My first cinematic experience was going with my dad to see TSWLM. Loved it and wanted all the toys etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking back, I was only 4 at the time.
What counts is what the heroine provokes, or rather what she represents. She is the one, or rather the love or fear she inspires in the hero , or else the concern he feels for her, who makes him act the way he does.
Author of 'Pussy Galore - A Representation of Women in James Bond Films'.
Active tweeter and tumbler - https://twitter.com/surrie_fullard
That's my story too--and I'm older than both of you.The mysterious aura of notoriety surrounding Ian Fleming's novels made them immediately appealing to me.Seeing the original four movies in the years in which they were originally released and thus experiencing "Bondmania" firsthand only served to heighten my enthusiasm.:)
And, like you, I read the Modesty Blaise books, too. Although I enjoyed them (at least till P O'D started to flag a bit towards the end of the series, IMHO) they didn't "spark" me in the same way. This may be veering off topic, but did you read Donald Hamilton and Len Deighton as well? I know you read Gardner (moving back to 007 territory).
Yes, I have and I think that both Deighton and Hamilton are very good storytellers.
IMO even weak Peter O'Donnell is more imaginative and technically superior to John Gardner who wrote the Bond continuation stuff.Poor Gardner had a run of bad luck and personal tragedies and seemed to quickly grow bored with writing 007's adventures.He certainly wasn't the more enthusiatic Gardner of Boysie Oakes fame.
Have you read any of Adam Diment's "Philip McAlpine" novels?There are only about 4 books altogether and they're about a Mod secret agent(and were written at the height of the 60s Carnaby Street fashion vogue).Titles include:The Dolly Dolly Spy and The Great Spy Race.Not masterpieces,perhaps, but definitely time capsules representing the British Invasion--when there were books galore about secret agents.
James Leasor's "Dr.Jason Love" series is very good.IMO Leasor was an excellent writer,and I suspect would've been a fine 007 continuation author.The first Jason Love novel is called Passport to Oblivion.David Niven starred in a semi-faithful film of this called,"Where the Spies Are"-but the book is much better.Leasor's non-spy novel about British traders/fortune hunters in India at the close of the 19th century, is called Mandarin Gold and pretty interesting.
And if you should come across any novels about the Bow Street Runner Edmund Blackstone(I forget the author's name),by all means give them a glance.Every book's title begins with the Blackstone name,i.e. Blackstone's Lady--predating this practice in the later Flashman and Sharpe series.
I read one or two of the Adam Diment books a long time ago (approx. 1970) but my aging memory won't recall which title(s)! Dolly Dolly Spy does ring a bell, though.
At that point in time I was reading every spy title I could get my hands on- some quick thoughts:
Fleming- no comment needed.
Deighton- another favourite. He seems to have retired, though.
Hamilton- superb, I re-read the Helm books roughly once every ten years.
O'Donnell- see WG posts for full info!
Leasor- I enjoyed them at the time, but haven't seen or read any in thirty years or more.
James Mayo- the Charles Hood series had a few good moments.
John Le Carre- not my cup of tea.
Gardner- the Boysie books are his best work.
I'll keep an eye out for the Blackstone titles in my travels.
51 years old check out our james bond song we made in 2003 http://forceh.com/song10.html
we would love to have the money to re do it, but this is what we did on our PC for free.
FORCE H
I'm now 18...shows how long this thread's been up...last post here by me was when I was 16. Next month on the 2nd, I'll be 19 though. gah...I feel old...:s
18, started the James Bond craze when I was a lad of 12. Started the craze with From Russia with Love. But the first Bond movie I ever saw was Goldeneye on DVD(when it first came out). My first Bond movie was Diamonds are Forever on VHS.
I'm 40. I became a big fan, immediately after watching TSWLM in the theatre with my older sister. Fortuantely that summer HBO began having summer Bond Fests and 77' I was able to see all the older films. I know their have been polls on who's the best Bond. I think each have been best actor for the time of their tenure and each brought a unique aspect to the role, even Lazenby did despite having only one outing and expected to model after Connery. I've seen all the films (official and unofficial,) read all the Fleming books about 75% of the Gardner books and am planning to read the Benson's books as well. Cheers! :007)
My first Bond experience was TSWLM at about 3 or 4, but I didn't become immersed with Bondmania until the mid-1980s, when I saw DN on TV. The moment Ursula Andress emerged from the sea, I had joined the Bond fan club. -{
"Well, he certainly left with his tails between his legs."
