This page will contain news stories about Porgy and Bess, as they become available.Porgy and Bess1935-10-10. The cast of Porgy and Bess during the Boston try-out prior to the Broadway opening. [1] (http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9809/gershwin.html)Porgy and Bess is an opera with music by George Gershwin, based on the novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward about African American life in the ficticious locale Catfish Row. "Summertime" and "I loves you, Porgy" are the most recognized of its songs. PlotThe notable emotional and narrative elements are in the crafted details of the work as a whole, however the main plot points provide important context. Act I
The opera opens with an orchestral introduction which segues into evening in Catfish Row. Clara sings a lullaby to her baby ("Summertime") as the men prepare for a game of craps. Clara's husband, Jake, tries his own lullaby ("A woman is a sometime thing") with little effect. Porgy, a cripple and a beggar, enters on a goat cart and the crap game begins. Crown, a lowlife, and his woman Bess enter to join the game. Sporting Life, the local supplier of "happy dust" (cocaine) and alcohol also joins in. When Robbins wins, Crown, who is extremely intoxicated, fights with him and stabs him with a cotton hook. Crown runs, leaving Bess to fend for herself. The door is shut on her by most of the residents, except Porgy, who lets her in.
The mourners sing a spiritual to Robbins ("Where is brudder Robbins?"), before a detective enters, telling Serena (Robbins' wife) that she must bury her husband soon, or his body will be given to medical students. They take away Peter, who they say is a material witness. To raise money for burial, a saucer is placed on the body, and the mourners place money in it ("Overflow"). Serena laments her loss ("My man's gone now"), and the undertaker enters, and agrees to bury Robbins. Bess and the Chorus finish the act with "Leavin' for the Promise' Lan'". Act II
Jake and the other fishermen prepare for work ("It take a long pull to get there"). Porgy sings from the window about his outlook on life ("I got plenty o' nuttin'"). Sporting Life goes around trying to sell cocaine, but incurs the wrath of Maria ("I hates yo' struttin' style"). A fraudulent lawyer, Frazier, arrives and divorces Bess from Crown. Archdale enters, and informs Porgy that Peter will be released soon. A buzzard flies over, causing Porgy to drive it off ("Buzzard keep on flyin' over") As the rest of Catfish Row prepares for a picnic, Sporting Life asks Bess to follow him to New York before Porgy drives him off. Bess and Porgy are left alone, and express their love ("Bess, you is my woman now"). The chorus re-enters, about to leave for the picnic ("Oh, I can't sit down."). Bess leaves Porgy behind as she goes to the picnic.
The chorus enjoys themselves at the picnic ("I ain't got not shame doin' what I like to do!"). Sporting Life presents the chorus his views on the Bible ("It ain't necessarily so"). Serena chastises them ("Shame on all you sinners"). Crown enters to talk with Bess, and says that Porgy is temporary. Bess disagrees ("Oh, what you want wid Bess?"). Crown pushes her into the bushes, and Bess gets lost in the jungle.
Jake leaves to go fishing, and Peter comes back after being in prison. Bess is in Porgy's room, delirious. Serena tries praying to remove Bess's afflication ("Oh, doctor Jesus"). The Strawberry Woman and the Crab Man ply their trade on the streets, and Bess recovers from her fever. Bess talks with Porgy about her sins ("I wants to stay here"). The scene ends with the hurricane bell sounding.
The residents of Catfish Row try to console themselves while the storm rages, they hear someone knocking at the door. Crown enters, seeking Bess. The chorus tries praying to make Crown leave, causing him to goad them with "A red-headed woman make a choo-choo jump its track". Bess sees Jake's boat turn over in the river, and Clara runs out. Act III
The chorus consoles Clara with "Clara, don't you be downhearted". Sporting Life says that Crown will eventually return for Bess. All people leave the stage. Crown enters and goes to Porgy's door. Porgy opens it and they start a fight, which ends with Porgy stabbing Crown to death.
A detective enters and talks with Serena about the murders of Crown and Robbins. She says that she knows nothing. He asks Porgy to come and identify the body. Sporting Life tells Porgy that corpses bleed in the presence of their murderers, and the detective will use this against Porgy. Porgy refuses and is arrested for comtempt of court. Sportin' Life gives Bess cocaine, and then tells her that Porgy will be locked up for a long time. He tells her that she should come with him to New York ("There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York"). She shuts the door on his face, but he knows she will eventually follow him.
