In James Bond movies, product placement also plays a role
Brand-name shoutouts and high-profile product placement are as much a part of 007 movies as Bond’s tuxedo or Q’s gadgetry, and with “Skyfall” hitting theaters at the same time the film franchise marks its 50th anniversary, it’s never been easier for fans to live and let buy into the brand — James Brand.
Heineken: Despite shaking and stirring the ire of 007 enthusiasts, “Skyfall” is far from the first time the martini-loving Bond and beer share the big screen — for that you’d have to go back to 1962’s “Dr. No,” in which Sean Connery appears with a bottle of Jamaica’s Red Stripe. And, yes, Bond not only quaffs a bottle of the Dutch brew in the new movie, a tuxedo-wearing Daniel Craig also appears in a Heineken TV commercial, reportedly part of a $45-million deal between the studio and the brewer. (Our only question? Why no “licensed to chill” tag line?)
James Bond 007 Signature Fragrance: The film franchise’s first licensed men’s fragrance rolled out to retail last month (the first women’s scent, Bond Girl 007, was released in 2008 to coincide with “Quantum of Solace”). Touted as “dangerously sophisticated,” the scent profile of James Bond 007 is described as having a “backbone of rich, reassuringly elegant lavender with undertones of moss and coumarin ... , “ with traces of vetiver, crisp apple and sandalwood. After one whiff, we decided that if James Bond were real, this is exactly what his pocket square drawer would smell like. And no, Q Branch has not rigged the bottle to double as a flamethrower. (James Bond 007 eau de toilette, 30ml and 50ml for $30 and $40 respectively at Kohl’s stores and online at kohls.com.
Omega: “Skyfall” marks the seventh film in which Bond has an Omega watch strapped to his wrist, and this time he wears not one but two different models, a black-dialed Planet Ocean 600M and a Seamaster Aqua Terra with a blue dial. (Omega is selling “Planet Ocean Skyfall” in a limited edition of 5,007 for $6,500 each.)
OPI: A merchandise tie-in with nail lacquer brand OPI may seem like a head-scratcher — until you consider the number of women who have tried to sink their talons into Bond over the years. In October, OPI released a limited-edition, 12-color Skyfall collection inspired by various Bond films. Two of those shades were also used to create Bérénice Marlohe’s two-tone manicure for the movie; the tops of the fingernails painted a maroon hue called Skyfall, and the underside of each nail painted a glittery gold shade dubbed GoldenEye. ($8.50 at OPI retailers.)
Orlebar Brown: What is it about James Bond and the parade of pale-blue swimtrunks? In 1964’s “Thunderball,” Sean Connery famously sported a pair of Sunspel trunks. In 2006’s “Casino Royale,” Daniel Craig strode out of the surf clad in a barely there pair by La Perla. Six years later, in “Skyfall,” costume designer Jany Temime chose a powder-blue pair of Orlebar Brown’s short, retro-style Setter swimtrunks in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pool scene, specifically as an homage to Connery’s original trunks. ($230 at orlebarbrown.com)
Swarovski: Swarovski and British jewelry designer Stephen Webster designed a “Skyfall”-themed collection, several pieces of which are worn by Bérénice Marlohe’s Sévérine in the film’s casino scene, including an eye-catching pair of long, rhodium-plated black bamboo earrings and matching pendant. (Stephen Webster for Swarovski, $170 each at swarovski.com)
