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007 Issue 44

007 Issue 44

Odeon Leicester Square 1989

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3 OPPOSITE PAGE: Graham Rye shows off the newly renovated Moon Buggy for a photo-session at in 1993. THIS PAGE: 1. Once again the Odeon Leicester Square hosts a new Bond film. 2. Graham Rye and Andrew Pilkington chat with Michael G. Wilson after the press show of , as the Evening Standard’s film critic, the late Alexander Walker (left) exits the Odeon. 3. Much to the appreciation of 5 6 7 the fans, Cubby Broccoli signs autographs. 4. No one realised at the time that we wouldn’t see another film for another six years – and that would not be returning in the role. 5. Michael G. Wilson signs an autograph for a JBIFC member. 6. Do Bonds Have More Fun? As usual the promotional machine was in full swing for the latest Bond film and the majority of the glossy monthly magazines covered Licence To Kill.Tatler even promoted their Bond-related issue (an interview with Talisa Soto) on the giant Mills & Allen rotating advertising billboards. 7. Graham Rye signs copies of his book The James Bond Girls for members ADVENTURES of The JBIFC in the foyer of the Odeon Leicester Square. IN THE FAN TRADE For 25 years “Ah, the real James Bond!” The James Bond International Fan Club and ‘OO7’ MAGAZINE have consistently ate and happenstance sent a copy of my James Bond the matinee performance of copies to recoup all my production often conspire to shape a Girls book to him at Casa Bertrand Tavernier’s These costs and then some. As intended, the set the standard in James Bond magazine Fperson’s life. A man walks Malibu in Spain, and had organ- Foolish Things, which was playing publication proved to be a great suc- to work every day using the ised the 25th literally just round the corner at cess with the media, and many edito- same route but on a Thursday Anniversary screening in 1990 the Curzon Cinema. We said rial departments and freelance jour- publishing, special events, archiving, and a he decides to take a short cut with , his face cheerio, but before he and nalists purchased copies as an invalu- and turns left and finds an aban- softened as I explained to him Micheline could make it round able research source. unique range of OO7 products. doned briefcase stuffed with and Micheline, rather cheekily, the corner into the cinema, two On one of my visits to Leavesden fifty-pound notes. However, on girls from an office across the Studios during the shooting of GRAHAM RYE continues his personal journey turning right the piano falling road rushed over to get his GoldenEye I was fortunate to spend from a third story window autograph, he obliged - and was some time visiting with Pierce through a quarter century of would certainly have killed him. gone. When I arrived at EON’s Brosnan. Unit publicist Geoff Life can be like that sometimes. office I told Amanda Schofield Freeman kindly took me down to innovation and determination – and when For one of my meetings at and the other girls,“You’ll never Pierce’s dressing room and knocked I decided to guess who I’ve just bumped into on the door. No answer. Geoff opened necessary, sheer bloody-mindedness, catch a black cab from – !” I don’t think the door, led me in and promptly left Waterloo to their then offices they believed me. Life can be me to it. I moved into the large in South Audley Street, rather like that sometimes. makeshift room rather gingerly, not to show that still… than take the usual more eco- wanting to intrude, turned the corner nomic route via the tube to With GoldenEye on and found Pierce dressed in his com- …! Green Park and walk the final 1995 the horizon, the bat fatigues leaning backwards in a quarter mile. Having the taxi first Bond film in chair against the wall on the tele- stop near the end of Curzon six years, I knew phone, “Ah, the real James Bond!” he Street, a short walk across the enquiries to our offices would be over- joked. He gestured for me to take a PART II – 1995-2004 road from South Audley Street, whelming. Damn the expense – it was seat, finished his phone call and I glanced to my left as I paid the time to hire a personal assistant or die immediately said, “So tell me about cab driver and was amazed to from overwork! During this period, this Moon Buggy then!” I was see that Sean and Micheline for my sins, I also compiled and pub- amazed. He’d obviously read some of Connery were walking towards that I was on my way to a meet- lished ‘The James Bond OO7 Fan the content of The JBIFC/EON pro- “The world is divided into two classes; me down the street. This was ing with his former employers Club & Archive Fact File’, a 198-page posal dossier I’d sent him. We chat- an opportunity too unbeliev- EON Productions, at which he spirex-bound reference guide to every- ted for quite a while about all kinds of those who believe the incredible, able to ignore. As I approached arched his left eyebrow (as only thing the media wanted to know stuff until he politely excused himself and those who do the improbable.” the couple to introduce myself I he can) and said,“I wish you the about James Bond but didn’t know to get ready for make-up as he was quickly read the expression very best of luck!” He shot his what to ask! Having sent sample sec- needed on set again soon. On other Oscar Wilde coming over Mr Connery’s face cuff and pointed to his watch, tions to MGM Home Video (UK) for visits to the studio I also watched him – ‘Oh no here we go again!’ explaining politely that he and their perusal against possible sales, filming some insert shots, and my last- However,when I explained I had Micheline were trying to catch they promptly purchased enough ing impression of the time spent with oo28 oo29 The National Film Theatre 1990/1992 Pinewood Studios 1990