Porgy comes back to Catfish Row, and is richer, as he has been playing craps with his loaded dice. He gives gifts to the residents, and does not understand why they all seem so downhearted. He sees Serena with Bess's baby and asks where Bess is. Maria and Serena tell him that Bess has run off with Sporting Life ("Bess is gone"). Porgy vows to go to New York and find Bess ("I'm on my way"). Historical overviewThe libretto was by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The opera was originally advertised as "An American folk Opera". ProductionsIn September 1935, the opera premiered in Boston, then on October 10, 1935 at the Alvin Theater in New York City. The first production was not financially successful, but highly critically and publically acclaimed. The original production included:
In about 1938, the original cast reunited for a West Coast revival; the exception being that Avon Long took on the role of Sportin Life. Long continued to reprise his role in several of the following productions. A condensed version was performed in 1942 with a reduced cast and a number of musical pieces were removed. This version was a financial success—having died in 1937, Gershwin did not live to see this success—and touring commenced for months followed by a 1943 Broadway run. During this period, the original cast began to leave their roles making room for new singers. In March 1943, the opera debuted for the first time in Europe at Copenhagen. Another revival in 1952 had a notable new cast of principle characters: Leontyne Price as Bess, William Warfield as Porgy, and Cab Calloway as Sportin' Life; this ensemble commenced touring for four years. This prominent cast toured Europe making Porgy and Bess the first American opera appearance in Italy's La Scala; another groundbreaking performance took place in the then Soviet Union. Other historically relevant revivals occurred in 1961 as well as in 1964, but more important was the Broadway bicentennial production that began September 25, 1976. This performance was by the Houston Grand Opera company. As even the first production had excised and adapted some material to be financially feasible, this was the historical first performance which included the original uncut full score by Gershwin. The spoken dialogue was, as originally intended, done recitatively. Edward Matthews, famous for creating the role of "St. Ignatius" in Virgil Thompson's Four Saints in Three Acts played Porgy in this run. Helen Dowdy performed as the Strawberry Woman in the productions 1935, 1942, 1952 and 1964. Another Broadway production was staged in 1983. Other important productions were the 1985 Metropolitan Opera and 1987 Houston revivals. The centennial celebration of the Gershwin brothers from 1996–1998 included a new production as well. The constant revival of the opera and inclusion of old and new cast members allowed for the forming of traditions that were passed down from the experience cast members. Musical elementsIn the summer of 1934, George Gershwin worked on the opera in Charleston, South Carolina. His inspiration drew from the James Island Gullahs who he felt had traditions that were reminiscent of Africa. This research added to the authenticity of his work. The music itself reflects his New York jazz roots, but are portrayals of the southern black traditions. Gershwin modeled the pieces after each type of folk song that the composer knew about; jubilees, blues, praying songs, street cries, work songs, and spirituals are blended with traditional arias and recitatives. The themes themselves are not folk melodies, but draw inspiration from them in such a way that genuine folk music is recalled successfully. The Opera includes many famous songs, many of which became standards in jazz, blues and traditional opera singers:
ControversyThe play's portrayal of African Americans was attended by some controversy. A planned production by the Negro Repertory Company of Seattle, part of the Federal Theater Project, was cancelled because actors were displeased with what they viewed as a racist portrayal of aspects of African American life. The initial plan was that they would perform the play in a "Negro dialect", which these Pacific Northwest African American actors did not speak, and were supposed to learn from a dialect coach. Florence James attempted a compromise of dropping the use of dialect pronunciations, but ultimately the production was canceled outright. (Becker 2002) During the era of apartheid in South Africa, several South African theatre companies planned to put on all-white productions of Porgy and Bess. Ira Gershwin, as heir to his brother, consistently refused to permit these productions to be staged. Incarnations
FilmIn 1959, a film version was produced starring Robert McFerrin and Adele Addison as the singing voices for Porgy and Bess as portrayed by Poitier and Dandridge. Sammy Davis Jr. takes on the role of Sportin' Life, and Pearl Bailey is Maria. Loulie Jean Norman does the singing voice for Diahann Carroll's Clara, while Inez Matthews—sister of the original production's Jake, Edward Matthews—sings for Ruth Attaway's Serena. The Gershwin estate was dissapointed with the film, as the score was edited to make it more like musical theatre, so much so that they pulled it from release in 1974. Prints can now only be seen in film archives. SongsMany of the individual songs from the Opera have been recorded, including Sarah Vaughn's rendition of "It Ain't Nesscarily So" and Billie Holiday's version of "Summertime". Frank Sinatra also had recorded "Summertime". Janis Joplin recorded a Blues rock version of "Summertime" with Big Brother & The Holding Company. Billy Stewart's version became a Top 10 Pop and R&B hit in 1966 for Chess Records. "Summertime" is one of the most popular cover songs (along with the Beatles "Yesterday"), with an estimated 2,500 different versions recorded. Even seemingly unlikely performers such as The Zombies have recorded the song. This page about Porgy and Bess includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Porgy and Bess News stories about Porgy and Bess External links for Porgy and Bess Videos for Porgy and Bess Wikis about Porgy and Bess Discussion Groups about Porgy and Bess Blogs about Porgy and Bess Images of Porgy and Bess |
