Raiders of the Lost Bomber

 SCUBA Diving On the Submerged Wrecks of Thunderball and Never Say Never Again    

By Donald Grant

Donald Grant holding the nose antenna of the Vulcan Bomber mock up.

Marriage Bond Style

Approximately ten years ago in 2000, I travelled to Nassau, Bahamas for my honeymoon after a very Bondian wedding replete with Morning Suit a La George Lazenby and Satchmo’s We Have All The Time In The World as our wedding song.  As you might have guessed, my wife is a very understanding woman.  She knew my fascination with James Bond right from the get go and that several Bond movies had been filmed in Nassau, including one of my favorites Thunderball.  Our honeymoon was not only to be a sun and sea soaked enjoyment of each other’s charms but also an archaeological style search for locations used in Thunderball and to a lesser degree Never Say Never Again.  The locations included in the plan for location reconnaissance were the steps and sea wall where Bond does surveillance of the SPECTRE rendezvous point (now a part of the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island), Rock Point, the estate once owned by the Sullivans that doubled as Palmyra, Love Beach where Vargas “gets the Point”, the Fiona Volpe Mustang drive location on West Bay Street and lastly the remains of the Vulcan Bomber.  I was able to visit just about all the locations and even gained access to Rock Point/Palmyra (http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/35156/palmyra-and-the-sea-wall-in-2000/) and also obtained a topographical map of it.  However, when it was time to go SCUBA diving with Stuarts Cove’s Dive Bahamas, I was told that diving the “Thunderball Wrecks” was subject to the choice of the dive master, weather conditions and the choice of the majority of the divers on the boat on that particular day.  Needless to say, although I was able to accomplish a dive in Nassau, it was not on the “Thunderball Wrecks”.  Awe phooey!

Photograph by William Creighton of the Vulcan Bomber being built in Nassau, Bahamas. Photograph courtesy of Louise N. at shipofdreams.me.uk/pinewood/index.htm.

Ten Going On Twenty

Fast forward to 2010.  My tenth wedding anniversary was rapidly approaching and my wife and I thought about and then set about planning a return trip to Nassau.  As the trip became a reality in terms of hotel reservations and airline tickets, I thought about what Bond sights I would try to see when we visited again for our anniversary.  No doubt, some of the new filming locations from 2006’s Casino Royale were on my list, but that paled in comparison to my deep desire to SCUBA dive on the remains of the Thunderball Vulcan Bomber mock-up.  I made some tentative calls to Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas and found out yet again that diving the Bond Wrecks on any given day were not guaranteed and that such a dive was subject to the choice of the dive master, weather conditions and the choice of the majority of the divers on the boat on that particular day.  Awe come on!  No way was I going to embark on another dive only to find out I was going to dive some such reef or other.  Maybe some other dive shop could help me?   No dice, Stuart appeared to be the only remaining game in town.  So I shelved the idea of diving, maybe next time.  It would give me more time with the wife.  Yeah right, wasn’t happening, my mind would not let it go.  That faux Vulcan Bomber haunted me, there had to be a way!  I dialed up Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas yet again and pressed hard this time.  I was told the only way to guarantee the dive on the Bond Wrecks was to purchase a private charter.  A private charter?  Yes, a private charter.  Bloody hell, how much is a private charter?  It costs $$$$.  No “freakin” way, that’s several times the price of an ordinary dive!  Dive shelved yet again.  Vulcan bomber daydreams and Vulcan Bomber nightmares ensued.  How much did they say for the private charter?  Screw it, I can do that.  Nothing but a chicken wing on a string.  As they say you only live once, or was it twice?  So I booked the private charter to dive the James Bond Wrecks.   Damn cool!

International Orange

As a consequence of booking the dive, I decided that I wanted to do it in true Bond style.  I needed an orange wetsuit jacket similar to what Sean Connery wore in Thunderball.  The wetsuits worn in Thunderball were all made by Voit and had a smooth skin.   Vintage Voit scuba suits are like hens teeth to find in good condition and even harder to find in international orange; so much so that several years ago I contacted JMJ Wetsuits in Torrence, California about making a custom smooth skinned wetsuit in international orange.  JMJ makes a smooth skinned vintage style wetsuit in black.  Unfortunately, the smooth skinned neoprene in orange was the main problem, because neoprene manufacturers no longer make it in that color.  Perhaps with a group order large enough for the neoprene manufacturer to make a run of smooth skinned orange neoprene it could be done.  That would not be the case this time.  So instead I contacted JMJ Wetsuits to order their “Old School Surf Jacket – Style 2306″ and provided them with my measurements dutifully taken by my wife.  I customized the jacket by ordering it in rough skin international orange, changed the diagonal zipper to a center zipper, added arm zippers and kept the twist lock closures instead of opting for the Velcro closure at the groin.