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 1. Attending The JBIFC’s 6 1990 Thunderball 25th anniversary 5 screening at the NFT were (left to right): , Terence Young, Mollie Peters, , , and George Leech. 2. Terence addresses the NFT audi- ence. 3. Maurice Binder chats with Mollie 1 Peters. 4. Graham Rye presents Mollie 4 with a bouquet of flowers at the special 4 after-screening dinner. 5. Graham Rye interviews Syd Cain, George Leech and Wing Commander Ken Wallis on stage at the NFT in 1992. THIS PAGE: 1. John Stears poses with a replica of ‘The Most Famous Car In The World’ at the 1990 JBIFC Convention. 2. John and the model of Scaramanga’s flying car. 3. John with his Pinewood SFX 7 team members, Bert Luxford (left) and Joe Fitt. Sadly Joe died in January 2002, and Bert in March 2003. 4. John fits the 1 5 rockets to Fiona’s BSA motorbike at Silverstone for Thunderball (1965). 5. John behind the wheel of that car! 6. On a freezing day in , John Stears listens to director Terence Young, while Kevin McClory (behind) and Bert Luxford and also pay attention for Thunderball (1965). 7. Bert Luxford with John’s model helicopter 4 made for From Russia With Love (1963). JOHN STEARS (1934–1999) ‘See and die. And I very nearly did!’ SPECIAL EFFECTS WIZARD EXTRAORDINAIRE! him was of a very pleasant and gen- many amateur James Bond-related in part to our research facilities. Also during 1996 I was hired to we ever featured, with Christopher An edited version of the follow- back to the 1950s you probably had because SFX is a very broad spec- uine man who couldn’t quite believe clubs, associations and foundations Unusually, the majority of these stu- design and produce the licensed cal- Lee, , Shirley Eaton, ing conversation with John five SFX (special effects) men, optical trum. Having said that I still do the his luck. However, his new-found suc- operating, and also to emphasise the dent enquiries came from young endars ‘The Official James Bond 007 Tania Mallet, Norman Wanstall, Lois Stears originally appeared in people also being included in that whole range of SFX but have no cess seemed tinged with a tangible air aspect of our growing global member- women. 1997 Calendar’ and ‘The Glamorous Maxwell, and Desmond Llewelyn. ‘OO7’ issue #13, June 1983. number.You’d work on a film and be qualms about bringing in experts to of sadness because his late wife ship, which pleasingly, was always Early in 1996 I was approached World of 007 Calendar 1997’ for the For the first time we had a major ANDREW PILKINGTON spoke involved in bits and piece because FX do various bits and pieces. I have an Cassandra wasn’t able to share it with reflected in the attendees at our to consult on and design a 40,000 company Slowdazzle Worldwide. problem at one of our events. We with the two-time Oscar-win- (effects) then were not regarded overall knowledge of FX – so I can, him. events. The JBIFC Archive also square foot exhibition entitled ‘The Both my client and I were pleased almost had a mutiny on our hands ning special effects technician with the importance they are today. and do, run the whole show. The illustrated 200-page JBIFC World of James Bond 007’ as part of with the finished item, which sold from the Club members attending on Christmas Eve 1982 at his It’s really only because of….well, the proposal dossier prepared specifically the display for the Paris Motor Show well. The fact that the images used when they realised there wasn’t going home near Chalfont St. Giles. Bond films, and The Guns of Navarone How did you originally become for a meeting with John Parkinson by a British organiser. One million had come from my ‘OO7’ MAGA- to be an autograph signing session. John had originally seen the and those kind of pictures that we involved in the film industry? then (VP in charge of Marketing) at people saw the exhibition of the ZINE Archive certainly lifted the cal- Although it hadn’t been billed, the property from the air one day got the reputation that we were I was living close to Denham Studios EON Productions’ offices at largest collection of James Bond vehi- endars out of the usual rut of repeti- little darlings just assumed that our while undertaking a ‘recce’ out capable of doing rather unusual and at that time. This was back in the Leavesden was submitted by Andrew cles ever exhibited over a period of tive imagery that has eternally plagued celebrity guests were going to remain from Pinewood Studios. He fell rather good SFX. At this time in the 1940s, and I used to, when I was a Pilkington, Lee Flint and myself dur- two weeks. Unfortunately, due to the this particular Bond product. seated at the end of the event while in love with the house and its U.S. cinema was running itself down kid, get under the fence surrounding ing our meeting, but after this initial near criminal incompetence and However, from what I’ve seen of Bond all 200 of them filed past to get an grounds, and later purchased and going into television production. the studios and get into crowd contact nothing further was forthcom- unprofessionalism of the imbecile calendars post 1997, it would appear autograph from everyone, probably the property on which he and So they lost out with techniques and scenes and things, and as a matter of ing, and we never received anything in wannabee who hired me and my they’ve taken rather a retrograde step. because this had happened in an his wife Brenda began an exten- developments throughout that peri- fact I became a child actor. I’ve writing by way of explanantion. team, the whole event was an unmiti- Tragic news travelled around the impromptu fashion at a number of sive renovation. John and his od, and we got ourselves quite a always had my heart in the film busi- A new edition of The James Bond gated financial disaster for all con- world with death at 87 of Cubby our past events. When I explained wife also started and owned the good reputation for doing SFX.With ness.All my friends’ fathers were art Girls with a new section and cover cerned – and unknown to me, due to Broccoli on June 28th in Los Angeles. the situation to Christopher Lee and world renowned ‘Livny Borzoi the advent of TV being a small format directors or construction managers design was published to tie-in with the the duplicity of the organiser, the He had undergone massive heart sur- the other guests, who all had their Kennels’ and produced many that does not lend itself to spectacu- or whatever, and it was always my release of GoldenEye, and once again exhibition and its merchandising was gery in recent years, and although overcoats on ready to leave, he was champion dogs worldwide. lar SFX, people realised that if you aim to work in the film business. members of The JBOO7FC attended produced without any permission retaining his wonderful sense of wonderful, and rallied the other Nicknamed the ‘Dean of FX’, had good SFX you would get people I went to Harrow Art College the press show for the film and an from EON Productions and/or humour and optimism in the face of guests round as they made their way John in later years eventually back into the cinemas, and which has (and also attended Southall Technical organised lunch at Planet Hollywood. MGM/UA. Lose a million house adversity, he never really recovered downstairs to begin signing. This just relocated with his wife and been proved with films like Star Wars College) where the curriculum Bond was back in a big way, which points go to jail do not pass go do not from such a traumatic operation. Truly wouldn’t happen today. Signings are daughters Janet and Jacqueline and Superman. This is why SFX have involved silversmith work, fine art, had much to do with ’s collect £200. In fact do not collect the end of an era. now big business, and celebrities can (both of whom work in the film now become possibly the most photography, etc. – but National nonchalant performance as the perfect anything! See Paris and die. And I very Our Christmas lunch at earn substantial amounts of money industry) to Los Angeles, until important section of the movie Service was a thing that everybody oo7 for the Nineties. became increasingly called upon by nearly did! Over the last 25 years I Pinewood that year was gold themed, from their autograph in one sitting. his untimely death aged 64 on industry. had to do in those days. So you the print media for photographs from have been approached by more than and our guests reflected the James Club members attending our events his wife’s birthday, April 28th couldn’t plan your future until that In 1996 I decided the Bond films for reproduction in my fair share of conmen or nitwits Bond films that featured the precious in the Eighties and Nineties got an 1999. Would your job in a film include was out of the way. I was actually 1996 to change The magazines and newspapers; we also who have either: a) wasted a consider- metal in their titles – although unfor- even better deal than anyone could a whole spectrum of effects? working for the air ministry as a JBOO7FC’s name entertained more enquiries from stu- able number of hours in my life; b) tunately we just missed out on Sean have imagined! And re-exposure at Has the job of a Special Effects What’s happened now is that from draughtsman, and could have got to The James Bond dents who wished to visit our Archive cost me a great deal of money; c) Bean from GoldenEye when his sched- our events has been responsible for man in the film industry the original five or six guys, there are deferred completely, but I opted out OO7 International Fan Club & Archive, to research their various college or caused me bitter disappointment – or ule for Sharpe was brought forward. ‘re-launching’ some Bond-related changed a lot since you first now about 400. But now it has to go in the army and get it over and mainly for two reasons – to differenti- university dissertations, many of when I was really unlucky, all three. Never the less, I think it’s probably celebrities on to the lucrative auto- came into the industry? become so specialised that people done with – which I thoroughly ate our organisation from, by now, the whom passed with distinction thanks They know who they are! one of the most impressive line-ups graph signing circuit. It has changed an awful lot. If you go are concentrating on just one facet – enjoyed by the way. When I came

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 1. Graham Rye interviews 1 2 1 2 3 4 Bond Production Designer Peter Lamont on stage in Pinewood’s ‘Pool Room’. This area used to be the location of the ‘Pool Studio’ in the Sixties, where the publicity shots of Sean Connery and Ursula Andress were photographed for Dr. No, among many others. The room also doubled as Max Zorin’s workout room where he spars with May Day in . 2. JBIFC member James Murphy ponders over a question in our ‘OO7 Mastermind’ competition. 3. Andrew Pilkington and 5 6 Mollie Peters cut our convention cake. A themed cake at our events became 3 something of a tradition. Somehow it never seemed to be completely eaten, but it never went to waste as the remainder was always delivered to our local old people’s home. 4. Our own ‘Bond Bird’ for the day was model and fitness instructor Janette Bickerton, who posed for the press and fans. 5. All the JBIFC Stewards wore special T-Shirts designed for the event by Graham Rye. 7 8 9 THIS PAGE: 1. Book dealer and collector extraordinaire James Pickard displays his wares in the dealers’ area at the convention as Graham Rye hopes for a discount! 2. JBIFC Steward Dave Worrall guides JBIFC members on a tour of the studios. 3. We displayed all EON Production’s Bond props and models on ‘B’ Stage. 4. Maurice Binder poses in front of the design that became synonymous with his name. 5. French JBIFC member Frank Pascarel entered into the spirit of the weekend in a specially knitted OO7 pullover. 6. Mollie Peters signs autographs on ‘B’ Stage. 7. Andrew 4 5 Pilkington briefs Desmond Llewelyn on the 10 day’s events. 8. Maurice’s arrival on ‘B’ Stage is greeted by then-Managing director of Pinewood Cyril Howard, his wife, and Graham Rye. 9. Andrew takes the DB5 for a spin around Pinewood and we recreate a scene from for the camera. 10. Graham Rye’s ‘Wrecking Crew’ – The JBIFC stewards for the weekend event were (from left to right): Tim Greaves, Chris Nixon, Kevin Harper, Dave Worrall, (Graham Rye – middle) Mike Corfield, Mark Ashby, Lancelot Narayan, and Mark Thompson.

‘Do you wanna come ‘I would like to have as much money as is necessary to do the job properly – but even on over with me and watch some shooting?’ Star Wars I didn’t get that!’

