62. Secret Agent Special : From Russia with Love, Our Man Flint, The Man from U.N.C.L.E

Tonight we’ll will be talking about the man who put the Special in Special Agent, his rival who took special and turned it up to eleven and not forgetting the boys from the United Network Command for Law Enforcement.In this episode of They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To, Sharon and the team dive deep into the golden age of cinema, specifically focusing on films released before 1980. The spotlight tonight is on the legendary James Bond franchise, exploring its origins, its evolution, and what makes a "classic" Bond film.The Spy vs. The Gadget: The team debates the merits of the early Bond films. Shawny advocates for From Russia with Love (1963) as a definitive "proper spy movie" because of its gritty, Cold War atmosphere and lack of over-the-top gadgets.The Birth of an Icon: Joe argues that Dr. No (1962) is the greatest because it established the blueprints for the entire series—the themes, the Caribbean settings, and the iconic character tropes.The Bond Legacy: The guests discuss the different eras of Bond, comparing the charisma of Sean Connery to the more "smug" portrayal by Roger Moore, and the darker turn taken by Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig.Bond’s Influence: The conversation extends to Bond spoofs like Our Man Flint (1965) and Austin Powers, as well as the franchise's influence on martial arts cinema and characters like Jason Bourne.The Music of 007: From John Barry's sweeping scores to Sam Smith's Writing's on the Wall, the team shares their favorite Bond themes and the importance of the music in telling the story.Test your knowledge along with the hosts! Tonight’s clues for the "Screen Legend" include:They wrote an autobiography in 1984 titled There Really Was a Hollywood.They famously stated they would always take second billing to their husband.Their career spanned from 1947 to 2000, and they were portrayed by Scarlett Johansson in a 2012 biopic.They appeared on screen with their famous actress daughter in two films, including The Fog (1980) and Halloween H20 (1998).Note: Please be advised that the music tracks originally featured in this broadcast (including tracks by Matt Monro and Shirley Bassey) have been edited out of this podcast version due to licensing and copyright restrictions.Looking to volunteer?If you have a few hours a week to spare, Sunshine Radio is looking for volunteers! Contact Lorraine at the Friends of St. Mary’s for more information.