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After seeing DN and GF on a double bill in 1966 I was a big fan. I had dreamed of seeing a Bond film during the release of TB but just never got the chance.
In the summer of 1967 YOLT was coming out. We grew up very very poor and being too young to work, my parents just refused to cough up the admission for a ticket ($1.80 was a lot of money to spend on something as extravagant as cinema entertainment, television was free, as far as they were concerned). Add to that the price for bus fare downtown (it was summer and we kids had to pay for bus fare, unlike during the school year when school kids rode the bus for free) so there you have it. Why I missed YOLT during its initial run.
As YOLT finished it's run that summer, I made a vow to myself that I would never miss another Bond film. I made a promise to see them all from that point on.
Two years later I managed to catch FRWL and TB on a double bill. YOLT remained elusive.
In December 1969, OHMSS was released. I managed to save a couple of dollars and since it was during the school year, bus fare was free for us school kids. So the day after Christmas, I hopped the city bus and rode it downtown to see OHMSS, the first Bond movie I saw newly released. Perhaps that is why this film has always had a warm spot in my heart and memory.
Final footnote: It was not until summer 1974 (Seven years after its initial release!) when I finally saw YOLT on a double bill with DAF. Of course I Had seen DAF when it was released in Dec 1971 but I was happy to finally catch the one Bond film I had missed, YOLT.
I enjoyed reading about your efforts as a youngster to get to see the Bond films. It sounds like it was a slightly belated Christmas gift to yourself, seeing OHMSS.
I honestly do not remember the price of theater tickets. I definitely remember when there were no films yet on TV and no videotapes yet either. It was see it in the theater - or drive in - or not at all. Glad you got caught up with seeing FRWL and TB, then the elusive YOLT. :)
It is always best to see a Bond film during its initial release if you can, for sure. And the cinema experience is still the best, especially since surround sound or whatever you want to term the advancements in theater sound. Honestly, if I suddenly became wealthy I may build a state of the art home theater, yes; but I would still try to catch a Bond film during its initial premiere. The whole experience is so fresh and exciting then, especially before you hear too much about it.
And, @Thunderfinger, I love FYEO - one of my favorites. When I think of DN and FRWL, I love them as they are, but if you compare them to a blockbuster action story like Raiders of the Lost Ark ... well, they simply don't compare. They are not the same kind of film at heart. I loved DN and FRWL when I did get to see them, but I wasn't going in thinking they would be a high octane action adventure - which Bond films did evolve into, more so, after the 60's.
Ok, whose next? Please share some personal memories of Bond with the rest of us.
:-bd
Anyway, my best story is of course seeing CR on four continents. The release dates in '06 were so that they coincided with my around the world trip. I left the flatlands in oktober 2006 and flew to Bankok, where I first saw it at the Paragon Shopping Mall. That's one shiny place to see a Bondfilm.
I'm not sure if I saw it in Singapore as well, but my trip took me there, to Malaysia, and back to Bangkok. Then I flew to Australia, where I saw it for the second time. I don't think I saw it in New Zealand, but the USA was next. I think I saw it in Phoenix, Arizona. Then, when I got back home after also visiting Mexico and Cuba, it was still in the cinema's back home, so I could catch it one more time.
I tried to report on this on the old KTBEU, but i'm afraid I failed, and after moving about four times since then I lost my tickets as well.
It's also too uncanny how Thunderfinger looks just like Craig. Those blue eyes! Ah ... well ... I can almost overlook his attitude towards Brosnan now. ;)
Almost.
@4EverBonded can't remember the price of a movie ticket back in the day?
The double bill when I saw DN and GF then FRWL and TB , the bargain matinee price was are you ready? .50
OHMSS I got a bargain matinee price as well also .50
YOLT was not doing any bargain prices as Bondmania was still at its height, the $1.80 seemed very steep at the time.
I do not recall what the ticket prices were for the films in the seventies, eighties.
How times change and how prices hike.
Sitting in the old Majestic Theater in downtown San Antonio on Dec 26, 1969. I had gotten there with about ten minutes to spare. I sat in my seat (all alone) then at about 12:30 the curtain opened and the UA logo flashed on the screen, then the gunbarrel...I was finally seeing a Bond film newly released and during its initial theatrical run. Special memory...
we were not bogged down with dumb commercials and previews, if the paper said the movie started at 12:20 that is when the film started. Not like today.
I am really glad we have all of those things today. But it is a special memory, growing up when we did, the different in lifestyle brought different intensities and timings of feelings.
