Roger Moore was NOT Ian Fleming's original choice to play James Bond in 1962, was he?
adam_fransella
Posts: 1,660 Forum Member
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After all, in addition to the fact that "The Saint" had not yet been broadcast,
I have read posts on another site, which say the myth 'Fleming wanted Moore'
was invented on the spot, as a way of providing a logic for Moore being 007,
and also that Moore had never heard of James Bond until "Dr. No" came out.
Both claims seem believeable, since Moore was famous for one thing before 1961
and that was his modelling cardigans and jumpers in various '50s magazines! :rolleyes:
Or did Fleming see Moore in his various '50s TV series, e.g. "Ivanhoe"?
I have read posts on another site, which say the myth 'Fleming wanted Moore'
was invented on the spot, as a way of providing a logic for Moore being 007,
and also that Moore had never heard of James Bond until "Dr. No" came out.
Both claims seem believeable, since Moore was famous for one thing before 1961
and that was his modelling cardigans and jumpers in various '50s magazines! :rolleyes:
Or did Fleming see Moore in his various '50s TV series, e.g. "Ivanhoe"?
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Cary Grant (like Trevor Howard and David Niven) turned down the role of Bond
but Noel Coward was offered the role of the villain Dr. No - not 007 himself.
Fleming wanted Niven, or possibly Trevor Howard. Cary Grant and James Mason would not commit to more than one film. James Stewart was even mentioned!.
Cubby and Harry Saltzman wanted a younger Bond and looked at Burton, Moore, Richard Johnson and Patrick Allen...
NO, the myth is that Fleming wanted Moore (among others) to play Bond
before Sean Connery was selected - whether that is true, is still unclear.
But Moore WAS unavailable for Bond, owing to "The Saint".
Rupert Everett?
Licensed to have a hissy-fit.:D
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_headline=fleming-wanted-welsh-legend-for-bond&method=full&objectid=19826037&siteid=50082-name_page.html
If that's accurate, Burton must have been considered prior to Moore. I don't think Burton would have suited the original conception of the movie Bond. I'm not sure Fleming had a definite vision of Bond. Richard Burton and Roger Moore don't seem remotely similar and Fleming wanted both of them to be Bond.
My guess is Fleming wanted a famous actor to play Bond to give the film extra credibility, raise its profile. This is most likely why Fleming didn't approve of the nearly-unknown Sean Connery, describing him as a truck driver. But he changed his mind after he saw Connery in the role.
Bond was supposed to be a cold, sardonic character who had seen service in the war in the navy, as an officer. the witty side was an interpretation which worked well on film - much better to end a scene with a one-liner than a raised eyebrow.