SHAMELADY

SPECTRE is back in the game and for James Bond the stakes are personal.

Normally your humble servant doesn't give a damn about that kind of material and in fact I've missed the bus of its release in 2007 but, as you know, I'm an avid reader of Quantum of Bond - one of the blogs of French cinema journalist and author Philippe Lombard. And last week he has written a piece about that gem: Shamelady. Shamelady is not your average "fan film". It's a true short movie with a lot of work, incredible production values for such a format, a surprising showcase of talent at different levels and an elegant tribute to 007.

When James Bond (Serge Rotelli) is sent to France in order to buy information about a terrorist organization to the shadowy Mangin (Philippe Lombard... Yes, the one named above), the transaction turns into a shoot'em up and an unexpected ghost from 007's past resurfaces: SPECTRE. James must neutralize the sinister industrialist Jacques Descarpes (Luc Le Clech), number 2 of SPECTRE, in a casino game at the beautiful seaside resort of Luc-sur-mer. He is assisted for this mission by Joan Jansen (Alice Suzan), an agent from MI6, but he's intrigued by the mysterious Anna Raykova (Irina Bogomolova).

Shamelady is directed by Eric Saussine, written by Eric Saussine, Pierre Rodiac and Frédérique Remy, and produced by Eric Saussine, Frédérique Remy and George Kaplan for Constellation Studios. Serge Rotelli is really good as James Bond (he's dubbed by actor and dubbing artist Benoît Grimmiaux). And Luc Le Clech is a revelation as Descarpes, with a formidable acting presence.

The short film has it all: a professional direction, a script which is a treat for 007 enthusiasts, great locations, an Aston Martin DB5, classy wardrobe, an impressive "Binderian" credit sequence, etc. Of course Shamelady has some minor defects but the result is astonishing for a short, almost like an answer to this question puzzling many Bond fans: what if James Bond was a television series? If 007 was a TV show Shamelady would match the production standards of an ITC series (The Persuaders, not Jason King).

Constellation Studios regularly produces pleasant shorts such as the "Audiardesque" Picnic (2009) and Bluff (2009). Both with the talented gang behind Shamelady, including our fellow journalist Philippe Lombard - at ease in front of a camera. Your humble servant couldn't do that, unless the guys make a Nero Wolfe short.

Shamelady: http://www.constellationstudios.org/article.php3?id_article=378
Interview with the filmmakers: http://www.constellationstudios.org/article.php3?id_article=554
Quantum of Bond (In French): http://quantumofbond.blogspot.com/

IT'S ONLY A MOVIE, INGRID (EPISODE 6)

Birthday cakes, Our Man in Austria, Nikki Finke in top shape. Ingrid... The Nobody does it Better edition (« Makes me feel sad for the rest »).

MASTERPIECE BLOG THEATRE

Cathode Ray Tube (http://cathoderaytube.blogspot.com/), the quintessence of British Pop culture blogs - I don't remember who said that - is two years old. In april I wrote that Frank Collins is an erudite specialist of Doctor Who but Frank is actually a specialist of so many subjects... If you're not a regular reader already just visit Cathode Ray Tube and enjoy. Happy Birthday.

We also wish a happy birthday to BrontëBlog (http://bronteblog.blogspot.com/), the indispensable reference on the life and work of the Brontë family. We mentioned them recently about ITV1's great adaptation of Wuthering Heights with Tom Hardy (now my favourite Heathcliff after Timothy Dalton). BrontëBlog is four years old this week.

http://cathoderaytube.blogspot.com/2009/09/cathode-ray-tube-is-2.html
http://bronteblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/bronteblog-is-four-years-old.html

QUANTUM OF BREGENZ

Quantum of Bond (http://quantumofbond.blogspot.com/) is back after a short summer break. The blog of cinema journalist Philippe Lombard - author of major books on The Pink Panther or OSS 117 - covers the 007 franchise through anecdotes (Universal Exports, "Churchill's head", stunts...), photos, ads, magazine covers, items of the journalist's own collection and many details about the universe of 007.

And this month Philippe brings back some interesting photo material from Bregenz (Austria), one of the locations of Quantum of Solace. The blog is in French but begins to earn a deserved recognition amongst English-speaking James Bond aficionados.

http://quantumofbond.blogspot.com/2009/09/bons-baisers-de-bregenz-1.html
http://quantumofbond.blogspot.com/2009/09/bons-baisers-de-bregenz-2.html
http://quantumofbond.blogspot.com/2009/09/bons-baisers-de-bregenz-3.html

OH, THE GOOD WIFE...

Nikki Finke is busy keeping the higher standards we are used to with her brand new Deadline.com, formerly Deadline Hollywood Daily (http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/). But she found some little time between her exclusive news about the birth of DC Entertainment (http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/toldja-warner-bros-creates-dc-entertainment/) to take care of a young lady working on the promotion of The Good Wife, the new CBS show starring Julianna Margulies.

Perhaps this young lady didn't know who Nikki is but it seems that her job of the moment consists in offering $20 Amazon gift certificates to journalists just to consider mentioning the show (http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/cbs-even-more-desperate-marketer-than-nbc/). Except that the Canterbury's Law DVD box set costs $20.99 on Amazon. Life is unfair.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/fire-up-quattro-cathode-ray-tube.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/08/wuthering-heights-with-tom-hardy-on.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/01/quantum-of-bond.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/things-to-oh-whatever.html

QUANTUM OF BOND

Cinema journalist, author of major books on the Pink Panther franchise (http://thierryattard.blogspot.com/2008/04/histoires-de-tournages.html - In French) or OSS 117 - France answer's to James Bond, and blogger (http://histoiresdetournages.devildead.com/ - In French), Philippe Lombard has opened a new blog in parallel with his main one.

Quantum of Bond (http://quantumofbond.blogspot.com/) is a tribute to one of his numerous cinematic passions (with Winnetou or Terence Hill & Bud Spencer, to name only two) in an original way: James Bond, through anecdotes (Universal Exports, "Churchill's head", stunts...), photos, ads, magazine covers, items of the journalist's own collection and many details about the universe of 007.

This blog is a kind of amazing equivalent of what can be done in DVD bonuses, with Philippe's encyclopedic knowledge. Your humble servant has tried to convince him to make a version in English but in the meantime you can always use a web translator.