Commercials in theaters - started in the late 70's I think, in Florida. We had some of the audience booing and I thought they would throw things at the screen. Instant hate. I also remember "designer" jeans being all the rage in the early 80's and commercials for them (Gloria Vanderbuilt, I think) in a theater. We all hated that. But it continued, so we just ending up coming in later or ignoring them. Life goes on.
Another special Bond memory I have is seeing The Living Daylights with one of my soccer players (I coached for about 10 years). She was, I think, ten or eleven at the time. Who is this guy Bond? she asked. Well, I gave her a very brief spiel. She was interested, her mom said she could see it with me, and off we went. I well remember seeing that PTS for the first time; it was awesome! The audience also loved Dalton, not just me. And my little friend was so happy and excited about Bond after the film. :) I wish very much I had stayed in touch with her. I think she is a Bond fan to this day. I like every kid I coached, but a few were special indeed. She went on to play college soccer; I was happy to hear about that later. Anyway, that is another moment from my life that I remember clearly, another Bond connection.
Please share any Bond moments, dear Originals and other members. And I do want to hear from those of you who have been able to go to any Bond locations. That would be interesting to read about.
Thanks! :)>-
So a little collection of memories from watching the films:
-Thunderball was my first ever, watched with best friend.
-Goldfinger was the first I watched alone, the one that got me really into the series.
-I used to like Diamonds Are Forever a lot more when I was younger; I didn't mind the silliness or errors as much.
-I used to not like Lazenby or OHMSS as much on the first couple watches; decent, but not great. Now Lazenby is my third favorite Bond actor and OHMSS is my third favorite Bond film!
-Watched Licence to Kill with best friend; I think it was his favorite. I remember since I was a lot younger when I first watched it I got pretty scarred by a couple scenes XD
-First time I watched GoldenEye I was bored by it. Now it's one of my all-time favorites. Also The World is Not Enough used to be one of my all-time favorites; now it's in the middle of my rankings.
-One time I got reeaaaaaaalllly sick to my stomach because of some bad water I drank from the fridge; apparently there was something really wrong with it. Anyway, while I lazed around in bed I saw The Spy Who Loved Me for the first time, and it ended up being my favorite Moore film/one of my all-time favorites. What a good way to raise my spirits.
-I was blown away the first time I watched Casino Royale. Ever since watch #1, it's been my favorite Bond film of all. I certainly have my doubts that it can be topped for me.
All I can think of for now. Might post later if I remember more.
But it is interesting how our impressions and appreciate for films can and do change over time. I need to give OHMSS another look soon. DAF dazzled me as a 15 yr old in the theater; loved it to bits, I wanted to live every moment of that and I really wanted to look like Jill St. John. I wore hot pants to high school every chance I got after that (yes, I did). Didn't dye my hair red, though. ;) It is interesting how our tastes and appreciate change as we get older.
While watching that special with my family one thing that stayed with me was that during commercial breaks it always showed the gunbarrell. We were all impressed with this but none of us had any idea that it was a gunbarrell. We had one friend who had a color TV and he verified to us that the shroud that descended was red, and suppossed to be blood. Still we thought it was all so cool. The clips from the films, the gunbarrel, all of it.
It was not until I was in college and prior to the release of TMWTGG when a buddy explained to me that it was a gunbarrel. Suddenly it all made sense. I was in ROTC at the time and one day while cleaning my rifle, I looked down the barrel and there it was! I was amazed at how nobody figured this out until then.
Just another fond Bond memory. ...
By the way, I do miss the gunbarrel at the beginning. If Mendes does that with Bond 24, there may well be a roaring cheer from some of us fans, all around the world. Or at least a big smile. :D
Those blue eyes(and the hair) is all I have, so that is enogh to forgive me for my correct attitude then, perhaps? I forgive you for loving BrosnanBond. ;)) Love this thread, and love you.
We are just a lovey bunch after all. ;)) :P :D
Two days later, on a Friday, I went to see CR again. The girl sitting behind me ended up being my first true girlfriend. (But it wasn't meant to last. ;-))
A week later I went back for CR number 3 with a pal of mine who had until then always been very strict about disliking James Bond films. He considered them silly. CR made him a fan!
I went back two more times before CR was pulled from theatres after a very successful run. Both times I was alone and not much happened. ;-)
Second time I went to see SF, there was a power cut 40mins from the end and we all had to be evacuated. I went back two days later.
Wonder what will happen when I watch B24 for the second time! ;-)
Yes, but what a way to go! :D
I do miss seeing the Bond films in the summertime. After LTK we've only had them released in the Fall. I can understand why but I'm also nostalgic for those golden days. I started reading the novels as a teenager and developed a whole new appreciation for the character. That's when I also began to appreciate OHMSS. My dad never liked Lazenby so it was never really allowed in our house at the time. I can remember the excitement of seeing GE on opening night. There really was a buzz in the air that Bond was back and the whole moment seemed to transcend all of our expectations.