Just prior to our Christmas , Boxtree decided Pierce – replete in combat fatigues Norman Wanstall, Wing Commander Working with out I started making models for a I set up the miniatures back in No, no no. I would like to have as Lunch, EON Productions offered me they wanted to publish out another (again). He asked how I was. He had Ken Wallis, and Desmond Llewelyn. 1999 Boxtree continued firm in Richings Park. .And then I became involved much money as is necessary to do tickets to the Cubby Broccoli memori- updated edition of my book, The a nasty bloody gash on his forehead This was probably one of the most to be one of life’s It was very difficult at that time to again with Cubby Broccoli on a the job properly – but even on Star al event at the Odeon Leicester James Bond Girls. So another section courtesy of the make-up department relaxed events I’d ever organised, and less pleasurable get into the film industry because dreadful film titled Wars I didn’t get that! Square. After I explained our lunch was added with a new cover design and villain Stamper. “Phew, looks like I was actually able to enjoy myself on experiences when they dropped on there was very little work about, but (1962) that had a lot of effects, and was taking place at Pinewood the day and off we went again to the press you’ve had a bad day at the office,” the day for once, even down to being me they wanted an all-new picture the firm was given the brief for the then I was invited to do From Russia Can you relate an example prior to their event, I was then able to show and Planet Hollywood. I joked. He smiled and asked, daft enough to be brought on stage researched hardback edition of The film Reach For The Sky (1955) starring With Love (1963) on my own, where you’ve used a simple negotiate a block of 200 tickets. This Earlier in the year I had to visit “Whaddaya doing now? I’ just encased in an underwater shroud, James Bond Girls. What had originally Kenneth More as the WWII fighter although Frank assisted me. solution to a SFX problem? enabled all the Club members attend- Pinewood Studios to see Gordon going back over to the ‘007’ Stage, inside dressed in a Commander’s been discussed was a slight revision ace Sir Douglas Bader, and directed Yes, one picture does spring to ing our lunch to receive a surprise Arnell (at that time head of publicity there’s a gun battle going on. Do you uniform, which got the event off with with a few new pictures, but by . I made the aircraft How did you become involved in mind. In fact I’ve never seen the ticket for Cubby’s memorial tribute. It on the Bond films) at EON’s office wanna come over with me and watch a good laugh! The day was also spe- overnight became a whole new book and took them down to Pinewood the film Dr.No? finished film – it was The Pied Piper was an honour to attend as we joined and view stills for the updated edition some shooting?” (literally) Is the Pope cial for me because it was the first pictorially. This was during August – and they asked me if I could operate Frank George was in charge, being of Hamlyn (1971). They wanted hundreds of other people from Catholic? Wow! time my Mum and Dad had attended less than four months before The them – I said ‘Yes!’, and they asked an old Pinewood man, and he knew scenes with thousands of rats fol- around the world who had travelled one of my events, but sadly, it would World Is Not Enough was due for me to stay on and work for them. my capabilities and asked me to do lowing the Pied Piper (Donovan to celebrate the life and work of In September 1998 be the last time Mum would leave the release, during the busiest time in my I opted to work in the Matte the miniatures for him. Leitch), and had spoken to various Cubby Broccoli, where the tribute was 1998 I decided to include house for any social occasion before calendar. However, I was pleased with Department, and I also did some ani- people about breeding rats. The superbly written and presented by Oddjob’s steel- Alzheimer’s disease took its cruel the finished result, and believe it mation and spent five years with Even in 1962, the $1 million dol- picture really stood or fell on writer and film critic Iain Johnstone. It rimmed bowler hat grip. remains the definitive pictorial vol- Rank before the big collapse, after lar budget for Dr.No was fairly whether we could do something was a morning filled with laughter and from my archive in auction at As though an event and a slew of ume on the subject. My only regret is which I went freelance – and my small for . Did you find using real rats. So I got some black tears as many gracious and poignant Christie’s first all-James Bond sale. publications weren’t enough, we had that I hate the cover design (don’t go career started there really. that you were in a position netting; and made some vacuum- tributes came from a variety of people The hat from Goldfinger (1964) went to move offices over the Christmas there). If I reproduced in these pages where there was too little formed plastic rats and hinged who had known and worked with the under the hammer for an incredible period. The contents of our three seg- some of the cover roughs I hold on One of the early films on which money in the budget and had to their heads; put beads in for eyes truly legendary producer. £62,000 and was purchased by the mented and cramped offices on the file submitted by Boxtree for my you worked was The Guns of go to great lengths to achieve and pulled the net with the ‘rats’ Prior to 1995, and again in 1996, Bond filmmakers EON Productions. first floor were relocated to a cus- book, you would still be laughing Navarone (1961). That film won satisfactory SFX? attached, so that as the piper I supplied EON Productions with my The entire income raised from the tomised 1,140-square foot ground tomorrow. Not to mention their origi- an Oscar for its SFX.Was that a I don’t know why it is, I’ve always had moved the rats appeared to follow complete contact list of James Bond auction was invested in The JBIFC floor premises. Ground floor units in nal cover design for Raymond difficult film to work on from this problem, and it’s never changed. – and it worked perfectly. celebrities I’d assembled over the and ‘OO7’ MAGAZINE, where I used this business centre were like gold Benson’s The James Bond Bedside the SFX standpoint? I’ve never had unlimited money to years. Unfortunately they had little on it to obtain further printed archival dust, so if we were to ever occupy Companion…. Oh dear. I didn’t do too many of the actual do SFX. I’ve always had to do things There’s an extensive use of pro- file regarding the actors and techni- matter, and to enlarge my staff and one the size required it was then or The new edition of my The James floor effects, but I became very heav- the most efficient and cheapest way. jection work in the Bond films. cians they’d employed in the past and offices. The sale of Oddjob’s hat set a never. The finishing touches would Bond Girls book was launched at The ily involved with miniatures. I did the I understand that there other com- What influences your decision wanted to add them to their invitation record for the highest priced individ- have to be worked on well into the JBIFC event at the Café de Paris after storm sequence. panies who have a large team of peo- regarding the use of front or list for future Bond publicity events. of The James Bond Girls. I later broke ual Bond prop ever to sell in auction – New Year, and it was planned that Club members had attended the ple working for them – I’ve never back projection, or another pro- for lunch in Pinewood’s bar. I was sit- a record that remains unbeaten! Desmond Llewelyn would preside Licence To Thrill ‘experience’ and the You worked on the first James had more than five or six staff. jection technique? Once again to ting there scribbling some notes with Our last Christmas lunch at over our grand official opening, press show for The World Is Not Bond film, Dr.No, as an assistant Well, there is no process that is good 1997 tie-in with the a pencil in one hand and a cigar in the Pinewood Studios to date was themed together with as many other Bond Enough. Licence To Thrill – The James to Frank George – although you Is that part of the appeal of for every shot, and you have to work release of the latest other when suddenly, a hand grabbed around the film You Only Live Twice, celebrities and media I could muster Bond Ride turned out to be little more weren’t credited. SFX, the challenge of creating out which would be the best process James Bond film, my cigar to light a cigarette. It was and guests included Ken Adam, from my contacts book. than a blip on the oo7 landscape and Yes, Frank went out to Jamaica, and FX within the available budget? for the shot in question.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 1. Andrew does brisk business on The JBIFC memorabilia stand. 2. and Licence To Kill Stunt Arranger Paul Weston and EON Productions’ Iris Rose. 3. Jan Williams gives JBIFC member John Pollock a quick ‘rub down’ in the exact spot in the gardens at Pinewood where 10 she massaged Robert Shaw as Red Grant in From Russia With Love 29 years earlier, and three years before John was 1 7 born. 4. An impressive line-up of vehicles was displayed for our 1992 event. 5. The great Vladek Sheybal gave us his reminisces of the years he worked and ate at Pinewood. 6. Desmond Llewelyn assists Graham Rye to promote ‘OO7’ 2 4 11 MAGAZINE for photographers. 7. Graham 5 Rye ferries part of Eon’s props for display in the Green Room. 8. Jan Williams poses 2 with an ‘old friend’. 9. Jeremy Clarkson was on hand to interview Desmond and cover our event (mercilessly) for an auto magazine. 10. Desmond chats in the bar with JBIFC member Gareth Owen (right) and Cars of the Stars owner Peter Nelson. 11. Bond Production Designer Peter Lamont gives a speech. 12. Vladek Sheybal chats and signs autographs for the fans 3 8 12 in Pinewood’s bar. 3 THIS PAGE: 1. A tale of two replicas! Desmond poses with Peter Nelson’s gadget mocked-up Aston Martin DB5 and with the rather smaller Corgi version. 2. The Elder Statesmen of Bonding: Wing Commander Ken Wallis & Desmond Llewelyn. 3. Graham Rye gets Bond villain Robert Davi to record a video-message for the fans. 4. The 1992 guest line-up included (from left to right) Madeline Smith, George Leech, Ken Wallis, Desmond Llewelyn, Iris Rose, Syd Cain, , and Paul Weston.

