Bonded to world movie premieres
Jaws, Q, Holly Goodhead, James Bond.
Give Bob Collins, eager to see “Spectre” this weekend, credit for some of the company he has kept when attending five Bond movie world premieres in London since 1999 with “The World Is Not Enough.”
The Murrells Inlet resident has met the late actors Richard Kiel (Jaws) and Desmond Llewellyn (gadget genius known simply as “Q”), as well as Lois Chiles (Goodhead, a space shuttle co-pilot in “Moonraker”), and Sir Roger Moore, the third of the six men to play Special Agent 007, starring in that role a record seven times between 1972 and 1985.
From these getaways to the MI6 homeland, all the way through the debut of “Skyfall” in 2012, Collins counts meeting 27 people who starred in, or worked on, the Bond movies. Autographs, including every man cast as 007, help adorn a Bond “wall of fame” at home.
As a local radio host, Collins plays various Bond movie themes regularly, at any time of year. On Wednesday, he even aired a recording of a radio spot for “Goldfinger,” from 1964.
Collins, who celebrated his 36th anniversary with wife Nancy Collins in September, bookmarks Bond movies to family milestones, such as from 1979 and their courtship.
“We were dating when ‘Moonraker’ came out,” he said.
Later meeting Bond girl Chiles, Collins was struck by her height, about 6 feet, almost “eye to eye” with him.
His parents provided him another bond to the movie series.
“My parents moved to Myrtle Beach in 1987,” Collins said, “and on our first trip to see them, we took them to see ‘The Living Daylights.’ So, the first movie I ever saw in Myrtle Beach was a Bond movie.”
Seeing “Goldfinger” in 1964 gave Collins, what he called “an epiphany,” making him “a lifelong James Bond fan.”
“Watching it made me aware that there were things going on behind the camera,” said Collins, also a video production company owner and movie theater projectionist. “And of course, a car with an ejector seat: Well, what 9-year-old boy wouldn’t be impressed with that?”
Loving his work in movie theaters since age 17, Collins credited a next-door neighbor in Winston-Salem, NC, who owned some drive-in theaters for only enhancing his appreciation with the components of movie making behind the camera, such as editing film footage and scoring music.
Fast forwarding a few years, Collins said joining the Ian Fleming Foundationeventually led to connections for tours to attend Bond movie world premieres. “Spectre,” with Daniel Craig’s fourth run in the lead role, had its global debut Oct. 26 at multiple sites in London, but its timing, and other plans, kept Collins stateside this time around. However, seeing the movie this weekend has been high in priority for a long time.
Asked for his favorite Bond foe on screen, Collins returned to the movie that punched his ticket as a Bond buff: Goldfinger, portrayed by the late Gert Fröbe.
“He is a clearly defined villain,” he said. “You know what he’s about – he’s about greed.”
The metal-toothed man, who standing more than 7 feet tall, played the nemesis Jaws in two successive movies starting with “The Spy Who Loved Me” in 1977, impressed Collins in person.
“Richard Kiel was a sweet guy,” he said, “so soft spoken.”
Collins views the whole Bond movie franchise based on Fleming’s spy novels and begun in 1962 with “Dr. No,” starring Sir Sean Connery, as nothing short of “remarkable” after 53 years.
“It shows no signs of stopping,” Collins said, admiring the franchise’s reach and evolution, even into wallpapers for mobile phones. “You just can’t get away from it.”
Contact STEVE PALISIN at 843-444-1764.
What Bond song bowled you over?
Bob Collins
“Easy Radio” host, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, simulcast on WEZV-FM 105.9 and WGTN-FM 100.7 (www.wezv.com).
“Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey (1964) – “ ‘Goldfinger’ was my first Bond movie at the age of 9 in July 1965. It was written by my favorite movie composer, John Barry, with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. The song, sung by Shirley Bassey fortells the evil that awaits those who get in Goldfinger’s way. ‘It's the kiss of death from Mr. Goldfinger.’ It’s such a powerful and iconic song, but Bond producer Harry Saltzman upon hearing it, hated it. But the movie was just days from opening, so he said they were stuck with it. Saltzman said if they had more time. he would scrap that song and make Barry and company write a new one. How wrong could one be?”
