate led to a role scoring Hollywood blockbuster Independence Day and Danny Boyle’s A Life Less Ordinary.
As a lifelong fan of James Bond Arnold had produced an album of 007 theme covers with a range of artists including Chrissie Hynde and Iggy Pop. Praise from composer John Barry for these interpretations led to a commission to write the score for Tomorrow Never Dies. He has scored all of the Bond films since, including Quantum of Solace.

Arnold’s career has crossed many genres, from his collaborations with action director Roland Emmerich to his work on Zoolander and award-winning television comedy Little Britain.
He recently produced the new and highly acclaimed Shirley Bassey album, The Performance.

www.davidarnold.com

ANNE DUDLEY
Composer, arranger, producer and performer, Anne Dudley is a multi-talented and critically-acclaimed musician.
She has composed and produced soundtracks for dozens of award-winning films and TV shows, and was a founding member of the Art of Noise. She has contributed string arrangements to many classic albums including ABC's The Lexicon of Love and Robbie Williams latest, Reality Killed the Video Star.

Over the course of a long and varied career, she has won an Oscar, a Grammy, a Brit and most proudly of all, the Billboard award for best new Black Act for the Art of Noise! Anne was recently nominated for the 2009 Ivor Novello award for her score to Trial and Retribution.
Her credits as an arranger include collaborating with Pet Shop Boys, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Stephen Fry, Tom Jones, Will Young, Annie Lennox, Malcolm McClaren, Bill Bailey and Sam Taylor Wood.

www.annedudley.co.uk

David Arnold can be followed on Twitter over here > @DavidGArnold

David Arnold Movie Music Master class in March 2010

Where
The Duke of Yorks Cinema,
Preston Circus, Brighton, BN1 4NA, UK

When
6:00pm Sunday 7 March, 2010

More info & booking over here at The Space website

Solomon Kane speaketh

Yesterday Empire Magazine (the world's biggest -and best- movie magazine) hosted a webchat with James Purefoy in advance of Solomon Kane's UK cinema release this Friday 19 February.



During the almost an hour long chat with fans. James Purefoy came across as forthcoming, direct, down to earth and charming. Also he didn't shy away from tricky questions. Too be honest despite his pedigree I have not seen the bulk of Purefoy's much acclaimed work. To my shame my Rome Season One Box Set is a still unopened treasure.

In the works I have seen he shines with blinding intensity and gives anything he is in an immediate air of credibility. Easy to see why he was a possible choice for James Bond.

Amongst other fans theestablishingshot.com got to ask Purefoy a couple of questions. I opened the session (I think) with:

The_EST says: Hi Mr Purefoy, thanks for chatting. Can you tell me a little about the appeal of the Solomon Kane character for you?

James Purefoy says:

“Yes - we don't have many British action-adventure heroes. We have Mr Bond, Mr Potter and we have Mr Bean. I felt there might be room for one more. I also liked the Clint Eastwood-esque characteristics of the man. He's very reticent, uncommunicative, but expresses himself through action rather than words.”

Sweet! That is good to hear, because back in September 09 I blogged "Solomon Kane was a puritan that wondered the face of the Earth with no destination and a zero tolerance for evil. Think a middle ages Clint Eastwood that encounters supernatural beings" and "I was [sic] keen to see James Purefoy as the stoic Solomon Kane". So it seems that Solomon Kane will indeed be a man of few words as originally intended. That's the way I like my evil defeating protagonists. Ands let's be honest, any way you slice it Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry is still the archetype of cool (only beating Plissken down on sheer volume).

My understanding is that Solomon Kane is intended as the first film in a trilogy. It certainly sounds like Purefoy would like Kane to return to the screen more than once and hopefully enter the cinematic hall of Great English heroes.

The_EST says: Talking about great UK characters. Can you give any credence to the rumours that you were considered for James Bond & The Saint TV Show? :) I thought this may be a bit cheeky as actors generally shy away from discussing roles that they did not get, especially if it is James Bond related. But Purefoy had no hesitation and was straight in like a pit bull. (Point Break)

James Purefoy says:

“Yes and yes. A few of us went up for Bond when Pierce was going to do it, and I think we were just putting our marker down for the next time. As for The Saint, that was going to happen, but the producers were using an unusual business model that the networks found hard to get their heads around, and so it fell apart”

Wow! Both iconic roles and to be honest the more I see Purefoy in action the more I think he would make a great Bond. A reboot of The Saint TV show has been in pre-production hell way before Val Kilmer's turn on the big screen in 1997. I remember reading about this in Roger Moore's Autobiography "My Word Is My Bond" as well as a little in Joe Eszterhas' autobiography "Hollywood Animal" a couple of years ago.

