Patterns in the Bond Films

I'd thought I would reach out to the many fans of the James Bond films (which includes me as well) and explain a bit about the Hidden Underscores of the Bond films.

All the Bond films were created to music. By created I mean that before one meter of film is shot there is a shooting script that has been inspired by music. Moreover, the scenes are created so that this secret music syncs (i.e. matches) the action in the film.

That's easier said than proved, so I thought that I would show three scenes in three different films that all sync to the same music. One very popular song to sync to (not just by the director of Bond films but films in general) is the Gershwin song, "Someone To Watch Over Me." Below are three syncs to the Frank Sinatra version of the song. This does not mean that that was the specific version that the filmmakers used but it does help to show common themes, common patterns and matches to the exact same timing. The three films presented are three of the Connery films: Dr. No, Goldfinger and Thunderball. All three films have the commonality of a bit of business around a hotel and a key (a car rental key, maid's pass key and Bond's room key, respectively).

Goldfinger

Although I may not be the man some girls think of as handsome To her heart I'll carry the key

Without even looking at the hotel maid, Bond grabs her pass key and pulls her and the key over to open Goldfinger's suite


Won't you tell her please to put on some speed Follow my lead, oh how I need Someone to watch over me

Bond watches over Jill Masterson as Masterson watches over Goldfinger's competitor's cards

Won't you tell her please to put on some speed Follow my lead, oh how I need Someone to watch over me

Bond looks through the binoculars at Goldfinger as he is also 'over' Jill Masterson


Dr. No

There's a somebody I'm longing to see I hope that she turns out to be Someone to watch over me

Professor Dent walks to the table where the tarantula waits in its cage. A beautiful element of the scene is the unseen Dr. No with the omnipresent voice looks over Professor Dent as Dent looks over the spider. Also note the ceiling with the criss-crossed material and the chair, both giving the impression that it is not just the spider who is in a cage.


Although I may not be the man some girls think of as handsome To her heart I'll carry the key

The hotel clerk hands Bond the key to the car he's renting and then watches him as he walks away.


Won't you tell her please to put on some speed Follow my lead, oh how I need Someone to watch over me

'Watching' over Bond is the traps he set in the room: a hair across his closet doors and powder on the hardware on his attaché case

Won't you tell her please to put on some speed Follow my lead, oh how I need Someone to watch over me

The camera slowly panning to the bed matches the slow movement of the tarantula moving up Bond's body, Bond watching its progress.


Thunderball

I'm a little lamb who's lost in a wood I know I could always be good To one who'll watch over me

Domino puts her fluffy white (lamb-like) wrap over her shoulder. Bond is shown watching Domino exit with Felix Leiter watching in back of Bond.


Although I may not be the man some girls think of as handsome To her heart I'll carry the key

Bond picks up the room key at the front desk, the hotel clerk watching Bond as he walks away (climbing the stairs)



Won't you tell her please to put on some speed Follow my lead, oh how I need Someone to watch over me

As the tape recorder (hidden in a book) plays the audio of someone entering Bond's hotel room and walking across the floor, the camera slowly pans over the carpet showing the path of the intruder.


Of note, this scene is NOT as originally planned making for the continuity error of Bond having lunch with Domino in swimwear, then going to the casino in a tux, then to showing Bond returning to the hotel in the same swimwear. I don't know when they made this sequence change decision or why but the originally approach (poolside, return to room, meet Leiter, etc. etc.) still shows intent for the sync.

Two possible moments to sync were:

Bond looking over his shoulder at one of Largo's thugs watching Domino (poolside).

Domino mentioning to Bond how sharp his eyes are, having noticed that her ankle bracelet reads Domino.


Below, please find the video containing the three syncs.

Enjoy!