In September, all stops were pulled out to promote the UK release of the James Bond Blu-ray boxed set, the first unit of which traveled from Scotland to London, "escorted" along the way by various 007 dignitaries. Cinema Retro photographer Mark Mawston provides photos and coverage of its arrival at the final destination.
The Journey of the Bond 50 Blu-ray box reached its final
destination of HMV Oxford Street, London.
The ever glamorous Britt Ekland, resplendent in gold herself,
pulled up outside the London flagship store in a celebratory Bond 50 Aston
Martin holding the famed golden attache case holding the collection of 007 Blu-ray
discs. After posing on the rain-drenched street, she was interviewed inside by
many media outlets. Asked if being a Bond Girl was similar to being the President
of the United States, as both are
forever named as such, Britt said she loved being a Bond girl, with her
quintessential Bond "The tall and handsome Roger Moore". Not seeming
too impressed with Daniel Craig ("he drinks beer- sorry Heineken!")
she went on to describe how she heard she had the role of Mary Goodnight in
Roger Moore's second 1974 outing as 007, The Man With the Golden Gun: "I was really trying for the part
and got on with Cubby and Harry very well. I REALLY wanted the part as a Bond
Girl. I was on holiday when I got the call from a friend to say I got the part,
as the friend had seen a headline in the paper that had read "Swedish
Beauty gets Bond role". When I finally got it, I found out that it
referred to Maud Adams! But I still got the part I wanted in the film."
As we stood by as Britt was interviewed, the clock on the boxed set ran down to
nought, in the Bondian tradition (I thought it would have stopped at 007...), thus ending its journey which began in Scotland
with a launch from Britt's leading man and a generation’s 007, Sir Roger Moore.
(All photos copyright Mark Mawston. All rights reserved.)