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Even seemingly unlikely performers such as The Zombies have recorded the song. When the ship was detonated, the resulting explosion was massive, so massive in fact that it shattered windows along Bay Street in Nassau roughly thirty miles away. "Summertime" is one of the most popular cover songs (along with the Beatles "Yesterday"), with an estimated 2,500 different versions recorded. Not knowing how volatile the fuel was, Stears doused the entire ship with the fuel and took cover from a safe distance of the ship. Billy Stewart's version became a Top 10 Pop and R&B hit in 1966 for Chess Records. While in Nassau during one of the final days of shooting, John Stears, the special effects supervisor was supplied experimental rocket fuel to use to blow up Largo's ship, the Disco Volante. Janis Joplin recorded a Blues rock version of "Summertime" with Big Brother & The Holding Company. Filmed in Caribbean locales, Thunderball is remarkable for its underwater scenes, which contributed greatly to the popularization of scuba diving as recreation. Frank Sinatra also had recorded "Summertime". The rebreather would appear again in a couple of Bond films, while the airborne jet pack makes a cameo appearance in Die Another Day and is a feature borrowed for the video game adaptation of From Russia With Love. Many of the individual songs from the Opera have been recorded, including Sarah Vaughn's rendition of "It Ain't Nesscarily So" and Billie Holiday's version of "Summertime". Lastly, Bond was given a "rebreather", which was a small scuba device that can be carried unnoticed, and, when used, provides a few minutes of air in underwater emergencies. Prints can now only be seen in film archives. It was used by Bond to maneuver through the water faster than anyone else. The Gershwin estate was dissapointed with the film, as the score was edited to make it more like musical theatre, so much so that they pulled it from release in 1974. Bond was also outfitted with an underwater jet pack that was armed with a spear gun. Loulie Jean Norman does the singing voice for Diahann Carroll's Clara, while Inez Matthews—sister of the original production's Jake, Edward Matthews—sings for Ruth Attaway's Serena. Included was a homer pill that when swallowed emits a signal that helps headquarters trace his whereabouts, a waterproof watch that doubles as a geiger counter and a camera that doubles as a geiger counter. takes on the role of Sportin' Life, and Pearl Bailey is Maria. Q branch provides Bond with a number of gadgets throughout the film, which were given to Bond while in the field, a first in the Bond films. Sammy Davis Jr. Also used in the pre-title sequence was the Bell Textron jet pack, which was used by Bond to escape from a building. In 1959, a film version was produced starring Robert McFerrin and Adele Addison as the singing voices for Porgy and Bess as portrayed by Poitier and Dandridge. For this film a surprise modification of rear water cannons were used in the opening pre-title sequence, although the vehicle itself has a noticeably weathered appearance that goes unexplained (perhaps suggesting other, unseen adventures). Ira Gershwin, as heir to his brother, consistently refused to permit these productions to be staged. In Thunderball, the famous Aston Martin DB5 makes its second appearance, previously in Goldfinger. During the era of apartheid in South Africa, several South African theatre companies planned to put on all-white productions of Porgy and Bess. The original soundtrack only featured twelve tracks, roughly only the first half of the film; the last seven tracks listed below were unreleased in 1965. (Becker 2002). The soundtrack was actually still unfinished days before the release of the film and even when the soundtrack album was released to stores. The initial plan was that they would perform the play in a "Negro dialect", which these Pacific Northwest African American actors did not speak, and were supposed to learn from a dialect coach. Florence James attempted a compromise of dropping the use of dialect pronunciations, but ultimately the production was canceled outright. The rest of the soundtrack for the film was also composed by John Barry; this was his third soundtrack for the series. A planned production by the Negro Repertory Company of Seattle, part of the Federal Theater Project, was cancelled because actors were displeased with what they viewed as a racist portrayal of aspects of African American life. "Thunderball" was sung by Tom Jones who, according to Bond production legend, fainted in the recording booth when singing the song's final, high note. The play's portrayal of African Americans was attended by some controversy. John Barry teamed up with lyricist Don Black and wrote "Thunderball". The Opera includes many famous songs, many of which became standards in jazz, blues and traditional opera singers:. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman were worried that a theme song to a James Bond movie would not work well if the song did not have the title of the film in its lyrics. The themes themselves are not folk melodies, but draw inspiration from them in such a way that genuine folk music is recalled successfully. The song was removed from the title credits after producers Albert R. Gershwin modeled the pieces after each type of folk song that the composer knew about; jubilees, blues, praying songs, street cries, work songs, and spirituals are blended with traditional arias and recitatives. The song was originally recorded by Shirley Bassey, but was later re-recorded by Dionne Warwick, whose version is the official version found on the soundtrack. The music itself reflects his New York jazz roots, but are portrayals of the southern black traditions. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. This research added to the authenticity of his work. The title was taken from an Italian journalist who in 1962 dubbed agent 007 as Mr. His inspiration drew from the James Island Gullahs who he felt had traditions that were reminiscent of Africa. Kiss-Kiss, Bang-Bang", which was written by John Barry and Leslie Bricusse. In the summer of 1934, George Gershwin worked on the opera in Charleston, South Carolina. The original title credit theme to Thunderball was entitled "Mr. The constant revival of the opera and inclusion of old and new cast members allowed for the forming of traditions that were passed down from the experience cast members. