James Bond vs Golden Age

[Brian Sheridan]

The two forces of James Bond and the Golden Age are at war within my soul. Okay, maybe it is not that dramatic but it does put me in a quandry. Which side to favor?

I love 007 - the movies, books, music, the whole thing. My basement contains a huge Bond collection. My book case overflows with Bond books. I have purchased the movies in just about every format, and sometimes twice.
If a 007 film is on TV - I'll tune in. I attended Bond conventions and even the world premiere of Goldeneye. My mother went into labor with me at a 007 double feature!

However, a much as I want to be James Bond (i.e. wear what he wears, drink his drinks, etc), he seems awfully dour and lacks any joy of life. Granted, he is an assasin. The creator of "The Saint", Leslie Charteris wondered why anyone would be interested in such a downbeat character. His Simon Templar (at least through the 30's and 40's) was like a swashbuckler who had a lust for life. Bond doesn't seem to be a person who enjoys music or the movies. You wouldn't catch 007 humming "Sing, Sing, Sing."

As much as I love the look of an Omega watch (Bond's current choice) - nothing to me beats the beauty and style of a vintage time piece. As great as 007's suits look, they are all basic dark colors with little flair. If you watch the great actors of the Golden Age, they enjoyed a variety of colors, patterns and looks. Bond only has a hat so he can throw it on Miss Moneypenny's coat rack.

I would say this is battle of the past with the present - but Bond came out of the 1950's! Also, I don't want to sound like one of those stereotypical "Star Trek" nerds who plays dress-up. The question lies in "who is my real self?" It is about what attitudes and styles fit with who I really am and who I would like to be.

Does anyone else find contradictions in their own tastes?

 

[Twitch]

The reality of it can be seen in the latest Mr. Bond in Casino Royale. DEAD EYES! This guy played it perfectly as basically a murderer. In that portrayal I feel he's the best yet but the droll and glib Connery is still best for me as far as entertainment goes.

The 50s-60s was simply dark conservative suits for most men. We didn't get far into colors. Shirts were white. Basic.

 

[Diamondback]

The quick summary for Bond is that he's so damaged-goods, he's essentially become dead inside. Lost both parents at once very young, and about the only real human contacts he's had are M (Admiral Messervy was kind of a surrogate father to him), Moneypenny and some others from MI6, and his housekeeper.

And every time he's gained any real connection to anyone, they've died for it, like poor Teresa di Vicenzo Bond, or Fredericka von Grusse in some of the later Gardner novels.

Gimme a few minutes, and I'll link you to a post where I've attempted a clinical analysis, as a psych student, of 007.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Does anyone else find contradictions in their own tastes?

Of Course.

That's part of the beauty of living in 2008.

You do not have to stick with one and only one aesthetic and never deviate.

 

[Diamondback]

Here ya go, as promised.

http://thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=380770&postcount=13

http://thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=369247&postcount=525

You'll want to click the links to go back to the entire threads on these, as they've usually been either kickoff to or joining a discussion...

 

[Twitch]

I sort of wish they'd do a retro Bond set in the Goldfinger/Russia with Love era.....

 

[Mike K.]

Of Course.
That's part of the beauty of living in 2008.
You do not have to stick with one and only one aesthetic and never deviate.

I will second that!!
I'm a multi-personality kinda guy. Most days at work I go for the classic safari dress. At other times I'm more into WWII air corps. While still other days, the Florida lifes kicks in and I prefer the Jimmy Buffett style.

 

[Sefton]

I prefer the Harry Palmer movies for my cold war kicks. Michael Caine's secret agent loves music and cooking. Bond can tell you all about music and knows the ins and outs of fine dinning but its not from any sense of joy that he imparts the knowledge. Bond delivers his knowledge as if it's only value lies in his ability to use it against you. Nothing is of value to Bond unless he can weild it as a weapon. Now that I think of it,he's really kind of a bore...

 

[Viola]

Bond is cool but would not be a fun guy to know in real life.

He's no Nick Charles or Archie Goodwin. Heck, he's not even Raul Julia's Gomez Addams. lol

 

[Flitcraft]

I prefer the Harry Palmer movies for my cold war kicks. Michael Caine's secret agent loves music and cooking. Bond can tell you all about music and knows the ins and outs of fine dinning but its not from any sense of joy that he imparts the knowledge. Bond delivers his knowledge as if it's only value lies in his ability to use it against you. Nothing is of value to Bond unless he can weild it as a weapon. Now that I think of it,he's really kind of a bore...

