London Welcomes James Bond 007 Film Premiere
Daniel Craig Attends Exclusive Royal Screening of Quantum of Solace
Oct 29, 2008
The eagerly anticipated brand new Bond film premiered tonight at the Odeon Leicester Square. Crowds had been gathering all afternoon to welcome the stars to the red carpet. Quantum of Solace, the follow up to Casino Royale, is Daniel Craig's second film in the iconic role of James Bond. This time round he'll be battling a fabulous new Bond baddie in the shape of Mathieu Amalric. Frenchman Amalric plays the shady character of Dominic Greene, a member of the sinister Quantum organisation.
A Royal Premiere - For Queen and Country
Princes William and Harry were both in attendance for this, their first Royal premiere. At their request the event is to benefit two charities; Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion. Both these charities are linked to the military, as are the Princes themselves. They hope to draw attention to the work these charities do through their high profile patronage of this high profile film event.
Bond Braves the Cold
Bond's shiny silver Aston Martin stood proudly on the red carpet, waiting for Daniel Craig to come and pose next to it for photographs. When the star finally arrived he was, of course, mobbed by fans. Craig was dressed to kill, in a sharp black tuxedo, finished off with a black sling! Yes, he is still in recovery from an injury sustained from a Quantum of Solace stunt. He took the decision to do as many stunts as he possibly could for the film. He felt it was important for the sake of authenticity, as he told Sir Melvyn Bragg in the recent South Bank Show Bond Special.
Craig also commented in a BBC News interview how important he felt it was to hold the premiere of this British secret agent film right here in London. He described it as:
“...a celebration (to be) launching the movie in London.”
Judi Dench – A Sparkling Star
The premiere was a star studded affair. Joining Daniel Craig on the red carpet were other stars from the film Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric and Gemma Arterton. The proceedings kicked off at 6pm, with Dame Judi Dench, who plays M, the first big name to arrive. She looked amazingly glam in a beautiful black dress, which she showed off to the cameras, turning demurely to reveal a glittery 007 stuck to the back of her neck.
The excited crowd were also treated to a selection of Bond music, blasting out from huge amplifiers. Current Bond theme composer Jack White was also expected at the premiere, along with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Director Marc Forster was cheered by the crowd on his arrival.
Will Quantum of Solace be a Hit with Bond Fans?
There was certainly a strong crowd braving the icy autumnal British weather for this premiere. The film, which begins just hours after the previous movie Casino Royale ends, has generated a great deal of excitement. Whether it tops the phenomenal success of its predecessor, only time will tell.
Further reading: A review of the new film Quantum of Solace and an overview of the Best of British Bond Baddies.
Information Sources: BBC Evening News, BBC Radio 1, The South Bank Show , The PA Group.
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