(This Never Happened To) The Other Fella ...

Bond 1. Stanley Baker (1962 - 1966)
A little experiment on my part ...

1. Stanley Baker


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Bond (Stanley Baker) and Mathis (Giorgio Albertazzi) in 'From A View To A Kill' (1962)

Time in Role: 1962 - 1966
Life: 1928 - 1976

First Film: From A View To A Kill (1962)
Last Film: Thunderball (1966)

How He Got The Role:

Stanley Baker was an unexpected lead contender for the role of James Bond in 1962. Producers had offered the role to Cary Grant, who provisionally accepted but would only commit to a single film and the studio insisted on a contract for three. A competition in a newspaper saw the top two contenders as Sean Connery and Peter Anthony - but the latter was more model than actor and the former was scruffy when turning up for a screencast.

In the end, the producers turned to Baker who had recently had a minor role in The Guns of Navarone. He was avaliable, not unrealistically expensive and would agree to a three movie contract, with options on a fourth.

The Baker Era:


Baker would debut in 1962's 'From A View To A Kill'. Based on the short story of the same name from the 1960 short story collection 'For Your Eyes Only'. The story was expanded upon by Ian Fleming himself - set primarily in France and Greece, it saw Bond team up with Mary-Ann Russell (Julie Christie, aged 22) an agent from Station F, to thwart a Russian plan to steal secret documents from an MI6 motorbike courier in France and deliver them to the traitorous Colonel Rattray (Laurence Harvey, who also starred in that years The Manchurian Candidate) in Greece.

The follow-up to 'A View To A Kill' was 1963's 'For Your Eyes Only' which had, like the first film, been adapted by Ian Fleming from another short story. The two adaptations had been written simultaneously when the producers were unsure which movie would be the first produced.

'For Your Eyes Only' would see Bond travel to Cuba and Brazil to track down a Nazi hitman called Von Hammerstein (James Mason) who has killed a British diplomat, Sir Timothy Havelock. In a twist of fate, when Bond eventually tracks him down, he has already been murdered by the diplomats daughter Claudia (a relatively unknown Jane Fonda, renamed from the short story's Judy) and the pair team up to track down the Soviet mastermind who had ordered the assassination.

The final movie in Baker's original contract would be 1964's adaptation of 'Casino Royale' - but unlike the previous two films, this had not been adapted by Fleming himself but by his fellow writer, Len Deighton. It was the first to combine two Fleming tales - with elements from the short story 'Risico' combined with the plot of 'Casino Royale'.

Le Chiffre (Anthony Dawson) was revealed to be the financier for the Soviet organisation behind Rattray's attempted theft of documents in 'A View To A Kill' and the assassination of Sir Timothy Havelock in 'For Your Eyes Only' who had invested vast sums of money in a drug smuggling operation run by one of two men. When Bond, aided by his old friend Rene Mathis (Giorgio Albertazzi, returning to the role) and Vesper Lynd (Daniela Bianchi), determines which of the two - Kristatos or Columbo - is behind the drug smuggling, he demolishes their operation and then moves on to ruin Le Chiffre .

With the release of 'Casino Royale' in 1964, Baker's initial contract had run its course. There remained an option for him to agree to a fourth, but producers were keen to sign him on a second three picture deal. Baker agreed to a fourth but refused a second three movie contract - his terms for staying in the role? An increased salary and his choice of adaptation.

He selected 'Thunderball' which would be released in 1966 from a script by Ian Fleming, Jack Whittingham and Kevin McClory, and revised by Len Deighton, who grounded the plot in order to match the first three films. A hastily filmed scene was attached to the end of the cinema release of 'Casino Royale', introducing the character of Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Charles Grey), it saw the villain being informed of the passing of Le Chiffre and their income stream having been eliminated.

BLOFELD
Next time we meet, I expect Mr
Bond to kindly die ...

Even with several drafts by Len Deighton and a pass by Roald Dahl, 'Thunderball' was a marked contrast to the previous three films. It saw Bond trying to stop Blofeld from using stolen nuclear material to hold the NATO countries hostage. It combined the characters of Count Lippe and Patricia into a femme fatale called The Countessa (Luciana Paluzzi), had Angelo Palazzi steal the material after undergoing hypnosis and removed the familial connection between Angelo and Domino (Faye Dunaway) to make her a colleague sent to help Bond instead.