Photograph by William Creighton of completed Vulcan Bomber mock up. Photograph courtesy of Louise N. at shipofdreams.me.uk/pinewood/index.htm.

White Boy Shorts

While my wetsuit was being made, I set about trying to find a pair of white swim trunks that were similar to the ones worn by Connery.  That search proved somewhat difficult not because of the cut, but because of the color.  I was able to find many contemporary vintage style square cut bathing suits, but none in all white.  I found designer versions in white but with stripes on one side or with piping or some other such addition that made them not quite right for my planned Bondian dive on the Vulcan Bomber mock-up.  Then I found Don Mitchel Swimwear.  They offered a square cut pair of men’s swim trunks in all white with no additional adornments called the DM-2020.  I ordered them via telephone and had them within three days.  When they arrived I tried them on and became concerned about how tight fitting they were, they looked like those undergarments women call boy shorts.  The trunks would be fine with my surf jacket, but not for running around Nassau like Bond does with Fiona Volpe, not on my frame.  Moreover, I did not think my wife would like to see my rather, heh, heh, protuberant masculinity on display in such a gross fashion.  I needed a more contemporary pair of white trunks to go with the shirt I had in mind.  So I set about looking for another pair of white trunks for night duty.  After several false starts, I found the perfect pair of Tommy Hilfiger surf trunks at my local Macy’s department store.  The trunks were not strictly what Bond wore in Thunderball, but I would feel much better wandering around downtown Nassau and Paradise Island in them.

Wiliam Creighton and the Vulcan Bomber mock up. Photograph courtesy of Louise N. at shipofdreams.me.uk/pinewood/index.htm.

“CAN YOU HELP? Please have a look at our unidentified photo page, and contact us if you have any information about any of these pictures – thank you! Identification of much of the material is quite difficult, as it relies mainly on what my father can remember! Most of the photographs are not annotated in any way, and identification of some of the locations has proved tricky.”  From Louise N. http://shipofdreams.me.uk/pinewood/index.htm“.*

The Name’s Perry, Fred Perry

One of the coolest clothing items worn by Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball was the navy blue Fred Perry pique tennis shirt with white laurel logo on the left breast.  The trip to Nassau would not be complete without one.  Although I had several copies of this shirt including a brand new unopened one, I had put on sufficient enough weight over the years that I needed a new bigger one.  I have never been able to find this specific shirt in the United States.  True, Fred Perry does have stores in the United States, however the solid colored shirts available generally have a contrasting color on the sleeves and collar.  Bond’s shirt was solid blue; the only contrasting color was the white laurel logo.  Not a problem, I ordered the shirt from Fred Perry dot com, which is based in the United Kingdom, and had the shirt within three or four days.  It would be the perfect accompaniment to the white trunks.  Some have speculated that because Bond wears Fred Perry, he has Mod sensibilities because the shirts were adopted by that working class British subculture during the late 1950’s.  Perhaps, but Fred Perry himself represents the best of Britain since he was the world’s number one player for five years and is considered by many to be one of the greatest male players to have ever played the game.  Perry won Wimbledon three times and is one of only six men in history to have won all four grand slam tennis events.  However you view Bond’s choice of the Fred Perry, it’s a rather expensive shirt, beating out my personal favorite Lacoste in terms of price.

The good taste of Fred Perry.

Of Vice and Men

In the movie Thunderball, Connery as Bond spends a good deal of time with his feet in what I’d like to call magic espadrilles.  They are magical because you’ll see him exiting the water in more than one scene bare footed only to end up moments later with a pair of grey espadrilles on.  Espadrilles are a type of casual shoe made of rope soles and canvas uppers originating from the Pyrenees and originally worn by peasants.  Men’s espadrilles had a wildly popular resurgence during the mid to late 80’s because they were worn by Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas as James “Sonny” Crocket and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs in Miami Vice along with pastel colored T-Shirts worn under deconstructed Armani jackets, linen pants and designer stubble.  What I like to call the “Miami Narc Look”.  I needed a pair of grey Espadrilles to complete my Connery/Bond look.  Like it or not Connery made wearing espadrilles manly.  I never owned a pair of Espadrilles before.  I missed the “Miami Narc Look” because I had been firmly entrenched in prep school attire mainly because of a father who shopped at Brooks Brothers and Paul Stuart and because of having attended an ivy covered pile of rubble otherwise known as a New England Prep School.  My sandal like shoes of choice had always been Sperry topsiders, L.L. Bean’s Camp Moccasins, or those oh so comfortable reef runners for wet/dry occasions.  As I began looking for a pair of espadrilles I discovered that most of the offerings were available outside of the United States.  That would not normally be a problem; however I waited for the last minute to buy the espadrilles.  Shipping from Europe or any place outside of the U.S. would take too long.  Then I discovered that Urban Outfitters sold men’s espadrilles and in the correct shade of grey.  Order placed, espadrilles delivered, problem solved.