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman are not credited as producers of the film, and are instead credited as the movie being "presented by" them. The centennial celebration of the Gershwin brothers from 1996–1998 included a new production as well. Due to the agreement with Kevin McClory, Albert R. Other important productions were the 1985 Metropolitan Opera and 1987 Houston revivals. Bond and Domino jump overboard as the out of control hydrofoil runs aground and explodes. Another Broadway production was staged in 1983. The two have a fierce hand to hand fight, however, Largo is shot in the back by Domino. Helen Dowdy performed as the Strawberry Woman in the productions 1935, 1942, 1952 and 1964. During the battle, Bond sneaks aboard the Disco Volante and encounters Largo who is attempting to escape by using the Disco Volante's hydrofoil to speed away. Ignatius" in Virgil Thompson's Four Saints in Three Acts played Porgy in this run. Navy Frogmen parachute to the location of the bomb where a massive underwater battle takes place. Edward Matthews, famous for creating the role of "St. Bond informs Felix of the location of the bomb and the two as well as a platoon of U.S. The spoken dialogue was, as originally intended, done recitatively. After an underwater battle that Bond barely escapes from, he his rescued by Leiter. As even the first production had excised and adapted some material to be financially feasible, this was the historical first performance which included the original uncut full score by Gershwin. agent on a mission with Largo who is planting one of the nuclear warheads at its target, just off the coast of Florida. This performance was by the Houston Grand Opera company. She gives Bond information that allows for him to take the place of a S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Other historically relevant revivals occurred in 1961 as well as in 1964, but more important was the Broadway bicentennial production that began September 25, 1976. Afterwards Bond informs Domino that her brother was killed by Largo and pleads for her to aid him in finding the nuclear warheads. This prominent cast toured Europe making Porgy and Bess the first American opera appearance in Italy's La Scala; another groundbreaking performance took place in the then Soviet Union. In Nassau, Bond teams up with Felix Leiter and the two set out to find the hijacked plane, which they eventually find along with the corpse of the phony NATO observer. Another revival in 1952 had a notable new cast of principle characters: Leontyne Price as Bess, William Warfield as Porgy, and Cab Calloway as Sportin' Life; this ensemble commenced touring for four years. Amongst Bond fans it is controversial as to whether or not Bond intentionally moves her into the path of the bullet, Fleming's Bond being against killing anyone in cold blood. In March 1943, the opera debuted for the first time in Europe at Copenhagen. She is later shot in the back by a bullet intended for Bond while dancing at a nightclub with him. During this period, the original cast began to leave their roles making room for new singers. A member of S.P.E.C.T.R.E., she was responsible for the substitution of the NATO observer, and attempts to kill Bond after rendezvousing with Largo in Nassau. This version was a financial success—having died in 1937, Gershwin did not live to see this success—and touring commenced for months followed by a 1943 Broadway run. An additional character in the film is Fiona Volpe, who is not in the novel. A condensed version was performed in 1942 with a reduced cast and a number of musical pieces were removed. Bond exploits this connection to get close to Largo after meeting Domino while scuba diving. Long continued to reprise his role in several of the following productions. The sister, Domino, played by Claudine Auger is Largo's mistress. In about 1938, the original cast reunited for a West Coast revival; the exception being that Avon Long took on the role of Sportin Life. Since the NATO observer's sister is in Nassau, M allows Bond to journey there to investigate. The original production included:. crisis, MI6 calls an emergency conference where a number of 00-agents are briefed and given assignments (although no faces are clearly seen, this is the first time 00 agents other than Bond have been seen on screen). Initially M assigns Bond to Canada, but Bond recognizes a photo of the NATO observer as the dead man he saw at the health club. The first production was not financially successful, but highly critically and publically acclaimed. Due to the S.P.E.C.T.R.E. In September 1935, the opera premiered in Boston, then on October 10, 1935 at the Alvin Theater in New York City. Things become stranger when Bond finds a dead man wrapped in bandages, and survives yet another attempt on his life. The opera was originally advertised as "An American folk Opera". Lippe subsequently attempts to murder Bond on a traction machine, but Bond is rescued by the attendant (whom he promptly beds); Bond subsequently has his revenge by trapping Lippe in a steam bath, although the count survives. The libretto was by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. While enjoying a massage from a sexy attendant, Bond meets Count Lippe, a shifty individual who becomes distrustful of Bond when 007 notices a gangland tattoo on the Count's arm. Porgy vows to go to New York and find Bess ("I'm on my way"). Prior to this event, Bond is ordered by M to attend a health farm in order to improve his physical condition. He sees Serena with Bess's baby and asks where Bess is. Maria and Serena tell him that Bess has run off with Sporting Life ("Bess is gone"). Additionally, the man posing as the NATO observer is killed by Largo's men after asking for more money prior to the hijacking. He gives gifts to the residents, and does not understand why they all seem so downhearted. Once in control of the plane, the henchman lands it in the middle of the ocean near the Bahamas where Emilio Largo (number two in S.P.E.C.T.R.E.) and his men hide the plane from any sort of overhead reconnaissance looking for it. Porgy comes back to Catfish Row, and is richer, as he has been playing craps with his loaded dice. who has undergone plastic surgery to appear as a NATO observer that would accompany the pilots on the trip. She shuts the door on his face, but he knows she will eventually follow him. In the film, the Avro Vulcan that is transporting the bombs is hijacked by a henchman of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. He tells her that she should come with him to New York ("There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York"). attempting to hold the world hostage by hijacking two nuclear bombs. Sportin' Life gives Bess cocaine, and then tells her that Porgy will be locked up for a long time. The plot of Thunderball deals with S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Porgy refuses and is arrested for comtempt of court. No and the events of From Russia With Love are also masterminded by the organization. Sporting Life tells Porgy that corpses bleed in the presence of their murderers, and the detective will use this against Porgy. in Dr. He asks Porgy to come and identify the body. A major difference between the movie and film versions of Thunderball is that, in the film continuity, Bond was first introduced