The villains plot to detonate containers of radioactive water during a NATO conference in the Bahamas would later inspire the group, "Days of Omega" to make a similar threat in Spokane, Washington, ten years after the films release. At the conclusion of the movie, Bond appears to die and the audience watch his funeral - but this is a plot to fool Blofeld (Charles Grey, returning to the role) and the Soviets, as Bond is shown to be watching his own funeral with Domino from a nearby clock tower.

The credits roll. The Baker Era comes to an end, but a final surprise for the audience - a title card at the end of the credits, promising that James Bond would return in 'Diamonds are Forever'.


Succeeded By Robert Campbell
 
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Deleted member 94680

I would love to have seen the killing of von Hammerstein on film. The idea of taking him out, mid dive, with a crossbow bolt is so badass.
 
I would love to have seen the killing of von Hammerstein on film. The idea of taking him out, mid dive, with a crossbow bolt is so badass.

I thought it would be an interesting move to start it with the short story adaptations first. Stanley Baker seemed to be getting placed in the niche of gritty detective - and his Bond would be much the same, probably not unlike starting with a take on the role closer to Dalton than Moore.

I saw the confrontation with Hammerstein taking place in Brazil rather than Vermont. The locations in 'For Your Eyes Only' would have been an international contrast to the European settings of 'A View To A Kill' - with 'Casino Royale' being a mix of the two.


Thankyou. I hope not to disappoint!
 
Who do you see as the director for these films?
I would recommend Cy Endfield.
He worked with Baker on Hell Drivers and Zulu and did a couple of the better late 50's British thrillers : Sea Fury and Jet Storm.
 
Who do you see as the director for these films?
I would recommend Cy Endfield.
He worked with Baker on Hell Drivers and Zulu and did a couple of the better late 50's British thrillers : Sea Fury and Jet Storm.

I hadn't put that much thought into it, if I'm honest. I've doodled some long term notes, and choice of director does become relevant down the line, but writers play into my notes a little more - so am open to any suggestions on the Directorship front.

Oh this is a great idea, I’m intrigued. What’s the box office and critical reception look like?

I haven't considered box office in depth - it would be a success, enough that they are continuing to make movies but it isn't until 'Thunderball' that the box office starts to start becoming a series of smash hits. This definitely factors into the Campbell Era - to say more on that would give away too much.
 
I hadn't put that much thought into it, if I'm honest. I've doodled some long term notes, and choice of director does become relevant down the line, but writers play into my notes a little more - so am open to any suggestions on the Directorship front

I found you use of Len Deighton interesting as a script writer. His "Harry Palmers" books were written as a rebuttal to the James Bond novels.
(Yes I know, Deighton did not refer to character by name in the books. The name Harry Palmers came from the movies)
Deighton should tone down some of the wilder elements of the bonds movies,

As for Directors. I go with Cy Endfield for the first two.
Then I go with Terrance Young as the director for Casino Royal. (He directed Three Bond films in OTL. Dr No. From Russia with Love and Thunderball. as well as one of the best Hitchcock style thrillers not directed by Hitchcock: Wait Until Dark.)
You could then stick with Young as director for Thunderball or go with Guy Hamilton. ( Hamilton did Goldfinger in the OTL. He more or less created the Bond movie with the Superspy using gadgets)
 
I found you use of Len Deighton interesting as a script writer. His "Harry Palmers" books were written as a rebuttal to the James Bond novels.
(Yes I know, Deighton did not refer to character by name in the books. The name Harry Palmers came from the movies)
Deighton should tone down some of the wilder elements of the bonds movies,

It was exactly because of his 'Harry Palmer' series that I thought Deighton would be an interesting choice - that and he did work on an early draft of Warhead in the late seventies with his friend McClory. The idea here is that McClory and Fleming don't have as much of an argument as IOTL and that Deighton is asked to draft the script - with McClorys backing. Plus the Bond movies so far here have been much more grounded - until Thunderball.

It was also a nod to Roald Dahl doing a pass at You Only Live Twice, ergo why Dahl is mentioned as doing a pass on Thunderball too.
 
It was exactly because of his 'Harry Palmer' series that I thought Deighton would be an interesting choice - that and he did work on an early draft of Warhead in the late seventies with his friend McClory. The idea here is that McClory and Fleming don't have as much of an argument as IOTL and that Deighton is asked to draft the script - with McClorys backing. Plus the Bond movies so far here have been much more grounded - until Thunderball.

