Priscilla Barnes (Della Leiter in Licence to Kill) and Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter in Casino Royale & Quantum of Solace) are celebrating their 54th and 44th birthdays, respectively, today and all of us here at FelixLeiter.com would like to wish them a wonderful happy birthday!

Happy 54th Birthday, Priscilla Barnes!

Most people know Priscilla Barnes from her stint as Terri Alden on Three’s Company but Bond fans know her as Della Churchill, Felix Leiter’s bride in 1989′s Licence to Kill. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the International Sports and Entertainment Festival in Cleveland, Ohio in June 2006. She’s very nice and I’ll never forgot the joke she played on me.

After autographing a picture of her as Della for me, she asked, “Would you like a condom?” I was shocked, speechless and probably turned a little red. Is Priscilla Barnes advocating safe sex or does she want me to play the role of Felix in her hotel room later on? I thought. She then pulled out plastic protection in the form of a slipcase for the picture she had just signed! Make sure to visit her if she ever comes to a convention in your town because she’s awesome.

Happy 44th Birthday, Jeffrey Wright!

After being absent from the big screen for 17 years, Felix Leiter returned in 2006′s Casino Royale in the form of Jeffrey Wright. Before Jeffrey Wright was cast, I was against the notion of an African American actor playing Felix Leiter onscreen and had never liked Bernie Casey being cast in the role in Never Say Never Again (1983).

To my surprise, I was indifferent to Wright’s cast; I figured I’d give him a chance since Eon Productions had never let me down before. When I saw Casino Royale for the first time, I was blown away by Wright’s performance. Not since Jack Lord had the character been so cool! I enjoyed Wright’s portrayal and lines so much that he immediately became my favorite cinematic Felix Leiter. Leiter is supposed to be the United States’ version of James Bond and Wright’s portrayal definitely lives up to that expectation. I hope he stays in the role for many years to come (or at least as long as Daniel Craig plays 007).

David Hedison News

Super MegaFest Reports (incl. pictures) by Diane Kachmar et al.

Two ‘Fly at Fifty’ authors at their appearance
in Boston, November 22-23, 2008.

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Famous Monsters of Filmland Names The Fly at Fifty #6 Best Book of 2008

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

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Directing David Hedison by Paul Kyriazi

An article about Mr. Kyriazi’s experience directing David Hedison

on four of his audiobooks as well as meeting him at SpyFest.

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WonderCon Report (incl. pictures) by Diane Kachmar

David Hedison autographing pictures at WonderCon
in San Francisco, February 27 – March 1, 2009.

WonderCon Video

David Hedison and Richard Kiel aka “Jaws” appear
at 4:19 and 4:50 into the video, respectively.

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New Felix Leiter (Live and Let Die) Autograph Card Out Now

You can find this card on eBay. For more information, visit SciFiHobby.com.

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Jeffrey Wright News

“Vereen hits Jeffrey Wright Oscar snub” by Scott Galupo

Actor Ben Vereen told The Washington Times it was an “injustice” that Jeffrey Wright

wasn’t nominated for his performance as Muddy Waters in ‘Cadillac Records.’

Video of Vereen and Wright’s response included.

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Oliver Stone’s W. Hit DVD/Blu-ray on February 10th!

Jeffrey Wright is Colin Powell

in

W.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE DVD

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASED BLU-RAY

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Cadillac Records Hit DVD/Blu-ray on March 10th!

Click here to read FelixLeiter.com’s review of the film.

Jeffrey Wright is Muddy Waters

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Cadillac Records

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE DVD

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE BLU-RAY

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‘Bond 23′ Filming Begins in 2010

According to CBn, Daniel Craig has stated that filming for ‘Bond 23′ will begin in 2010.

There is still no word on when exactly production will begin or whether Wright will return as Leiter.

His return depends on whether or not the script features the character but he has heard “rumblings.”

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Central Intelligence Agency News

On January 8, FLc reported that President Barack Obama named Leon Panetta as Director of the CIA.

Panetta was confirmed by the Senate and was sworn in on February 12, 2009.

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World Factbook Second Edition

Somebody posted a link to the World Factbook Second Edition on Twitter.

This very cool high-tech tool would make Felix Leiter proud!

