Life’s Rich Pattern

Illustration by Grace Kopsiaftis

Back to the movies

by Liz Foster

The new James Bond movie is coming out here in November and I haven’t been so excited in years. I come from the generation after the golden years of Hollywood, but there’s still something special about lounging in the (now very comfy) leather recliner, clutching a popcorn and soft drink and watching the movie roll out on the big screen. Television streaming sure had its place during lockdown, but as with all things abundant it’s a bit same same.

No Time To Die promises three hours (great value for money) of twists and turns, finishing with a ‘positively shocking’ ending, according to critics. Given it’s Craig’s last time with the franchise, I’m picking he does, in fact, die. Yes, I know, James Bond is practically immortal, but what about a Dr. Who style scenario where he comes back as a woman? Even better if it’s a post-menopausal lady of a certain age, or a trans gender pirate, or a talking dog, just to play the twenty first century diversity card a bit.

In the meantime, we can all enjoy recreated movie scenes by watching the news. Did you think the classic house/tornado scene in the Wizard of Oz was fairy tale embellishment? Try talking to the owner of Pom Pom, a 1.5kg Pomeranian dog swept up in a tornado in the NSW tablelands. Poor Pom Pom was whirled up into the air — along with some of the neighbour’s cows — spinning about 20 metres high alongside debris. Her kennel was nowhere to be seen and her blanket was found stuck thirty metres up a pine tree.

Remnants of the owner’s house were unearthed twenty kilometres away. There were no reports of ruby slippers being found.

Somehow – no-one’s quite sure how – Pom Pom lived to tell the tale, with nothing worse than a few broken ribs and a punctured lung. If only she could talk.

Then there are the accidental classic movie scenes that were never meant to be. Harrison Ford was struggling

with dysentery months into the Raiders of the Lost Ark shoot in Tunisia and just needed the elaborate fight scene with the scimitar wielding assassin to end. Now. So, he pulled out his gun and shot him, and the scene stuck.

In Pretty Woman, Richard Gere planned to just wake up a notoriously weary post partying Julia Roberts in the scene when he quickly snaps shut the necklace box. At the very last minute the editing team left her laughing reaction in, becoming the trademark of the movie.

The Godfather’s opening scene, dripping with menace and tension in which Brando strokes a cat and discourses on friendship, cemented the role as his and the cultural cliché of the baddy and his cat. But director Frances Ford Coppola just found the ownerless cat roaming on set and gave it to Brando to see what happened.

And the iconic headbanging scene of five groovy headbangers driving a 1976 Pacer car in Wayne’s World nearly didn’t happen. The script called for a Guns ‘n’ Roses number. But Mike Myers put his foot down for Bohemian Rhapsody. During the shoot, he banged his head so hard he injured his neck, but it was worth it – it remains one of the most iconic scenes in comedy history.

Here’s hoping Pom Pom’s recovery continues apace. Perhaps she could use her newfound fifteen minutes of fame to join Animal Actors as a stunt double. Who knows, if the next James Bond is filmed down under, maybe she could even star as the villain’s pet.

Liz Foster is a local writer and author. You can find more Life’s Rich Pattern features and more at www.lizfosterwriter.com