The Kiwi sheep-farmer who could've been James Bond
It's not been seen for nearly 45 years, but the screentest that shows a Kiwi sheep-farmer uttering the words 'Bond, British agent!' has finally re-surfaced in London.
It's testament to just how close New Zealander Roger Green, who had a copy of the test lying forgotten in the bottom of a drawer, came to winning the part of James Bond - before eventually losing out to Sean Connery, who changed his mind about reprising the role.
Back in 1970, British producers were searching for a new Bond after Australian George Lazenby lasted just one film as 007. Green, raised on North Island sheep farms, was enjoying a boozy OE in London, and had done just enough acting to win an audition for the part at the famous Pinewood Studios - and did well enough that veteran Bond producer Cubby Broccoli wanted to hire him.
The long-lost tape shows Green entering leading lady Tiffany Case's bedroom to seduce her, only to be interrupted by Bond villain Peter Franks, whom Bond is impersonating, being played for the screen test by Bond stuntman Bob Simmons. The two men tussle, before Green leaves Simmons dead on the carpet, and says: 'I've tangled with him before. Bond, British agent!'. Tiffany says: 'James Bond? The famous double-o seven licenced to kill?'. 'Oh, you've heard of him?' Bond replies.
Green is now 77, and the director of an alcohol addiction treatment centre in Otahuhu, south Auckland. The Bond audition is just one part of a remarkable life story that took him from sheep farming, to playing alongside Wilson Whineray in the Junior All Blacks to London society life, to a successful meat exporting business, and then to a career in alcohol counselling. He's now the director of an alcohol addiction treatment centre in Otahuhu, south Auckland.
Green's acting experience before the screentest was limited to some London theatre and a part in the 1970 film Waterloo, alongside Christopher Plummer and Orson Welles. But when he met Broccoli, the producer told him he was less interested in his acting chops than his athletic prowess as a rugby player. He then met with fellow producer Harry Saltzman, who asked if he felt he could handle the role: "Being full of bravado and especially after my meeting with Broccoli, I said 'no problem'."
He was given two weeks to rehearse before the screentest, which went so well they only shot a single take.
"The director, Guy Hamilton, told me straight after the test, upon sitting me down on Tiffany Case's boudoir bed, that I had a great chance of getting the part," he says.
Written by Steve Kilgallon. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz
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