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FelixLeiter.com News

FLc Now on Twitter!

We will be updating FelixLeiterNews with the latest Felix Leiter news as frequently as possible.

JEFFREY WRIGHT as IAN FLEMING’s FELIX LEITER

in

Now Available:

1-Disc DVD

2-Disc DVD

Blu-ray Disc

Also Now Available on Blu-ray:

Volume 3 (Goldfinger/Moonraker/The World Is Not Enough)

Directed by Darnell Martin

CAST:

Adrien Brody … Leonard Chess

Jeffrey Wright … Muddy Waters

Gabrielle Union … Geneva Wade

Columbus Short … Little Walter

Cedric the Entertainer … Willie Dixon

Emmanuelle Chriqui … Revetta Chess

Eamonn Walker … Howlin’ Wolf

Mos Def … Chuck Berry

Beyoncé Knowles … Etta James

Cadillac Records is a biopic that chronicles the career of Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) and his record label, Chess Records. It features Chess’ talent Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry and Etta James. Overall, I think it’s a good film. I say “good” because despite being enjoyable, it didn’t knock my socks off like I thought it would. It had some brilliant performances but I felt the pacing was a bit uneven. I’m not a big fan of music oriented films (the only other one I’ve seen is the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line) so maybe I’m not the best judge of pacing for this specific genre but I felt it was a little slow at some parts especially when Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles) was singing. I also have a problem with the film’s historical accuracy but I’ll get to that later.

Jeffrey Wright (Muddy Waters) and Mos Def (Chuck Berry) gave brilliant performances. I knew Wright was going to deliver but I was a bit surprised with how great Mos Def played Chuck Berry. Def was good in Be Kind Rewind but being able to play real-life people takes genuine acting chops and he certainly delivered. Adrien Brody, Columbus Short (Little Walter) and Beyoncé Knowles (Etta James) were good too but they didn’t blow me away. Knowles has a really good dramatic scene (it involves drugs) where you could tell she was giving everything she had but I still cannot take her seriously as an actress. I refuse to see Dreamgirls (not my cup of tea) but I’ve seen Austin Powers in Goldmember and the travesty that is The Pink Panther (2006) and I’ve come to the conclusion that Knowles is no Barbra Streisand. She’s a better actress than Madonna though which is a real shame because Madonna has actually been cast in a Bond film. The last actor that I need to mention is Eamonn Walker. I had never heard of him before either but his portrayal of Howlin’ Wolf was awesome. He didn’t have a big part but you could feel his presence every time he was on screen.

Other than Wright and Def’s phenomenal performances, what really stuck with me after I left the theater was how the musicians featured in the film paved the way for rock and roll. I personally am a huge fan of classic rock and my dad has always told me that the music I love evolved from the blues. I never truly understood what “evolving from the blues” meant until I saw this film. Right now my iPod doesn’t contain many blues songs but after seeing this film I’ve been inspired to check out songs by Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry. Did you know Chuck Berry threatened to sue The Beach Boys over copyright infringement involving their hit, “Surfin’ USA,” unless they credit him as the song’s composer? Did you know The Rolling Stones named their band after Muddy Water’s song, “Rollin Stone”? These are just some examples of the multitude of fascinating information I gleaned from the film.

My biggest gripe about the movie is that it’s not 100% historically accurate. The movie begins with the phrase “Based on a true story” and that’s true but I would like to emphasize the word “based.” Like many directors that helm biopics, director Darnell Martin used her creative license in many scenes throughout the film. I’m trying to avoid spoilers in this review but there were a few scenes in the movie that I researched to see if they actually played out that way in real life. The scenes I looked up either never happened or played out differently. For example, we see The Rolling Stones meet Muddy Waters before Elvis Presley even hits scene! Now it’s totally understandable that Martin wanted to show certain events in a visual appealing way but I believe biopics should strive for the utmost accuracy. Last time I checked, a film with a lack of historical accuracy was called “fiction.”

Despite its flaws, I’m glad that I saw Cadillac Records because I walked out of the theater enlightened and that’s a rare feeling for me after coming out of the cineplex. Most of the movies I see are made for the sole purpose of entertainment but Cadillac Records has two purposes: (1) Teach the audience about this important period in American history and (2) Entertain the audience. It succeeds on both counts.