to S.P.E.C.T.R.E. She says that she knows nothing. Afterwards, Bond escapes using a jetpack to fly to his car parked outside the château where he has a brief battle with his pursuers, during which Bond uses water cannons on the Aston Martin DB5. A detective enters and talks with Serena about the murders of Crown and Robbins. Bond comes to this realization and ambushes Boitier at his château where he kills him. Porgy opens it and they start a fight, which ends with Porgy stabbing Crown to death. As it would turn out a woman who Bond notices open a car door for herself at the funeral is Boitier in disguise. Crown enters and goes to Porgy's door. who had murdered two British agents. All people leave the stage. The film begins with James Bond attending the funeral of Jacques Boitier, an agent of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Sporting Life says that Crown will eventually return for Bess. Like most of the earlier James Bond films, Thunderball is a close adaptation of the Ian Fleming novel with changes mostly for the pre-title credits, the inclusion of gadgets, and an update of technology. The chorus consoles Clara with "Clara, don't you be downhearted". John Stears won for Best Visual Effects. Bess sees Jake's boat turn over in the river, and Clara runs out. Thunderball was the second James Bond film to be nominated and win an Academy Award. The chorus tries praying to make Crown leave, causing him to goad them with "A red-headed woman make a choo-choo jump its track". With inflation taken into account, Thunderball is also technically the most financially successful Bond film to date. Crown enters, seeking Bess. Thunderball is the most financially successful of Sean Connery's official Bond films, taking in $140 million worldwide. It also became the top grossing film of 1966 in North America, which to this date is the only James Bond film to rank #1 on the chart. The residents of Catfish Row try to console themselves while the storm rages, they hear someone knocking at the door. The sequence is also, for the first time, in color rather than in black and white (although a black and white version of the sequence would be used in Diamonds Are Forever). The scene ends with the hurricane bell sounding. The sequence was reshot primarily because this is the first James Bond film to be shot in the widescreen process, Panavision. Bess talks with Porgy about her sins ("I wants to stay here"). Previously, stuntman Bob Simmons performed the scene. The Strawberry Woman and the Crab Man ply their trade on the streets, and Bess recovers from her fever. Although this is the fourth, official James Bond film, it is the first time Sean Connery performed the gun barrel intro sequence. Serena tries praying to remove Bess's afflication ("Oh, doctor Jesus"). In February 1965 Connery was quoted in The Daily Mail saying,. Bess is in Porgy's room, delirious. Sean Connery, who already had a contract to do a certain number of Bond films, returned to the role of James Bond, however, he had started to have reservations about the role and the future of the James Bond film franchise. Jake leaves to go fishing, and Peter comes back after being in prison. No and From Russia With Love was subsequently chosen. Crown pushes her into the bushes, and Bess gets lost in the jungle. Terence Young, who directed the first two Bond films, Dr. Bess disagrees ("Oh, what you want wid Bess?"). Hamilton turned the job down claiming that he had done all he could with the Bond character, although he would later return in 1971 for Diamonds Are Forever as well as Live and Let Die (1973), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), and was at one point attached to direct The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), but backed out to pursue other films. Crown enters to talk with Bess, and says that Porgy is temporary. Initially, Broccoli turned to director Guy Hamilton, who directed Goldfinger. Serena chastises them ("Shame on all you sinners"). Consequently, Thunderball is the only James Bond film for which Broccoli, during his lifetime, did not receive credit as producer. Sporting Life presents the chorus his views on the Bible ("It ain't necessarily so"). Instead McClory took on the role of executive producer. The chorus enjoys themselves at the picnic ("I ain't got not shame doin' what I like to do!"). Since teaming up with Ian Fleming, Kevin McClory had always wanted to direct the film himself, however, the agreement with EON didn't allow this. Bess leaves Porgy behind as she goes to the picnic. John Hopkins was later brought in to add the finishing touches. The chorus re-enters, about to leave for the picnic ("Oh, I can't sit down."). For the film, Richard Maibaum revised his 1961 screen adaptation he initially wrote to be the first James Bond film. Bess and Porgy are left alone, and express their love ("Bess, you is my woman now"). Prior to the agreement in which Thunderball would become the fourth official James Bond film, producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman had planned to follow Goldfinger with On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which some prints of the film claim in the closing "James Bond will return" line. As the rest of Catfish Row prepares for a picnic, Sporting Life asks Bess to follow him to New York before Porgy drives him off. Margaret McKeown wrote "So, like our hero James Bond, exhausted after a long adventure, we reach the end of our story."[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderball#endnote_Judge_ruling). A buzzard flies over, causing Porgy to drive it off ("Buzzard keep on flyin' over"). Judge M. Archdale enters, and informs Porgy that Peter will be released soon. Kevin McClory's ongoing lawsuit to which he calls "The Greatest Act of Piracy in the History of the Motion Picture Industry" against Danjaq, United Artists, and MGM was thrown out in 2000 and finally struck down in 2001 by a three-judge appellate panel. A fraudulent lawyer, Frazier, arrives and divorces Bess from Crown. in 1997. Sporting Life goes around trying to sell cocaine, but incurs the wrath of Maria ("I hates yo' struttin' style"). (In 2005, a Sony-led partnership ended up buying MGM.) MGM obtained the film distribution rights to Never Say Never Again from Warner Bros. Porgy sings from the window about his outlook on life ("I got plenty o' nuttin'"). Likewise MGM relinquished to Sony their partial-rights to Spider-Man allowing Sony to release the film in 2002. Jake and the other fishermen prepare for work ("It take a long pull to get there"). Plans for this third movie were abandoned in 1999 when Sony settled with MGM, ceding any rights to making James Bond films. Bess and the Chorus finish