'Spy Who Loved Me' screening & Richard Kiel appearance in Omaha, NE this May

What: "The Spy Who Loved Me" screening and Richard Kiel Appearance
Date: 6th May 2011
Time: 19:00
Location: Joslyn Art Museum, Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, USA

Now a new print of 1977's “The Spy Who Loved Me” is coming to Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum for a May 6 screening, along with special guest Richard Kiel, who played the movie's villain, Jaws -- writes Omaha.com.

Tickets go on sale today at Hy-Vee supermarkets for the 7 p.m. screening, which is Omaha film historian Bruce Crawford's 28th fundraiser featuring a classic movie.

The screening will benefit the Nebraska Kidney Association and will feature a display of iconic Bond cars and gadgetry by the Fort Crook chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society.

Kiel, 71, has appeared at screenings of the film all over the world. He will talk about the making of the film before the Omaha screening, then sign autographs and show memorabilia afterward.

A native of Detroit, Kiel cornered the market on playing giants, intimidating henchmen and swamp monsters in the 1960s and 1970s. He appeared in episodes of TV's “The Night Stalker” and “The Twilight Zone” before breaking big in films such as “Silver Streak” and “The Spy Who Loved Me.”

He later reprised his role as Jaws in “Inspector Gadget,” which starred Matthew Broderick. His autobiography, published in 2002, is titled “Making It BIG in the Movies.”

His Jaws dentures were reportedly so uncomfortable to wear that he could not do takes longer than 30 seconds. They were designed by Vivian Kubrick, daughter of movie director Stanley Kubrick, who helped design the lighting for “The Spy Who Loved Me.”
It's said that Jaws' silver teeth later inspired rap stars to wear grillz.

“The Spy Who Loved Me” was the 12th James Bond movie made in a franchise that now includes 23 titles. It was marginally based on the 10th novel written by Ian Fleming.

The debonaire British secret agent became iconic for his high-tech crime-fighting gadgets and his love of fast cars and women. It was Moore's third, and some say best, outing as Bond.

“It's one of the most popular Bond films,” Crawford said, “and Jaws ranks as the most popular villain from all the Bond films. In fact, he's the most popular character from 007 movies other than Bond himself.”

“The Spy Who Loved Me” finds Bond investigating the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads. He is aided by a KGB agent (Barbara Bach) whose lover he killed. Kurt Jurgens plays the plot's mastermind, Stromberg.

With a budget of $13.5 million, it was the most expensive Bond movie made up to that time. It features a huge set of the interior of a supertanker, a memorable shot of a skier jumping out of a helicopter, and a white Lotus Esprit S1 Turbo luxury sports car that soared in popularity after the movie's release.

“The Spy Who Loved Me” also snagged more Oscar nominations than any other Bond film, for art direction, score and song. Marvin Hamlisch wrote the score, while the song, “Nobody Does It Better,” became a big hit for Carly Simon, rising to No. 2 on the American charts.

Ironically, Steven Spielberg was considered to direct “The Spy Who Loved Me” but was too busy on preproduction for “Jaws” to take the job.
“Kiel is so unique in his appearance, with his stature and his steel teeth, that they brought him back in ‘Moonraker' as the same character, although they made him a good guy in that one,” Crawford said.

The running joke in “The Spy Who Loved Me” is that Jaws is so tough he seems indestructible, escaping death time after time.

“There's a real attraction to bad guys,” Crawford said. “Kiel is the Darth Vader of the Bond franchise, and audiences love it when he survives the impossible. They cheer when he swims away at the end of the movie.”

Producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, who headed most of the Bond features, ranked “The Spy Who Loved Me” among his three favorites, along with “Goldfinger” and “From Russia With Love.” Crawford puts it in the top five Bond films.

“For longevity, nobody can touch this franchise,” Crawford said. “The best Bond films are fun adventure, with unique gadgets and a sense of humor.”

Thanks to `00Daniel` for the alert.

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