Grade: B+

Earlier this month, BlackVoices.com posted an interview with Jeffrey Wright discussing Cadillac Records, which was released in US theaters on December 5. As always, Jeffrey Wright gives some great answers!

BlackFilm.com has ten clips from the film as well as a photo gallery which I highly recommend checking out if you’re interested in Cadillac Records. 

CLICK HERE FOR INTERVIEW

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CLIPS

CLICK HERE TO VIEW GALLERY

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Related Articles:

Jeffrey Wright Returns in ‘Chess Records’

‘Cadillac Records’ Filming Complete

Wright to Play Muddy Waters in ‘Cadillac Records’

Priscilla Barnes (Della Leiter in Licence to Kill) and Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter in Casino Royale & Quantum of Solace) are celebrating their 53rd and 43rd birthday, respectively, today and all of us here at FelixLeiter.com would like to wish them a wonderful happy birthday!

Happy 53rd Birthday, Priscilla Barnes!

Most people know Priscilla Barnes from her stint as Terri Alden on Three’s Company but Bond fans know her as Della Churchill, Felix Leiter’s bride in 1989′s Licence to Kill. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the International Sports and Entertainment Festival in June 2006. She’s very nice and I’ll never forgot the joke she played on me.

After autographing a picture of her as Della for me, she asked, “Would you like a condom?” I was shocked, speechless and probably turned a little red. Is Priscilla Barnes advocating safe sex or does she want me to play the role of Felix in her hotel room later on? I thought. She then pulled out plastic protection in the form of a slipcase for the picture she had just signed! Make sure to visit her if she ever comes to a convention in your town because she’s awesome.

Happy 43rd Birthday, Jeffrey Wright!

After being absent from the big screen for 17 years, Felix Leiter returned in 2006′s Casino Royale in the form of Jeffrey Wright. Before Jeffrey Wright was cast, I was against the notion of an African American actor playing Felix Leiter onscreen and had never liked Bernie Casey being cast in the role in Never Say Never Again (1983).

To my surprise, I was indifferent to Wright’s cast; I figured I’d give him a chance since Eon Productions had never let me down before. When I saw Casino Royale for the first time, I was blown away by Wright’s performance. Not since Jack Lord had the character been so cool! I enjoyed Wright’s portrayal and lines so much that he immediately became my favorite cinematic Felix Leiter. Leiter is supposed to be the United States’ version of James Bond and Wright’s portrayal definitely lives up to that expectation. I hope he stays in the role for many years to come (or at least as long as Daniel Craig plays 007).

I’m such a big fan of Jeffrey Wright and his Leiter that I plan on naming my first son Jeffrey Wright (my last name is Wright, FYI). No joke.

Wright’s latest film, Cadillac Records, hit US theaters on Friday so I highly recommend checking it out if you’re a Yank!

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Related Articles:

Norman Burton Born 85 Years Ago Today

Norman Burton Passed Away 5 Years Ago Today

Michael Pate Dies at 88

John Gardner Passed Away A Year Ago Today

Happy 69th Birthday, Bernie Casey!

Happy 81st Birthday, David Hedison!

Rik Van Nutter Born 79 Years Ago Today

Cec Linder Passed Away 16 Years Ago Today

From Bachelors to Widowers: A Tragic Bond

“I do try to bring, particularly to the first one (Casino Royale), my own thing to it,” Wright said of the influence past Bond movies had on “Quantum’s” production. “For me, Jack Lord sprung to mind. I mean the shades. And outside of Miles Davis, he was the coolest cat on the planet. And I was just very excited to bring some fresh life into the character and into the series to the extent that I could.”

Wright continued, “I think we are influenced only in that there is a previous history to these films. It’s a Bond film. There is an element of style and slickness. But at the same time, there has always been an intelligence to these films that cuts through as well.”

And what’s next for Felix Leiter, newly appointed section chief of South America?

Felix Leiter’s promotion at the end of Quantum of Solace foreshadows what will hopefully be a much larger role in the next Bond film. Wright continues, “I don’t think anything has been written yet, but I hear some interesting things…rumblings.”