the act with "Leavin' for the Promise' Lan'". (owner of EON Productions) to file suit against Sony and McClory, barring them from making the film. To raise money for burial, a saucer is placed on the body, and the mourners place money in it ("Overflow"). Serena laments her loss ("My man's gone now"), and the undertaker enters, and agrees to bury Robbins. In 1997, Sony announced a rival James Bond series, which forced MGM and Danjaq, L.L.C. They take away Peter, who they say is a material witness. In the 1990s Sony and McClory teamed up and planned a third remake of Thunderball, titled Warhead 2000 A.D. with either Liam Neeson as Bond or with Timothy Dalton returning to the role of 007. The mourners sing a spiritual to Robbins ("Where is brudder Robbins?"), before a detective enters, telling Serena (Robbins' wife) that she must bury her husband soon, or his body will be given to medical students. The media quickly dubbed this unique situation the "Battle of the Bonds", particularly during a brief period when both films were scheduled to arrive in cinemas nearly simultaneously (they were ultimately released several months apart). The door is shut on her by most of the residents, except Porgy, who lets her in. That same year, EON Productions released Octopussy starring Roger Moore as agent 007. Crown runs, leaving Bess to fend for herself. Together, Schwartzman and McClory produced the 1983 film Never Say Never Again, a remake of Thunderball that starred Sean Connery as James Bond, in a much-publicized return to the role after a 12-year hiatus. When Robbins wins, Crown, who is extremely intoxicated, fights with him and stabs him with a cotton hook. to write the screenplay. Sporting Life, the local supplier of "happy dust" (cocaine) and alcohol also joins in. and for hiring Lorenzo Semple Jr. Crown, a lowlife, and his woman Bess enter to join the game. In the 1980s, McClory sold the license to make one James Bond film based on the source material for Thunderball to Jack Schwartzman. Schwartzman was key for receiving backing from Warner Bros. Porgy, a cripple and a beggar, enters on a goat cart and the crap game begins. They were later replaced by Karl Stromberg and his unnamed organization. Clara's husband, Jake, tries his own lullaby ("A woman is a sometime thing") with little effect. as the main villains of the film. Clara sings a lullaby to her baby ("Summertime") as the men prepare for a game of craps. Early scripts for The Spy Who Loved Me indeed featured Ernst Stavro Blofeld and S.P.E.C.T.R.E. The opera opens with an orchestral introduction which segues into evening in Catfish Row. Moreover, John Brosnan's book James Bond in the
Cinema[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderball#endnote_Brosnan) claimed that McClory
and Connery learned specific plot details for The Spy Who
Loved Me that were supposedly similar to Thunderball and Warhead. The notable emotional and narrative elements are in the crafted details of the work as a whole, however the main plot points
provide important context. It has been reported that it was to be titled Warhead 8, Warhead, or
James Bond of the Secret Service and possibly not only to have starred Connery as 007, but directed by the actor as well.
This original Bond adventure was scrapped when EON Productions filed suit against McClory. Porgy and Bess is an opera with music by George Gershwin, based on the novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward about African American life in the ficticious locale Catfish Row. In 1965, Thunderball was released starring Sean Connery as agent 007. Porgy and Bess, 1959 musical film directed by Otto Preminger, starring Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge in the title roles. Broccoli and proposed collaborating on an adaptation of Thunderball as the fourth official James Bond film in 1964. The CD was reissued in 1997 by Columbia (CK 65141) with 2 bonus tracks. He reluctantly later went to Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Porgy and Bess, 1958-59 Miles Davis and Gil Evans recorded their interpretation of the George Gershwin/DuBose Heyward/Ira Gershwin opera. After being awarded the rights to make a film, McClory attempted to get backing to turn Thunderball into a film, however, he was unable to do so. Porgy and Bess, 1935 opera by George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. In an October 1997 interview with The Daily Telegraph[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderball#endnote_Daily_Telegraph), McClory stated this included the rights to any James Bond film plot that would include an "atomic bomb hijacking". Porgy, 1927 Theater Guild dramatization by DuBose Heyward & Dorothy Heyward. The settlement forced future versions of Thunderball to credit on the title page: "based on a screen treatment by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Ian Fleming", in that order though Ian Fleming's main author credit remained. Additionally, McClory was given the right to make a film adaptation of the book as well as the rights to all aspects of Thunderball, which supposedly included the rights to the villainous organization S.P.E.C.T.R.E., the character Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Blofeld's white Angora cat, and nine additional plot treatments and outlines. Porgy, 1925 novel by DuBose Heyward. During the lawsuit, Whittingham had dropped out due to financial difficulties and had sold his rights to the scripts to McClory. Oh, Doctor Jesus, ensemble. In December 1963 Fleming settled out of court with McClory at the behest of Ivar Bruce who felt Fleming's health was being seriously affected by stress from the lawsuit (Fleming had already been victim to one heart attack and in 1964 would die from a second). It Ain't Neccessarily So, Sportin' Life's comedic tune. The lawsuit, on the other hand, did prevent Thunderball from becoming the first James Bond movie, although screenwriter Richard Maibaum, who in the future would either co-write or adapt thirteen James Bond films, did complete a screenplay adaptation. Bess, You Is My Woman Now, a duet by the title characters. The courts ruled that the lawsuit wouldn't interfere with the publication of the novel because a number of books had already been shipped to retailers. Oh, I Can't Sit Down, ensemble. Additionally, McClory filed a lawsuit against Ivar Bryce for "injuring him as a false partner in Xanadu Productions". I Got Plenty of Nuttin, Porgy's song. Prior to publication, McClory received an advanced copy of the book and consequently filed suit along with Whittingham against Fleming in 1961 for "plagiarism and false attribution". My Man's Gone Now, Serena's lamenting aria after Robbins' murder by Crown. Initially, the