‘1999 became a year that was best ‘Harry and Cubby would come to me and say – ‘look, if you were in this situation what would you do from a put in to cold storage and forgotten…’ practical point of view?’ only lasted a few months, in which time fate decreed otherwise. For me, knew or had worked with her, it was the event. On December 19th 1999 at “all that bloody stuff.” During the Some SFX technicians actively – explosions, or the like, then you out a format. That’s how it used to time I’d written the copy for their 1999 became a year that was best put difficult to take in, and even harder to I learned the tragic reality of that feel- ‘wilderness years’, the six-year gap dislike using projection tech- are restricted because there is no be. With Terence Young you were website and would eventually pur- in to cold storage and forgotten, until accept. Amanda had worked in EON ing when in our new custom-built between Licence To Kill and GoldenEye, niques, especially the blue- way of scaling down water. I think involved 24-hours a day seven days a chase unsold Bond stock from their a passage of time would help ease the Productions’ publicity department office at The Mayford Centre in Desmond had a lean time and was screen process because of the that was abundantly clear in The week, and that was the difference retail shop, which also closed soon painful emotions evoked by the since the Eighties. She was a consum- Woking I took a phone call from my constantly frustrated when his agent problem of matte lines. Is that a Towering Inferno (1974). The thing between those pictures and the after. It would seem that the roadside mate professional who lived for her colleague Lancelot Narayan, would ask, what he believed, were process you dislike using and that screwed that picture up was the ones they are making today. is littered with licensees who thought job, and who became part of an elite “Desmond’s been killed in a car extortionate amounts of money for have you encountered prob- dreadful water coming out of the they could make money off the back team responsible for steering each crash!” “No. There must be some mis- personal appearances, which for the lems when using it? building at the end. It just threw the Although the budgets weren’t of James Bond whose names are not Bond production through the poten- take!” I couldn’t and didn’t want to most part were, as few potential I am very reluctant to use blue whole thing away.That should never as big, those films were very Broccoli or Wilson. tial mine-field laid down by the believe it. I shoved the phone at clients followed through when they screen ‘ad lib’. I had a very nasty have happened.The model was built well put together, there seemed I would have enjoyed our event media. She was always my first con- Andrew and rushed from the office learned the cost. “That bloody experience with Chitty Chitty Bang too small. I always try to make my to be a lot of planning and but for the fact that both our expen- tact at EON for official information into the corridor to escape from what woman keeps loosing me work. Bang (1968) because what happens models as big as I possibly can. preparation in each shot, which sive Pierce Brosnan life-size cut-outs concerning any new Bond produc- I still didn’t want to believe. A solitary I don’t know what to do about it,” he is that you don’t know what the I don’t think is true today. were stolen from under the noses of tion, and no matter how pressurised chair stood down the corridor. would explain in frustration during results are until lots of things have One of the many memorable There doesn’t seem to be the my staff and the Café de Paris security her schedule she always handled my I slumped into it, held my head in my our telephone conversations. So it been put together, and you can’t go sequences in From Russia With same kind of care taken. guards (a joke!). However, one of the enquiries politely and efficiently, and hands and sobbed my heart out. was with great relish, and much to back and re-shoot it if things go Love (1963) was Krilencu’s There’s not. You’re absolutely right, cut-outs was recovered. The police also would often put general enquiries Suddenly the world made no sense at the chagrin of his agent, that whenev- wrong.When you’re on a tight time attack on the gypsy camp, shot but the real thing that’s wrong is that arrested two rather drunken and my way. When it came to picture all. Here was a man in his mid-eight- er possible I could I would put schedule you’re totally in the hands on the waste ground in front of they haven’t got any heart, they are rowdy Club members waving the cut- researching the first edition of my ies with energy to spare, who after a Desmond in the frame as an after-din- of the blue screen people and the the Paddock Tank at Pinewood. just going for one spectacular out around shouting “Brosnan. book The James Bond Girls, it was long hard slog had reached the pinna- ner speaker here or a personal appear- labs that process the film. In other When you are faced with such sequence after another, which with- Brosnan. Brosnan,” from among the Amanda who spent time helping me cle of fame in his chosen profession ance there, for a direct fee much words, you have to accept what they complex action shots, knife out a story or reason doesn’t mean crowd waiting outside the Odeon at EON’s then archive at Pinewood and was now justly reaping its lower than usually quoted, but still a give you, and that’s a situation I hate throwing, fights and explosions a damn thing! Leicester Square, who had assembled Studios. When I organised The rewards. No, it made no sense at all. relatively substantial amount. It was to be faced with, and since that very – how do you go about prepar- there to watch the Bond premiere JBIFC’s 1990 Convention at Desmond had supported The my way of thanking him for his con- bad experience with the car going ing for the shot? Do you follow a Hopefully Sean Connery’s new guests arrive. My lasting memory of Pinewood, again, it was Amanda, JBIFC’s conventions from day one, stant support down the years. over the cliff in Chitty Chitty Bang set pattern? Bond picture (Never Say Never the event is visiting the police station together with Unit Production and would always turn up as regular Desmond’s rapport with people Bang,I will never use it unless I have This is the whole thing about the Again) will rectify those in Bow Street the next morning to col- Manager Iris Rose, who made my task as clockwork – something for which was unique. He could literally talk to technicians whom I trust implicitly Bond pictures. This is the reason I problems. lect the figure, and spotting on the much easier Amanda was always I was always in his debt. By way of a anyone of any age anywhere in the to do the lighting etc. think why the first ones were so suc- Well of course, Cubby will never be police notice board a Polaroid photo- cheerful, and had a smile that could small thank you I sponsored his auto- world. Everywhere he went he was cessful. In the early days there was a successful without in graph of four uniformed policeman radiate the warmth of her character graph cards, of which he was always recognised – and to see the look on a What are the problems of terrific feeling, everybody was that respect because although Harry standing with Pierce Brosnan in their from the other side of the room. It’s a bemused that the majority of them child’s face when they spotted him – shooting models in water, and involved with the project; you had a has left the set up now – he was the ranks! After this event I thought to smile I miss. EON would never be he’d end up sending to Germany, the Mr – was magical, the kind of awe can they be overcome without working script, yes, but every time a ideas man. We used to have terrific myself, ‘Never again’, and this time unfathomable loss of two dear people, quite the same again. country in which he’d been held as a and reverence usually reserved for enlarging the scale? certain situation arose, Harry and fights. Cubby and Harry used to have I meant it! two irreplaceable human beings. People are often quoted that they prisoner of war during World War II. Father Christmas. He was simply the It depends. If you have a yacht in a Cubby would come to me and say – fights but Harry was the instigator The year a new Bond movie is When the news reached me of remember exactly where they were For over 15 years we’d talk about once most gentle of gentlemen I have ever mist on a very oily sea, then fine, you ‘look, if you were in this situation and Cubby was the leveller, and I’m released should prove a joyous occa- the sudden accidental death of and what they were doing when John a month on the telephone, and some- met, a special friend whose warm and can shoot with a small miniature. But what would you do from a practical afraid all you have now is Cubby, a sion for oo7 fans everywhere, but this Amanda Schofield, like everyone who F. Kennedy was shot, even years after times he’d visit our offices and marvel engulfing handshake in those gigantic if you have any life in the water at all point of view?’ – and I would work very nice sweet guy,and he just listens

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 1. finds something amusing – it was me I’m afraid – I was wearing her Ascot hat! 2. “For my next miracle!” I’d practised on and off all day and couldn’t get the bloody hat anywhere near the rack, then in front of the audience – first time! Result! 3. No doubt you’ll agree that 6 Lois’ Ascot hat looks much better on her. 4. Tradition! Our annual event cake. 4 3 4 5 5. Desmond and Lois were reunited after 5 eight years. THIS PAGE: The newly renovated Moon Buggy made its last public appearance in the UK at our Pinewood event before being shipped to Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas for its 10-years tenure. 2. The cardboard construction kit designed by Wayne Lorden and Graham Rye for sale at the event. Difficult to tell it from the real thing eh? Blue Peter eat your heart out. 3. Lois and the representative of Guide Dogs For The Blind, Mrs Rhoda Carratt. 4. “You said it would- n’t hurt Paul!” Stunt arranger Paul Weston clocks me one with a prop champagne bottle. Let me do it! Let me do it! cried Andrew. Who could blame him? 5. The cover of our 1993 event brochure.