I seemed to grow increasingly disenchanted with the series after that but seeing CR restored my faith in Bond once again. Again, there seemed to be a great excitement brewing over the proceedings. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that I ruined SF for myself by reading too many spoilers on this very forum. I will not make the same mistake again. At some point I need to stop reading any Bond 24 related material! Hopefully I can accomplish my mission.
Yeah we really needed that over here. In '89 the BBFC introduced the 12 certificate and was first used for Batman.
I have no doubt that had it been introduced a few months earlier, the MGM and EON would have made enough cuts to secure themselves a 12.
I didn't see Tomorrow Never Dies until TWINE was nearing it's release. With home video taking much longer to release movies into VHS tapes. My first true Theater experience was when I saw TWINE with my parents in 1999. It was amazing watching Bond on the big screen and since then, I've seen Every Bond movie after in the theater.
My dad, whom is sadly no longer with us, worked at a library as a maintenance technician. His work area was near the video discard area so he would bring home movies that would interest me. By this point I already owned all the movies, but it was interesting. He brought home really old VHS copies of Bond movies released in the late 80's in mint to near mint condition. He brought home VHS box sets. All cool collectibles. So now I have over 50 VHS tapes that are all Bond movies. :))
The last Bond movie we saw together was Skyfall. He didn't like it as much as Casino Royale. I'll continue to see future Bond movies in theaters but. It won't be the same without him as Bond was our tradition.
I really like to hear about people's Bond connections and memories, so this is fun for me.
@DarthDimi, that is interesting! Nice that your mom enjoyed the film, too. So Casino Royale proved to be pivotal in your life in a couple of ways. :) And @WillyGalore, that is not a track record I want you to repeat! #-o I may try to get to London for the premiere of Bond 24 (seriously, I am going to try) - but I will make sure the second time I see it, I won't be enjoying your company. Perhaps third time out, yes.
@Murdock, you are a great member of this forum and always have thoughtful posts, so please feel free to contribute any time. This thread is especially for the Originals, older Bond fans, and I want members of that age to contribute all the time, for sure - but others are welcome to join us with their thoughts and participate as long as posts are in keeping with the tone and quality that this thread has always hat (spam and catty back and forth rather meaningless posts are simply not found here ... well except some funny ones from time to time). :D
And I remember well that Sir Henry always went to nearly every Bond film with his dad, until his father passed away. That is something special, isn't? To have that connection with a family member, especially a parent. So you can share that over the years. I am so glad you had a Bond connection with your dad, Murdock. It's so nice he brought home videos of Bond films for you. I have quite a stash stored away back in the U.S., but not as many as you have. You are valued here, so please do join in when you feel like it.
Thanks, @pachazo, for sharing some Bond moments with us. A 6 year old enjoying AVTAK I get, so how old were you for Licence to Kill? Still a mere youngster - a hardcore fan in the making, no doubt about it. B-) Do you remember seeing Dalton in TLD? Do you remember liking him after your first Moore experience?
I, too, remember the collective buzz about Goldeneye - in the neighborhood, among my friends, and in the theater. Glad you came back to full strength enjoyment of Bond with Casino Royale, pachazo. I did manage to avoid all major spoilers about Skyfall, but it took real effort and I had to leave this whole forum for about two months. Worth it, though. I saw Skyfall fresh and it was an amazingly satisfying Bond experience. I will have to do the same with Bond 24.
More Bond memories, please! So enjoyable to read.
Cheers! :-bd
But I still had no idea that there was more to Bond than this cartoon. It was at some point after that, which my dad must have seen me looking through his Bond souvenir brochures, because he came home from work one day with a VHS tape. That tape was You Only Live Twice, which was released in the 007 Collection, the one where all the films (Dr No to Licence To Kill) had this trailer...
... preceding the films.
My 10 year old mind hadn't seen anything like Bond before. So, little Minor D.Smythe started spending his pocket money, collecting the rest of the collection. The following year, Tomorrow Never Dies was released in cinemas (and seeing as dad had taken me to see The Lost World, it was mums turn to take me to see Tomorrow Never Dies), and I was ready to see my first Bond on the big screen. Continuing with TWINE, and every film since, I have seen each Bond in one of the local cinemas.
It's the best one they ever did. It's certainly the most balanced of all the trailers. The most recent ones centre heavily on the Brosnan and Craig films. Connery barely gets a look in!