Eszterhas and William J. MacDonald are connected via Hollywood Legend Robert Evans and all were involved in Sliver and Jade. MacDonald got the rights to The Saint for Evans in 1991 and they produced Kilmer's 1997 Saint. In 2004 Macdonald acquired the film rights to The Saint and has been trying to get a TV show off the ground since then. It came close in 2007. It was to be co-produced by MacDonald, Jorge Zamacona and Roger Moore's son George. Barry Levinson was attached to direct and Purefoy was to star. After the Turner Network backed out of a deal it was decided that the core team would produce the show independently.

Artwork shown at Cannes 2008 for The Saint TV show starring James Purefoy

But I digress. Anyway MacDonald Produced and wrote Rome and clearly sees what Purefoy may bring to the role of Simon Templar. It's a shame that Purefoy won't be the new Saint, yet there are striking similarities between the planned Saint series and The Philanthropist. What do you think?

The Philanthropist
A wealthy philanthropist's life is changed when a hurricane hits the Nigerian town he was visiting. During the storm the billionaire rescues a young boy. These events lead him to pursue his new found passion for helping those in need.

The Saint (2008)
The Saint. His current assignment has him in Montenegro, rescuing captive children from being sold on the black market. When the operation is finished, Templar discovers that one of the children is missing. An orphan once himself, he vows to rescue the lost boy, no matter what the cost.

The_EST says: I'm enjoying the Solomon Kane trailer and looking forward to the film but I have to ask - how close do you feel Solomon Kane the film is to the Robert E. Howard's Solomon Kane? Or do they reside in 2 different "universes" almost like a reboot?

James Purefoy says:

“As far as I'm aware, the fans of the books are very happy with the tone of the movie and the way I play the character. Some are a little less happy at the "origin" nature of the story, but here's the thing: when our producers took a script of Solomon Kane to the market where he started off fully-formed, the market rejected it out of hand, and said that they were only prepared to back a film of Solomon Kane if it included an origin story. That's show BUSINESS for you."

My main concern for Solomon Kane is that it is actually geared for newer, younger viewers. The bulk of which enjoy the more CGI laden style over substance material. Nothing wrong with this. Times and tastes change. However the teen market is the biggest audience in the world and films are sometimes shaped for this audience at the expense of other viewers. So if fans of the books are happy chances are the story will be engaging enough to keep me happy.

Regarding including Kane's origin, it does make sense, all though Solomon Kane has been around since the 1920s and was borne from the imagination of Robert E Howard as were Conan, Red Sonja, and Kull the Conqueror and has a huge comic fandom he is relatively unknown to the mainstream. So introducing his back story early on will allow the audience will see him develop as a character and his stoic ways will be easier to understand. Also, if the planned trilogy does develop the bigger story arc across the 3 films would be tidier if there was a sense of chronological order.

The_EST says: I'm not sure how much time you spent with him but what was it like working with Max von Sydow and which actors have you really enjoyed working with or been challenged by (in the good sense)?

James Purefoy says:

“Well, Max is a legend of five decades of cinema, and if you have any intelligence
at all as an actor, the day he arrives on set is the day you sit back, watch and learn. He had some particularly nasty exposition to do that day, which he delivered faultlessly. I watched, I learned."

Max von Sydow plays Josiah Kane, Kane's father in the film and is a heroic character himself. I was a little surprised at Purefoy's answer as he is a classically trained actor, he honed his craft as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company and it doesn't get much better than that as far as acting credentials go. I would have thought that he would have positioned himself as a "colleague" as many actors do when working with the "greats". But again Purefoy was straight and with no conceit. At this point I had decided that I would be seeing Solomon Kane in the cinema regardless of whether reviews or positive or negative.

The_EST says: I was curious as to how you first got involved in Solomon Kane?

James Purefoy says:

“Mike and I had been talking about doing a film for about 10 years, but could
never find the right thing. He just called me in and asked me to read the script and look at the artwork, and then asked me to do it. It's as simple as that."

Michael J. Bassett is the Writer and Director of Solomon Kane. Earlier on in response to LeeRosher Purefoy said: The great thing about Michael is that he is a film geek, so he was making the film that he himself would want to see as a fanboy. His knowledge of film is encyclopaedic, he's very collaborative, and an all-around good guy. We need to support the good guys, because there are an awful lot of arseholes out there.

