Saturday, June 28, 2008

Aston Martins on film and culture

Author Ian Fleming gave his James Bond hero a DB Mark III in the seventh novel, Goldfinger. A long association between 007 and the marque began on screen with the silver DB5 that appears in Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965). This was James Bond's company car, and in GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) appeared to have become his private car. In On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) a metallic-green DBS appears at the beginning and end of the movie. After an interlude with Lotus, Aston Martins were again used: a charcoal-grey V8 Volante and Vantage in The Living Daylights (1987). After switching to BMW for several films, the Vanquish appeared in Die Another Day (2002). In Casino Royale (2006), James Bond drives both the classic DB5 which becomes his personal vehicle after winning a poker game, and the new DBS which is revealed to be his new company car in Quantum of Solace (in theaters November 2008)

In Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (film), a DB2/4 Drophead Coupe (convertible) is driven by male lead Rod Taylor and figures prominently in the final scene.
A black Aston Martin Vanquish appears in The Italian Job (2003 film).
In the film Gorgeous (1999) Jackie Chan drives an Aston Martin.
Rowan Atkinson's own DB7 Vantage was used in Johnny English (2003).
In the HBO series Entourage (2006), Vince buys all the guys an Aston Martin DB9 to celebrate the recent success of "Aquaman".
In the TV Series "Las Vegas" James Caan's character Ed Deline drives a DB9 Volante.
In the TV series Desperate Housewives, the character Gabrielle Solis (played by Eva Longoria Parker) drives a Maroon DB9 Volante.
On Youtube, there is a clip of Kobe Bryant, an NBA superstar, jumping over a speeding Aston Martin.