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I am 29 years old now-- and I watched OHMSS in a WHOLE new light!

Master_DaharkMaster_Dahark
edited January 2012 in Bond Movies Posts: 4,813
I'm sure this has happened already to some board members, but as I just turned 29, I popped in OHMSS and had a whole new feeling as I was watching: the whole time I was like, 'wow, I'm as old as James Bond here!'
Who here has had this experience?
Was it easier to relate to Bond? Was it like seeing the movie in a brand new way?

Comments

  • timmertimmer
    Posts: 4,622
    I guess I did too. As I saw my first Bond movie when I was 12, and became an instant fanatic, I didn't catch up to Bond until I was 29 either, so yea I might have had the same reaction, although I can't remember. ;)
    Reaching Sean-Bond age of 31 was probably more exciting though.
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    Posts: 1,778
    I always felt this way too. I'm 23 so I've got a way to go but my brother's 28, which was how old Lazenby was when his agent first contacted him about it in 1968, and only a year away from 29 and I can't imagine anyone his age playing Bond. Connery is the only one who could get away with playing Bond that young. He was 32 by the way. But Connery in his early films looked like he could've been in his late 30s.
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    edited January 2012 Posts: 1,778
    On the other hand we have to also understand that people are living longer in 2012 than they were in 1969. 29 is the new 19 I guess. Hell I know people who are 28 or 29 that are just finishing school or have just started working. But 40 years ago it was typical for someone to be 29 and married with children and working a full-time job for maybe 10 years. My mother had already had my older brother and was preganant with me by the time she was 30.
  • timmertimmer
    Posts: 4,622
    Connery was 31 when he filmed Dr. No. He turned 32 after filming had completed.
    Laz, the youngest Bond ever, was 29 when he shot OHMSS.
    And considering what a great job both Sean and George did, is why I would like to see the next Bond actor cast as young; like 29-31 young again. Just like in the golden era. The young actors move better. We get their prime years. You can also cast Bond-girls any old age, without having to worry about the cringe factor.
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    edited January 2012 Posts: 1,778
    timmer wrote:
    Connery was 31 when he filmed Dr. No. He turned 32 after filming had completed.
    Laz, the youngest Bond ever, was 29 when he shot OHMSS.
    And considering what a great job both Sean and George did, is why I would like to see the next Bond actor cast as young; like 29-31 young again. Just like in the golden era. The young actors move better. We get their prime years. You can also cast Bond-girls any old age, without having to worry about the cringe factor.

    He might've been 32 by the time it wrapped. Either way I tend to consider them the age they were when the film was released. I know that probably doesn't make sense.

    And yes Connery was great but Lazenby certainly was not. He was passable and I think most people will agree with me on that. Personally I think the actor playing Bond should be no younger than 35. It takes a level of maturity and worldliness to play Bond. By 29 I don't think most people have acheived that.

    Again Connery is the exception because he's Sean Connery and "The Man".
  • KerimKerim Istanbul Not Constantinople
    Posts: 2,629
    I'm the same as when Roger Moore debuted in LALD. :(
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    Posts: 1,778
    Kerim wrote:
    I'm the same as when Roger Moore debuted in LALD. :(

    Well I guess 45 is the new 35 ;)
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,578
    If you wish to further elaborate on OHMSS, please do so here:
    http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/71/something-of-a-must-with-me-ohmss-appreciation#Item_21

