Movie Musings: Disney and More

The Name’s Disney, James Disney

Ian Fleming first created the character of James Bond in 1953 in a series of novels and two short-story collections. Since his unfortunate death in 1964, Ian Fleming’s character of James Bond has been readapted for other novelizations as well as television, radio, comic strips, video games, and of course, film. The James Bond film franchise consists of 24 films. And Agent 007 has been portrayed by a total of 13 actors in television, radio, and video game adaptations. However, several of the actors who have portrayed Bond, long before they donned the smashing tuxedos, massive weaponry and technological gadgetry, starred in films for the Walt Disney Studios? In this blog, I would like to acknowledge that.

Pierce Brosnan played James Bond in the films: GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2002). Brosnan’s only connection to Disney is spoofing the character of James Bond in the ABC show Muppets Tonight (1996). Pierce Brosnan is the only actor to play James Bond who has also appeared in a movie-musical in Mamma Mia (2008). (He will also appear in Universal’s upcoming sequel to “Mamma Mia,” Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (2018)). 

Sir Daniel Craig is the sixth actor who has portrayed Bond, though the first and so far only actor to portray him in the 21st century. His Bond movies are: Casino Royale (2006), (which was remake of an earlier film of the same name, Casino Royale (1967), which was a comedic/parody portrayal of James Bond where he was acted by David Niven), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), and Spectre (2015). Before he was known as Bond, at just 27 years of age, Craig starred in Disney’s A Kid in King Arthur’s Court (1995). Craig also made a cameo as one of the First Order Stormtroopers in Disney’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).        

Sir Sean Connery is the very first actor to play James Bond on film. His Bond films include: Dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1965), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Never Say Never Again (1983). Just three years before “Dr. No,” Sean Connery was cast by Walt Disney in the film, Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959). Bond film producer, Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, saw this film and knew right of the bat that Connery would be the perfect James Bond. (Connery also starred in the Disney-owned Hollywood Pictures films, Medicine Man (1992) and The Rock (1996)). To this day, Connery, along with David Niven, are the only two actors portraying James Bond to win an Academy Award, having won Best Supporting Actor in The Untouchables (1986). 

Timothy Dalton originally had been offered the role of James Bond for the film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1968), but declined, believing himself to be too young for the part. He was approached again around 1979-1980, but declined once more, having disliked the direction the films were taking. He received a third offer in 1986, after Roger Moore retired and Pierce Brosnan had been considered, but couldn’t be released from commitments to Remington Steele (1982-1987). Dalton decided to accept that time and made the films The Living Daylights (1987) and License to Kill (1989). He was under contract to make a third film, though that did not work out, due to a lawsuit the film’s producers got into with MGM. After his brief run as James Bond, Dalton starred as the villainous Neville Sinclair in Disney’s The Rocketeer (1991). He also lent his voice to Mr. Pricklepants the porcupine in Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 (2010), and continues that voice for every “Toy Story,” spin-off today. He also lent his voice to the Disney/Studio Ghibli film, Tales from Earthsea (2006) and the Disney Faires direct-to-video film, Secret of the Wings (2012).

Sir Roger Moore played James Bond in: Live and Let Die (1973), The Man With the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), and A View to Kill (1985). Roger Moore’s Disney connections include guest starring as himself in the final episode of The Muppet Show (1976), and after his run as Bond, starred in The Magic Snowman (1987). Just like his predecessor, Sean Connery, Roger Moore played James Bond in seven movies. Roger Moore’s daughter, Deborah Moore, acted alongside Pierce Brosnan in “Die Another Day.”

David Niven’s appearance as James Bond in the aforementioned original version of “Casino Royale,” was his only appearance as the character. Ironically, Ian Fleming originally had Niven in mind for the role in first Bond film “Dr. No,” but “Cubby” Broccoli thought he was too old.  In the ‘70s, Niven starred in the Disney films No Deposit, No Return (1976) which co-starred Darren McGavin and Don Knotts and Candleshoe (1977), which also starred a virtually unknown Jodie Foster. (Both those films were directed by Norman Tokar and produced by Walt Disney’s son-in-law, Ron Miller.) Prior to portraying Bond, Niven won his Oscar, in the category of Best Actor, for Separate Tables (1958). Niven is also the only actor whose name receives any acknowledgment in an Ian Fleming novel. His name is written in Chapter 14 of You Only Live Twice, which is the 11th novel in the book series.

The James Bond film franchise has grossed more than $7.040 billion dollars and is currently the fourth-highest-grossing-film franchise of all time. Daniel Craig is currently attached to make one final film appearance as Agent 007 in a film set for release in 2019, making it his fifth appearance as the character and the 25th film in the franchise.