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R.I.P. A Final Farewell To Members Of The James Bond Family

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  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    edited March 2021 Posts: 9,041
    She dubbed just about every female role (slightly exaggerated) until then. Even the native English speakers (like Shirley Eaton, who is said to have had a massive Yorkshire accent) and parts of Jane Seymour's lines in LALD.

    I also realise that Nikki took a somewhat combative stance on her website (now apparently offline) in portraying her contributions that may not have endeared her with the producers. But I find it understandable that she was aiming to find some more recognition than she received.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited March 2021 Posts: 18,281
    cooperman2 wrote: »
    Back in the day producers and executives didn't like to publisise the fact that their leading ladies ( or indeed sometimes men) had to be dubbed because their English wasn't very good. It was one of their little secrets that they didn't want audiences to know about. Hence Nikki Van Der Zyl never got the credit she deserved. Even now I didn't know she dubbed Corinne Clery.

    Good point. Perhaps that may go some way to explaining why Eon is averse to publicising her contributions to the series even to this day? Or maybe it's about something else entirely. I'm really not sure.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    RIP to an undeniably large part of the early series.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,807
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  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    edited March 2021 Posts: 4,636
    I’m surprised no one’s mentioned this, but 21 years ago today, we lost Charles Gray.

    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336509/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

    I feel that he deserves a mention.
  • ShakenNotStirredShakenNotStirred
    Posts: 1,398
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    RIP to an undeniably large part of the early series.

    Very true and sad to hear she didn't get the recognition she deserved. RIP.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    She dubbed just about every female role (slightly exaggerated) until then. Even the native English speakers (like Shirley Eaton, who is said to have had a massive Yorkshire accent) and parts of Jane Seymour's lines in LALD.

    I also realise that Nikki took a somewhat combative stance on her website (now apparently offline) in portraying her contributions that may not have endeared her with the producers. But I find it understandable that she was aiming to find some more recognition than she received.

    Shirley may have been from Yorkshire, I'm not sure, but during her time as a film actress her accent was suitably clipped and perfectly ok for the part she played. There is one line just as Bond leaves her to fetch the champagne where she isn't dubbed and her own voice comes through. An oversight no doubt, but it barely registers and wasn't widely known until Shirley herself pointed it out.

    Dragonpol wrote: »
    cooperman2 wrote: »
    Back in the day producers and executives didn't like to publisise the fact that their leading ladies ( or indeed sometimes men) had to be dubbed because their English wasn't very good. It was one of their little secrets that they didn't want audiences to know about. Hence Nikki Van Der Zyl never got the credit she deserved. Even now I didn't know she dubbed Corinne Clery.

    Good point. Perhaps that may go some way to explaining why Eon is averse to publicising her contributions to the series even to this day? Or maybe it's about something else entirely. I'm really not sure.

    There most certainly was a falling out. She did or said something which upset a member of the wider Eon family ( I think it may have been an actress who was close to the Broccolis) . It escalated and she has been air brushed from Bond history.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited March 2021 Posts: 18,281
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    I’m surprised no one’s mentioned this, but 21 years ago today, we lost Charles Gray.

    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336509/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

    I feel that he deserves a mention.

    Yes, it does. A great actor in both his roles as Bond ally and villain. That reminds me that my Biology teacher saved me the clipping reporting his death from the Daily Mail and it's now stuck into one of my Bond scrapbooks. That was how I found out about it. He knew I was a Bond fan and I'd earlier gave him a clipping about a William Shatner church (he was a big Star Trek fan) so he was returning the favour. Still, it was nice of him to keep it for me in the days before the Internet was so widely used as a news source. I was 15 at the time.
  • BT3366BT3366
    Posts: 1,917
    Dwayne wrote: »
    When you think about it, Nikki van der Zyl was a major part of the “feel” of those early Bond movies. It’s a shame that – except among hardcore fans – she received so little recognition for her work over the years.

    And not to be morose, but I wonder if her passing will be noted by EON?

