McClory made a rather scandalous run down that hill last year
with SONY.
He signed a contract with them to produce WARHEAD 2000 and
then a series
of Bond films all growing out of the same story. MGM/UA and
outside
council, the legendary Pierce O'Donnell, sued to stop the
productions
and won.
At one point SONY even had the nerve to claim they not only
had the
right to make any Bond film they wanted to make, but that
MGM/UA also
owed them royalties on all the PREVIOUS Bond adventures as
well!
As much as I'd like to see diversity in the series, the
McClory/SONY
team wasn't exactly what I was talking about. We've seen
McClory's idea
of what he'd do with Bond (NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN) - more of
the SOS.
And SONY's most creative executives seem to work in the
legal
department.
The idea of a Tarantino giving us a fresh take on the
character is
appealing, another series (especially one starring Dalton)
merely
capitalizing on a questionable legal loophole and delivering
a rip-off
series of weak imitations of the Broccoli Bonds is something
I can live
without.
Corporations like SONY don't get adventurous with goldmines
like Bond
(outside of the courtroom, of course). They deliver to the
masses what
they think the masses want - the same thing they've been
eating up for
37 years.
TL
PS - ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE is a terrific
non-Connery Bond.
Lazenby is a bit stiff but I think he could have grown into
the role if
he had been given a chance. I think the film itself is
superior to most
of the other Bonds. Diana Rigg is fantastic casting as a
"Bond Girl". So
perfect he MARRIED her!
(Briefly)
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