Cracking the Code of Spy Movies! – Details, episodes & analysis

How many of the gadgets do you remember from Pierce Brosnan’s first two James Bond movies, GOLDENEYE and TOMORROW NEVER DIES? In this episode, Dan and Tom decode about 30 of them.  We also let you know if we think a gadget is believable! 

So, how many different pitons do we talk about in these two movies?  Do we think they are believable? Do you? 

Tom calls out a favorite weapons/gadgets in any movie and how TOMORROW NEVER DIES enhances that! 

How realistic is an exploding pen?  How about digital scopes with the ability to transmit data?  Would either of those things have worked in 1995 when GOLDENEYE was released or in 1997 with the release of TOMORROW NEVER DIES? 

And, what was that thing in Wai Lin’s lab that took the one thug out? 

How many different uses did we point out for the remote controlled BMW and it’s remote control? 

So have a listen, getting a better understanding of these gadgets will enhance your viewing experience next time you watch GOLDENEYE or TOMORROW NEVER DIES. 

In this episode, we mentioned an article about a guy who made a laser watch.  Here’s the link to that article: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/home-made-laser-watch-is-real 

So, did we miss any gadgets?   Which are your favorite gadgets?  Did any gadgets strike you as believable?  If so, which ones? 

Please let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com.  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!   

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.   

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/4dBH705 

Click here to watch the video version of this episode

George Lazenby has announced his retirement from public life.  This is a well-earned retirement and we wish him nothing but the best.

In this episode, Dan and Tom bring Mike Reyes back for a salute to the second Eon Productions actor to play James Bond.  George had huge shoes to fill in following Sean Connery.  We think he filled them very well.

Some of the topics we decode include:

• How George Lazenby landed the role of James Bond
• The Hulu show “Becoming Bond”
• How his James Bond was introduced in the movie and his “This never happened to the other fella” line in the ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE pre-title sequence.
• The pressure of taking over for Sean Connery who emblazoned his version of James Bond in the moviegoers’ minds.
• Lazenby’s upbringing
• How his work on ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE shaped the role of James Bond for the rest of the series
• What they think the next James Bond movie George Lazenby should have done.  Hint, it isn’t DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, which was the successor to ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE

So, once again, we wish George Lazenby well in his retirement.  And we thank him for his work on ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE.

You can read Mike Reyes’ articles on CinemaBlend.com.

Let us hear from you about George Lazenby.  What did you think of his performance as James Bond in ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE.  Do you wish he’d done another Bond movie?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com.  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3X8RO4j

SPIONE And Its Influence On Spy Movies is a look at this 1928 Fritz Lang spy movie. And, Dan and Tom fill you in on just how big an influence SPIONE is in the spy movie genre.   

Significantly, SPIONE is the first spy movie we’ve been able to find that isn’t based on a war. Not surprisingly, this movie laid out the blueprint for most non-war-based spy movies to come. 

Even if you don’t watch the movie, this episode will fill you in on how SPIONE blazed the trail and influenced spy movies to come, which all spy movie fans should know. You’ll certainly recognize some tropes you’ve seen in more modern spy movies.  Tropes such as: how did that guy not die when he was shot at close range? What was that pill that guy bit down on?  What is a spy movie villain supposed to look like?  A train in a spy movie? What things in this movie did we then see Alfred Hitchcock do? How was that guy dressed? And more! 

What are the positives and the negatives of SPIONE? 

We should warn you that SPIONE is a 2 ½ hour black and white silent movie. Watching a silent movie is a different experience from what we get when watching modern 
movies.  Although the movie was filmed in Germany, there are many versions with English subtitles available.  You can certainly find different releases of SPIONE on YouTube. The English title of the movie is SPIES. 

So, have you seen SPIONE?  Will you watch it after you listen to this episode? 

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com.  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!   

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.   

Webpage: https://bit.ly/3xjW0US

The GoldenEye Pre-title sequence gives us a new Bond, a huge dam, bungee Jumping, a chemical weapons plant, Russia, and old friend, 006, a motorcycle jump, Sean Bean's streak of bad luck – and yes, a new era of Bond – let’s dive inside the pre–title sequence of the 1995 James Bond movie, GoldenEye!

The jump, the luck and fate components of the 00 missions, For England, James! And who is in charge here, 006 or 007?   Record kills, squeaking wheels and the meaning of it all!

Join Dan, Tom and Vicky as they Decode the Pre-Title Sequence to GoldenEye!

Contact us at info@SpyMovieNavigator.com

Webpage address: https://bit.ly/3DDaIa0

Richard Maibaum, who wrote many of the James Bond movie screenplays, donated his papers to the University of Iowa. Pete Balestrieri is the curator for Science Fiction and Pop Culture at the University of Iowa Library.

