Greetings! This series is intended to spark discussions amongst local actors/filmmakers and movie-goers as this franchise is in flux. There will be more discussions as the state of MGM's affairs go through the courts. Meanwhile, please subscribe to this and the vintage vinyl page. It's free to have both emailed into your life. Feel free to comment. Thank you!
THE BOND GIRLS-THE BEST OF THE BEST
Over 22 films, there have been over 200 'girls' cast in roles of varying importance to the storylines. All of them were cast because of their physical attributes. Many of them were hired because they could actually act and perform physically demanding lead roles opposite the man who was James Bond. Of those, there were many who started the film as strong, independent, free-thinking women. Once they met Bond, however, (and slept with him), many were reduced to dependent, giggling morons who followed Bond like a lonely kitten, shrieking "James! James!" when things became stressful. Those were dismissed for the sake of this list because of the chauvinistic and nonsensical attitude such behavior implies. Clearly, Bond was not endowed like a T-Rex nor did he ever really care about these women when moving on to the next conquest. For better or worse, the six actors on this list were among the very short list of women who maintained their dignity and composure before, during and after their encounter with Bond.
1) CAROLE BOUQUET (MELINA HAVELOCK) "FOR YOUR EYES ONLY"
After her parents are murdered in her presence, Melina interferes with Bond's investigation twice and ultimately joins him in his quest to retrieve the stolen ATAC. Bond (Roger Moore) is keenly aware that Melina is hellbent on revenge and shows her the respect she deserves for holding her own with him and with the situations they face. She, in turn, comes to respect and trust him and drops her guard enough to heed his warnings. This was the best of Moore's work as Bond and Bouquet, an experienced and talented woman was one very big reason for the film's appeal. Most of her 40+ films were French cinema. She appeared in an episode of "Sex and the City" (2004: "An American Girl in Paris").
2) BARBARA BACH (ANYA AMASOVA) "THE SPY WHO LOVED ME"
Bach played Agent XXX who is on her own mission parallel to Bond's (Roger Moore). Bach, like Bouquet, more than holds her own against Bond's charm. Once she discovers it was him who killed her boyfriend, she vows to return the favor upon completion of the mission. She maintains her aloofness throughout the film but willingly assists in fighting their way to the solution, relenting only slightly after Bond saves her life. Bach had roles in several films following this, reuniting with Richard Kiel (Jaws) in "Force 10 From Navarrone". In the mid-80's, she met Ringo Starr while filming "Caveman" ;and retired shortly thereafter.
3) HALLE BERRY (JINX) "DIE ANOTHER DAY"
Berry plays an NSA agent who collaborates with Bond (Pierce Brosnan). Both characters undergo serious mistreatment at the hands of the villains and come to respect each other before getting involved personally. Berry, as an actress, came close to surpassing Brosnan but the two had an electric chemistry together that was visible in the theater. Berry proclaimed Jinx to be "the next step in the evolution of women in Bond movies". She nailed that and the role. She has established herself as a fine and intuitive actor who can become a different person with each role. This is one of her best and one of the very best performances in a Bond film.
4) TIE: MIE HAMA (KISSY SUZUKI) & AKIKO WAKABAYASHI (AKI) "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE"
Akiko and Mie played opposite Sean Connery in what was his best work as Bond. Akiko played a Japanese SIS agent who was the liason between Bond and the mysterious head of SIS. She toys with Bond, leading him on and even laughing at his hairy chest while slowly coming to admire him. Just as things start to develop romantically, Aki is murdered. Bond has to 'become Japanese' and take a wife, played by Mie Hama, also an undercover agent. She, too, toys with him, keeping him at bay while the mission proceeds and their goal is achieved. Both actors exuded charm and exotic dignity, making it impossible to choose between them. Both did most of their work for Toho films in Japan. Hama's other notable role was Madam Piranha in "King Kong Escapes". She has since retired from acting to work as an environmental activist. Wakabayashi had major parts in "Dagora, the Space Monster" & "Ghidorah, the Three-headed Monster". She, too, retired from acting after sustaining injuries during filming of another movie shortly after this Bond film.
5) FAMKE JANSSEN (XENIA ONATOPP) "GOLDENEYE"
Janssen's portrayal of a lust murderer and a sadomasochist is so over-the-top that she gets special recognition despite the fact she was an antagonist. Her fight scene with Bond (Pierce Brosnan) at the indoor pool/spa was an incredible 3 minutes in the lore that is Bond. She clearly loved the rough treatment, challenging Bond in the most insidious way for a womanizer. At the same time, she obviously hated losing to a man, especially one she'd already failed to kill. Like the other actors, she never once dropped her character's dignity due to Bond's charm and was killed too soon in the film, a rather symbolic death scene in which she was 'crucified' by being hauled up a tree by a helicopter. Janssen went on to play an equally strong character in "Deep Rising" as well as the "X Men Trilogy" (Jean Grey).
These were not the only actors considered for this short list. Eva Green, Judi Dench, Carey Lowell and Jill St. John deserve honorable mention for starring roles. This is particularly true of Judi Dench who joined the series with Pierce Brosnan in "Goldeneye", lasting through "Quantum of Solace". She is expected to return if MGM's problems are resolved soon.
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