    As for me, yeah I'm 29 too but I won't feel the magic till I've turned... 32. ;-)
  • RisicoRisico
    Posts: 97
    I've just turned 32 and I must admit that I don't really equate my age with the age Connery was in Dr. No. It was very much a different world, before the 1960s youth explosion had happened, and 32 was definitely a proper grownup age (the recent world war would also have been a factor there, naturally). Either that, or I have a slight case of arrested development, LOL. As a side note, one issue this skirts on from the novels is that the statutory retirement age for OO-agents, assuming they survived that long, was 45. This is something necessarily ignored by the films (Moore, Dalton and Brosnan were all fast approaching that age by their first movies). Craig, whilst 38 when he did Casino Royale (I think - don't worry about correcting me) was still a little old to be given his first OO-mission, in my opinion. If you read the CR screenplay, I get the impression he was written as younger. Also, if I understand correctly from Doctor No, Connery's Bond has already been OO7 for a decade, assuming this is what he means when he says he's been using his Beretta that long.
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    edited January 2012 Posts: 1,778
    Risico wrote:
    I've just turned 32 and I must admit that I don't really equate my age with the age Connery was in Dr. No. It was very much a different world, before the 1960s youth explosion had happened, and 32 was definitely a proper grownup age (the recent world war would also have been a factor there, naturally). Either that, or I have a slight case of arrested development, LOL. As a side note, one issue this skirts on from the novels is that the statutory retirement age for OO-agents, assuming they survived that long, was 45. This is something necessarily ignored by the films (Moore, Dalton and Brosnan were all fast approaching that age by their first movies). Craig, whilst 38 when he did Casino Royale (I think - don't worry about correcting me) was still a little old to be given his first OO-mission, in my opinion. If you read the CR screenplay, I get the impression he was written as younger. Also, if I understand correctly from Doctor No, Connery's Bond has already been OO7 for a decade, assuming this is what he means when he says he's been using his Beretta that long.

    First of all you're definatly right in saying being 32 years old in 1962 was much different than being 32 now. In 2012 you can get away with being 32 and still being relatively new in your line of work. I guess mostly because people go to school for longer now. Alot of people I know didn't really become "grown-up" until their late 20s.

    Up until Roger Moore I don't think the actor playing Bond and Bond the character were ever the same age. Im pretty sure Bond wasn't supposed to be 31 or 32 in Dr.No and he certainly wasn't supposed to be 29 in OHMSS. I remember seeing some old 1962 documentary promoting DN on it's DVD special features that stated Bond was in hid mid thirties. So whenever I watch DN I assume Bond is 34-36 years of age. And for OHMSS, since they take the time to remind us that the events of DN-YOLT happened, I think it's safe to assume Bond is around 40.

    I doubt Bond was 007 for 10 years in Dr.No but merely using the Berretta as a weapon for that long. That could've been his weapon of choice while he was starting out as a lower ranked field agent.

    And as much as I love Craig yeah I agree I would've been nicer if he was cast at around 33 or 34 as opposed to 38. He does too old for this to be an origin story about a younger more reckless Bond. Especially considering how all throughout the 60s Bond was played by actors at a younger age.
  • Master_DaharkMaster_Dahark
    Posts: 4,813
    Lots of 32 year olds still live with their parents nowadays it seems :D
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,506
    Well? So far Bond has always been older than me. I think DC was 37 when he first got the part which is my age now! Though i do act younger at times? ;) I cannot imagine the weight of responcibility that you take on when accepting this role?

    So when Bond is recast? That's gonna be a strange feeling? Not looking forward to that one! Mind you? I would be closer to retirement, so i could enjoy my Bond hobby more and visit some of the more exotic locations! :D
  • connerybondconnerybond
    Posts: 163
    When I watched the first Bond movie DN when it was released The Bond-Connery was older than me, then OHMSS Bond Lazenby was slightly younger than me, and now Craig is very much younger than me!
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited January 2012 Posts: 4,451
    1992 - 11/12
    1995 - 15
    1997 - 17
    1999 - 19
    2003 - 22
    2007- 26
    2008 - 28
    2009 - 29. George Lazenby in 1969 OHMSS!
    2012 - 31/32. Sean Connery in 1962 Dr No !!

    I whas 15 close to 16 when i saw Dr No til TLD and second view of LTK. Because that whas in 1996 when i buy the movies til LTK on VHS. Goldeneye on VHS (for the second view) followd in October 1996. Goldeneye be my first Bond movie i saw in the cinema.