    RIP Ms. van der Zyl
    Nikki van Zyl will likely never be mentioned in the same breath as names like Young, Hamilton, Barry, Adam or Hunt in bringing the series to life in the early days, but she also shouldn't be forgotten and in a way, she won't since her voice is all over them.

    I think that sites like this are a nice way of recognizing the work and memory of these unsung contributors to the series. I had no idea just how much work she had done on the Bond films over the years. I thought it was just the first few. It says a lot about her talent being versatile enough to dub actresses of various nationalities effectively.

    And I liked the memory in her bio story about how Connery spoke up for her. It shows the kind of man he could be and was said to be very friendly with the crew of the films.

    It also brought back a memory of an old Bondage (American fan club publication, to be clear) magazine feature on a voice artist who dubbed Connery, Moore and Lazenby in Italian. It was more interesting than one would've thought. These types of stories can be as interesting as any big-name players on the films.




  • Some_Kind_Of_HeroSome_Kind_Of_Hero
    Posts: 6,844
    RIP Nikki van der Zyl. Thanks for all the memorable voices. Such a talent to have seamlessly voiced so many different characters across those early Bonds, and in some cases multiple prominent characters within the same film!
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,138
    Sad news regarding Nikki Van Der Zyl.
    A large part of the early success of the Bond series, dubbing many of the leading ladies.
    Sadly her efforts go in-noticed by all but the diehard fans.
    RIP
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    marketto007 wrote: »


    From @ JamesBondDownUnder Instagram account:

    "Sad to report that Ten time Bond film voiceover artist Nikki van der Zyl has passed away, Nikki had voiced over countless leading ladies of Bond including Ursula Andreas, Eunice Gayson, Shirley Eaton, Claudine Auger and Corrine Clèry amongst others, she also leant her hand as English vocal coach to Goldfinger himself, Gert Frobe. Rest In Peace dear Nikki"

    RIP Nikki Van Der Zyl. That is a fantastic photo with Gert Frobe.
  • TracyTracy
    Posts: 1,708
    Met Nikki in Lon , got some amazing movie posters sgd......shame i never wrote mr Julienne. RIP both
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    edited March 2021 Posts: 4,341
    Today, 5 years ago, we lost Ken Adam.
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  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    Ken Adam was one of the key elements in establishing the cinematic world of Bond. Adam was a genius.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Ken Adam's sets were stunning, even the smaller ones. I particularly love
    The control room under the engines of Drax's Moonraker, and Blofeld's
    "Man cave" with the Piranha pool from YOLT.
  • TracyTracy
    Posts: 1,708
    RIP Adam and John Barry
  • fjdinardofjdinardo
    Posts: 1,970
    William P Cartilage passed away last week. Associate producer on YOLT, TSWLM, MR.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited March 2021 Posts: 4,520
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    Source of his death https://www.007.com/william-p-cartlidge-1942-2021/

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    RIP Yaphet Kotto.

    I first saw Kotto in both LALD and Alien in the summer of 83, but didn t realize it was the same guy.
  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 5,994
    Confirmed by Variety, among others :

    https://variety.com/2021/film/news/yaphet-kotto-dead-dies-alien-bond-villain-1234931654/

    I really loved him in Homicide : Life on the Streets. A great actor. He'll be missed.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,134
    RIP Mr Kotto.
  • RevelatorRevelator
    edited March 2021 Posts: 2,918
    Alas, now every 60s and 70s Bond villain is dead in real life too.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,413
    Very sad about Yaphet Kotto; he was a brilliant presence in any movie he was in.
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 7,430
    R.I.P. Yaphet Kotto
    One of the best Bond villains.
    Loved him in 'Midnight Run' too, he was vey funny in that!
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,413
    Brilliant in Midnight Run, yes. That even might be what I think of first when I hear his name!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    RIP Yaphet Kotto
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    R.I.P. Mr. Kotto. One of the most underrated Bond villains as you don't see his name often on a best of list, but a remarkable and standout performance just the same.
  • MalloryMallory
    Posts: 2,165
    Rest in Peace Yaphet. Always a memorable performance and career.
  • fjdinardofjdinardo
    Posts: 1,970
    RIP Yaphet Kotto. Loved him in LALD and Alien.
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