Agree with you 100 percent! Palmer was a much more interesting character in many ways...
say, aren't you the guy who used to use Michael Caine/Harry Palmer in your avatar?

 

[Sefton]

Yes, I did use Harry Palmer as an avatar once. I don't want to seem to be bashing Bond too much. He is a fictional character after all and I enjoyed the films when I was young. This thread made me think about the type of person that Bond would be if he were a real person. Viola's right about Nick Charles. I'd much rather spend a few hours at the bar with the real life Nick than the real life James (although it might be fun if it was the David Niven James Bond or even the Woody Allen Jimmy Bond!)

 

[Flitcraft]

I liked the fact that Palmer was so anti-Bond: Cockney, near-sighted, anti-authoritarian.
I liked Bond when I was younger, but he always had that air of Boys' Own Adventure- Bulldog Drummond sort of character about him.

 

[reetpleat]

The firstthing that popped into my headwas Nick Charles. I t is obvious he just loves and enjoys life and doesn't take anything too sriously. Of course, he is just wealthy dabbler too. Besides that, he just figures out crimes. He can't really deliver a knock out punch or assasinate anyone.

Bond doesn't seem too different from the whole film noir archetype. I would dar say Nick is kind of an anomoly compared to Bogart characters, or any of those other guys. Bond only seems to appreciate women, and even then you often get a sense of doing it to somehow prove he can, not out of true affection. He seems like a pretty lonely guy and I think that is exactly how he was meant to be portrayed.

Perhaps he is kind of an archetype for the mid century man. Cold, efficient, and lonely. The fact hat he is portrayed as the ultimate desirable lady killer says something too.

Cary Grant can be pretty humerous,but often plays a little overwhelmed.

 

[Flitcraft]

Nick Charles is probably the anomaly. He's what Dashiell Hammett wished he were, and probably thought he was after a few martinis!
Still, he'd be a lot of fun to hang out with, especially if he brought Asta!

 

[MagistrateChris]

I have to agree that the Bond of the novels is essentially a broken man, a tool used by his government to protect its interests. And, to that extent, Craig is playing it well. And, you can see how he became a broken man, yet developed his sense of style. In the films, he's much more a super-hero of sorts, a super "detective" if you will, sent out to save the world from these supervillians bent on world dominations. It was this aspect o fthe films that drew me to Bond, and the novels just took it a different way for me.

For me, the "Golden Era" and Bond are not mutually exclusive. Both represent a sense of style, a sense of fahion sense that in many ways I see lacking in today's world. So, I say enjoy them both. I do.

 

[NoirDame]

Heck, he's not even Raul Julia's Gomez Addams. lol

Gomez is so much sexier....(as Raul Julia played him). John Astin is fabulous, but more goofy.

 

[dhermann1]

I've always enjoyed the Bond flicks, but never have been a big Bond idolator. I tend to think of the Bond Ian Fleming originally invented, based on his experiences in WW II. The guy I'm intrigued by is Sidney Reilly. Even Fleming said that Bond was no Sidney Reilly.

 

[Pilgrim]

The Bond written by Fleming was indeed a tough character, but certainly had a British panache and approach to life.

I often contrasted him with Matt Helm, a guy with a much more practical (and immediate) approach, and an all-American take on the profession. Helm would have taken someone out while Bond was still considering the necessity. I'm really a Matt Helm fan, and although I was amused by the Dean Martin movies, they really did the character a disservice.

The best part of Martin as Helm and James Coburn as Our Man Flint was that they were completely, wildly tongue-in-cheek. I loved Flint's red phone which rang with a variant of "Hail to the Chief".

 

[The Wolf]

I would rather have been Napolean Solo or John Steed.

Sincerely,
The Wolf

 

[Diamondback]

And while he's not vintage, my choice, were I to have to become a fictional operative, would've been Ludlum's original Jason Bourne (not counting the movie or the evil EvL "knockoffs"): not only gets the brainy beauty (who's also a financial whiz), gets to marry her also. Makes up for all the horrific pain and suffering he endured, IMO...