The director of ‘Psycho’ and ‘Vertigo’ apparently had the chance to the direct one of the first 007 films.
Spectre is almost upon us. While our lucky friends across the pond will be able to see the latest Bond flick in theaters starting today, the rest of the world has to wait another two weeks.
But let’s turn our attention away from the upcoming 24th Bond movie, and instead to the fourth, Thunderball.
Thunderball, starring Sean Connery as 007 and featuring the criminal organization SPECTRE, was a major success, but it was troubled with behind-the-scenes controversy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElyENM6i0xg
Besides being at the center of a lengthy legal battle involving crediting writers for the film’s screenplay, the film could have apparently been directed by the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock.
Variety reports that James Bond series creator Ian Fleming asked Hitchcock via telegram to read the film’s script, and hopefully sign on to direct.
Fleming did this in 1959, back when Thunderball was sent to be the first Bond film, not the fourth.
Unfortunately, Hitchcock, who had just finished North By Northwest, had no interest in making another spy-thriller film, and declined the offer, instead making Psycho.
In Bizarro World, if Hitchcock had made Thunderball, the film, and all Bond film’s and general, would be much different.
Chris Wright, co-host of the James Bond Radio podcast, comments that, “Had Hitchcock directed, we would’ve seen a very different Bond than the one we first met in Dr. No. The character would have been a lot closer to Fleming’s literary version and the one-liners would probably have been absent as well.”
So, if Hitchcock actually made Thunderball, he could have paved the way for a more serious and grounded series of Bond films.
While this would have been interesting, we’re fine with the “Shaken, not stirred” Bond we’ve got today, and if Skyfall and the upcoming Spectre are any indication, Bond films can be serious and fun at the same time.
Spectre hits theaters on November 6.
