Caroline Munro’s Lamb’s
Navy Rum Ads
Sex sells is a truism in
advertising, and this is especially true when it comes to selling image. In 1970, when young Alfred Lamb was promoting his
newly developed liquor, Lamb’s Navy Rum, sexy Caroline Munro was chosen to be
the face of the advertising campaign. Although
she had had a minor role in Casino Royale, she was relatively unknown so who knows
why she was picked, but thankfully she was.
It was this ad campaign that led to
her roles in Hammer films. Hammer Chairman, Sir James Carreras, spotted her on
a Lamb’s billboard and wanted to know who she was. She was promptly signed to a one year deal which led to Dracula 1972A.D. and Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter.
By the
time she became a Bond Girl (for the 2nd time) ,in The Spy
Who Loved Me, she had already starred in
other genre films, so I don’t know if her Lamb’s ads had anything to do with
her casting, but they certainly look like they did. The wetsuits and
helicopters seem like promos for a Bond film. They have a sexy, fun, look that perfectly fit
the tone of the Roger Moore era of 007.
Caroline
went on to a very long career long after her tour of duty at Lamb’s was over,
and is one of the best known Scream Queen’s in the world. But let’s all take a
moment and thank an advertising decision in 1970 that introduced the world to
Caroline Munro.
