The Poster Memorabilia blog

A Lively London Night with James Bond

One borrowed invitation, one M&S suit, and the night Daniel Craig finally became Bond for him.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

Who better to spend a lively London night with than James Bond? I have to admit it took me some time to warm up to Daniel Craig as 007. Now, I remember him as the quintessential Bond, but at first, I didn't see it. I didn't think he was right for the role after Pierce Brosnan crushed it in the late 90s and early 2000s.

I thought he just looked weird as Bond. I didn't think he was as handsome as Brosnan, or even Sean Connery, and I felt he didn't have the panache that Roger Moore or Timothy Dalton brought to the role. So while I enjoyed Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, I was still apprehensive.

Then, Skyfall came. I was in London on vacation at the time and my friend, whose place I was staying at, asked me to accompany him to the world premiere. He scored tickets to the event, and he wanted me to join him and help get the cast's autographs on his Skyfall posters. He even said he'd give me the one I got signed.

With nothing to do after an entire week of sightseeing, I decided to join him. Concerns about Daniel Craig aside, I did like where his Bond movies were going, story-wise, and I was also anticipating Skyfall. So I bought a suit from Marks & Spencer, and we made our way to the Royal Albert Hall where the premiere took place.

Needless to say, that night was pure pandemonium. I didn't realize how popular Daniel Craig was as James Bond, nor how beloved the franchise is in the UK. I think it was the loudest place I ever found myself in, and I kid you not, my ears kept ringing for the rest of my trip.

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I can't blame the fans, though. One by one, the cast arrived, and they all showed off so much charisma, you'd think they were still on set. Javier Bardem was a handsome fella—as well as my favorite Bond villain to date—while Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw looked equally dapper. Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe both looked stunning, looking every inch the archetypal Bond girls they played on screen.

They were all so nice when they gave autographs. None of them refused nor gave any excuse for why they couldn't. They simply took my pen and signed my poster when I asked. This was what started the whole thing for me. I figured that if these stars gave me autographs, then maybe I could get anyone else in Hollywood.

Even Judi Dench did it. I was afraid that she wouldn't because, well, maybe she thought herself above such things, but she didn't. She gladly signed my poster and went on her merry way.

Now, how about Daniel Craig? James Bond himself. Did he sign my poster? As you can see, he did, but that encounter made a bigger impact on me than just getting his autograph.

“All I could see was James Bond when Craig walked up to me and signed my poster.”

Seeing him in person finally did it for me. I finally saw him as 007. I saw the charisma, the sex appeal, and the innate sophistication that have made the character an enduring icon for decades. As if a switch flipped inside me, all I could see was James Bond when Craig walked up to me and signed my poster.

That realization made watching Skyfall much more enjoyable, and it's still my favorite Bond film to this day. I even kind of miss Craig as Bond now, but I respect that he knew when to let it go. Whoever plays the world-famous spy next will have huge shoes to fill.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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