novel credited only Ian Fleming as writer although the book is dedicated to his friend Ernest Cuneo ("Muse"). Summertime, Clara's famed opening lullaby. Because the deal between Fleming and McClory collapsed, Fleming took the story and the screenplay and novelized them as his ninth James Bond novel. Alexander Smallens, conductor. A few months later, however, Fleming met Harry Saltzman and later Albert R. Broccoli and sold them the film rights to the current series of published books as well as future James Bond novels except for Casino Royale, the rights for which had already been sold to other parties. Rouben Mammoulian, producer and director. Additionally, Fleming told McClory that if MCA were to reject the film because of McClory's involvement that McClory should either sell himself to MCA, back out, or prepare to go to court. The Eva Jessye Choir, lead by Eva Jessye. In John Pearson's biography, The Life of Ian Fleming[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderball#endnote_Pearson), Pearson claimed that McClory had visited Fleming at Goldeneye, Fleming's house in Jamaica, where Fleming explained to McClory his intention to deliver the screenplay to MCA with his recommendation for McClory to produce the film. Georgette Harvey as Maria. This lead to complications with getting proper financial backing for the film. Rosamond Johnson as the lawyer. The finished screenplay was meant to be produced by Kevin McClory, however McClory had recently finished an unsuccessful film called The Boy and the Bridge. J. During this time, Xanadu went bust and Ernest Cuneo supposedly sold his rights to the drafts of Thunderball to Ivar Bryce for one dollar. Helen Dowdy as the "Strawberry Woman". The rest of the project was a collaborated effort between Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Ian Fleming on a story and a screenplay over a two year period. Edward Matthews as "Jake", Clara's husband. The second draft of Thunderball was written by Fleming where the villain "Largo" is introduced as well as some of the main plot points from the novel and film including the theft of a nuclear device. Abbie Mitchell as "Clara". was created by Fleming. Ruby Elzy as "Serena", Robins' wife. came from McClory, while other sources including "Insider Thunderball"[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderball#endnote_Cork) an article by John Cork who is also the author of many official biographies, documentaries, and DVD featurettes on Ian Fleming and the James Bond films, claims S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Henry Davis as "Robins". Some sources, including Raymond Benson's The James Bond Bedside Companion[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderball#endnote_Benson) claim that the idea of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Warren Coleman as "Crown". The main villains of the screenplay at the time were the Russians but after the first draft was subsequently changed to S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Bubbles as "Sportin' Life". The rough draft was specifically designed around an idea by Kevin McClory to shoot the film underwater using Todd-AO cameras. Thunderball would later go through several rewrites although some elements from Cuneo's version would remain in the final novelized story by Fleming. John W. The first draft of Thunderball was written by Cuneo and sent to Ivar Bruce. Anne Brown as "Bess". The history of Xanadu Productions is very complicated and even today very controversial. Todd Duncan as "Porgy". Thunderball was originally conceived as the first film in a possible series of films for a production company called Xanadu Productions formed by Ian Fleming, Ernest Cuneo, Ivar Bruce and Kevin McClory. Scene 3 - Catfish Row, a week later.. The abbreviated Thunderball strip was reprinted by Titan Books in 2005 and is a part of the Goldfinger anthology that also includes Goldfinger, Risico, From A View To A Kill, and For Your Eyes Only. Scene 2 - Catfish Row, the next afternoon.. Beaverbrook and Fleming would later work out their differences and the James Bond comic strip would resume in the Daily Express in 1964 with an adaptation of On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Scene 1 - Catfish Row, the next night.. These additions are included in a number of syndicated versions of the strip. Scene 4 - Serena's Room, dawn of the next day.. A further six panels were also created to expand and conclude the story. Scene 3 - Catfish Row, a week later, just before dawn.. The final line reads, "Bond finds them and the world is safe." Six more panels for the Daily Express version were originally completed by artist John McLusky detailing the hijacking of the plane, however they were never printed. Scene 2 - Kittiwah Island, that evening.. sent their demands to the Western governments and that all agents, including Bond were sent out in search for the hijacked plane. Scene 1 - Catfish Row, a month later, in the morning. The strip ended in the next panel (#1117) stating that afterwards S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Scene 2 - Serena's Room, the following night. The original strip seen in the Daily Express only got to the point in the story where Giuseppe Petacchi hijacked the plane and the two nuclear warheads for S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Scene 1 - Catfish Row, a summer evening.. Writer Henry Gammidge and illustrator John McLusky were given only a few days notice and were forced to wrap up the story in only two daily strips. Fleming had sold the rights to the Sunday Times, a rival newspaper which upset Beaverbrook to the point of terminating his relationship with Fleming. The
adaptation began on December 11, 1961,
however, the Daily Express suddenly cancelled the strip (on the orders of Lord Beaverbrook) on February 10, 1962 when a dispute between Beaverbrook and Fleming occurred over the rights to the short story of The Living
Daylights. As with all previous Bond books, a comic strip adaptation of Fleming's
original novel was published as a daily comic strip in the British
