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The James Bond Rights Battle That Led to Octopussy vs. Never Say Never Again
Den of Geek ^ | 06/13/2023 | Don Kaye

Posted on 12/30/2023 6:19:38 PM PST by L.A.Justice

It was 40 years ago this month when the biggest battle on movie screens took place not between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, but improbably enough, between James Bond and… James Bond.

In 1983, audiences got to choose between two films starring Ian Fleming’s famous secret agent: Octopussy, the sixth film to feature the debonair Roger Moore as British spy 007, and Never Say Never Again, the first movie in 12 years to star the original James Bond, Sean Connery. This was following his second departure from the wildly successful film franchise in 1971.

How did this come to pass? Why would two movie studios go head-to-head with competing films about the same character, and how was that legally possible in the first place? The answer is found in a complicated series of events that stretch back to the 1950s and the very origins of James Bond, even continuing well past 1983 and into the 2000s, right up to the beginning of Daniel Craig’s tenure in the role. The story centers primarily on one lone producer who was determined to make his own 007 movies–even if he had to keep making the same one over and over again.

(Excerpt) Read more at denofgeek.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: jamesbond

I watched both films...

Each movie had memorable moments...Like when Bond escaped in a small airplane in OCTOPUSSY...

Kim Basinger vs Maud Adams? I think that Maud Adams was better than Alec Baldwin's ex-wife..

1 posted on 12/30/2023 6:19:38 PM PST by L.A.Justice
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To: L.A.Justice

Another battle ended up with the 1967 comedy parody Casino Royale and the serious one later. I make no apologies for liking the 1967 one and the related What’s New, Pussycat.

Actually there was an earlier TV version on CBS in 1954 starring Barry Nelson, for which Ian Fleming was paid $1,000. “Climax! Casino Royale.”


The 1967 film trailer....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0px9QxojVjU

In 1999, Eon picked up the rights to the Casino Royale novel after a lawsuit between MGM and Sony Pictures ended as part of a trade deal that saw Sony acquiring MGM’s interest in the Spider-Man film rights.


2 posted on 12/30/2023 6:38:59 PM PST by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls.)
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To: L.A.Justice

What about the Bond movie Casino Royale that starred David Niven?


3 posted on 12/30/2023 6:43:12 PM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
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To: L.A.Justice

What I don’t appreciate is the Broccolis numbering their Bond films as James Bond 26 etc. That doesn’t include Never or the first Casino Royale. So the next film will be 28, not 26. How can you not count a Bond film with Connery as bond?


4 posted on 12/30/2023 7:01:30 PM PST by coalminersson (since )
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To: frank ballenger

https://www.facebook.com/CultCinemaClassics/videos/casino-royale-1954/2783342245092807/


5 posted on 12/30/2023 7:03:56 PM PST by coalminersson (since )
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To: L.A.Justice

Maud Adams was in a few other Bond films- The Man With the Golden Gun for one.

I always liked Roger Moore than most and thought Octopussy was a very underrated Bond movie. Never Say Never was okay but overall it was a poor rip-off of Thunderball. Connery looked old in that flick and should’ve given it up after Diamonds are Forever- which i thought was great.


6 posted on 12/30/2023 7:07:11 PM PST by God luvs America (63.5 million pay no income tax and vote for DemoKrats...)
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To: L.A.Justice

Godzilla and James Bond need to meet in a movie...


7 posted on 12/30/2023 7:48:50 PM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: coalminersson

I think Broccoli family are not mentioning other Bond films because they want people not to know about those films...They do not want people to spend money watching other Bond films...


8 posted on 12/30/2023 8:53:03 PM PST by L.A.Justice
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To: Yo-Yo

I have not seen CASINO ROYALE with David Niven...I have no plans to see it...I do not want to see some James Bond comedy movie...


9 posted on 12/30/2023 8:55:17 PM PST by L.A.Justice
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To: God luvs America

Barbara Carrera was great in NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN...


10 posted on 12/30/2023 8:56:49 PM PST by L.A.Justice
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To: L.A.Justice

CASINO ROYALE is not a good movie by 1960’s standards. But judging it by today’s cinema standards, it is a top notch movie.


11 posted on 12/30/2023 8:58:33 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: L.A.Justice

#1 Kim Basinger vs Maud Adams?
Kim Basinger was wearing see thru or thin and tight outfits thru-out the film....


12 posted on 12/30/2023 10:52:54 PM PST by minnesota_bound (Need more money to buy everything now)
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To: coalminersson

Good catch. I had no idea it was preserved at that place in your link.

Thanks.


13 posted on 12/31/2023 12:50:08 AM PST by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls.)
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To: L.A.Justice

Why are they bothering they already killed this film franchise


14 posted on 12/31/2023 6:26:01 AM PST by butlerweave
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To: L.A.Justice
The Bond films are still amazing...however, I think Live and Let Die was the best film. Of course, my Dad had to stop me from jumping our Glastron over the road. 🤓 The road separated two lakes...

Also Jane Seymour was easy on my eyes...still is...

15 posted on 12/31/2023 7:01:57 AM PST by Deplorable American1776 (Guns don't kill people, LIBERALS DO!! Support the Second Amendment...)
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To: L.A.Justice

that puts them in the position of not including as a Bond film one in which Connery plays Bond It is the media compliance i object to.


16 posted on 12/31/2023 5:23:59 PM PST by coalminersson (since )
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