This is probably my favorite Jeffrey Wright interview yet. “For me, Jack Lord sprung to mind. I mean the shades. And outside of Miles Davis, he was the coolest cat on the planet” is one of the coolest quotes ever!

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Related Articles:

Producer Michael G. Wilson Hopes to Have Wright Back for ‘Bond 23′

Wright on Bond & Leiter, Director Marc Forster and a Possible Future Return!

Wright on Leiter/Bond Relationship in ‘Quantum of Solace’

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Related Articles:

‘Cadillac Records’ Filming Complete

Wright to Play Muddy Waters in ‘Cadillac Records’

From the mouth of the man himself, Producer Michael G. Wilson has stated that he’s loved having Jeffrey Wright in the role of Felix Leiter and hopes to have him back for ‘Bond 23.’ He made the remark in a recent interview that he gave for CHUD.com.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH INTERVIEW

In the last article posted on FelixLeiter.com relating to Jeffrey Wright, he said that he would love to return if there was a spot for Felix, so it sounds like it’s a win-win situation for fans of Wright’s Felix at this point. Wilson said that they would begin developing the story this upcoming year, so we might see ‘Bond 23′ as early as late 2010 or possibly 2011.

Stay tuned to FelixLeiter.com for the latest updates!

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Related Articles:

Wright on Bond & Leiter, Director Marc Forster and a Possible Future Return!

Wright on Leiter/Bond Relationship in ‘Quantum of Solace’

2 Brand New Leiter Clips Online!

Confirmed: Leiter to Smoke Cigar in ‘Quantum of Solace’

Felix Leiter Cameo in September CBn Podcast

New Leiter Dialogue in ‘Quantum’ Theatrical Trailer

Leiter Mentioned in ‘Quantum’ IMDb “Review” (Possible Spoilers)

Felix Leiter: Friend or Foe? (Possible Spoilers)

Austrian Airport Analysis (Possible Spoilers)

New Photo of Dominic Greene with Felix Leiter

New Photo of Beam and Leiter Online

SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Felix Leits Up in ‘Quantum of Solace’

‘Quantum of Solace’ Teaser Trailer Online!

Ocean Sky Provided CIA Jet in ‘Quantum of Solace’

Leiter in Haiti with Gregg Beam?

Leiter’s Role in ‘Quantum of Solace’ Minimized 

In a new interview with BlackFilm.com, Jeffrey Wright answers questions about playing Leiter again in Quantum of Solace, what it’s been like to work again with Daniel Craig, his opinions of Marc Forster, and his enthusiasm with the possibility of continuing on as our beloved Felix in future Bond films. Here’s one excerpt to whet your appetite:

“What changes should we expect from Felix in the sequel?”

“Well, Quantum of Solace goes on to develop the relationship between Leiter and Bond. There is a kinship between the two of them that we continue to discover because they are similar in many ways. They are guys who are very much alone in their world. It’s a murky environment in which they operate and there are few people that they trust. They found a trust in one another and we try to explore that further. Outside of MI6, Leiter is Bond’s only consistent ally. He’s played a critical throughout the history of the Bond films.”

CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE INTERVIEW

EON Productions’ Quantum of Solace opens nationwide in the USA on November 14th, 2008.

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Related Articles:

Wright on Leiter/Bond Relationship in ‘Quantum of Solace’

2 Brand New Leiter Clips Online!

Confirmed: Leiter to Smoke Cigar in ‘Quantum of Solace’

Felix Leiter Cameo in September CBn Podcast

New Leiter Dialogue in ‘Quantum’ Theatrical Trailer

Leiter Mentioned in ‘Quantum’ IMDb “Review” (Possible Spoilers)

Felix Leiter: Friend or Foe? (Possible Spoilers)

Austrian Airport Analysis (Possible Spoilers)

New Photo of Dominic Greene with Felix Leiter

New Photo of Beam and Leiter Online

SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Felix Leits Up in ‘Quantum of Solace’

‘Quantum of Solace’ Teaser Trailer Online!

Ocean Sky Provided CIA Jet in ‘Quantum of Solace’

Leiter in Haiti with Gregg Beam?

Leiter’s Role in ‘Quantum of Solace’ Minimized