Charles Jones Evans
Music director and conductor of the Long Bay Symphony, whose next concert, “Regional Influences,” is 4 p.m. Sunday at Myrtle Beach High School, on Robert Grissom Parkway, between 29th and 38th avenues North (843-448-8379 or longbaysymphony.com.)
“Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings (1973) – “The most significant and memorable James Bond theme song for me, likely because it was the first instance in which the movie music of Bond merged with my Beatles-based 1970s pop/rock world. I certainly knew the original Bond theme, and others such as “Goldfinger,” but they weren't part of my teenage music idiom. I suppose that this song did something to broaden the popularity of the “007” brand, and the involvement of other pop idols such as Bono, Sheryl Crow and Madonna have carried that idea forward.
Tim Koch
Music director and conductor for the Carolina Master Chorale, whose 33rd season continues with 33rd season, with “An Outbreak of Peace,” 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 706 14th Ave. S., North Myrtle Beach, and 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at Trinity Church, 3000 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach (843-444-5774 or www.carolinamasterchorale.com).
“Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon, from “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977) – “Great accompaniment for a candlelight dinner.”
Tim McGhee
Executive/artistic director of Theatre of the Republic in Conway, where the next play in its 46th season is “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” Dec. 9-20 (843-488-0821 or www.theatreoftherepublic.com).
“Goldfinger” – “Shirley Bassey holds the record for performing three James Bond themes, along with ‘Diamonds are Forever’ and ‘Moonraker.’ It seems her tone and smoky voice just set the tone; anytime I can play it in a bar, I do, and people say, ‘What is that?’ ”
Steve Bailey
Myrtle Beach native, artist-in-residence at Coastal Carolina University, and chairman of the bass department at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
“Live and Let Die” – “The melody and chords lend themselves well to the six-string, fretless bass, and it is beautiful piece of music – what one would expect from Paul McCartney. I have played it often at “Solo Bass” shows and clinics around the world. Also, I have gotten to hang out a few times with Sean Connery. He’s a great, funny guy, who knows a lot about jazz.”
Osagie D. Ehigie, also known as “Mr. E.”
Coordinator of dance education and arts management at Black Water Middle School in Conway, where its “Winter Dance Showcase” will be 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16-17 (843-903-8440).
“GoldenEye” by Tina Turner (1995) – “It’s bold, dark, edgy, and Tina Turner truly added a haunting and memorable quality to a wonderfully scored piece of music.”
Dave Priest
Co-host with Liz Callaway on the morning show on WRNN-FM “Hot Talk” 99.5, 6-10 a.m. Mondays-Fridays.
“Live and Let Die” – “The production value is great, the song didn’t sound like it was forced into being the title track. It sounded like a song that could have been a hit for McCartney (it was) but just also happened to be the title of the latest Bond movie. The change of pace several times goes from sultry to frenetic to fun, pretty much like a Bond movie does. Honorable mention goes to Shirley Bassey for both ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘Diamonds are Forever.’ The horns in ‘Goldfinger’ add to the intrigue and set the mood, but her voice fits the style of the Sean Connery Bond: rough yet powerful.”
Jerry Dalton
Founder and director of the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, for which the 11th edition will be in April (myrtlebeachfilmfestival.com).
“For Your Eyes Only” by Sheena Easton (1981), or “Nobody Does it Better” – “This is a tough choice. There are several that could easily take top billing. ... but, you can literaly flip a coin for either one of these for what I feel is the best Bond theme song.”
Bill Oberst Jr.
Georgetown native in Los Angeles who has starred in various movies and TV productions such as “The Shunning,” “Sherman's March,” the Daytime Emmy Award-winning “Take This Lollypop,” and a guest role last year on CBS’ “Criminal Minds,” and earlier this year, he performed with Rocky Fretz to premiere “I Love to Tell the Story: Great Hymns and the Stories Behind Them” at the Strand Theater in Georgetown.
“Skyfall” by Adele (2012) – “At their best, Bond movie themes have an epic sweep, but also an undercurrent of fate that reminds one of the inescapable truth of Ecclesiastes 9:11. My current favorite example of this is ... ‘Skyfall.’ I first heard it on my car radio at 4 o'clock in the morning whiledriving to the Los Angeles airport to fly out for a shoot in Mexico. I had no idea that what I was hearing was a Bond theme, but the first piano notes captured my tired mind. I’ll never forget hearing it surrounded by the darkness,under the stars, and wondering ‘What is this?’ When I listen to it now, I don’t watch the video. I prefer my memories.”
