The BBC Radio 4 James Bond series

2

Comments

  • moneyofpropremoneyofpropre Posts: 38MI6 Agent
    Well unfortunally, I'm not from UK :(
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    I've just listened to it (first chance I had).

    1) Tee-Hee's part is expanded from the novel, much as it was in the film
    2) The racial elements seem to have been removed entirely (I may have missed one or two on first listening)
    3) It's very faithful to the novel otherwise
    4) There may have been a very small in-joke when a meal is listed- an emphasis on the word "broccoli"? :))
    5) The cast were all excellent
    6) My usual feelings about the music (see above)
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Agreed, I was wondering how they'd handle the 50s racial elements.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Golrush007Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,418Quartermasters
    I've listened to a few of these radio plays starring Toby Stephens and have enjoyed them a lot. I really must catch up and listen to them all.

    On a related note I recently bought the complete collection of BBC Radio adaptations of Le Carre's George Smiley books on Audible. I hope that when they've finally completed all of the Fleming books that the Bond collection will be officially released in the same way.
  • clublosclublos Jacksonville, FLPosts: 193MI6 Agent
    They're all on YouTube, just search the title and BBC4.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Links provided upthread.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Update: LALD now included (see upthread).
  • caractacus pottscaractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 3,907MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Update: LALD now included (see upthread).
    Barbel which post has the download link for Live and Let Die?
    its not post 21, where you compiled the links for the earlier radioplays
    and emtiem's link in post 31 leads to Page Not Found
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    You can listen to it here if you want:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBT0SLN6_ew
  • caractacus pottscaractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 3,907MI6 Agent
    thanks emtiem
    I should have just thought to do the search myself
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Thanks emtiem. Caractacus, it's in post 10. I've now added it to post 21 as well.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Barbel wrote:
    Goldfinger (2010) Sir Ian McKellen plays a wonderful Goldfinger, though the image of Gert Frobe (and the voice of Michael Collins) still reign. Being a faithful adaptation, we don't get "Do you expect me to talk? No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die!" but we do hear most of Fleming's ruder original (unbroadcastable, covered by sound effects). Rosamund Pike (Miranda Frost) as Pussy Galore! This production has an almost unique distinction among all other James Bond film/TV/radio/etc adventures- can anyone identify it?

    No takers? Well, unless you count the 1967 version of Casino Royale (and who wants to?), this is the only James Bond dramatic production in which the actor playing James Bond does not get top billing. That honour goes to Sir Ian McKellen as Goldfinger, rather than Toby Stephens as Bond. Perhaps understandably- I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Stephens himself had insisted upon it. Or his mum :D ..

    I've been watching the Jack Ryan TV series, in which the part of Jim Greer (memorably played in the movies by James Earl Jones) is played by an actor called Wendell Pierce. Other than being a little short, it has struck me that he would have made a great Mr Big and possibly better than Kevin Daniels in the Radio 4 production mentioned above (where obviously height wouldn't have mattered).
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    From Russia With Love coming just before Christmas. Although I’d that a repeat? They’ve done that one, haven’t they?
  • Golrush007Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,418Quartermasters
    emtiem wrote:
    From Russia With Love coming just before Christmas. Although I’d that a repeat? They’ve done that one, haven’t they?

    Indeed they have, in 2012. I think that was the first one was I listened to.
  • JoshuaJoshua Posts: 1,138MI6 Agent
    I listened to 'From Russia With Love' on Saturday. I must say I was disappointed. This, in my opinion, was the weakest of the radio plays. It is the first time I have listened to it.
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    Joshua wrote:
    I listened to 'From Russia With Love' on Saturday. I must say I was disappointed. This, in my opinion, was the weakest of the radio plays. It is the first time I have listened to it.

    I thought it an ok production but Stevens over eggs it
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Not as much as Mark Gattis does Kronsteen!
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Not as much as Mark Gattis does Kronsteen!
    True Dat, but i quite enjoyed the Ham of it, acceptable and a sly smirk as Kronsteen but not for our Chap.
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    I think Stephens is better as Our Chap than he was as Gustav Graves, though I don't think he'd be acceptable in a film. He does a not bad Philip Marlowe in a similar series of Raymond Chandler adaptations.

    The most OTT performance in the Radio 4 Bond series IMHO is David Suchet as Dr No!
  • Monsieur SixteMonsieur Sixte Posts: 39MI6 Agent
    I’m currently listening to these radio adaptations.

    I would prefer it if the novels were simply read out rather than just have the dialogue extracted and made into a radio play. The dialogue on its own, without Fleming’s marvellous descriptive skills, leaves the stories bereft of substance. And the dialogue alone can never compare to watching a Bond film in all its visual glory. It is like doing a radio adaptation of just the dialogue of 2001: A Space Odyssey—what would be the point of that?

    I like John Standing's portrayal of M. He humanises M, and makes him less of a grump than Bernard Lee’s M. Toby Stephens similarly humanises Bond, but too much in my view. His Bond comes across as a little too “everyman” and cheery. Dalton’s Bond was also human, but his had a nervous edge, which a man who is in constant danger would have.
  • JoshuaJoshua Posts: 1,138MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    The most OTT performance in the Radio 4 Bond series IMHO is David Suchet as Dr No!

    I agree! His accent was totally absurd! I believe he is the actor who played paro (I don't know the spelling) the detective. I have never seen this but if he was as bad as in Dr No I am glad I never watched it!
  • JoshuaJoshua Posts: 1,138MI6 Agent
    I’m currently listening to these radio adaptations.

    I would prefer it if the novels were simply read out rather than just have the dialogue extracted and made into a radio play. The dialogue on its own, without Fleming’s marvellous descriptive skills, leaves the stories bereft of substance. And the dialogue alone can never compare to watching a Bond film in all its visual glory. It is like doing a radio adaptation of just the dialogue of 2001: A Space Odyssey—what would be the point of that?

    I like John Standing's portrayal of M. He humanises M, and makes him less of a grump than Bernard Lee’s M. Toby Stephens similarly humanises Bond, but too much in my view. His Bond comes across as a little too “everyman” and cheery. Dalton’s Bond was also human, but his had a nervous edge, which a man who is in constant danger would have.

    I understand this. The fact that lots were missing was the fact I did not really like From Russia With Love. For me the best of the plays is Moonraker. If you have not already, you should perhaps try listening to that.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I enjoyed Thunderball on BBC radio, Tom Conti playing a very friendly Largo.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Joshua wrote:
    Barbel wrote:
    The most OTT performance in the Radio 4 Bond series IMHO is David Suchet as Dr No!

    I agree! His accent was totally absurd! I believe he is the actor who played paro (I don't know the spelling) the detective. I have never seen this but if he was as bad as in Dr No I am glad I never watched it!

    He is perfect as Poirot, I think the best ever. Give it a go!
  • caractacus pottscaractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 3,907MI6 Agent
    they're going to be doing the Man with the Golden Gun
    14 March 2020
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Good news, thanks cp. Looking forward to that.
  • JoshuaJoshua Posts: 1,138MI6 Agent
    This is good news! I have listened to all the radio plays several times on night duties. Although I will not be able to listen to it on Saturday, I will download this when it comes on you tube and add it to my collection.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Agreed, looking forward to it. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • moneyofpropremoneyofpropre Posts: 38MI6 Agent
    So, TMWTGG : https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000gdtd

    Do domebody know how to download it?
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Eon don't allow the series to be downloaded (see upthread). It should turn up on YouTube soon, though.
Sign In or Register to comment.