Fleming's DAF is essentially about...

JimmyBond0129

James Bond taking on the mob isn't it? They should make a Bond film about 007 fighting the mob someday.

Wint and Kidd far-out

Didn't they technically do that in Live and Let Die?

In that film Bond fights against a mafia or mob consisting wholly of black gangsters.

JADE66

The novel 'Diamonds are Forever' pit 007 against Jack and Serafimo Spang, heads of the Spangled Mob. DAF the film, put Conery's Bond up against SPECTRE within a Las Vegas/gangster backround. Though one of Fleming's weaker novels DAF contains some of the series' best moments between James and Felix; the ride in the Studillac being my favorite. Not my favorite novel but certainly better than the film and there are still plenty of enjoyable moments.
Bond fights organized crime a great deal in the novels and films. Fleming himself described Blofeld in
'You Only Live Twice' as a "super gangster." Indeed SPECTRE is the ultimate organized crime syndicate, dealing in extortion, murder, espionage and just about everything else THE MOB deals in with the exception of prostitution and possibly gambling. Though in the film DAF Blofeld and company did have their paws in Willard Whyte's casino/hotel.
Actually, organized crime syndicates such as the Mafia, the Tongs etc. are merely terrorist organizations that exist for profit and not for any kind of specific political change.

Craig's Bond is now fighting Quantum, an organization which funds terrorists, backs dictators and extorts huge sums from governments. Are they gangsters? Terrorists? They're both.
Bond has always fought organized crime and always will.
I think what needs to be explored a bit more in the films are Bond's motives, not so much the motives of his enemies. Reader's of the novels know that Bond is patriotic and devoted the concepts of liberty and democracy.
He despises dicatators and the various monsters who set out to destroy the very values that we hold dear.
We don't really get to to see that in the films. We know that Bond is the good guy of course and that he is fighting against the evil of organizations like SPECTRE and QUANTUM. But why? Why did he join the Navy? Why did he make the move to MI6? What's his story?
I hope that future films will give us a peak into 007's complex and fascinating history/psche.
Daniel Craig, in my opinion, is the perfect choice for a more complex Bond. And all he really has to do is utter a short speech to his leading lady or even to 'M'.
"Just why do you do this, anyway?"
"Because someone has to. Because thugs like (whoever) can't be allowed to kill whoever they want and get away with it. Because I'm the only one who can."
I realize that's a pretty cheesy bit of monolouge and I don't actually suggest using those lines but I'd like the writers to give us SOMETHING about Bond the man. They're off to a good start. They just need to go a bit farther.
We know what the gangsters are after. What they're always after. MONEY. POWER. MORE MONEY. MORE POWER.
What is Bond truly after?
Wheww!
Glad I got that outta my system.

hegottheboot

It really wouldn't be a good idea. The novel DAF isn't very good, but the spirit makes it a good read. The whole ending (train sequence) would look ridiculous in a film. Bond Vs. the Mob? Doesn't fit.

7289

hegottheboot wrote:

It really wouldn't be a good idea. The novel DAF isn't very good, but the spirit makes it a good read. The whole ending (train sequence) would look ridiculous in a film. Bond Vs. the Mob? Doesn't fit.

Got to disagree, DAF properly filmed wth respect for the source material would be terrific. The end of the novel with the gangster "stomping" and the fake western play town complete with villian Spang dressed as a "B" movie cowboy could be quite ..... "McGoohan".