Desmond’s rapport with people was unique. ‘We used to have terrific fights. Cubby and Harry ‘ used to have fights but Harry was the instigator He could literally talk to anyone of any age anywhere in the world.’ and Cubby was the leveller…’ hands I’ll always remember with funding my Mac Operator, and then beginning to run dry, and it was clear While everyone else was look- As I write this in to a few people, and relies on the I gather all the gadgets in the Yes, I think that was the great- undying affection. my personal assistant; so the running to me that I could no longer continue ing forward to the 40th Anniversary 2004 June 2004, issue experience they have had in the past briefcase worked? est asset in On Her Majesty’s If I learnt anything during 1999, of The JBIFC effectively fell back with the luxury of a studio, particu- of the James Bond film series and #43 is nearing making Bond pictures – and that’s Yes, all the items in the case Secret Service (1969). The edit- it was that in life, we all walk a per- wholly on my shoulders, and with the larly one so large. And so I began the the release of , I was completion, where the whole thing falls down. worked. ing kept it alive, and I think it’s- ilous tightrope over a bottomless magazine taking priority the memora- monumental and painful task of dis- just looking forward to finishing delayed due to the age-old fact that Things were well prepared in the fair to say that this film is gen- chasm into which any of us can tum- bilia sales and other areas of the mantling everything for relocation each month with a roof over my I have to keep turning my hand to old ones. There were lots of fights You used a talcum powder car- erally acknowledged among ble without warning. And which administration began to suffer. and storage at my parents’ small bun- head. other areas that offer more immediate but it was all good fun. You found out tridge to act as teargas? Bond fans to be one of the best should serve as a reminder that each galow. A living nightmare! Again the No need for me to go into any and lucrative payment. It’s ironic in what each person was thinking and Yes, fired under pressure. in the series. friend and loved one should be cher- magazine and the general club admin- detail here regarding my views on looking back over all the Club’s mile- the Director was there and he threw Yes. I think technically and artistically ished, every pleasure should be istration suffered as a result. Then just the release of Die Another Day. For stones and achievements, and there his oar in as well and we used to sit Apart from the briefcase, were that it was one of the best films. savoured, and each day lived as as everything was near finalised, and the whole nine yards read ‘OO7’ have been many, that in some ways round a table and fight it out, and SFX utilised in any other part though it could be the last. with the bungalow and its garage MAGAZINE #41. My opinion has- so little has changed. I started out that’s how the pictures were made, of the train fight between Bond One sequence in From Russia stuffed full to the brim with anything n’t mellowed one iota, and I still with nothing 25 years ago from the but it doesn’t happen now. and Grant on board the Orient With Love that looked particu- I was commis- and everything to do with James class it (which isn’t a word I would bedroom in my parents’ house, noth- Express? larly dangerous was the boat sioned by Stoke Bond and The JBIFC, on August 8th, use in any sense to describe the ing but grand ideas and a burning From Russia With Love was really Oh yes, we were involved with chase. There’s a scene where 2000 Park Golf Club, Mum finally succumbed to film) as the worst Bond film of the desire to produce the definitive the first film in the series to breakaway sets and with the stunt two of the boats collide head Alzheimer’s. I sat on the edge of entire series. James Bond publication, and here introduce gadgets, although team. In fact, we were totally on, and a stuntman leaps into during 2000 to theme their exclusive the hospital bed that night with Dad I am now, working back in the same they were fairly sensible in involved. Even with the wardrobe the water with his clothing on Colt Bar to reflect the James Bond film and held her hand gently as the last With no income to room. The only difference is my pres- those days, unlike those used in and makeup you were still involved, fire. I gather that got a little out Goldfinger, which had been partly breath left her in a long almost imper- 2003 print the next issue ent vehicle is older than the car I had the films now. all the way through. of hand during filming? filmed on the great British course in ceptible sigh. She was now truly at of ‘OO7’ MAGA- then! Given my time over again what That’s what I was saying, they would No, no. Nothing has ever gotten out 1964. Later the same year I also peace. The only consolation. No ZINE, The JBIFC would I have done differently? Not a come to me as ideas man and say Another difference between of hand on a Bond film I’ve done.We designed, produced, and sponsored more nursing homes. No more inade- was forced to cease operations. No lot. With early issues of ‘OO7’ selling ‘what would you need to get out of the old and new films is the never had an accident, it was just well the illustrated colour programme for quate care. This was a setback from publication also meant the little for anything up to $200 each on eBay a situation like this’, and I’d make fight scenes. The train fight in acted. All the guys were prepared, the first ‘Ian Fleming Foundation which neither The JBIFC nor I would income I gained through the sale of earlier this year it would appear we something, and prove to them in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) nobody got burnt. It took about a James Bond Celebrity Golf Classic & every fully recover. ‘OO7’ MAGAZINE also ceased. must have been doing something theory that it could work. can’t compare to the ‘dust up’ week to shoot, I think.The only time Gala Dinner’, held at Stoke Park Golf However, later in the year I found a right. If only I had some left to sell! in From Russia With Love (which somebody got singed was when Club. The JBIFC also sponsored the I continued to run business partner who would redesign During the 25 years of running So it was never a question of was a marvellous piece of fight (stunt arranger) Peter Perkins was first hole and were represented at the 2002 The JBIFC as best The JBIFC website and provide a lim- The JBIFC I’ve met and spoken on the producers or director com- choreography) because it’s too supposed to have swum underwater event by a four-man golf team. In February I sur- I could in the ited fund base for the continued pub- the telephone with innumerable ing to you and saying ‘we need a slow. and he came up too soon in the mid- Towards the Autumn of 2000, 2001 prised everyone – cramped conditions lication of ‘OO7’ MAGAZINE, the numbers of Bond fans, and read briefcase with lots of extras like Well of course, you had a brilliant dle of the flames – but he was all right. Andrew Pilkington decided to make a including myself – of my Dad’s bungalow, but could see aim being to rebuild the membership thousands of their letters from many knives etc. can you make one?’ editor in the early days called Peter few life enhancing changes, including by getting married. the inevitable coming and attempted numbers and therefore sustain The different countries, of different age, They actually came to you and Hunt. Although John Glen is a You also worked on the helicop- moving to – probably to get as As well as gaining a wife I also inherit- to dodge and weave my way round it JBIFC’s economic viability. race, sex (and some that ‘aint too asked how you would get Bond superb editor, he was working with ter chase where Bond shoots far away from me as possible! Who ed three children, not the easiest thing as best as possible, but it was like try- September saw ‘OO7’ MAGAZINE sure!), and religious beliefs. Some of out of a certain situation and Peter Hunt, and I think John would the pilot. Was a radio-con- could blame him! Around the same to adapt to at 50! Meanwhile, the rev- ing to race the devil – and he’ll beat #41 published, quickly followed by these people’s faces, voices and you then dreamt up the idea. be the first to admit that he learned trolled helicopter used during time I became unable to continue enue stream from The JBIFC was you every time! issue #42 in December. words linger long in the memory – Exactly, yes. a lot from Peter. this sequence?

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 1. Tradition! Okay so it’s another cake, but I think it’s pretty cool actually. All right? 2. was 5 on top form throughout the day and was the epitome of charm and coolness under fire. 3. Here’s looking at you kid! George poses for French JBIFC member Joel Villy. 4. Lois Maxwell hadn’t met George since they had made OHMSS together in 1969. 5. Oscar-winning sound editor Norman Wanstall chats with Eunice Gayson and Lois Maxwell in our Green Room. 1 THIS PAGE: 1. ‘Shall I cut the cake?’ asks George, while I hope he’s kidding. 2. Guinness is certainly good for you! 3 4 5 6 Desmond and I discuss the finer points of Irish stout. Hic! 3. George responded wonderfully to the questions from the JBIFC members. 4. Eunice Gayson lit up the event with her colourful outfit and her boundless energy and enthusiasm – always a great guest! 5. George signs yet another copy of ‘OO7’ MAGAZINE – and still the queue went on and on – they were coming round twice! 6. George, Lois and Desmond reunited for the first time since appearing together in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969).

