Bond On Bond (35 page)

I presented the Prince of wales with a solid-gold version of a 007 Seiko digital watch, which played the James Bond theme at the touch of a button.

I then sat next to Lady Diana during the screening and, being conscious of having had a Jack Daniel’s or two in the run-up to the evening, I acquired a little spray to freshen my breath, and kept it in my hand throughout. Apparently, this amused Diana, as she reported back to the Palace that I must have thought my halitosis would bother her.

Topol, who played Columbo in the film, suggested to Cubby he should invite his former producing partner Harry Saltzman to the event. Their split had been acrimonious, but time is a great healer and the reunion was a happy one.

Unbeknown to us all, there was also a future James Bond in the audience that night, as Pierce Brosnan accompanied his wife Cassandra Harris.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales joined us once again for the premiere of
Octopussy
on 6 June 1981 at the Odeon Leicester Square. By this time, United Artists had all but collapsed after the disastrous financial problems
Heaven’s Gate
had left in its wake. However, MGM structured a merger/buy-out deal and swung behind the thirteenth Bond adventure (particularly with Sean’s unofficial
Never Say Never Again
lurking on the release schedule) with a huge marketing campaign.

Never Say Never Again
premiered on 7 October 1983 in the USA, before a Royal Premiere on 14 December at the Warner West End cinema in the presence of HRH Prince Andrew. The film drew largely positive reviews, though the lack of familiar 007 elements such as the music, gun barrel opening and MI6 staff disappointed some fans. Originally, Peter Hunt had been offered the chance to direct, though declined, as did Richard Donner. Irvin Kershner ultimately took the helm. Incidentally, MGM acquired the distribution rights to the movie in 1997 after its acquisition of Orion Pictures.

I never saw it myself. I probably never will. But, then again, never say never, eh?

It was San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts that welcomed the world premiere of
A View To A Kill
in May 1985. Given the overwhelming cooperation the city had offered us during filming, Cubby decided they should benefit from hosting the event. It was followed a few weeks later with a UK premiere, on 12 June, at the Odeon Leicester Square in the presence of TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales.

Of course, all the press asked me if I’d do another Bond, to which I replied, ‘I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.’ I knew I wouldn’t do any more, but the last thing you do at a film opening is announce you’re retiring!

By the time the premiere of
The Living Daylights
rolled around in June 1987, Timothy Dalton’s debut opened to positive press and a healthy box office and people were saying, ‘Roger who?’

Pierce Brosnan’s debut film
GoldenEye
launched in New York City on 17 November 1995. Five days later, on 22 November, in the presence of HRH the Prince of Wales, it premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square. After a six-year absence from the screen, the newspapers declared 007 was well and truly back. The movie smashed records, and overtook
Moonraker
in the box-office stakes.

After my retirement I purposely avoided attending any of the premieres, though I did attend the premiere for
Die Another Day
at the Royal Albert Hall in 2002, which celebrated the fortieth anniversary of 007 in film. Timothy Dalton was there, along with Pierce and George Lazenby – who admitted it was the first Bond film he’d seen since 1969. ‘Maybe I’ll start getting into them,’ he quipped. Just then he exited and bumped into Dana Broccoli.

‘Hello, George,’ she said. ‘I’m so pleased to see you have finally grown up.’

For once, George was speechless.

For the premiere of
Die Another Day
the Royal Albert Hall was transformed into a giant ice palace, and welcomed Her Majesty the Queen and HRH Prince Philip. It was Her Majesty’s first Bond premiere since 1967, and my first one since 1985.

I agreed to attend because my daughter Deborah had a small part in the film, plus, of course, it was the fortieth anniversary, and a few of us former 007s were invited to be in the Royal line-up. We were also introduced on stage prior to Pierce welcoming the audience to what was to be his last Bond film.

Then Daniel Craig took over the helm and, after some uncertainty, much negative press and nervous anticipation,
Casino Royale
premiered in Leicester Square in the presence of HM the Queen on 14 November 2006. It was the first film to simultaneously premiere in three cinemas across the square: the Odeon Leicester Square, Odeon West End and Empire Leicester Square – accommodating over 5,000 people.

For
Quantum Of Solace
they went even bigger, premiering across three cinemas again and with Leicester Square itself totally given over to a 007 theme. It had the biggest budget of all the Bond films to date and to my mind only proves that there is still huge and genuine love for this incredible series. It’s hard to see how much bigger it can get – but you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll think of something. James Bond will return …