The Dangerous Depths

I learned to scuba dive on at least two occasions, but I finally became PADI open water certified in Guam while working as an Officer on a Merchant ship.  Nevertheless, the last time I had gone scuba diving was ten years ago on my honeymoon.   Because I spent many years of my life in the maritime environment, I know that the sea can be a very unforgiving place, particularly to the untrained and unwary.  So I set about trying to find a PADI refresher course.  It turned out to be relatively easy and I found a location with its own pool that gave the course at night in one evening.  All the basics were gone over prior to entering the pool including hand signals, buddy breathing, entry techniques, proper weighting, use of the BCD and mask clearing.  Once that was done, we entered the pool and put to use what I had been refreshed in verbally.  All in all, excellent training that I would highly recommend to anyone who has not gone diving for many years.

Donald Grant gets his sea legs back!

Sea Fever

Stuart Cove's dive boat.

I scheduled my dive for the afternoon of my second day in Nassau.  Scuba diving should not be done within 24 hours of flying because of the effects of pressure on the body.  When the Stuart Cove’s van came to my hotel to pick me and my wife up, I was fully prepared with all my gear ready to go.  It was a short trip to Stuart’s which is located on the south side of the island.  After checking in at Stuart Cove’s, it turned out that my diver had had trouble equalizing her left ear.  So a switch was made to Ryan Banks.  I was given about 15lbs of weight for the dive from the dive locker as well as my regulator and boarded my boat and introduced my wife and myself to the boat captain/dive master, Stephen Stuart.  As we headed out to open water I reflected on my years at sea and the various “ports-o-call” that I had been to, the beautiful women I had known, and the many sea stories that I had heard.  As my mind turned these bits of memory around, I stumbled on the index card in the rolodex of my mind marked John Masefield.  Sea Fever, that famous poem by the great British Poet Laureate of his time came flooding back:

“I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.”

Yes, I missed the sea, that sometimes cruel mistress.  But I knew deep down that one day I would return to her one way or another. 

Stephen Stuart, Boat Captain, Dive Master.

Smugglers Blues – The Tears of Allah

After a short trip heading South and then West along the coast, we arrived at a mooring buoy that was tethered to the bow of the vessel named the Tears of Allah.  The Tears of Allah was the sunken vessel that Connery/Bond dives on with Fatima Blush and is later attacked by a tiger shark.  She began life as a 92 foot supply boat that was used as a drug smuggler and was subsequently confiscated by authorities.  She was later sold to the movie producers and sunk as a prop for the movie Never Say Never Again.  While my vessel was being moored, I began donning my gear.  First my vintage style beavertail dive jacket, U.S. Divers dive booties purchased at the Naval Exchange in Guam way back when, followed by my BC and tank, mask and snorkel and lastly my fins.  I was first in the water doing a seated back roll entry followed by Ryan.  We swam to the bow of the vessel with Ryan in the lead and slowly descended down the mooring line.  As we travelled down the line, I set the timing bezel on my Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean so I could measure elapsed time.  At about 15 feet my left ear would not equalize and I felt the pressure and pain.  I signaled to Ryan and he simply cocked his head to the left and then right.  I mimicked his motions and my left ear popped and equalized.  We slowly continued descending the mooring line.  Twenty, twenty five, thirty, thirty five and then forty feet!  At about forty two feet the bow of a long cigar shaped wreck appeared more clearly in the mist.  Yes, there it was!  The rotting hulk of The Tears of Allah as it had become known.  The bow of the wreck pointed in a westerly direction and was listing ever so slightly to the port side.  We traversed the starboard side heading easterly.  We came around the stern and headed back west down the port side.  When Ryan and I approached the Bow, we crossed above the bow and headed in a northeasterly direction.  What I had really come to see lay directly ahead of us shrouded in the chasm of the eternal sea.

Donald Grant's dive buddy, Ryan Banks, Master Diver, Dive Instructor.

Donald Grant Jones and the Temple of the Sunken Vulcan

After swimming approximately 100 hundred yards in a northeasterly direction we came upon what looked like a big mossy patch.  Upon closer inspection I discovered what looked like giant set of monkey bars covered by all manner of gorgonians, sponges and invertebrate life.  Because I had seen pictures of the Vulcan Bomber prop set in its present state, I knew that this was it.  But it took more than a moment for it to set in.  I had re-discovered one of the lost temples of Bondiana, Indiana Jones Style!  Cue the ultra cool Thunderball soundtrack. 

