THE MAN WHO COULD HAVE BEEN OO7.

Well, Actor John Gavin certainly met all the requirements of being the suave secret agent 007. He was tall, dark, and handsome, maybe too handsome. Gavin was signed to the role of James Bond in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. But the studio was uncertain after the ordeal with George Lazenby in ON HER MAJESTY SECRET SERVICE being that the audience did not connect with him in the role. So the studio offered Connery a hefty sum of money to return to lure him back. Connery accepted the deal after publicly bad-mouthing the studio on how displeased he was with YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and vowed never to play BOND again, but money talks.

Again, after wrapping DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, Connery headed towards the exit and never looked back until 12 years later, but that's another story. John Gavin again was slated to play Bond in LIVE AND LET DIE. Unfortunately, the producers decided to go with British actor Roger Moore who played Simon Templar on the British TV series THE SAINT.  It made perfectly good sense at the time, Moore looked dashing in a tux and was established in the spy ring of entertainment. But every Bond film that Moore made became campier than the next heading the franchise down a different path. We certainly can't blame Moore entirely for the scripts he was given. Remember that's why Connery took the high road because he didn't like the way things were heading. But not all is lost.. there are those of us who appreciate CAMPY films.

John Gavin was basically known for his good looks which certainly meets the criteria of a leading man. Universal Pictures groomed Gavin to be a leading man in the mold of Rock Hudson. But Gavin was usually used as window dressing for older actresses like Susan Hayward in BACK STREET (1961) and Lana Turner in IMITATION OF LIFE (1959) as their romantic interest. Considered to be the most promising male newcomer, Gavin was Universal's new white hope. One critic penned that Gavin " invariably cast as a staunch fellow of goodwill, who looked handsome but was permitted little action opposite his leading ladies."

Gavin did get some creditable recognition appearing in Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO (1960). The film would live on to be one of Hitchcock's finest achievement, becoming a classic. Another success for Gavin was playing Julius Caesar in Stanley Kubrick's  SPARTACUS (1960). Unfortunately, Gavin was back to becoming man candy to leading ladies like Doris Day in MIDNIGHT LACE (1960) and Sophia Loren in A BREATH OF SCANDAL (1960).

Would hiring John Gavin made a difference in the Bond franchise. Personally, I feel that a golden opportunity was missed by not hiring Gavin as James Bond. I think Gavin would have reinstated the persona of Bond that Sean Connery created in all those earlier films. Could Gavin handle being a top-billing star without the crutch of his leading lady?  He certainly oozed with the same-sex appeal ( maybe more so ) and cool suave charm of Connery that made Bond who he is. A ladies' s man who could charm the panties of the bad bond girls, seducing them to switch sides. The real question is Gavin's acting ability, who has been labeled rather " stiff and wooden." Yes, Gavin would have continued the Bond brand as business as usual in the world of espionage depending on the scripts and the right director to work with him.

After Sean Connery returned as Bond in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971), earning a whopping 1.25 million, Gavin was able to keep the 50 million he was given as advance by signing on as the third bond, for merely stepping aside. Gavin became the President of Screen Actors Guild that same year until 1973. But Gavin would consider the next chapter of his life to be his greatest achievement when President Reagan appointed him as Ambassador of Mexico in 1981. Gavin was of Mexican descendant and grew up bilingual of Spanish and English. He served as Ambassador for five years (1981 to 1986). Whenever asked about having any regrets about NOT  becoming James Bond, Gavin would simply reply " NO, because it might have prevented me from fulfilling my childhood dream, to be U.S. Ambassador to Mexico."

DUELING DIVAS

"We won't give a dime for those OLD BROADS" was the consensus of the major studios when pitched  the idea of Bette Davis & Joan Crawford to star in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE (1962). The idea was unappealing having two washed up Movie Stars from the Silver Screen Era to headline a  new motion picture. Thankfully, Director Robert Aldrich was able to get the funding through independent film company...Seven Arts Productions which released the film through Warner Brothers. The rest is cinema history, the film became a BLOCKBUSTER after the movie going audience came out in droves to see Davis and Crawford. 

The Film resurrected  the careers Davis & Crawford and other veteran actresses like Barbara Stanwyck , Tallulah Bankhead, Olivia de Havilland and so on. Once considered WASHED - UP are now bankable in a new genre...PSYCHO BIDDY GENRE. Now, these actresses were no longer victims of the aging process. The tide has turned  raising their careers to new heights which were sinking fast.

After the huge success of WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (1962), it was only natural to want  reciprocate that triumph with another with  the Leading Ladies that made the film a hit. But Davis had no intentions in doing another film with her arch rival Crawford. Especially after the stunt Crawford pulled  at the Academy Awards  after hearing that Davis was nominated for BEST ACTRESS  for WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE . Crawford render her services to all other nominees in the BEST ACTRESS category who could not attend the ceremony to receive their OSCAR for them.  And Crawford did just that received  the OSCAR for Anne Bancroft who won over Davis .But Davis would soon  succumb to Director Robert Aldrich after offering a staggering allot more money than Crawford do  to the picture. Davis received 200,000.00 while Crawford only make 50,000 to do HUSH.. HUSH ..SWEET CHARLOTTE.

Director Robert Aldrich was accustomed to playing referee with two feuding stars since WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE. But this time was different Davis was determine to undermine Crawford whom she felt publicly slapped her in the face with that Oscars stunt. Every chance she could she would berate Crawford's performance which made Crawford insecure.

Crawford doing a scene with Joseph Cotton.

Crawford with Agnes Moorehead. 

After only shooting for two days  Crawford had enough of Davis's antics. Crawford was determined to have the LAST LAUGH by not returning  work due to a respiratory illness which held up the production for months.  Because of the amount of money being lost, the insurance company gave Aldrich the ultimatum either scrap the picture or fire Joan Crawford. Aldrich unwillingly fire Crawford to save the production.

Aldrich desperately needed a LEADING LADY and his first choice was VIVIEN LEIGH. But that option didn't settle too kindly with Davis who still begrudged Leigh for winning the role of Scarlett O' Hara over her. Leigh turned down the role flatly for of the idea of  having get up every morning act with Davis was too much to ask. Leigh added that  she would have consider working with Crawford but with Davis that quite a different undertaking altogether.

 Davis  had another actress in mind to replace Crawford , her old colleague from Warner Brothers in 1940's...Olivia de Havilland.

When HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE was release, it was only a modest hit not the runaway blockbuster that WHATEVER TO BABY JANE was. One can't help but wonder how different the film would have been if Crawford had stayed on. De Havilland did a superb job as the scheming cousin Miriam who tries to gaslight Davis for the family fortune. I believe that Crawford could carry herself quite well maybe even surpassing De Havilland's performance. Crawford and Davis had that chemistry that makes screen team great. But unfortunately their bitter rivalry got in the way of their craft. HUSH ..HUSH ..SWEET CHARLOTTE is now regarded as Classic film and  has gained the status as a Cult Classic as well.