Join Dan and Tom as they have a discussion with Pete on the Richard Maibaum Papers. This collection includes a large selection of Maibaum's working materials he used to write 13 James Bond movies. Pete shares his insights into many topics on the development of the movies. For instance, he talks about Sean Connery's thoughts on the role of Pussy Galore in Goldfinger and what Richard Maibaum did because of those thoughts.

One fascinating part of the collection is the research folders. These contain articles that Maibaum clipped out on a variety of topics he researched for plot points. For instance, there is an article on blimps which he clipped out 3 years before A View To A Kill came out.

But, to us, probably the most interesting part of the collection are the treatments that Maibaum wrote. These are the stories before they are turned into screenplays. As a result, you get to see how the story evolves, sometimes dramatically.It is very cool to read a movie's treatments and see the evolution of the movie's story.

Another key point of the disucssion is that the James Bond materials are only part of the collection. Richard Maibaum wrote many other movies and plays. While you are there you can see some of Maibaum's notes on his other projects including includes OSS, The Great Gatsby, and Tank Force.

Pete discusses the collection, how you can see it and other collections they have at the Library such as the papers from Norman Felton who produced The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

This is a wide-ranging, fun discussion. Pete knows his movie and shares his passion for them in this interview.

You can find out more about the special collections at the University of Iowa here.

Contact us at info@SpyMovieNavigator.com

Webpage address: https://bit.ly/3eLldh5

Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes was released in 1938 and is based, in part, on the book "The Wheel Spins". It has been remade three times for the big screen and television.

As the title implies, a lady vanishes while on a train. This movie is full of intrigue and is a fantastic spy story. So, once again, a train is a key location for a spy movie and here, it is vital for the story. Music is also a key piece to this movie as well. Listen to find out more!

The Lady Vanishes has more humor than most Hitchcock movies. And, the characters Charters and Caldicott appear in this movie for comic relief. They were so successful that they appeared in other movies in the future.

An interesting trivia question is asked about one of the actors in this episode! See if you know the answer!

So, join Dan and Tom as they decode The Lady Vanishes: Plot and scene analysis, new discoveries, and what movies had this movie influenced or how it was influenced by other spy movies. It is a fun journey!

You can find all of our podcast episodes on our Podcast page.

If you haven't seen this movie it is available at no cost on YouTube.

Contact us at info@SpyMovieNavigator.com

Website Page: https://bit.ly/3D4Cj3W

In this Spy Movie News - August 30 2022 edition we discuss the September releases of spy movies. We’ll also look at some ongoing projects like Bang!, “True Lies”, The Stranger, “Dr. Evil”, James Bond, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Enigma, MR-9, Chief of Station, Spy Kids, Blackbird, and more!

Be in the know in 18 minutes.

Ideas/Comments? Info@SpyMovieNavigator.com

Website Episode Page: https://bit.ly/3cwmhVA

James Bond's Licence to Kill Pre-Title Sequence has a wedding, drug lords, shootouts, lover's quarrels, the DEA, helicopters, parachutes, an airplane chase, and the Florida Keys.

UPDATE: Note, the whip that Sanchez uses comes right out of The Hildebrand Rarity - a stingray tail!   And the voice of the DEA agent saying, “If they hurry, they just might be able to grab the bastard”  is that of Michael G. Wilson!   Thanks to our friend, John Cork for pointing these out to us after listening!

Join undercover agents Dan, Tom and Vicky as they decode new discoveries and connections.

You can watch the pre-title sequence here if you need a refresher.

Ideas/Comments: Info@SpyMovieNavigator.com

Website Episode Page: https://spymovienavigator.com/episode/james-bonds-licence-to-kill-pre-title-sequence-decoded/

This Rogue Agent review contains no spoilers.

Rogue Agent is a dramatization of the real-life story of Robert Freegard who is one of the most notorious con men in history. His story of manipulation, "kidnapping", and theft is real and quite disturbing.

James Norton, Gemma Arterton, and Marisa Abela lead this fine cast.

In our quick-fire review, we give you a no-spoiler look at this movie to help you determine if this movie is worth your time. Rogue Agent is likely to be one of those movies you will either love or hate. Our review will help guide you in your choice.

In addition, our Rogue Agent review is designed to enhance your viewing experience of the movie as we give you some background information the movie doesn't.

Please email any comments or feedback to info@spymovienavigator.com.

Visit our website to find our podcast catalog.

To learn more about Rogue Agent, you can visit IFC Film's website.

Dinner parties, cocktail parties, tuxedos, espionage, World War II war criminals, love, deception, murder, infiltration, and secret plans are all in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1946 spy movie, NOTORIOUS! 

Today we decode this Hitchcock classic, NOTORIOUS with our special co-host, Bill Koenig of The Spy Command!  Bill joined us on our February 1st 2022 episode when we decoded The Man Who Knew Too Much. 

This is a fun discussion on a fantastic spy movie.

Comments/Feedback: Info@SpyMovieNavigator.com

Webpage: https://spymovienavigator.com/episode/alfred-hitchcocks-notorious-decoded/