Some other interesting answers from Purefoy included:

CianB says: What do you think of Solomon Kane being compared to Van Helsing ? The Characters do look a lot alike!

“Let's get this straight, once and for all: when Stephen Sommers was making
Van Helsing, he ripped off the entire look of Van Helsing from Solomon Kane. So I'm afraid that Van Helsing looks like Solomon Kane, and not the other way around. Kane was created in the 1920s, and has been around a lot longer."

Van Helsing may have stolen from Kane's wardrobe but I'm hoping that Kane has not gone the same route of too much reliance on CGI monsters and not left enough budget or film time for great character or story development.

jamster_473 says: Fancy telling us what you were expelled for?

“What everybody gets expelled for, surely: stealing a combine harvester."

Thanks James Purfoy & Empire
A full transcript of the chat can be found here on the Empire website.

James Purefoy Solomon Kane webchat
Solomon Kane is in cinemas from Wednesday 17 February.

The Solomon Kane website can be found here > http://www.solomonkanethemovie.com/

James Purefoy will be making an appearance at Forbidden Planet, London more info here!

Michael J Basset writer & director of Solomon Kane can be found here on Twitter @michaeljbassett and his blog is http://michaeljbassett.wordpress.com/!

Paul Berrow Producer of Solomon Kane can be found on Twitter here @paulberrow

Empire Magazine (the world's biggest -and best- movie magazine) can be found here! or followed on Twitter here > @empiremagazine

Ian Fleming book auction scheduled for 18 February

Several Ian Fleming-penned James Bond first editions will be hitting the auction block in Godalming, UK next month as part of Bloomsbury’s Bibliophile sale.


Scheduled to take place on Thursday, 18 February, the auction will feature 14 James Bond lots in total, including Fleming’s Diamonds are Forever, Dr. No and Thunderball—many of them signed by various Bond girls from the film series.

All the following items are to be sold on Thursday 18th February 2010

Diamonds are Forever,
first edition, original boards, a fine, sharp
Estimate: £200 – £300

From Russia, With Love,
first edition, tape-burns to 2 preliminary
Estimate: £120 – £180

Dr No,
first edition, signed by Ursula Andress on
Estimate: £250 – £300

Goldfinger,
first edition, pulling slightly at lower
Estimate: £120 – £180

For Your Eyes Only,
light foxing to endpapers, facsimile
Estimate: £120 – £180

Thunderball,
dust-jacket torn at head and foot of spine
Estimate: £200 – £300

Thunderball,
head and tail of jacket spine chipped with
Estimate: £100 – £150

Thunderball,
first edition, signed by Luciana Paluzzi on
Estimate: £100 – £150

Thunderball,
first edition, signed by Luciana Paluzzi on
Estimate: £100 – £150

The Spy Who Loved Me,
first edition, original boards
Estimate: £100 – £150

The Man with the Golden Gun,
first edition, signed by Britt Ekland on
Estimate: £250 – £350

The Man with the Golden Gun,
first edition, original plain boards, fine
Estimate: £180 – £220

The Man with the Golden Gun,
first edition, slight darkening to page
Estimate: £75 – £100

Octopussy and The Living Daylights,
first edition, signed by Maud Adams &
Estimate: £200 – £250

Ian Fleming book auction scheduled for 18 February

Where
Bloomsbury House,
24 Maddox Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 1PP

When
1.00pm, Thurs 18t February, 2010m

More info over at the Bloomsbury Auction web site

Christies Vintage Film Posters and Film Memorabilia auction

The upcoming Vintage Film Posters and Film Memorabilia sale at Christie’s in London will be featuring a large selection of posters, props and more from the James Bond films.

The sale is scheduled to begin at 12:00pm on Tuesday, 24 November at 85 Old Brompton Road in London. Encompassing more than 450 lots in total, 50+ of them will be 007-related.

Items include Daniel Craig’s Tom Ford sunglasses from Quantum of Solace, Roger Moore’s two-piece suit from The Man with the Golden Gun, David Niven’s velvet trilby from 1967’s Casino Royale and endless other items.

