Just in time for the Holiday season are some new and unique gift-giving items — from classic retro to stylish contemporary — sure to thrill James Bond fans around the world.
MOORE THE MERRIER: On the heels of his critically-acclaimed and best-selling memoirs My Word is My Bond and Bond on Bond, Sir Roger Moore returns for his third literary foray with One Lucky Bastard: Tales From Tinseltown. Originally published in the UK as Last Man Standing, the North American release and cover photograph for One Lucky Bastard reveals the more cheeky and playfully roguish side of one of the world’s most revered and charismatic actors.
In a stellar career spanning over seven decades — from “Ivanhoe” and “The Alaskans” to “Maverick”, “77 Sunset Strip”, “The Saint”, “The Persuaders” and, of course, James Bond — Roger Moore has been at the centre of the British and American film and television industry, from Pinewood to Hollywood, both engaging, inciting and collecting some of the most hilarious, courageous, naughty and often outrageous tales of celebrity derring-do alongside such fellow luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Cary Grant, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Gregory Peck, Joan Collins, David Niven, Kevin Costner, Peter Sellers, Tony Curtis, and James Bond producers Cubby Broccoli & Harry Saltzman — to name but a few.
As one of the finest raconteurs and quickest wits, Roger Moore displays his flair for amusing storytelling and self-depricating humor as he regales readers with titillating page-turners from his globetrotting bon vivant life and career. A charming and captivating read not only for James Bond enthusiasts, but cinema aficionados of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
As Roger once told me about his April 1st, 1954 Hollywood film debut opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson in MGM’s “The Last Time I Saw Paris”, it was a trembling, nerve-wracking first day of shooting. “It happened to fall on April Fool’s Day, and for sure I thought the joke must have been on MGM,” he recalled with a laugh. “It was rather intimidating having to work with Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson … and it was even worse because I ended up punching Van Johnson in the mouth on the first day of work!”
One Lucky Bastard: Tales from Tinseltown can be ordered here
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Last Man Standing: Tales from Tinseltown (UK version) can be ordered here
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“GOLDFINGER” 50th ANNIVERSARY
The third James Bond premiered to near riots by eager fans in the UK on September 17th 1964 and on December 21st 1964 in the United States. Bondmania had now firmly gripped the world. With a budget surpassing the first two 007 films combined, “Goldfinger” shattered box office records — recouping its budget in just the first two weeks — and became the first certified cinema blockbuster. “Goldfinger” forever changed the direction of the James Bond franchise with unprecedented, ingenious and fantastical larger-than-life exploits and visually extravagant grandeur.
Hailed as one the finest in the Bond canon, 1964’s “Goldfinger” would serve as an influence on such varied filmmakers as Stanley Kubrick to jaw-dropping inspiration for budding young filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Not to mention future 007 Pierce Brosnan, who as an 11-year old lad on his first visit to London, watched the film in stunned amazement.
“There was this gold lady, naked,” Brosnan recalled with a whimsical smile, telling me how “Goldfinger” unintentionally proved the inspiration for his future acting career. “Then this man with a hat that decapitated people and statues and this amazingly cool dude who just kind of strutted through the world, beat the shit out of anybody who got in his way, and got the girl. It really grabbed my attention like nothing else ever had. I just remember walking out of the theatre wanting so badly to do what he did.”
To celebrate the Golden Anniversary, “Goldfinger” has been released in a special limited-edition Steel Book Blu-Ray for the 50th Anniversary. This illustrious package includes a number of special extras proving a worthy addition to your library of cinema classics.
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GOLDFINGER 50TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION STEEL BOOK BLU RAY Order: Here
A number of unique tie-ins for the celebration of “Goldfinger” continues, perhaps none more distinctive than from London’s famed Anthony Sinclair. The legendary Savile Row bespoke tailor was James Bond director Terrence Young’s suitmaker of choice. So when Sean Connery was cast in “Dr. No”, Young immediately escorted Connery for a suave and sophisticated grooming courtesy of Anthony Sinclair’s meticulously crafted suits, which would soon become known as the classic Conduit Cut.
Sean Connery adopted Sinclair’s elegant, understated look for every subsequent James Bond film. Perhaps the most famous suit crafted by Anthony Sinclair during Connery’s tenure as 007 was undoubtedly the three-piece Prince of Wales ensemble, which rose to the occasion — structurally speaking — when Bond finally one-ups Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) for a rambunctious romp in the hay during his imprisonment on Auric Goldfinger’s Kentucky horse farm.
To this day, Sinclair’s suits remain just as timeless and fresh as when 007 first stepped onto the silver screen over five decades ago. There’s a reason Anthony Sinclair has remained synonymous with London’s finest sartorial Savile Row styling.
So to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of “Goldfinger”, Anthony Sinclair Mayfair has relaunched the “Legend” Jumper by Slazenger Heritage Gold. This iconic burgundy golf sweater was worn by Sean Connery during the film’s pivotal battle of wits and cunning between James Bond and Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) on the links at the 27-hole, 350-acre Stoke Poges championship golf course in Buckinghamshire, England.
The hand-stitched “Legend” Jumper has been crafted exactly from the same superfine soft two-fold (2/44) Merino wool in
creating this one-of-a-kind “Goldfinger” collectable, embroidered with Slazenger’s authentic Panther period logo — in original gold, of course.
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To order the special Limited Edition Slazenger Golf Sweater from Anthony Sinclair Mayfair — complete with a special commemorative presentation gift box — click here:
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Anthony Sinclair’s equally enticing tip of the hat to the “Goldfinger” 50th Anniversary are the unique cufflinks created in collaboration with Britain’s legendary Deakin & Francis. Not quite as lethal as Auric Goldfinger’s razor-rimmed hat-wielding henchman, these miniature “Oddjob” bowlers are nonetheless sure to turn a few heads.
Available in both black and silver, the deluxe limited edition cufflinks are Solid Sterling Silver oxidised and enamelled with a domed oval spring link fitting and packaged in an exclusive presentation gift box with a full set of Deakin & Francis traditional hallmarks for authenticity.
In other words, these cufflinks should not be used as projectiles at your next cocktail party or in the boardroom!
To order from Anthony Sinclair Mayfair, click here:
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** All text © Copyright David Giammarco, 2014. **
** All photographs © Copyright David Giammarco / EON Productions / Anthony Sinclair 2014. **
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE JAMES BOND FILMS BY DAVID GIAMMARCO 