Joseph Wiseman, 1918-2009

e are saddened to report that Joseph Wiseman — Dr. No, the very first James Bond villain — passed away yesterday, October 19, in New York City. He was 91 years old.
Upon news of Mr. Wiseman’s death, HMSS senior editor James McMahon commented: “Joseph Wiseman holds a special place in [the] 007 pantheon as not [...]

HMSS nominations for editing changes in 007 movies

What if you could go back and change something in a movie you’ve seen? That’s the notion behind this post — what could you change in a James Bond movie?
The ground rules are there’s only enough money to make editing changes. You don’t have the time or resources to reassemble the cast for reshoots (which [...]

Memories of 007 double features

Elsewhere on this blog, Paul Baack shared his version of a poster for a double feature of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. In this home video era, such a double bill won’t reach movie theaters, at least for a general release. But that poster got us to remembering about Bond double features of the [...]

TCM starts promos for 007/Connery movies

TCM has started running a promo for “star of the month” Sean Connery in May. As you might expect, it relies heavily on Connery appearances in his six James Bond movies filmed for Eon Productions.
Throughout the promo, TCM uses the dots from the main titles of Dr. No superimposed over clips from that movies, the [...]

More HMSS (and reader) nominations for best line(s) from James Bond movies

Our post the other day about nominations for best lines from James Bond movies drew five responses. So here’s some of the feedback we got for additions plus a few we added.
The World Is Not Enough
James Bond: The world is not enough.
Elektra King: Foolish sentiment.
James Bond: Family motto.
Die Another Day
Q (following virtual reality exercise): [...]

HMSS nominations for best lines from James Bond movies

What’s the best line from a James Bond movie? Here are a few for consideration:
“Bond, James Bond.” Sean Connery (James Bond, natch) from Dr. No.
Analysis: Perhaps a cliche now, but Connery established a classic introduction line.
“She should have kept her mouth shut.” Sean Connery (Bond), capping off a tense sequence in the movie From Russia [...]

Watchmen’s nod to Ken Adam

The new movie Watchmen, based on the 12-issue series DC Comics series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, opened today. What’s this got to do with a James Bond/spy entertainment weblog? Well, there’s a definite tip of the cap to Ken Adam, production designer on seven 007 films.
Adam, designed the sets for Dr. No, the [...]

007 *FINALLY* gets some respect on U.S. TV: Connery films coming to TCM

Finally.
TCM, the Time Warner cable channel that shows movies uncut and in their original form (e.g. widescreen, where applicable) will be showing the Sean Connery Bond movies in May. Or, to be more precise, the six Connery films in the “official” series produced by Eon Productions Ltd. since 1962.
In recent years, Bond has fared worse [...]

The screen’s first Felix Leiter remembered

That, of course, would be American actor Jack Lord, born 88 years ago today on Dec. 30, 1920.
Lord’s association with the James Bond film series was only in Dr. No. Whatever one thinks of him (he has his fans and detractors), JL was there at the beginning of Bond in the cinema. Also, he would [...]