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MI6 got to chat with Richard Kiel last month about
his world famous character Jaws featured in the
films
"The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker". We also chatted
about his other projects...
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Interview - Richard Kiel
15th December 2003
MI6 got to chat to Richard Kiel thanks to our friends at Infinitely
Better, last month. Hot on the heels of their Bond Girl's
series, they have continued to bring all manor of stars into
the
public domain for adoring fans. In the coming months Infinitely
Better will be bring more and more Bond
actors to continue
the Bond theme signings.
What do you think it is about the Bond film's that has made
them so successful even after 40 years?
They give people their moneys worth, pure entertainment lots
of fun beautiful locations, beautiful women lots of great gadgets,
humour and action they are always different, when you buy a ticket
you go for a great ride.
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How do you feel about being part of the Bond family?
It's been great, considering that since I did the last
film it's been 25 years and just this year they came
out with
a 14inch, 30 joint articulated
Jaws figure.
It's the same
year as they came out with the one for the Twilight
Zone. I do
think its kind of cool, my grand kids are wanting for
toy's for Christmas.
Left: Infinitely Better Store, Swindon.
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Jaws has been voted the top Bond villain on a number of occasions.
Why do you think that is?
Well you know, I think properly, Odd Job and Blofeld came in pretty
close, I did two of them so I had a unfair advantage. But I think
that Jaws is popular because he is the underdog and he is very
determined, he would brush off his clothes and straightened his
tie and keep going. And I think people enjoy that, he wasn't quite
as predictable, you weren't sure if Bond was going to kill him
or he was going to kill Bond. So they made it a little more fun.
Die Another Day
What did you think of Die Another Day?
I think they always have to get better and they go out of
their way to make the next one bigger and better, some are bigger
and better than others.
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What are the chances of Jaws returning to face Pierce
Brosnan in a film?
I don't know it will take some innovative writing
because I ended up helping Bond in "Moonraker" living
and surviving
it would have to be a little different?
What was it like to work with Roger Moore?
Roger is a terrific guy and my first experience filming
in the UK. Instead of calling 'Action' they would call
the
name of actor who began the scene so they would say…
'Richard' it kind of through me off and I was having a
hard time getting used to that. So Roger said let's do
it the
American way, I know how to do that it would be easier
for Richard. They used 'Action' after that.
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Above: Richard Kiel and young fan |
Did you get to keep the metal teeth afterwards?
No, unfortunately I have never had the teeth, they have
been in a safe somewhere with the Bond Producers. The guy that
made
them was a dental technician near Pinewood and he could only
make the one set, so there is only one real set out there.
Have you been doing anything recently in film production?
No, the most recent thing I did was "Happy Gilmore", I did
a film in India - it may play here, it was called "The
Return of the Thief of Baghdad". And it had some Indian
star in I can't remember his name but Jason Connery was in it
as
well.
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Above: Richard Kiel and another fan
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What is your opinion of CGI and how that change special
effects?
Well you know I think that in some instances they have
done well in others the old fashion way is better - but
it's certainly
the way of the future.
How did you feel about Jaws going soft?
I don't think Jaws went soft he was a pretty tough
guy and he sort of got redeemed falling in love with the
Jaws girlfriend Dolly, which changed him like in real life.
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Can you tell us about your 1991 film project "The Giant
of Thunder Mountain" and how you prepared and made the
crossing from Actor to Producer/Writer?
Yeah I co-wrote that movie. That was something very near and
dear to my heart especially when you are producing your first
film.
When you envisioned the costumes and characters and the sets,
it all gets built and the costumes get made. You're involved
in
the casting and come Monday morning you are there before the
sun comes up and you see gigantic cabin, the bigger than normal
logs
the smoke coming out of the chimney, the chickens out there,
its almost like having a child, to write and produce a movie
like
that.
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25 years in the 'making' tell us about your project
'Cassius Clay'?
Cassius Clay... What I wrote about was the white man
who did more to end slavery except for Abraham Lincoln.
It's kind of like a "Schindler's List" but it's
about the America struggle with slavery. The original
Cassius
Clay freed all of his slaves when he was very young and
inherited his father's estate, his father was one of the
richest men in Kentucky.
When he became active in trying
to put an end to it all, they tried to assassinate him.
They did kill his little boy who was named Cassius Marcellus
Clay Jr., and ironically that was Muhammad Ali's real
name
- his father was named after this guy, the guy was a
hero to the black people long before the emancipation of
proclamation
of the thirteenth amendment he was already freeing the
slaves providing education giving money to build schools
and things.
He actually ran for president at the same time as Abraham
Lincoln, and through his support to Lincoln, it helped
to
get Lincoln to come out with the first emancipation of
proclamation.
Right: Richard Kiel biographical
novel about 'Cassius Marcellus Clay'
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Many thanks to Richard Kiel and the team
at Infinitely
Better. Keep a eye out for more guests and a exclusive
Infinitely Better competition soon on MI6.
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MI6 Biography
Name: Richard Kiel
Portfolio
"The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977) - Jaws
"Moonraker" (1979) - Jaws
"Everything or Nothing" (2004 - Video Game) - Jaws
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Related Articles:
Moonraker MI6 Movie Coverage
The Spy
Who Loved Me MI6 Movie Coverage
Infinitely
Better's website