‘I went to Aston Martin and told them what ‘Hello this is Sean Connery.’ I wanted to do and they told me I was crazy’

like the man who telephoned late one receive his treasured copies of ‘OO7’ man himself! Sean telephoned to I believe it wouldn’t have come so far George Almond, Mark Ashby, Greg Ah! I’m glad you asked me that, The Aston Martin was scripted from controllable and used sheets of brass evening and wanted to join the Club. MAGAZINE at his special home even apologise for being unable to attend or for so long and achieved so much if Bechtloff, Raymond Benson, Fred because no it wasn’t! It was the first the word go. We had a long discus- for the gold, overlaid with lead paint- During our conversation he explained after she has passed away….or having the special JBIFC 25th Anniversary it were not for the combined talents of Bryant, Ajay Chowdhury, Philip model helicopter that had been used sion with Ken Adam about it,and Ken ed gold, and synchronised the laser that he lost his sight in 1989 at the Desmond Llewelyn visit our offices, screening of Thunderball at the NFT, as so many fiercely committed individu- Cornell, Gerry Dolan, Matthew Field, in the film industry. I had a little 27cc came up with some schemes, I came to move in line with the flame. The age of 29 in an accident which caused ‘Look at all this bloody stuff!”….or he was leaving for Argentina the next als. If one person should be spotlight- Tim Greaves, Kevin Harper, Lancelot motor in that, and we put just up with some schemes, and I went to laser beam was matted in later. detached retinas. However, he still working late again one evening when morning to start shooting Highlander ed it is without doubt Andrew Narayan, Lee Pfeiffer, Andrew enough pitch on the rotors to keep Aston Martin and told them what enjoyed listening to the Bond films on the phone rings and a soft and gentle II. Did you see the film? In hindsight, Pilkington, whose support, friendship Pilkington, Dave Worrall. And a mul- it stable and then tethered it so that I wanted to do and they told me Presumably effects like Oddjob’s video. Apparently the soundtrack voice says, “Hello this is Sean I think attending our event would and constant good humour I have titude of volunteers including: Frank it just went up on its own. I was crazy.They said I’d never do it hat throwing were done with enabled him to play the visuals have proved a more enjoyable memo- cherished for longer than I care to Rye, Wayne Lorden, Rose Davidson, but they gave me their prototype wires? through in his mind’s-eye….or to get ry for him, however, certainly not as remember. If there were a JBIFC gold Tony Gould, Tony Barker, Val Wallis, Filming a sequence on the scale DB5 and I took it back to Pinewood Yes, that was quite a tricky piece of into the office one morning and dis- financially rewarding. After a few brief medal for outstanding loyalty and Charlotte Bodenstein, Lee Towersey, of the boat chase and with and started cutting it up. All the mechanics. cover the first message on your words he asked me to pass on his best devotion his is surely the chest Michaela Webb, Rachel Bayliss, Laura unpredictable elements like fire things you see in the car were real, answerphone is from a father crying wishes to director Terence Young at I would pin it on. I’ve enjoyed work- McBrown, Yasmin Nattee, Chris and water, what kind of precau- they worked. With the ejector seat How did the jet-pack come to down the line telling you his little boy the event, who I believe he always ing with everyone, it was the greatest Rowley, Andy Lloyd, Joel Baker, tions can you take to ensure we didn’t use real rockets, we used be used in Thunderball (1965)? has lost his fight against cancer that looked upon as a mentor and father- team anyone could have wished for. Jennie Garret-Smith, Martin nothing goes wrong? compressed air, but we could have I always try to be up to date with morning, and is still trying to thank figure. I invited Sean to visit our There’s so much more I can’t remem- (‘Muscles’) Roberts, Paul Hendrie, With fire your biggest problem is done. new technology as much as I can be, you again for entertaining his boy ear- offices if his schedule ever permitted ber and a lot I’d sooner forget – ce’st Lisa-Marie Hendrie, Adam Rye, and change of wind direction. You and if we came across anything that lier in the year at your offices….or a while in the UK. Perhaps one day?… la vie. Christina Rye. And special thanks to rehearse the action and make sure So Aston Martin weren’t too was unusual or out of the ordinary letter from a young lad in India who I remember sitting behind Sean and Over the period 1988-2001, The David Black. people are in the right place at the keen on your modifications? that would resolve a situation in the loved the Bond films but was gen- Micheline at Terence Young’s Service JBIFC was organised from a series of Over the years at Woking, The right time, but you’ve always got the Well, you can say they weren’t very films we would try to get hold of it – uinely distraught and poured his heart of Thanksgiving at St. Michael’s offices in Woking, Surrey, with a small JBIFC entertained and interviewed a problem of a stuntman slipping or happy, but at the end of it they built and more often than not we did. out because he can never play Bond in Church, Chester Square on a cold team of full-time employees, part-time variety of James Bond personalities at falling, so you’ve got to get him clear four of their own ‘Bond’ cars with all the movies because of his ethnic ori- midday in November 1994. Big Tam staff and volunteers, which included: its offices, including: Desmond quickly if necessary. But that’s stunt my gadgets and did a world publicity I believe one of the larger mod- gin – but as I replied, “We all have a wept a few tears that day, as did many Graham Rye (President/Creative Llewelyn, Joe (Peter Franks) work, and it’s what stuntmen get tour. els of the Vulcan bomber used in little of James Bond in us no matter of us. I remember spending a week of Director), Andrew Pilkington (Vice- Robinson, Oscar-Winners John Stears paid for. Stunt work is a dangerous Thunderball was almost full who we are or where we come from. lunches at Pinewood with Terence President), Mrs. Sheila (Lee) Flint and Norman Wanstall, and ex-Bond hazardous job! They get extremely What made the laser sequence scale? Never give up!”….or dealing with the (sometimes joined by Syd Cain). (Treasurer); this team was later joined girls Molly Peters, Shirley Eaton and well paid for it and they do a superb in Goldfinger so impressive and It was full scale, albeit without the distraught sister of a 30 year-old man I don’t think I ever ate a forkful of hot by Jamie Beerman (Personal Carole Ashby. And in March 1993, job. more realistic was the way the wing tips that we sank. I can’t who because of a nervous breakdown food, such was Terence’s ability to Assistant), and later by Carly Jones Peter Hunt, visited The JBIFC office beam actually appeared to be remember the scale of the bomber now had the mental age of a 12 year- Connery.” Having had more than my hold court with so many wonderful (Personal Assistant), Lancelot where he viewed a videotape of On One of the main ‘stars’ of the cutting through solid gold with that had to ditch, but yet again, you old, and how could she stop her share of amateur Connery imperson- stories – and many a tall tale! Narayan (Contributing Editor, ‘OO7’ Her Majesty’s Secret Service and remi- film Goldfinger (1964) was a tongue of flame moving in line can have a small miniature aircraft, brother from running up her tele- ators (most of them appalling I might I remember all the names and the MAGAZINE and NEWSLETTER; nisced about the making of the film. undoubtedly the Aston Martin with the beam. How was this but when the aircraft hits the water phone bill to an unpayable level tele- add) leaving prank calls on the faces, and the voices, and so many JBIFC Public Relations), Alex Pow- The entire occasion, like many others, DB5. Did the idea for the gadg- effect achieved? you are going to have scale problems. phoning the Club answerphone answerphone in the first few years of many more memories…. Williams (Mac Operator/Production was recorded on video seven years et car originate from Cubby, I built a rig underneath the table that But I think it worked out to some- morning noon and night….or promis- operating from an office, instinct told Everyone listed here made a valu- Controller), and Colin Fry before the concept was ‘premiered’ and was it possible to actually travelled very slowly, and also built a thing like a 15-foot wingspan. The ing an elderly mother that her mental- me not to tell this particular caller to able contribution to The JBIFC organ- (Webmaster). And contributors to on the James Bond DVD Boxed Sets. build a car that housed all those special jet so that I could obtain a same size model that was shown ly retarded son will continue to bugger off! Just as well, as it was the isation in one way or another, and ‘OO7’ MAGAZINE: Terry Adlam, In 2004, ‘OO7’ MAGAZINE and gadgets. long pointed flame that was totally dropping down to the seabed.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 1. He has a powerful weapon he charges a million a shot dan dan de dan dan – the man with the golden gun! Luckily Christopher Lee was a lot more reasonably priced than his villainous alter ego. In fact he gave 3 his time, like all our guests, completely free of charge. Another charming and charismatic guest. 2. Shirley Eaton and Tania Mallet chat animatedly on stage. 3. ‘Here Shirley, did you know you were 4 5 dubbed?’ Norman Wanstall chats with Shirley Eaton in our Green Room. 4. For a golden girl knows when he’s kissed her… Shirley Eaton back in Pinewood’s 6 ‘Pool Room’ 32 years after she posed there for photographer Loomis Dean for 4 the LIFE photo session. THIS PAGE: 1. Truly the man with the golden gun! Christopher Lee poses with the specially engraved SD Studios golden gun presented to him by Graham Rye at The JBIFC event. 2. Desmond relates 7 a story! 3. Norman Wanstall – Oscar winner for Goldfinger.4.Rich beyond his dreams! Sandwiched between a Moneypenny and a golden girl – Graham Rye with Lois Maxwell and Shirley Eaton. 5. Christopher Lee and the rest of our guests save the day! 6. What a line up! Christopher Lee, Shirley Eaton, Guy Hamilton, Graham Rye, Norman Wanstall, and Desmond Llewelyn. 7. More guests than a Parkinson show!