Rocky Fretz
A composer and pianist with nine albums, and a longtime performer in “The Carolina Opry Christmas Special – The Christmas Show of the South,” through Jan. 2 at the Calvin Gilmore Theater in Myrtle Beach (843-913-4000, 800-843-6779 or www.thecarolinaopry.com).
“Dr. No” movie soundtrack (1962) – “The surf guitar, amazing horn arrangements and that electric guitar melody – haunting but so cool at the same time – hard to beat.”
Chad Thompson
Bass player at Legends in Concert in Myrtle Beach, where the year-end lineup of tribute artists comprises Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Rod Stewart, and the Blues Brothers through Jan. 2, including Christmas shows through Dec. 19 (843-238-7827, 800-960-7469 or www.legendsinconcert.com/myrtle-beach).
“Skyfall” – “There are hints of the original James Bond song all over the composition, especially the signature rising melodic theme and the use of tremolo guitar, which hints at the old ’60s style surf guitar used in the original soundtrack. I think it is a brilliantly arranged piece that starts off slow and mysterious and rises to an epic, orchestral crescendo that creates a sonic wall, which lays the foundation for Adele to lay her vocals upon. I think overall it does a great job of creating something new and fresh while still tying in the entire legacy of the James Bond film franchise over the last 50 years by weaving in and out many of the original musical themes that were present in the original soundtrack.”
Also, Jason Aiesi, general manager of Legends in Concert in Myrtle Beach: “A View to a Kill” by Duran Duran (1985) – “As a lover of the ’80s, my favorite is ... pure Duran Duran at the pinnacle of their career.”
Grant Turner
Comedian who portrays Ricky Mokel at the Alabama Theatre in North Myrtle Beach, where “The South’s Grandest Christmas Show” continues through Jan. 2 (843-272-1111, 800-342-2262 or www.alabama-theatre.com).
“Goldfinger” – It “still causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stiffen ... . The few times I’ve heard the song while driving a car have resulted in higher RPMS and greater G-forces. I saw ‘Goldfinger’ after waiting in a long line at Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead, Atlanta, where the movies used to premiere. Bond’s Aston Martin DB-5 driven and crashed in the movie was also on display outside the theater.”
Brown Bradley
Founder and director of “FPC Concerts,” for which the 30th annual series – at First Presbyterian Church, 1300 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach – opens at 1 p.m. Jan. 21 with Stephen Waarts on violin and Chelsea Wang on piano (843-448-4496 or www.fpcconcerts.com).
“Goldfinger” – “The music score of ‘Goldfinger’ was my favorite music. ... Looking forward to ‘SPECTRE.’ I never miss a Bond movie.”
Fred LeBlanc
Drummer and lead singer of Cowboy Mouth.
“Skyfall” – “Watching the movie, the lyrics were really, really amazing. ... Lyrically, it painted a picture of a story.”
Sir Devon Nooner
Lead singer of The Molly Ringwalds, a 1980s tribute band.
“Live and Let Die” – “Because it’s a (Wings) Paul McCartney song. Every time I hear that song, I think of the film as well. Some of the movie was also filmed in Louisiana, where we live most of the year.”
KICKS! PICKS
▪ Lisa Urban, The Sun News’ newsroom clerk and MVP: “Live and Let Die” – “I remember that movie from when I was a cashier in high school and I worked in a theater, in Waldorf, Md. That was the most fun, working in a movie theater.”
▪ Steve Palisin: “All Time High” by Rita Coolidge, from “Octopussy” (1983): “Notice how the movie title is never uttered in the song, for which a music video included shots of Coolidge interspersed with footage of Sir Roger Moore as Special Agent 007. The singer, in my phone interview in April 2014 – and who also recorded “Love Came for Me” for the movie “Splash” (1984) – spoke of carrying such a “fabulous” torch, “to be chosen in such wonderful company” in singing a Bond movie theme. Coolidge also remembered the honor of joining Moore in London in 1983 for the world premiere of “Octopussy” and met Prince Charles and the late Lady Diana. In ‘All Time High,’ the melody, lyrics, and the beautiful rendition from so sweet a songstress, capture the zing of tying my own knot for my greatest story ever told.”
This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bonded to world movie premieres."