With the 50th anniversary of James Bond upon us, and Daniel Craig helping to release the new Range Rover Sport in New York:
http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/Its-here-the-new-Range-Rover-Sport-2013-03-26
A simple question is posed:
Would Bond's British bravado transfer across the pond?
On the surface it would be a resounding 'No'. There's something about the British accent that seems to give license to Bond's boorish behavior with women and makes the willingness of these women to jump into bed with Bond more believable.
But that is not the main reason that Bond would seemingly not work as an American character, a good writer and a good actor could make these behaviors believable, despite any accent. The main obstacle for Bond's puddle jump is what makes Bond's so legendary.
Bond could be anyone at any time, not only in his service to Queen and country, but as a character. Very little back story is ever given about Bond, making him immortal and immune to the constant changing of the actors. He is a timeless character, able to reincarnate to face any new threat that the world faces.
But as soon as Bond walks on on screen, you know what sort of man he is: a man of privilege, a man of class, a man in high social standing. This is what would fundamentally not transfer over to the States.
America has always been a nation of underdogs. Even from its birth, America has always been against long odds, something we have in common with Mr. Bond, as he has always been one man vs. the world, protecting his country from evils known and unknown. Something that is almost fundamentally American.
But if fundamentally Bond stands for the same ideals that America does, why couldn't he be an American agent?
American heroes are not privileged, nor are they born with a sliver spoon. In the latest incarnation of Bond, Skyfall, we learn more of Bond's orphan childhood, but since then he has lived the greatest life of privilege that the British government can afford. This lifestyle is what prevents Bond from being an American hero. He is still an underdog, but he is wrapped under too many layers of tuxedo to be an American agent.
Over the last 50 years Bond has become too engrained in human culture as England itself, to work for any other country. Bond, like Holmes, Who, or Shakespeare, can only work as a British character.
http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/Its-here-the-new-Range-Rover-Sport-2013-03-26
A simple question is posed:
Would Bond's British bravado transfer across the pond?
On the surface it would be a resounding 'No'. There's something about the British accent that seems to give license to Bond's boorish behavior with women and makes the willingness of these women to jump into bed with Bond more believable.
But that is not the main reason that Bond would seemingly not work as an American character, a good writer and a good actor could make these behaviors believable, despite any accent. The main obstacle for Bond's puddle jump is what makes Bond's so legendary.
 |
| The latest Bond, Craig (left), and the first Bond, Connery (right) |
But as soon as Bond walks on on screen, you know what sort of man he is: a man of privilege, a man of class, a man in high social standing. This is what would fundamentally not transfer over to the States.
America has always been a nation of underdogs. Even from its birth, America has always been against long odds, something we have in common with Mr. Bond, as he has always been one man vs. the world, protecting his country from evils known and unknown. Something that is almost fundamentally American.
But if fundamentally Bond stands for the same ideals that America does, why couldn't he be an American agent?
American heroes are not privileged, nor are they born with a sliver spoon. In the latest incarnation of Bond, Skyfall, we learn more of Bond's orphan childhood, but since then he has lived the greatest life of privilege that the British government can afford. This lifestyle is what prevents Bond from being an American hero. He is still an underdog, but he is wrapped under too many layers of tuxedo to be an American agent.
Over the last 50 years Bond has become too engrained in human culture as England itself, to work for any other country. Bond, like Holmes, Who, or Shakespeare, can only work as a British character.
I would say the reason for the Bond character not working as an American is that he was a man of privilege; and although the privilege class financed the colonies it was the commoners that experienced the hardships of settling the new land. And it is because of that no nonsense, bare necessity kind of culture that has been past down through the American generations precludes Bond from ever being considered American
ReplyDeleteThat was Kevin Defrese that made the previous comment.
ReplyDelete