To the uninformed, the mock up of the Vulcan Bomber is hardly recognizable.  All that remains is the metal framework because after filming, it was blown up with dynamite and primacord**.  This was done by EON to prevent it being used again by other filmmakers.  What was recognizable were the wheels and flaps.  They were, for the most part, still intact.  If I did not have foreknowledge that this was the remains of the bomber, the wheels and flaps would be the only thing that could positively identify it.

Donald Grant in front Of Vulcan Bomber mock up.

Donald Grant touches one of the Vulcan Bomber tires.

As we swam over the wreck, I stopped at the starboard wheel and dug up some sand that I placed in a Ziploc baggie.  This, apart from photographs, would be my souvenir of the dive.  But, I had miscalculated.  The sand in the seawater was hard to corral.  Every time I tried to put some in the baggie, most of it would simply escape causing the water to silt up and visibility to decrease greatly.  After toiling at it for what seemed like forever, I felt I had retrieved enough for my purpose.  I would keep some for myself and give the rest in small vials to good friends in the hobby.  The remaining wheels of the Vulcan were buried deep in the sand with only the tops of the rubber tires showing.  As we continued swimming over the wreck, I paused at the nose while Ryan took my picture.  The front wheel assembly was completely gone, as the nose of the Vulcan was resting on the bottom.  After swimming over the wreck for what seemed like a very short period of time, Ryan signaled that it was time to go back.  I heard the strains of Tom Jones singing Thunderball in my head as we set off to swim the gap separating the Vulcan and the Tears of Allah.

Vulcan mock up wheel.

Vulcan mock up wheel outline.

Ascent to Shrublands

As we approached the bow of the Tears of Allah we began to slowly ascend grabbing the mooring line that was tethered to our vessel.  At fifteen feet we stopped (a safety decompression stop) to allow the nitrogen in our blood to dissipate.  I glanced at the big Planet Ocean on my wrist with the oversized rubber strap.  The elapsed time bezel told me we had spent approximately 23 minutes on the bottom, and my depth guage registered a greatest depth of 43 feet.  After about 3 minutes we continued our slow ascent being careful not to rise faster than our bubbles.  When we reached the surface I inflated my BCD and I removed my regulator and began using my snorkel.  Ryan motioned to swim to the stern of the vessel and I followed.  Once at the stern, Stephen told me to remove my fins before climbing the ladder.  As I struggled to remove my fins, I must have over exerted myself because when I got on deck and removed the rest of my gear I felt totally exhausted.  I collapsed in a spent pile next to that beautiful “bubble watcher” known as my wife.  I was way out of shape.  A simple 43 foot dive had reduced me to a wet clump of guano.  The M in my mind’s eye chastised me for being so unfit.  Time to get to Shrublands!

*Louise N.’s grandfather William Creighton worked as a model builder at Pinewood Studios and on at least two Bond movies, Thunderball and Goldfinger.  Creighton built the Fort Knox scale model on Goldfinger.   Louise needs more information on her grandfather’s involvement with Pinewood and the Bond Movies.  Please contact her through this address: http://shipofdreams.me.uk/pinewood/index.htm

**Found on the second audio program of the Thunderball Special Edition DVD.

Article Copyright © November 2010 Richard Dos Santos

Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas Thunderball Wrecks Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0j8AcSxBWg

Restored versions of Dr. No (7th June), From Russia With Love (14th June), Goldfinger (21st June) and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (28th June) will show at 60 cinemas around the UK. Each has been digitally restored frame by frame, with fading, dirt, scratches and other defects removed to leave the movies as sharp as the day they were filmed.

If you want to see what that looks like in practice, check out the Park Films website for a full list of venues.

http://www.parkcircus.com/jamesbondsundays/

“Quantum of Solace” on DVD
© MGM / Eon

James Bond is back…again!  And this time, he’s got some unfinished business lingering from Casino Royale, the debut for the current Wearer of the Tux, Daniel Craig.  Quantum of Solace follows 007 from Italy to London, then to Haiti, Austria, back to Italy, then Bolivia….and finally to Russia, where he confronts the treacherous ex-boyfriend of Vesper Lynd.

Along the way, he enlists the aid of CIA operative Felix Leiter, former suspected traitor Rene Mathis, Agent Fields (”Just Fields”) from Station B, and Camille, an enigmatic and beautiful member of Bolivia’s secret service…as he investigates Quantum, a worldwide criminal organization with tentacles into the highest levels of business and government, and foils a plot to overthrow a South American country and control one of the world’s most precious natural resources…

All in 106 minutes!

