Dr No casino plaques
Abel
DenmarkPosts: 352MI6 Agent
I'm sure we can all agree that one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history is the first time we see Sean Connery as James bond saying the famous line:
"Bond… James Bond" for the very first time.
I personally always loved this scene. And I always thought James Bond looks great in any casino!
I have been looking for these famous casino plaques forever.
And then I found these on eBay
"Bond… James Bond" for the very first time.
I personally always loved this scene. And I always thought James Bond looks great in any casino!
I have been looking for these famous casino plaques forever.
And then I found these on eBay
You left this with Ferrara, I believe
Comments
https://www.ebay.com/itm/332167599855
James Bond Props - Dr. No - Sean Connery - 4 Chemin De Fer Plaques
Very nice props sold by our very own Bond Collectors' Weekends -{
The plaque replicas I have are glossier than you can see in the eBay listing . . . they look good to me.
Just wanted to show how great they look!
Thanks Matt
**
Here is the story behind the Thunderball plaques:
Thunderball features an imaginary casino on the site of the waterfront adjacent to the real Café Martinique, on Paradise Island in The Bahamas (the original site is now part of The Atlantis resort). Thunderball used plaques with a storied history, from The Thatched Barn, a roadhouse and hotel visited by film stars since 1934.
In World War II The Thatched Barn was requisitioned by the British Special Operations Executive to become its Station XV, where trained parachutists jumped off its balcony and the SOE tested mini-submarines in its swimming pool! Later, Irwin Allen (The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, Lost In Space) converted The Thatched Barn into a casino. The Tolaini Brothers later refurbished it and stars came often from nearby film studios, Elstree and Borehamwood.
During the making of The Prisoner, The Thatched Barn’s Bar was frequented regularly by its star (and onetime cast for James Bond) Patrick McGoohan, who was impressed enough to feature it in The Girl Who Was Death. During the filming of this episode, a Lotus Elan was driven to the restaurant entrance and McGoohan's stand-in entered the building for the barroom scene.
In its heyday, The Thatched Barn was a pricey hotel that hosted Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Bette Davis and even Clint Eastwood, who stayed there while filming Where Eagles Dare. And before directors could call American directly from outside London phones, they would travel to The Thatched Barn to cast films!
The Thatched Barn is also seen in the Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) episode "Could You Recognize the Man Again?" when murder is committed in the car park, and in an episode of The Saint when Prisoner actor Peter Wyngarde stages a wild party by the outdoor swimming pool. The Thatched Barn was also used in an episode of "The Professionals".
Stars and production crews still frequently use the hotel as a base. It is often used for film and photo shoots, recently for an episode of Lewis (Wild Justice), many episodes of EastEnders, Holby City television advertising and Page Eight starring Bill Nighy.
Also, in the 1960’s The Thatched Barn became a Playboy Club Casino, from where the plaques came from for James Bond to duel with Emilio Largo in Thunderball.
Not hugely important but The Girl Who Was Death was actually shot after The Prisoner ceased production: To have enough episodes to sell the series to the US, two more were needed, this, and Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling. These notably do not take place in "The Village" as the company had long left Portmerion and all the sets dismantled, etc., reasons why a location like The Thatched Barn would come in to play.
I have only a few sets left of the Dr. No and Thunderball plaques. I hope folks contact me soon!