‘As the smoke cleared we couldn’t believe it ‘Of course you could never hope to duplicate the SFX of 2001 – there was nothing left.’ because of the limited time and money at your disposal.’

The James Bond International Fan That was an interesting thing looked up and saw what was left of Oh, I don’t know. Oscars are things pretty current, whereas 2001 was the way of the landing gear; affect Getting the okay from Ken, Bert if the rocket overshot the lot it Club continue to entertain and inform because I had to find a location in the craft hurtling back to earth.The that if they happen, they happen. 2001.We used techniques and hard- the slipstream of the aircraft or the Luxford (part of my SFX team) went would get stopped in the trees, its ever-growing population of James miniature very much akin to the area force of the rocket fuel had literally I don’t think you must ever go into ware that was contemporary at the aircraft weight. ahead and made our prototype, which were wet, and wouldn’t cause Bond fans in over 40 countries around where the full-sized bomber went blown it sky-high. Believe me, you’ve production saying ‘I am going to win time. In fact one of the ideas we had Being an aircraft buff myself, Ken which when completed gave me the a problem. the world. Nobody stll does it better! down. I used to finish work on a never seen a group of men move so an Oscar’. In retrospect yes I think for doing the interception (subse- and I worked extremely well togeth- exact weight factor necessary to cal- There was some set construc- Here’s to the next 25 years. Never say Friday night at Pinewood, hop on a fast – the metal debris only just other pictures were worthy of the quently changed in the final film) er from the word go. Incidentally, culate how much thrust I needed to tion going on to the right of us, well never… plane out to the Bahamas, get a boat missed us! award. I thought From Russia With NASA hadn’t thought of, and they Ken also made all the components get direction, speed and stability out of our line of fire, and in shout- and go round all the islands for Love might have won one, in fact it have developed it since then. I still for his flying machines himself, being required. I was looking for a one-to- ing distance. Everything was ready. about four weekends in a row until How was the conversion of the was mentioned at the time. But I was have long talks with NASA about not only an accomplished pilot but one thrust weight ratio or better, I called out to the riggers on the set I eventually found a little island called Disco Volante achieved? very happy, delighted in fact, because things. also a superb engineer. His work- with duration of at least eight sec- being constructed, ‘Fire in the hole!’ Rose Island with miniature coral etc. We got a hydrofoil, I think from one it has been the only other Bond pic- shop was an Aladdin’s cave! onds burn time. There was no time They acknowledged, ‘OK John!’ Ten, – and that’s what we used. of the Italian lakes, and built the back ture to receive an Oscar. I believe the sequence involving Everything I need to do the job had to develop a rocket motor myself so nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, half to that. the helicopter flight over the to be hand made. Nothing existed I had to use what was available.The two, one – fire! I pressed the ignition Was Largo’s yacht, the Disco Yes, it’s odd that the Bond films volcanoes contained a degree of from stock! The missiles were a only choice was Shermuly’s Line button. The missile paused for a Volante, a model that you blew Another memorable sequence have contributed so much to model work, together with problem, inasmuch they had to fire Throwing Rocket, which provided moment – then off it went! No up? in Thunderball is the destruction cinema over the years but have Wing Commander Ken Wallis’ in a straight line ahead of the auto- around seven pounds of thrust. problems, perfectly straight, no wob- No, it was the hydrofoil used in the of Count Lippe’s car by Fiona’s only been awarded two Oscars. ‘Little Nellie’. gyro, which would be doing around I could arrange four of these in the bles, as if designed by NASA! It was film, when the destroyers arrive. rocket-firing BSA Motorbike. Although Cubby received his Yes, I’m still very great friends with 120 knots. The missiles had to have tail of the missile, which gave me flying exactly where it was supposed. Now that was a BIG explosion, that We shot that sequence all for real at special Irving Thalberg award Ken. In fact I’ll be seeing him shortly. the power to accelerate away from 28lbs of static thrust. The missile The burn time was perfect the really was! I put windows out 60 Silverstone racetrack. Real bike, real from the Academy last year. Little Nellie’s flight line, and also with the rocket weighed approxi- motor stopped. But instead of the miles away. It was enormous! I was rockets, and the car was doing some- Yes, it seems slightly unfair in some How much of the gadgetry was there had to be no chance of the air- mately the same. missile nosing over and coming using deviants from rocket fuel at thing like 60 to 70 mph, and the bike ways. real on ‘Little Nellie’? craft catching the missiles or them Now the moment of truth. Did down, it stayed exactly the same the time that I got hold of from a was doing about a hundred to run Nearly all the rockets were real, and turning back to hit her. I was not I have enough power? Did I have the height and made a perfect right turn friend at Cape Kennedy. When we clear of the debris from the explod- Moving on to You Only Live Twice the sidewinders – only the machine- concerned about the cluster missiles centre of gravity correct? How through 180 degrees then straight- Many photographers blew it I remember looking at the ing car. Anyway, it went perfectly. (1967). Up to that time all outer guns were pyrotechnic FX, and cer- as they were a known ballistic, and straight would it fly – if at all? Bert ened out – coming back toward us ‘covered’ The JBIFC events sea – there was a 50-foot deep hole Te r ence Young was delighted,trouble space SFX were compared to tainly ‘Little Nellie’ could fly with all I had used the Icarus rockets before had built a launching ramp and at 150 mph! One problem was, the over the years. By way of a in the water – you could see the was it was a dull day. Next day was a ’s 2001: A Space those gadgets for real. But before with various types of exploding pay- installed it on the roof of the art construction crew were in the way – thank you we mention the seabed! It nearly didn’t happen at all beautiful day and we were asked if Odyssey.Were you aware that her missiles could be fired in actual loads of my own making. But the two department building at Pinewood. and they couldn’t see it coming.We following: Mark Ashby, Fred because the night before some we could do it again, which we did you were going to encounter flight I had to carry out a significant long air-to-air missiles were an I remember it was after lunch. The all yelled out for them to take cover Bryant,Ajay Chowdhury, bright spark stole the engine exhaust perfectly – a carbon copy! problems of comparison number of calculations and tests. unknown factor.I had to devise them day was grey with an overcast sky. and get out of the way. I don’t know John Dove,Tim Greaves, manifolds, so we had to tow the between your SFX and those in I had visited Ken at his workshop at from scratch. My problem was, they There was no wind. Perfect for a where I thought they could go – Robin Harbour,Wayne hydrofoil into position. As the smoke You received your first Oscar 2001? Reymerston Hall where we had a had to be lightweight and stable in first firing. Other SFX team mem- they were on scaffolding! As luck Lorden, , cleared we couldn’t believe it – there for Thunderball. Is there any Of course you could never hope to long discussion about how exactly flight – not an easy combination to bers Jimmy Ackland-Snow and Joe would have it the missile sailed past Andrew Pilkington, John was nothing left. We thought the other film you’ve worked on duplicate the SFX of 2001 because we could attach all the missiles and achieve. I made a drawing and had Fitt were also there to watch. We them about 30 feet away and landed Pollock, Graham Rye, Lee explosion had vaporised the boat that you would have preferred of the limited time and money at gadgets to his autogyro.There were Ken check it out to see if the auto- were facing toward the end of Black at the bottom of the building we had Tow ersey, Joel Villy, Paul and walked out on to the reef to the Academy to have recog- your disposal. No, we didn’t give it a a lot of factors to be considered, like gyro could handle two of them in Park’s pine trees – which run the launched it from! Waller, Geoff Wilkinson. investigate. Luckily one of my crew nised? thought really. What we did was none of the additions should get in the position indicated in my drawing. perimeter of the studios’ fence – so I heard the construction crew