Christies Vintage Film Posters and Film Memorabilia auction

Where
Christies
85 Old Brompton Road, London, England SW7 3LD

When
12:00pm, Tues Nov 24, 2009

More info over here at Christies

Felix Leiter’s Home for Sale

Formally the movie set for the James Bond film License to Kill,'' now a tropical oasis with a License to Chill.'' Low key casual setting on rare sprawling 14,351 sq ft parcel just 2 blocks from famous Duval Street. 3 structures & 2 pools total 6 bedrooms with a historic 3 or 4 bedroom home boasting light filled rooms with high ceilings, original wood floors, open spaces and French doors to fabulous covered porches. Relaxed floor plan laid out for private guest spaces with exterior entrances, private ipe decks, 2 detached guest homes and plenty of off-street parking with access from either Villa Mill Alley or South Street. A casual Key West compound perfectly suited for family comfort, entertainment paradise & an occasional movie set.

Sir Roger Moore in Conversation

To close the BFI's tribute season to Cubby Broccoli, they are delighted to welcome to the BFI Southbank stage the man who, in taking on the role no less than seven times, helped establish James Bond as the archetypal British hero – Sir Roger Moore. First coming to prominence as Simon Templar in the hugely successful spy-thriller TV series The Saint, he claimed his most famous role as 007 with 1973's Live and Let Die. Bringing a more relaxed and suave tone to Bond Sir Roger was instrumental in extending the life of the charming but deadly secret agent. Now an ambassador for UNICEF and highly commended for his charitable work, he will discuss the exhilarating world of 007, his memories of Broccoli and his career so far.

Sir Roger Moore in Conversation
Thursday May 28, 2009 at 6:20pm
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road
London, England SE1 8XT

Quantum of Solace + Director Marc Forster in Conversation

Marc Forster joins the BFI for a very special high-definition screening of 007's last outing.

Daniel Craig reprises his role as the world's favourite secret agent in this high octane action adventure of treachery, murder and deceit. Picking up the storyline shortly after the end of Casino Royale, this is the first direct sequel in the longest running film franchise in history. Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loves, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal. Pursuing his determination to uncover the truth, Bond and M (Judi Dench) interrogate Mr White (Jesper Christensen) who reveals the organisation that blackmailed Vesper is far more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined... In a mission that leads him to Austria, Italy and South America, Bond allies with old friends, but with the British Government and the CIA working against him, he must kill or be killed to uncover the truth.

Early booking recommended for this evening that will no doubt whet the appetites of Bond fans everywhere for the forthcoming Cubby Broccoli season that will run throughout April and May and will include screenings of all 22 Bond films.

Quantum of Solace + Director Marc Forster in Conversation
Wednesday March 4, 2009 at 6:30pm
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road
London, England SE1 8XT

David Arnold Q&A at The Roundhouse, London

David Arnold Q&A at The Roundhouse, London

Grammy award winning composerand producer David Arnold is coming to the Roundhouse for a special Q & A session.

As one of the most respected film composers working today, David is well known for his work on the James Bond films, including Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum Of Solace (2008).
This is a fantastic opportunity for all those interested in film music and composition.
David Arnold Q&A
Wednesday February 25, 2009 at 6:00pm
The Roundhouse
Chalk Farm Road
London, England NW1 8EH

Bong girl Camille's (Olga Kurylenko) dress is up for auction

Bond girl dress goes under hammer

The dress made famous by actress Olga Kurylenko in the latest James Bond film Quantum Of Solace was last night expected to fetch up to £4,000 at a charity auction.

The black Prada knee-length dress went under the hammer alongside the Gina shoes worn by Kurylenko in publicity stills for the film, in which she poses with actor Daniel Craig in a desert scene.

Additional items for auction included a limited edition Omega watch in the same style as that worn by Daniel Craig in the film.

Great Amazon deal on James Bond Blu Ray DVDs

Amazon.com are currently running a limited period sale on the 6 disc Blu Ray James Bond collection. The collection includes:

• Dr. No
• Die Another Day
• Live and Let Die
• For Your Eyes Only
• From Russia with Love
• Thunderball

Individually the collection comes in at $210 (£137). A further discount brings the cost down to $108 (£70). The new offer brings the price down to $39.94 (£26)!

To make use of this offer go here. Select the six Bond Blu-ray Discs and click "add to cart." Proceed to check-out and select "Super Saver Shipping" (or Prime shipping if you're an Amazon Prime customer).

You will get the $50 (£33) Blu-ray promotional discount as well as a "$15 (£10) best value discount" applied to your cart.

Please note you need a US delivery address for this deal & Amazon could change the terms of this promotion at any time so please check before purchasing.

Currently Amazon.co.uk is offering the 6 Blu Ray collection for £69.97.