The Film

From the opening, ominous low flyover of Lake Garda, intercut with close-up shots of an Aston Martin DBS at speed, it’s clear we’re in new territory for James Bond.  And then…there we are, riding along with him through a twisting mountainside tunnel, amid automatic gunfire, screaming tires and pinwheeling point of view.  It’s a maelstrom of visual confusion, and it’s clear that this is no accident.  The close-in, handheld-style camera work—and a buzz saw-like, all-over-the-place editing approach to the action sequences—is probably the most controversial aspect of the film.  There is a school of thought that says that such ’subjective perspective’ camera/editing work effectively immerses the viewer in the chaos of the moment—where detachment and ease of perspective is impossible—and thus achieves an element of ‘artistic truth.’  However, in QoS this clearly comes at the expense of some viewer convenience.  Clearly, the editing philosophy of the film is problematic, and hopefully it will not be repeated in future Bond films.  The good news is that the overall effect of this is muted somewhat on the smaller screen of the home theatre, which seems to contain and focus the point of view in a way that the big screen could not.

Similarly, the convenience of watching movies at home mitigates another issue many fans had with the film: that of narrative pacing.  Director Marc Forster declared that he wanted this film to be, as he put it, “Like a bullet fired from a gun.”  Thus, the bullet on a flat trajectory, as seen during the titles sequence, turns out to be not only a metaphor for Bond himself, but also for the film as a whole.  The kinetic forward momentum of the piece can be overwhelming, and the cliche of not having a chance to ‘catch one’s breath’ is a perfectly appropriate one to use.  Unfortunately, this pacing takes a toll on plot and character accessibility for some viewers, who might be looking for a more conventional narrative.  Scenes such as those between Bond and M, Bond and Mathis, Bond and Leiter, Bond and Fields, Bond and Camille, etc., give us what we need—and indeed contain many wonderful moments, with humour and fine dramatic performances—but are over before we can savour them…and we do yearn to savour such things, like Bond himself enjoys fine food and drink.  Because of Forster’s ’bullet fired from a gun’ ethos, he deliberately decides not to let certain dramatic beats play out to a more satisfactory conclusion.  Instead, he essentially demands that we keep up, which can be an alienating prospect.  Many go to a Bond film to simply be entertained, not challenged.  Frequently I have hit the ‘review’ button to enjoy some of the film’s finer fleeting moments…but granted, such a thing shouldn’t be necessary.

The locations are lush and beautifully photographed, and the captions that introduce them are visually interesting.  The Perla de las Dunas hotel in the desert is very evocative of legendary Bond production designer Ken Adam’s distinctive style—and the interiors, particularly the space where Bond and Greene have their climactic fight as the flames erupt around them, looks like something Mr. Adam would have conceived—even the texture on the walls looks like ‘classic Bond.’

It’s interesting that one of the many criticisms leveled at the film, when it debuted in the cinema, was an apparent lack of emotion, but like anything in QoS that doesn’t explode or move at high speed over land, sea and air, it can be lost in the jetstream of the film’s dizzying pace.  Craig’s performance is pretty much perfect; internalization is the most difficult acting assignment, and sadly it’s not always recognized or rewarded.  His denial (with M) of caring about Vesper…his no response to Mathis’ saying “She died for you”…his reaction when Mathis, with his last breath, tells Bond to forgive her—and himself…his face when presented with Fields’ oil-coated corpse, his playing of the scene where Camille tells him that his prison is ‘in there’ (Bond’s mind)…are all quite rich.  The disposal of Mathis’ body was poignant:  Bond’s remark that his friend “wouldn’t care,” the jarringly field-expedient utility of removing the cash from the wallet, the way the camera lingers on the dumpster from above—it all elicits revulsion, which it is intended to do, and belies the grief so brilliantly underplayed by Daniel Craig, but it also speaks to the compartmentalization required by someone in Bond’s line of work in order to avoid going insane.

Supporting performances were all very solid.  Giancarlo Giannini was pitch-perfect in every scene, as was the great Jeffrey Wright—his scene with Bond in the bodega, where they spar briefly over the notion of failed British empire and American corruption, is well done.  I look forward to more of Wright’s Felix Leiter in films to come.  Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton are both very effective (especially Camille).  Mathieu Amalric’s Dominic Greene isn’t the best Bond villain, but that’s not his fault.  He’s very good in every scene, possessing the most punchable face and demeanor of any baddie since Kronsteen, and is clearly another relatively minor stepping stone up from Le Chiffre, as we ascend the organizational chart of the nefarious ‘Quantum’ in future outings.  His fight with Bond is fantastic, and his ultimate fate is something that would have made Ian Fleming smile.