    Daniel Craig is from 1968 (12 years older), the next Bond wil be younger him and mabey the last who is older then me or the first actor who is younger then me. Timothy Dalton whas 39 when i whas 4/5, Brosnan be 41/42 when i whas 14/15, Daniel Craig whas 38 whyle i whas 26.
  • timmertimmer
    Posts: 4,622
    Quick thought on Bond's age and experience when we first meet him in Dr.No,

    We know Sean was 31 when he filmed the movie, however I think Bond was intended to be of indeterminate mid-30's age, which I think is generic Bond age, as envisioned by Fleming. So movie Bond had been using a Beretta for 10 years, which suggests roughly since he was maybe 25. This fits quite fine. An agent of Bond's deadly skills, would have been outfitted with a weapon at a very early stage. Fleming wrote him as a veteran of WW II special ops. I think Bond could have been concievably granted double 0 status by mid to late 20's considering his War exploits. Bond is an exceptional blunt instrument. I don't think her Majesty's Secret Service would have wasted much time putting his skills to work in the field.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,692
    Well I am only 20, but I fear the day when the current Bond actor will be my age, or even younger than me !! I think the next Bond actor will be born in the mid 1980's, or early 1990's depending on the duration of Craig's tenure... so I think I'm a bit safe until Bond #8 !! As for Lazenby, I'll be his age in 2020, and that'll be quite a shock !!
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,506
    Its quite a good thread this? As it does make you think? I don't think they will cast anyone in their twenties? Early Thirties? Yes as Connery is proof of that! Bond will be younger than me come the next recasting?!!!! :(( ;)
  • TracyTracy
    Posts: 1,644
    "married with children and working a full-time job"

    Bondy , Al Bondy
  • timmertimmer
    Posts: 4,622
    Tracy wrote:
    "married with children and working a full-time job"

    Bondy , Al Bondy

    :)) A young Al Bundy maybe. He might have been quite the action-man stud as a young guy. I'm sure he'd tell you so himself.
  • Baltimore_007Baltimore_007
    Posts: 5,634
    RogueAgent wrote:
    Its quite a good thread this? As it does make you think? I don't think they will cast anyone in their twenties? Early Thirties? Yes as Connery is proof of that! Bond will be younger than me come the next recasting?!!!! :(( ;)

    I think the ideal age for Bond should be 35 as was originally intended, obviously George was too young in 1969 and Mr Moore was too old evidently by the time of his Bond swansong. Craig debuted for me a year or two too late, if he had started out in 2002 and Pierce had in hindsight done the right thing and stepped down after what would of been a fine finish in The World Is Not Enough than that would of been an ideal time of debut for Craig but I think Royale came maybe just a little too late for the actor, I don't know how many more we will see him in, I want him to remain for a while longer but the years are creeping up now as with all of us, but I hope he's still not in the part by the time he reaches his 50s, not that I don't like him as 007 it's just that from this point in time one would feel it inappropriate

  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,506
    Baltimore_007 wrote:
    RogueAgent wrote:
    Its quite a good thread this? As it does make you think? I don't think they will cast anyone in their twenties? Early Thirties? Yes as Connery is proof of that! Bond will be younger than me come the next recasting?!!!! :(( ;)

    I think the ideal age for Bond should be 35 as was originally intended, obviously George was too young in 1969 and Mr Moore was too old evidently by the time of his Bond swansong. Craig debuted for me a year or two too late, if he had started out in 2002 and Pierce had in hindsight done the right thing and stepped down after what would of been a fine finish in The World Is Not Enough than that would of been an ideal time of debut for Craig but I think Royale came maybe just a little too late for the actor, I don't know how many more we will see him in, I want him to remain for a while longer but the years are creeping up now as with all of us, but I hope he's still not in the part by the time he reaches his 50s, not that I don't like him as 007 it's just that from this point in time one would feel it inappropriate

    With Craig enjoying the physical part of doing the action scenes in Bond? I think he will do 2 more movies after Skyfall? Then i think he will say enough as he does push himself hard to get in shape for the role.
    As you said, time catches up with all of us, so i think 5 films would be a good run for him. And i want him to be the Bond to sort out Quantum? Not a replacement in the future!
  • TracyTracy
    Posts: 1,644
    Actually , there *was* a Bond spoof on MWC......with Al as Bond natch.
  • Master_DaharkMaster_Dahark
    edited February 2012 Posts: 4,813
    I suppose another reason I enjoyed OHMSS (as well as the Inside OHMSS documentary) it because I gained a new respect for the guts Lazenby had-- being a man of the same age I'd be scared to death to be an 'acting noob' and take the role of James Bond-- especially in a time when only Connery had played him!
    lol Also makes me want to slap him all the more for not signing that multi-picture contract!
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