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I haven't read any of them, but the selection looks promising. Ian Fleming & James Bond: The Spanish Connection was co-written and translated by one of our board members -- @ggl007 -- and should be very good.
Bond Cars: The Definitive History is written the editor-at-large for Top Gear magazine--I wonder if he had anything to do with the excellent Top Gear TV special on Bond cars.
Amen! I'm still waiting for a study of Fleming that is even half as pleasurable to read. Since you mentioned a reference book on GF, I want to put in a good word for Adrian Turner On Goldfinger, which was published in 1998 and is probably the best book on the film. The analysis of the script's development is fascinating.
I hope you like it, @MaxCasino ;)
Always happy to learn and hear about other people’s opinions, on something I like!
Amen! I'm still waiting for a study of Fleming that is even half as pleasurable to read. Since you mentioned a reference book on GF, I want to put in a good word for Adrian Turner On Goldfinger, which was published in 1998 and is probably the best book on the film. The analysis of the script's development is fascinating.
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Double Amen to that! That's a real little gem of a book. Mr. Turner is an excellent writer, witty and perceptive. He manages to avoid all the usual cliches-tropes that clog so much writing on the Bond films, especially on Goldfinger.
Actually, on a Fleming tip, another book I really enjoyed recently is:
https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Bang-British-Thrillers-Casino/dp/0008172234
Mr. Ripley charts the rise of Brit-Bloke-Books from Bond in the 50s up to the (late) Jack Higgins in the 70s. This was definitely my world, as growing up in an RAF household, there was always loads of these rugged books knocking about at home. Mr. Ripley's wry prose certainly brought back many happy memories of elder brothers grandly declaring, "This one's good stuff!" while chucking me yet another dog-eared Alistair Maclean paperback.
It's a 271 page book, the last 141 pages are devoted to the Brosnan-Craig eras. Lot's of great colour production photos for those films, stories relating to the Skyfall miniatures etc. Actually good content on the early films too. My personal favourite is a full page colour shot of Big Sean and Guy Hamilton chatting beside the DB5 at Stoke Park. Classic stuff.
It's definitely a lovely companion to the Worrall book, which as it is now 30 years old, is somewhat dated in design and content. I'd go for it. If you have both of em on your shelf you will indeed appear to be unbeatable.
Dr. No: The First James Bond Film
Great news! I was kind of wondering if Dr. No would receive a anniversary book in some way or another. I kind of think Tomorrow Never Dies and Skyfall deserve one as well, but that’s just me. I also wonder if we could get some books like this for FRWL, GF and TB for their 60th anniversaries.
Yes, I was wondering the same thing and also have that excellent issue of Cinema Retro. FRWL might benefit more from a book-length study, but I assume that would have to wait until next year. Still, for this book it would be nice if Chapman pulls out some surprises, though I'm not sure where he'd find them.
The Cinema Retro mag is a great tribute but in terms of content it's all over the place. It's a collection of articles written by numerous writers which are not woven into a cohesive and most importantly chronological narrative. There are lots of great photos but it feels more like a scrapbook and that's kind of ok because it's a magazine. But I get the feeling that the Cinema Retro mag lacked an editor who could really shape all the undoubtedly fascinating nuggets of info and insight into a genuine narrative. A missed opportunity on that level.
We need a well written history that really puts the reader into the British film industry of 1962, a time after all when all the Bond cast and crew were slowly finding their feet with no guarantee that their efforts would be a great success. A lot of risk and a wonderful payoff. The Bond films, alongside the Beatles, are one of the greatest 60s stories, and they really deserve a proper historical treatment. I hope Our Man Chapman is up to the job.
The 007th Minute by Jacques I.M. Stewart,
- It features both film and novel reviews, and some philosophies regarding to the reviews.
Then, For His Eyes Only: The Women of James Bond by Lisa Funnell.
- It's a great discussion about the evolution of Bond Girls throughout the years, their characteristics, psychology, and personalities, not just to the Bond girls, but also to the other female characters and those who became a part of the franchise in the series like villains, singers and etc.
Have you read these too?
For His Eyes Only is a worthwhile contribution on the role and treatment of women in Bond. Funnell is a fan and an academic, so her treatment of the topic is critical without being hostile.
From the publisher:
Now we're talking. FRWL seems to be the odd film out from the classic era when it comes to coverage as the others seem to have standout things about that give them more attractive stories: DN being the first; GF being the most iconic; TB having the most controversial history; YOLT the most epic; OHMSS the rediscovered classic. Now FRWL gets its due.
I think 007 Magazine is also preparing a special FRWL issue as well.
That's what I thought, but the blurb calls him "sexually ambiguous." I suspect this is the usual academic overreaching.
Good interview here with David O'Keefe and his great book on Fleming's fiendishly clever wartime gambit, "Operation Ruthless."
I thought they would have done it for FRWL’s 60th anniversary next year. I’m happy either way. I hope these authors and companies do the same thing for Goldfinger for the 60th anniversary.
My mum sent me a link to the 'Clothes in Books' blog, which is self-explanatory. There are several posts about Bond - the blogger, like me, spent her youth reading Bond and Biggles and is humorously affectionate about both:
http://clothesinbooks.blogspot.com/search/label/James Bond
Thank you for the (somewhat) sad news. I’m looking forward to the Dr. No and From Russia With Love books as well. I’m learning that with modern James Bond releases, be thankful for what you got. It’s seems to always be a long wait.
Am waiting on that book too! Thanks for the update! Suppose it will make a nice Christmas pressie. Just ordered my 007 calendar for 2023!
Am currently reading 'The Making of Casino Royale' by Michael Richardson! Its highly entertaining read, and if you think the movie was chaotic.....!!
I'm looking forward to those as well. Although I about passed out when I saw the price for the Dr. No book was $110, until I saw that was just for the hardcover and the softcover is an affordable $28.
I just hope we get some fresh details and insights and not just well-known and oft-repeated stories that have been recounted already, although there's bound to be some overlap. Chapman having done previous Bond projects gives me confidence.
I just have to find the thing but I'm guessing it's in the loft.
FYI: the term queer, as applied in the time of the Fleming novels, meant something or someone to be 'strange' or 'odd' as well as any sexual connotation.
Like 'gay' meant happy, not what it means today.
After being slated for way back in May, it's has finally arrived. I read all of it in one sitting. It mainly focuses on the stunts but there is some discussion around the writing, and it is slightly more candid about that than I was expecting, but there's nothing especially revelatory. Similarly there aren't many images I haven't seen before but there are couple. Although Spectre's mixed reception was glossed over but Mendes does defend those controversial plot points. But overall it's a decent coffee-table book.
Glad to hear your opinions. Between this book and the new Dr No and From Russia With Love books, these are what I hope to find under the Christmas tree this year.