The scene between Bond and Vesper’s ‘ex’ is positively electric; a rather nice ‘book-end’ to the opening (pre-title) scene of Casino Royale, with a decidedly different outcome.  Though the ultimate resolution might seem disappointing at first blush, it banks significant character capital for the future, and the love knot left in the snow signals a necessary closure for James Bond, who is now free to do what he does best…and nobody does it better.

Quantum of Solace is, essentially, the violent and lightning-quick third act of Casino Royale—that film’s angry and misunderstood little brother—and, like ‘Tosca,’ it isn’t for everyone.  Like a bullet fired from a gun, it howls along on a short and flat trajectory, and takes its target down.  

The DVD

Picture transfer and sound quality seem fine on the DVD version, considering what this quickly diminishing format is able to deliver when compared to the broader features and capabilities of the ascending Blu-ray format. 

Ironically, given the feature film’s short running time, it’s very possible that they could have squeezed all of the provided Special Features into a single disc release…but that would have robbed Sony of an obvious marketing opportunity—namely, having a “Two Disc Special Edition” alternative to the Ultra-Vanilla single disc option, given that they clearly have a long-range strategic plan to release a more improved (three-disc) version down the road, probably to coincide with the theatrical release of Bond #23.   

Besides the feature film itself, Disc One contains the “Another Way To Die” music video, featuring Alicia Keys and Jack White, and Theatrical and Teaser trailers.  Music videos have been a staple of Bond DVD releases for some time, and the trailers are also pretty standard stuff.

Disc Two’s Special Features include Bond on Location, a very good 24-minute featurette on the production’s globe-trotting schedule.  The other featurettes—Start of Shooting, On Location, Olga Kurylenko and the Boat Chase, Director Marc Forster and The Music, average out to just over three minutes apiece, which is a bit disappointing in terms of substance.  Many snippets and sound bites from the Bond on Location featurette are repeated during subsequent featurettes, unfortunately creating a sense of wasted opportunity.  Interestingly, the final special feature, Crew Files (which first appeared, in individual installments, on the official Sony/Eon Quantum of Solace website), contains 32 fascinating and often quite funny (if lamentably brief) glimpses into the jobs and personalities of many people involved in getting the film made, and provides some of the disc’s best added value. 

All in all, the Special Features on Disc Two run about 90 minutes—45 minutes of which are used up by the Crew Files Behind-The-Scenes clips.  Commentary tracks, especially one with Craig himself, would have been most welcome.  No doubt we’ll get some when the next version of Quantum of Solace is released on disc…but meanwhile, it’s hard not to be cynical.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Quantum of Solace—perhaps the most unapologetic, uncompromising film in the Bond canon—benefits by the transition to the small screen, thanks to a more focused media venue.  However, in these economic times, a little more “Bang for the ‘Special Edition’ Buck” would have been a good thing.

Buy Quantum of Soalce on Blu-Ray and DVD

Quantum of Solace is available online and in all good DVD and Blu-Ray retailers.

• Quantum of Solace on DVD from Amazon.co.uk
• Quantum of Solace on Blue-Ray from Amazon.co.uk
• Quantum of Solace on DVD from Amazon.com
• Quantum of Solace on Blu-Ray from Amazon.com

By David Zaritsky

Dear Mr. Ford,

Enclosed please find the routing number to my checking account to which every two weeks my paycheck will be deposited for your withdrawal for the next three years.  In addition I have enclosed the deed to my home and shortly there will be a delivery of my car on a large car carrier as the title has been signed over to you.  I hope the sum of all this is enough for the lovely tie your company designed for Quantum of Solace.

Yours Truly,

The much poorer David Zaritsky

The above is a slight exaggeration.  Only slight.  When I began writing the “On a Budget” articles for those wanting to dress like Bond the world was a very different place…a much fatter place.  Back then those on a budget or those that were budget minded appreciated the articles and the places to find alternative brands to capture the same look.  NOW with the financial environment we live in these articles seem to resonate even louder, acting as a resource for those that are experiencing the recession we are living in BUT who have not lost their desire to dress well.  Before we dive into the discussion I do want to let everyone know that I am a HUGE fan of the brands that Bond wears in Quantum of Solace.  I own the Ryder 3 boots, the Staprest jeans, the 7 of Mankind Jeans, the Tom Ford sunglasses and clothes, the black Y-3 jacket, and others so I am the first to tell you there is nothing like the original makers and brands to deliver what you see on screen.   Those brands have worked hard to develop their look and feel and I support them both philosophically and financially.  That being said I am also keenly aware that not all of us are built financially equal yet we are built the same when it comes to the penchant for capturing the look of QoS- thus this article is for you.  The article will be divided by outfit and described how the viewer sees it on screen, but in no particular order.