It was also a nod to Roald Dahl doing a pass at You Only Live Twice, ergo why Dahl is mentioned as doing a pass on Thunderball too.

While love Deighton writings, I did not like his script for Warhead, the unmade 70's James Bond Films that became "Never say Never again" . It felt to me, like Deighton was making fun of the Bond movies.
http://www.the007dossier.com/007dos...ean-Connery-Kevin-McClory-et-al-1978.pdf.axdx

I have the same issue with Ronald Dahl. I love his works, especially his shorts stories but I not a big fan of "Your Only Live Twice". At times it feels like a parody of the other Bond films.
I have read that when Dahl was approached to work on the Script, he had only seen Goldfinger. The Studio send a projector and the other three Bond films over for him to watch.

You can of course have Dahl see the earlier films and like them. One of the fun things about Alternative History.
 
I'd take issue with "Diamonds are Forever" following "Thunderball", because the book series goes from the latter into "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (although having said that, the novel "The Spy who Loved Me" is set between the two books whilst Bond is chasing down SPECTRE. It has to be said that it's a pretty poor book and even Fleming himself disowned it). The main reason that the film of "You Only Live Twice" came after "Thunderball" was because the location that had been chosen for Blofeld's hideaway hadn't been finished.

Diamonds are Forever, the novel, isn't even part of the SPECTRE series. IIRC it's one of Fleming's later books and not particularly good at that. Although it's been a good twenty years since I last read it. For the record, my favourites are "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (and the film is a near perfect adaptation IMO) and "Moonraker".

Interested to see where this will head.
 
I'd take issue with "Diamonds are Forever" following "Thunderball", because the book series goes from the latter into "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (although having said that, the novel "The Spy who Loved Me" is set between the two books whilst Bond is chasing down SPECTRE. It has to be said that it's a pretty poor book and even Fleming himself disowned it). The main reason that the film of "You Only Live Twice" came after "Thunderball" was because the location that had been chosen for Blofeld's hideaway hadn't been finished.

Diamonds are Forever, the novel, isn't even part of the SPECTRE series. IIRC it's one of Fleming's later books and not particularly good at that. Although it's been a good twenty years since I last read it. For the record, my favourites are "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (and the film is a near perfect adaptation IMO) and "Moonraker".

Interested to see where this will head.

I've got a rough road map for the next two Bond's, and you will be relieved to know that when the time comes for OHMSS, it will be followed up by YOLT.
 
I've finished the next installment - about the Campbell Era - and am about 25% done with the following installment. I've decided that after the third installment, I will do an intermissiom re the Directors.
 
Stanley Baker to me is one of those actors who deserved far more fame than he got. ZULU (which he not only starred in but also produced), KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE, THE GUNS OF NAVERONE, HELEN OF TROY and CAPT. HORATIO HORNBLOWER are all favorites of mine. I wish he'd lived to receive his knighthood.

I think he would have been a great choice for James Bond...
 
Stanley Baker to me is one of those actors who deserved far more fame than he got. ZULU (which he not only starred in but also produced), KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE, THE GUNS OF NAVERONE, HELEN OF TROY and CAPT. HORATIO HORNBLOWER are all favorites of mine. I wish he'd lived to receive his knighthood.

I think he would have been a great choice for James Bond...
Does being James Bond stop him producing and starring in Zulu?

Stanley Baker had also been in The Helldrivers which had the OTL first James Bond and the future Ilya Kuryakin/Ducky Mallard and the future John Drake/Number Six among more than a few other people.
 
Stanley Baker to me is one of those actors who deserved far more fame than he got. ZULU (which he not only starred in but also produced), KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE, THE GUNS OF NAVERONE, HELEN OF TROY and CAPT. HORATIO HORNBLOWER are all favorites of mine. I wish he'd lived to receive his knighthood.

I think he would have been a great choice for James Bond...
He also gave the English language the word snorkers, with the help of Terry Wogan.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...C14C3FB0483447944F53C14C3FB04834&&FORM=VRDGAR
 
Does being James Bond stop him producing and starring in Zulu?

Stanley Baker had also been in The Helldrivers which had the OTL first James Bond and the future Ilya Kuryakin/Ducky Mallard and the future John Drake/Number Six among more than a few other people.

He might be able to sneak it in after filming Casino Royale - there is a year between Casino Royale and Thunderball, so possibly Zulu just gets delayed by a year or he has a very rushed 1964!
 
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