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 1. The ever lovely 8 Caroline Munro. 2. JBIFC members tuck in at Planet Hollywood. 3. Graham Rye autographs the second edition of his book The James Bond Girls in 1995 with the help of friend Joe (Peter Franks) Robinson. 4. Norman Wanstall 4 makes friends with Eunice Gayson, and 6. with her daughter Kate, who, in tribute to her mother, had a small 3 4 role as ‘the girl in the red dress’ in GoldenEye.5.‘I reckon he’ll do four then they’ll get rid of him!’ – Graham Rye is interviewed about his thoughts on the new James Bond. 7. Shirley Eaton and Caroline Munro made the day memorable. 5 THIS PAGE: 1. Laura from Monaco gets Commander Bond’s hat squarely on the 1 9 rack! 2. Desmond and Ken Wallis discuss which one of them will be flying Little Nellie home. 3. The place settings at the lunch fully reflected the theme of the 516 event. 4. Arriving in my favourite position (horizontal) on stage… 5.…“Permission to come aboard sir!” 6. Graham Rye with celebrity guests Desmond Llewelyn, Ken 6 Wallis, Norman Wanstall, and Ken Adam. 2 7. Rye takes to the stage at the Café de Paris with Oddjob, and Jaws look-a-likes and... 8. …gets to grips backstage with 7 ‘Bond Babes’ Suzy and Vicki. It’s a dirty job but someone had to do it! 9. Our celebrity Bond Girls for the day were Mollie Peters, Martine Beswicke, Jan Williams, and stuntwoman Sarah Donahue.

‘As luck would have it the missile sailed past them about 30 feet away…’ ‘But I’m in the situation now where I’ve really got to do my own picture – there’s no question about that.’ talking later, discussing how clever drawn due to a legal argument. two months late delivering the engine. no question about that. I’ve been I take it you’ve got around that the effect boys were, ‘They even But it was supposed to have had And when it did finally arrive there involved in making movies for other problem with your upcoming make their own guided missiles!’ If quite brilliant SFX in the sci-fi were so many problems with it, it just people for so long that I’ve got the film? only they’d realised. style? wasn’t on. It was a prototype, and opportunity now and that’s going to Yes, that’s right, it has totally British Well it was a bit like ET really, I had to change everything at the last happen next year (1983), we start backing. But on this question of I imagine the Ninja attack on although we didn’t have an ET like ET. minute and we just got away with it. shooting around about June. backing, I think you could get more Blofeld’s volcano headquarters I think actor Roy Dotrice played the The power we eventually had was so British money in films – but of in You Only Live Twice must have part, but yes there were good FX. marginal for the type of aircraft that if Is the film going to be in the course the biggest problem is, unless entailed very detailed prepara- the barometric pressure was high Star Wars mould? you have a hit in the States the film tion? How big was the model of Piz I couldn’t get it off the ground, but if it Well, it’s going to be entirely different will be a flop financially.And how do Yes. I mean this is where Bond start- Gloria in On Her Majesty’s was too low, i.e. a stormy day, I would – but you’ll just have to wait and see. you get your film on screens in the ed getting really extravagant in terms Secret Service (1969)? get uplift and I could fly it – so we just States because American investment of sets and things, and you couldn’t I’m not sure, not too big, about the got away with it! In your career you’ve worked controls the theatrical circuits. really control things as much as you size of this room, I think about 1:48 with American SFX technicians wanted to because, although I was in scale. You’ve just finished working on and American film crews – is JOHN STEARS – Filmography Japan on location, I had to leave pret- Were any of the helicopters in The Hound of the Baskervilles. there any difference in the way ty early to come back and set up the the attack on Piz Gloria What FX did you supply for that each other work? 1998 (spe- 1980 The Martian Chronicles 1970 Toomorrow (special JOHN STEARS – Awards volcano shot, so you’re leaving things sequence models? production? No.They learn from us (laughs). No, cial effects co-ordinator) [TV mini series] (second effects) with other people, you can’t avoid it, Yes, for certain scenes. Well, back ups on the dogs. We had joking apart, they got involved with 1993 Babylon 5:The Gathering unit director) 1969 On Her Majesty’s Secret Oscar for Best Effects,Visual but one would have thought it better six hounds of various sorts, but it’s the computerised camera, which [TV] (special effects co- 1978 Thief of Baghdad [TV] Service (special effects) Effects for Star Wars (1977) if we could have had more time. But Were they more complex than not our picture, we were just asked works extremely well and all credit ordinator) (magic carpet designer) 1968 (Shared with , it was a time when returns on invest- the model used in From Russia to go in and help with the hounds. to them, but on the physical effects 1986 Navy SEALS (special 1977 Star Wars (special produc- (special effects) , Grant ment had to be fast, labour rates With Love? side, they had that gap when they effects) tion and mechanical 1967 You Only Live Twice McCune, Robert Blalack) were sky-high and we had to cut cor- No, the same thing. Now that you are freelance and went into TV and learnt from us. In 1986 The Haunted Honeymoon effects supervisor) (special effects supervisor) ners on time. have your own company you fact I was in Hollywood recently and (special effects consultant) 1976 Sky Riders (special effects) 1965 Thunderball (special Saturn Award for Best Special Moving to The Man With The must get a lot of offers for dif- they are still behind us.Their pictures 1998 F/X Murder By Illusion 1975 That Lucky Touch (special effects supervisor) Effects for Star Wars (1977) And of course with 2nd and 3rd Golden Gun (1974), the final ferent projects. What makes are still coming here for the FX. (special effects effects supervisor) 1964 Court Martial [TV series] (Shared with John Dykstra) units filming different sections, James Bond film you worked on you choose one film in prefer- consultant) 1974 The Man With The Golden (special effects supervisor) presumably there wasn’t the – what was your biggest prob- ence to another? With the success of films like 1984 The Bounty (special Gun (special effects) 1964 Goldfinger (special effects 1966 Oscar for Best Effects, close communication that was a lem on that picture? Oh well, I’ve been doing this now for Star Wars and the general feeling effects supervisor) 1973 Ghost In The Noon Day supervisor) Special Visual Effects for part of the earlier films? The biggest problem was with the air- nearly 30 years and I don’t want to that the British are the best 1983 Sahara (special effects Sun (special effects) 1963 From Russia With Love Thunderball (1965) Well, it started getting difficult. craft.The problem was I was working know if there are going to be prob- SFX technicians in the world, it supervisor) 1973 O Lucky Man! (special (special effects supervisor) with a full-sized aircraft and I was bas- lems with the crew, an inexperienced seems strange there is still this 1981 Turkey Shoot (special effects) 1963 Call Me Bwana (special You worked for Harry Saltzman ing everything on the power I could fly crew, or insufficient money on the reluctance to invest British effects) 1972 Sitting Target (special effects) on a film called Toomorrow the model with, and I was given the table or not enough time. But I’m in money in films? 1981 Outland (special effects) effects) 1962 Dr. No (special effects (1970), which I believe was only specification of an American jet engine the situation now where I’ve really Well, I think I may be able to reverse 1980 Hopscotch (special 1972 The Pied Piper (special assistant – uncredited) screened once and then with- that would do the job, and they were got to do my own picture – there’s that. effects) effects)

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