tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post115508069165046526..comments2023-11-05T07:45:02.082-05:00Comments on Mystery Man on Film: Subtext - James BondMystery Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155607374638215592006-08-14T22:02:00.000-04:002006-08-14T22:02:00.000-04:00Hey, I'd love a copy, too! PLEASE send it to me:m...Hey, I'd love a copy, too! <BR/><BR/>PLEASE send it to me:<BR/><BR/>mysterymants@hotmail.com<BR/><BR/>-MMMystery Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155585753760874992006-08-14T16:02:00.000-04:002006-08-14T16:02:00.000-04:00Crossword -- I'd love a copy of it. I could only ...Crossword -- I'd love a copy of it. I could only get a copy of "From Russia With Love". You can get my email off my TriggerStreet pageAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155584373566029042006-08-14T15:39:00.000-04:002006-08-14T15:39:00.000-04:00BTW mickey, MM, Unk... if you want me to make you ...BTW mickey, MM, Unk... if you want me to make you a copy of this SP, just let me know (159 pages).crosswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10495338772991002583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155239272196416872006-08-10T15:47:00.000-04:002006-08-10T15:47:00.000-04:00That's a good point, Unk. Maybe it's because when...That's a good point, Unk. Maybe it's because when we write, we're writing from our brains and not from our mouths. Big difference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155213660595522192006-08-10T08:41:00.000-04:002006-08-10T08:41:00.000-04:00I think it's interesting how we screenwriters tend...I think it's interesting how we screenwriters tend to speak in subtext verbally throughout the day (as does everyone) and then when it comes time to get it on the page, some tend to write it more on-the-nose.<BR/><BR/>Good stuff...<BR/><BR/>UnkAMERICAN RESTOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04494241660914270458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155180007241428852006-08-09T23:20:00.000-04:002006-08-09T23:20:00.000-04:00Agreed guys, I too am brushing up on my current sc...Agreed guys, I too am brushing up on my current script, trying to bring it within even the same orbit as something like this.<BR/><BR/>And Crossword, I definitely agree. The fact that these writers from days of yore were forced by convention and censorship to write around the obvious made them stronger and more sophisticated scribes. <BR/><BR/>In todays era of shock and ironic detachment, dumping out the contents of one's brain seems to pass as edgy writing. I'll take the sly and oblique any day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155175003098896252006-08-09T21:56:00.000-04:002006-08-09T21:56:00.000-04:00By the way, Len, with respect to your trying to se...By the way, Len, with respect to your trying to see where you can make improvements in your own writing - GOOD FOR YOU!<BR/><BR/>For me, I would say that subtext is still the weakest aspect of my own writing, and in my spare time, I'm writing a story (not to sell or anything) that's designed to just help me master subtext.Mystery Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155174380232808912006-08-09T21:46:00.000-04:002006-08-09T21:46:00.000-04:00Hehehe... Yeah, that's a great line, Mickey. The...Hehehe... Yeah, that's a great line, Mickey. There's a lot of different ways an actor could say "Really?", too, but in the context of the scene, you KNOW how that "Really?" SHOULD be spoken. And I think this makes for a good point about parentheticals (or wrylies). In the context of a scene, if the writing is good, you don't need 'em. You just KNOW.<BR/><BR/>To Crossword's point, ya know, it's banter like this that makes going to the movies so much fun, that makes movies enjoyable scene-by-scene, because there's more going on than what they're saying. It seems to me that so much writing today is about "realism" and a writer's vanity because the writer is looking to immortalize his/her own special way of thinking & talking, when, in fact, screenwriting is really about mastery of CRAFT. And you can't help but love Richard Maibaum's work here, because of the craftsmanship of his work. And it's fun as hell!Mystery Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155172872935131902006-08-09T21:21:00.000-04:002006-08-09T21:21:00.000-04:00"...there was a great scene in Thunderball where B..."...there was a great scene in Thunderball where Bond and Largo exchange subtextual threats during a trap shooting match".<BR/><BR/>Thanks Mickey. I have the SP and intent to look it up as soon as I lay my little hands on it (still unpacking from a recent move).<BR/><BR/>You know, this dialogue still works today (as MM implied); I like it also. <BR/><BR/>Originally, I suspect it may have arisen as much because of censorship as an avoidance of on-the-nose dialogue, but reading stuff like this (frankly) makes me revisit scenes I'm currently working on to see where I can make improvements :)crosswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10495338772991002583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155170420785803452006-08-09T20:40:00.000-04:002006-08-09T20:40:00.000-04:00I love this part:JAMES BONDThank you. You just abo...I love this part:<BR/><BR/>JAMES BOND<BR/>Thank you. You just about saved my life.<BR/><BR/>FIONA VOLPE<BR/>Really? [As in, believe me, that was the LAST thing I intended to do.]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155128716981583272006-08-09T09:05:00.000-04:002006-08-09T09:05:00.000-04:00I like the line, "Do I make you nervous?" In othe...I like the line, "Do I make you nervous?" In other words, "Are you a wimpy boy when it comes to my driving? Can't you take it? Are you intimidated by me? And by my sensational looks and skill? Are you afraid I will win our obvious battle, which we cannot talk about at this stage of our game?"Mystery Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155110361472487342006-08-09T03:59:00.000-04:002006-08-09T03:59:00.000-04:00Richard Fleming was a damn genius and one of my sc...Richard Fleming was a damn genius and one of my screenwriting heroes. If you look at the Bond films released during his lifetime (up until 1989), you'll notice that the weaker films are the ones where his name was absent from the credits!<BR/><BR/>Crossword -- Fiona Volpe wasn't in the novel Thunderball, she was a creation for the movie, so the credit is all Maibaums<BR/><BR/>And you are absolutely right, there was a great scene in Thunderball where Bond and Largo exchange subtextual threats during a trap shooting match. I was torn between which to submit, but I just love this scene so much. Typing it out doesn't do it justice. You need to watch it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1155099211017312582006-08-09T00:53:00.000-04:002006-08-09T00:53:00.000-04:00Thanks as usual guys. The very prolific Richard Ma...Thanks as usual guys. <BR/><BR/>The very prolific Richard Maibaum was perhaps my very first exposure to subtext... I can't remember if Ian Fleming originally wrote all the innuendo, but even if he had then it wouldn't have JUMPED out like it did in these early Bond films.<BR/><BR/>You wonder where this native NY'r got this talent, given his living in Iowa for all those pre-WWII years (not dissing Iowa, just saying it's kinda sleepy nowadays, and frankly can't imagine what it must've been like in the early 1930's). Pretty amazing.<BR/><BR/>Wasn't there a lot of subtext around verbally sparring with the arch villain too? Perhaps I'm thinking of Dr.No. :)crosswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10495338772991002583noreply@blogger.com