Daily Express newspaper and syndicated around the world. After alerting the "Thunderball war room" of their suspicion of Largo, Bond and Leiter team up with the crew of the Manta, an American nuclear submarine, and pursue the Disco Volante, hoping to capture and seize the warheads while they're being transported to the first target. Once she learns of this, Domino turns against Largo and agrees to aid Bond. Bond also meets Dominetta "Domino" Vitale, Largo's mistress, and the sister of the NATO observer who Largo had killed after successfully delivering the warheads to him. Once there, 007 meets up with his friend Felix Leiter, who is once again working for the CIA as a result of the current crisis (in his previous appearance, Leiter had been working as a private detective after losing an arm and a leg while assisting Bond in Live and Let Die). James Bond is sent to the Bahamas to investigate. and recovering the two warheads is dubbed "Operation Thunderball", a thunderball being the scientific name for the expanding head of the mushroom cloud seen following a nuclear explosion. To the Americans and the British, the task of foiling S.P.E.C.T.R.E. as "Number 1". This plan is dubbed "Plan Omega" by Blofeld and is overseen by Largo, who is known within S.P.E.C.T.R.E. afterwards announces its existence to the world by threatening to destroy a major city unless a ransom of £100,000,000 is paid. S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Once there Emilio Largo and the crew of the cruiser Disco Volante, kill the NATO traitor and steal the two nuclear warheads aboard the jet. has hijacked a new military aircraft, the Vindicator, by paying the NATO observer on board to kill the pilots and redirect the plane to the Bahamas. S.P.E.C.T.R.E. This "new" Bond is ready for action when MI6 receives a communiqué from a new terrorist organization, S.P.E.C.T.R.E.; short for SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion. Upon his return Bond is a new man, having a new diet and smoking considerably less. As a result, M sends Bond on a vacation to a health farm in the country so that he can rest and get away from the office and work off some of these bad habits. Thunderball begins with a meeting between M and Bond during which 007 is informed that his latest physical delivered terrible results due to his drinking and habit of smoking sixty cigarettes a day. and an offspring of Blofeld's would later appear in John Gardner's Bond novel, For Special Services. S.P.E.C.T.R.E. The book is the first chapter in what is known as the "Blofeld Trilogy", which, after the interlude novel The Spy Who Loved Me, resumes with On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and concludes with You Only Live Twice. No and Blofeld in From Russia With Love. in Dr. leader Ernst Stavro Blofeld, although 007 does not actually meet the man in this book; this differed from the films, which introduced S.P.E.C.T.R.E. The book also features the first appearance of Bond's greatest enemy, S.P.E.C.T.R.E. After Thunderball, S.P.E.C.T.R.E. attempts to re-form; however, it is prevented from doing so by 007. in its full form in Ian Fleming's novels. The novel features the first and technically the last appearance of the criminal organization S.P.E.C.T.R.E. No due to a lawsuit brought about by McClory (see below). Thunderball was actually scheduled to be the first James Bond movie in 1962, but this was later changed to Dr. McClory later produced an unofficial remake, 1983's Never Say Never Again, which again starred Connery as Bond. It was the fourth official Bond movie in EON Productions' franchise. The first adaptation was released in 1965 with James Bond played by Sean Connery. Thunderball has, to date, been adapted twice in film. It was subsequently adapted to a comic strip beginning in 1961. It was published in 1961 and stands, technically, as the first novelization of a James Bond screenplay, even though at the time it was written and published, no such film had yet been produced. Thunderball is the ninth James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming, based on a screen treatment by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham and Ian Fleming. ISBN 0810932962. Boxtree/Macmillan. James Bond: The Legacy. Cork, John (2002). ISBN 1860643876. Tauris. I.B. Licence To Thrill: A Cultural History Of The James Bond Films. Chapman, James (1999). Casino Royale history for further information on the James Bond legal battles between Sony and MGM. Accessed on 28 April 2005. ^ "Judge M. Margaret McKeown on James Bond film rights (http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/2001-08-28#film3)." Thunderball Writer Thunderstruck By Court. ISBN 0498025462. Tantivy Press. James Bond in the Cinema. ^ Brosnan, John (1981). ^ Boshoff, Alison: "Double agent Bond held hostage in studio wars (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/10/22/wbon22.html)", The Daily Telegraph, (22 October 1997). ISBN 0224611364. Vintage/Ebury. The Life of Ian Fleming. ^ Pearson, John (1966). ^ "Inside Thunderball by John Cork (http://www.ianfleming.org/mkkbb/magazine/inside_tb.shtml)." Inside Thunderball. Accessed on 28 April 2005. ISBN 1401102840. Dodd, Mead. The James Bond Bedside Companion. ^ Benson, Raymond (1984). Some prints of this film are lacking the trademark "James Bond will return" message at the end, while others include it. In the 1983 remake Never Say Never Again, Largo's ship is named the Flying Saucer. The name of Emilio Largo's yacht, the Disco Volante means "Flying Saucer" in Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Throughout the entire film, James Bond never introduces himself as "Bond, James Bond". In the conference room, Agent 007 sits in the 7th chair. At the last minute, a reference to a then-recent, famous Great British Train Robbery was inserted into the S.P.E.C.T.R.E meeting near the beginning of the film. Nassau, The Bahamas. Paris, France. Silverstone racing circuit was used for the chase involving Count Lippe, Fiona Volpe, and James Bond's Aston Martin DB5. Pinewood Studios — London. The Bahamas — Paradise Island. London. Paris. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Mono) — Dionne Warwick. Mr. Underwater Mayhem / Death of Largo / End Titles. Underwater Battle. Finding the Plane / Underwater Ballet / Bond with SPECTRE Frogmen / Leiter to the Rescue / Bond Joins. Street Chase. Bond Meets Domino /Shark Tank / Lights out for Paula / For King and Country. Gunbarrel / Traction Table / Gassing the Plane / Car Chase. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Mr. 007. Search for the Vulcan. Bond Below Disco Volante. Death of Fiona. Thunderball. Cafe Martinique. The Bomb. Switching the Body. The Spa. Chateau Flight. Thunderball — Tom Jones. Production design by Ken Adam. Hunt. Supervising editor: Peter R. Cinematography by: Ted Moore. Music composed by: John Barry. Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins. Written by: Kevin McClory, Ian Fleming, Jack Whittingham. Produced by: Kevin McClory. Directed by: Terence Young. Fiona Volpe - Luciana Paluzzi. Emilio Largo, aka 'Number 2' - Adolfo Celi — dubbed by Robert Rietty. Felix Leiter - Rik Van Nutter. Q - Desmond Llewelyn. Miss Moneypenny - Lois Maxwell. M - Bernard Lee. Dominique 'Domino' Derval - Claudine Auger. James Bond - Sean Connery. |