TOSCA:

If only you and I could be like Bond and walk into an opera dressing room and pilfer a tux JUST in the right size for us.  But alas, we are not Bond.  I do implore each of you to visit www.uniformalwearhouse.com.  Not only can the everyman walk away with the perfect fitting tuxedo, not only can you choose the correct style shirt and bow tie but you will do it all by spending between $59.00 and $150.00.  I was telling a work colleague about this site and explained to him that no discerning gentleman should rent a tux when this site exists.  After all, do you know what people DO in rented tuxes?  You don’t want to know.  The site also carries shoes but to truly acquire the TOSCA scene look of Bond and mimic the Churchs he wears I would go no further than www.target.com and look at the Mens Merona Teddy-Cap Toe Dress Shoes for $26.99.

HAITI:

In Haiti Bond wears the Levis Staprest crème colored jeans which have been discontinued and fetch a mint on the open market.  He also wears a Tom Ford navy polo that IF it were available would cost $495.00.  After his ‘altercation’ with Slate he finds himself in the possession of a Y-3 black jacket that is rarer than hen’s teeth and goes for hundreds of dollars when you can find one.  Finally, he wears those amazing Ryder 3 chukka boots from Churchs, retail price of $500.  So all in your entire Haitian Bond outfit will cost you roughly $1500.00 IF you could find all the pieces. OR….

You could first buy a Sunspel navy polo instead of the Tom Ford one.  What’s that you say?  Sunspel?  Hey, aren’t those the blokes that made the shirt for Casino Royale?  Why yes they are, and a better representation of what you see in QoS you will not find.  The shirt is comfortable, breathes well and at $95 is an investment in what will be one of your favorite Bond pieces.  Not to mention it carries the Casino Royale crest of approval!  If however $95 is still too steep you could always purchase a great navy polo at http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10038531 which is (wait for it) only $3.  For crème or white jeans you could visit www.levis.com and look under their 501 Original Jeans-Global Blues in the color white.  The blue jean that started it all. Their button-fly 501® Original Jean is still straight through the seat, thigh and leg, just like the Staprest. The tilted waistband pitches toward the front just like it as well and it’s only $59.  There are a multiple of places to buy the black jacket Bond wears while on the motorcycle but I found some of the best ones at Banana Republic and Gap for about $50.  Still breaks the bank?  I have personally seen the George – Men’s Metro Zip jacket at www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10136078 and it fits the bill nicely, even being a slim fit type jacket.  Finally, you will need the suede chukka boots and these can be obtained for ¼ the cost of the Churchs at http://theshopforshoes.com/shop/Classic_Boots.html.  Make sure you look at the John White – Westbury chukkas as they have received HIGH reviews for those that have purchased them.  For under $125 you will have a great replica of the Ryder 3s and these boots are even welted like the Churchs with amazingly high standards.

MATHIS Retrieval:

When Bond has no one to trust he heads to Italy to implore his friend Mathis to join him on his mission.  As he drinks cheap white wine Bond relaxes in a Tom Ford cardigan costing $1300, Tom Ford shirt costing $750, Levis Beige Staprest jeans, and those wonderful Ryder 3 boots for a total of $2600.00.  DON’T spill any wine on your outfit, Bond!  Since we have already discussed the boot alternatives we will continue to work our way up with the pants.  The Levis eco Vintage Straight 539 Pants in beige are a terrific version of the ones seen in the movie and they retail for $39.00.  JCrew has a wonderful slim fit white dress shirt that mimics the feel of sea island cotton but a white shirt like Bond wears under his cardigan can really be found anywhere.  You do want to pay special attention to one that is not broadcloth but rather light and airy.  Finally, the black shawl cardigan can be had at Zara stores now.  Simply replace the buttons that this sweater has with leather cross-hatch ones and viola, instant accuracy.  I also hear that www.marksandspencer.com has a very good alternative called The Autograph.  This cardigan is a chunky mid-weight one as opposed to the Zara one that is light weight.

Perla de las Dunas:

Because a pair of 7 of mankind jeans will set you back $175.00 and we know what the TF Polo and Church’s Chukkas will cost you, but MOSTLY because you can’t buy the dark blue jacket Tom Ford made for the movie we bring you some other choices.  We have already discussed the chukkas and the blue polo but let’s discuss the jeans.  The 501s in Tidal blue are not only a great alternative to the other higher end jeans, but are flattering and comfortable as hell.  I own a pair and I can tell you first hand they are among my favorite jeans.  They can be found in Kohls or at the following web site for Macys:

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=321212&CategoryID=16513&LinkType=EverGreen.  As Tom Ford made the blue jacket especially for the film (even though he offers a brown or black one in his store for $2500.00) you will be hard pressed to find one that’s dead on.  That being said www.warriorclothing.com offers an excellent deal on a navy blue Harrington jacket cut to the same vintage patterns of the 60s and 70s versions. It is a plain cotton jacket in Navy with an eye-catching red tartan lining and famed for the unique features on it. It has all the details you need on a Harrington- the button collar, flap style pockets and even the wavy shoulder seam.  This jacket on their web site is only $35.00 and definitely plays the part.  it can be purchased at: http://warriorclothing.com/uk/shop//product_info.php?cPath=74&products_id=548&osCsid=92bdb989bd9593eef05737f1b00af75c

Sunglasses:

The observant among us will notice that I haven’t mentioned anything about sunglasses alternatives.  I truly believe this is one area you shouldn’t scrimp and quite frankly the Tom Ford official ones are a good deal and they look great on.  Bad lenses are a recipe for bad eyesight.  Now, if you already have bad eyesight www.target.com carries a pair of men’s sunglasses that looks the part except it has a little extra ridge material around the nose.  But trust me, if you are going to invest in any Bond piece from this movie the sunglasses and the Churchs Chukka boots are sure things.

Well, now that the wife has locked me out of my finances and has forced me to write a rescinded letter to Mr. Ford, I too will be dipping back into the world of Budget Bond.  The next article will focus on the suits, ties, shirts, and accessories we see Bond wear in Quantum of Solace.  Till then, watch those sheckles and keep watching those bargain bins…

The Quantum of Solace Score

1. Time To Get Out (3:28) The album opens ominously, with rumbling drums and low strings gradually spiralling up until exploding into a percussion and brass-centred action piece, one of Arnold’s best. The Bond Theme is heard teasingly.
 
2. The Palio  (4:59) Pretty similar to the previous cue, both in arrangement and content albeit with more prominent string work heard between the action bursts.

3. Inside Man  (0:38) A strong bass carries this short piece.

4. Bond In Haiti  (0:35) Scene-setting “local” music with the Bond Theme woven in, much as with previous similar cues (eg “Welcome To Cuba” on Die Another Day).

5. Somebody Wants To Kill You (2:17) Latinesque percussion and guitars interspersed with solid work from the brass and strings.
 
6. Greene & Camille (2:13) A string-heavy slow-paced cue.
 
7. Pursuit At Port Au Prince (5:58) Once again, a low-key ominous string introduction sets the atmosphere before the pace quickens when the percussion enters, only to quicken again and again prior to a classy coda using the Bond Theme on strings.
 
8. No Interest In Dominic Greene  (2:44) The Bond Theme, in distorted form, on keys opens an intriguing string-based cue.

9. Night At The Opera  (3:02) Carrying on from the previous cue and developing its motifs while gradually increasing the excitement, this is one of the best tracks on the album.

10. Restrict Bond’s Movements (1:31) Deep strings and tinkling keys.
 
11. Talamone  (0:34) There’s a great Bondian melody implied in this too-short cue.

12. What’s Keeping You Awake  (1:40) Tinkling keys over long chords from the strings.

13. Bolivian Taxi Ride  (0:39) As with track 4, “Bond In Haiti”, more Latinesque guitars/percussion incorporating the Bond Theme.

14. Field Trip  (0:41) Variations on the Bond Theme.

15. Forgive Yourself (2:26) Atmosphere-setting string work, interrupted by a burst of action music before the recurring piano melody takes over.
 
16. DC3 (1:15) An effective tension-builder.
 
17. Target Terminated  (3:53) Solid, driving action music, not dominated by percussion.      

18. Camille’s Story  (3:58) Low, slow strings with those tinkling keys once again playing the recurring melody (”Camille’s Theme”, perhaps?) leading into a lovely guitar-played coda.

19. Oil Fields  (2:29) A quiet opening gradually builds with the aid of the Bond vamp.

20. Have You Ever Killed Someone? (1:32) The Bond vamp underpins the introduction; percussion and orchestral chords enter then fade away.
 
21. Perla De Las Dunas  (8:07) Another ominous string-filled opening, more developed than previously, leads to standard Arnold action music till around the halfway mark, when sombre strings take over

22. The Dead Don’t Care About Vengeance  (1:14) Haunting strings are jarringly interrupted by guitar.

23. I Never Left  (0:40) The piano motif, again over lush strings.

24. Another Way To Die (4:23) Composed by Jack White, performed by White and Alicia Keys. Unusually, the main title song is placed at the end of the album- but then, in the film itself the gunbarrel sequence appears at the end too. The actual music is fine, though the lyrics and processed vocals have proved controversial among Bond fans. The version heard over the titles is edited.

Buy The Quantum of Solace Soundtrack

You can purchase the Quantum of Solace Soundtrack CD from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.