I’ve long promised more Ken Clark after the success of the Dick Malloy 077 trilogy live tweets. For those unfamiliar with Ken Clark, the chiseled wonder, he was an American B-movie actor (Attack of the Giant Leeches) who wandered across the pond to make Eurospy films in Italy. Ken Clark is humorless at face value, but his character never fails a few subtle nods and winks to the audience that suggests he knows exactly what he’s doing.
Ken Clark is a #Bond_age_ legend — one I hope more viewers will come to embrace through 1967’s The Tiffany Memorandum.
The Tiffany Memorandum reunites Ken Clark with his Mission Bloody Mary and From the Orient With Fury director Sergio Grieco. The film was a co-production between Italy, West Germany and France. Set in Berlin, Dick Hallan (Ken plays another Dick!) a journalist for the Herald-Tribune gets mixed up in international politics and unfortunate coincidences. I’m not going to claim this is Ken’s best work (because we all know it’s Special Mission Lady Chaplin), but it’s ripe for Live Tweeting and starts Ken Clark. I don’t need anything else. And neither should you.
Join #Bond_age_ for the live tweet of the Tiffany Memorandum on Wednesday, March 9th at 9pm ET. Follow #Bond_age_ hashtag.
Ladies’ Night Vol. 2 featuring Honor Blackman in A Twist of Sand
Pussy Galore. The most iconic Bond girl name paired with one of the most iconic Bond actresses. Honor Blackman first appeared as Cathy Gale in The Avengers in 1962. One look at Honor in The Avengers was all Bond producers needed to bring her into the fold for James Bond’s third picture, 1964’s Goldfinger. American audiences at this point hadn’t even seen The Avengers, but Cubby loved the idea of selling an established actress to UK audiences and unveiling the unknown Blackman stateside.
Outside of a few TV series, Blackman only made a few notable appearances outside Bond and The Avengers. The movies I wanted to show for this particular event couldn’t be found. If you want to do me a solid, spend some time digging around for some of Blackman’s other films from the 1960’s. Maybe next time we’ll have more to offer. While we didn’t have much from which to choose, Greg McCambley dug up this slice of 1960’s adventure on YouTube. Since the film also featured #Bond_age_ favorites Robert Vaughn (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) and Richard Johnson (Deadlier than the Male), I gave this the go ahead for our Honor Blackman evening.
I’d tell you more about how A Twist of Sand is the ideal showcase of Blackman’s judo training and captivating screen presence… but I haven’t seen it. Greg hasn’t seen it. I’m betting you haven’t seen it. We’re going into this one blind, people! Saddle up and make sure you keep the sand out of your undergarments.
Join #Bond_age_ Wednesday March 1st @ 9pm ET for Honor Blackman in A Twist of Sand. It’s Ladies’ Night Vol. 2! Follow #Bond_age_ hashtag.
And you thought we were done with our little Tom Cruise fascination. Tsk tsk. You know better than to underestimate our obsessions. After the Risky Business / Cocktail double feature last year followed by all of the MIssion: Impossible outings our appetite has only been sufficiently whet. Tom Cruise’s filmography is both deep and worthy of much twatter.
Tom Cruising Vol. 2 – All the Right Moves Live Tweet
This week, #Bond_age_ revisits Tom Cruise’s second leading role — and his second of 1983. Released in October of that year (only months removed from Risky Business), All the Right Moves failed to rival the box office success of RiskyBusiness but nevertheless further promoted the ascending movie star.
All the Right Moves received mixed reviews, but most were bullish on the Tom Cruise content. Perhaps my favorite quote comes from Richard Corliss of Time, whocalled it a “naive little movie (that) hopes to prove itself the Flashdance of football.” If that doesn’t sell you on the potential for a #Bond_age_ live tweet, there may be no help for you. Though, I’ll try. Copious amounts of Lea Thompson and Craig T. Nelson auditioning for his role on Coach.
This boat’s leaving shore. Time to hop on board another pleasure cruise — destination: Ampipe, PA.
Dig out your Ampipe #33 jersey and join #Bond_age_ for the All the Right Moves Live Tweet on Wednesday, February 22nd @ 9pm ET. Follow #Bond_age_ hashtag.