I remember putting the Goldfinger themed slot-car set at the top of my Christmas list the year the film came out.
Imagine my disappointment when it failed to materialize under the tree.
Sure -- Mom and Dad did their best to pin the blame on Santa. I can still remember their frantic pleas years later, as the heavy nursing home doors closed behind them ...
Sure -- Mom and Dad did their best to pin the blame on Santa. I can still remember their frantic pleas years later, as the heavy nursing home doors closed behind them ...
I remember putting the Goldfinger themed slot-car set at the top of my Christmas list the year the film came out.
Imagine my disappointment when it failed to materialize under the tree.
Sure -- Mom and Dad did their best to pin the blame on Santa. I can still remember their frantic pleas years later, as the heavy nursing home doors closed behind them ...
) Glad you don't hold a grudge.
I too wanted that slot car set and didn't get it. The kid across the street did and I played his. To be honest, it had a lot of problems, like not working. However, the attache case, that the kid across the street got and I didn't was way cool. The only Bond related item I got was a lunch box and an Oddjob and Bond model kit.
Not trying to hijack the thread, my age? About the same as dirt.
I too wanted that slot car set and didn't get it. The kid across the street did and I played his. To be honest, it had a lot of problems, like not working.
They said the same thing in one of the Bond DVD featurettes. I'm glad you're able to confirm it was a piece of crap, Barry. I'll admit the idea gives me a feeling of satisfaction, petty as it sounds. As I recall, that toy cost a good chunk of change for its day -- 30 bucks or so, I think, which was a lot of dough for a kid's Christmas present. I've never actually seen one except in the Sears or Ward's catalog.
I've also still got my Corgi Moonraker, my 007 watch, etc. My kids look forward to cashing in someday...:))
That's a pretty good collection, Barbel -- I probably wouldn't linger too long at the top of staircases or stand too close to the curb on busy streets if I were you.
Comments
Looking back, I was only 4 at the time.
Hehehehe compared to everyone else im the youngest (i think. Hmmmmmmm, is that a good thing?)
Z
'one of us will be disappointed then, because i always complete a mission'
Author of 'Pussy Galore - A Representation of Women in James Bond Films'.
Active tweeter and tumbler - https://twitter.com/surrie_fullard
Yes, I have and I think that both Deighton and Hamilton are very good storytellers.
IMO even weak Peter O'Donnell is more imaginative and technically superior to John Gardner who wrote the Bond continuation stuff.Poor Gardner had a run of bad luck and personal tragedies and seemed to quickly grow bored with writing 007's adventures.He certainly wasn't the more enthusiatic Gardner of Boysie Oakes fame.
Have you read any of Adam Diment's "Philip McAlpine" novels?There are only about 4 books altogether and they're about a Mod secret agent(and were written at the height of the 60s Carnaby Street fashion vogue).Titles include:The Dolly Dolly Spy and The Great Spy Race.Not masterpieces,perhaps, but definitely time capsules representing the British Invasion--when there were books galore about secret agents.
James Leasor's "Dr.Jason Love" series is very good.IMO Leasor was an excellent writer,and I suspect would've been a fine 007 continuation author.The first Jason Love novel is called Passport to Oblivion.David Niven starred in a semi-faithful film of this called,"Where the Spies Are"-but the book is much better.Leasor's non-spy novel about British traders/fortune hunters in India at the close of the 19th century, is called Mandarin Gold and pretty interesting.
And if you should come across any novels about the Bow Street Runner Edmund Blackstone(I forget the author's name),by all means give them a glance.Every book's title begins with the Blackstone name,i.e. Blackstone's Lady--predating this practice in the later Flashman and Sharpe series.
At that point in time I was reading every spy title I could get my hands on- some quick thoughts:
Fleming- no comment needed.
Deighton- another favourite. He seems to have retired, though.
Hamilton- superb, I re-read the Helm books roughly once every ten years.
O'Donnell- see WG posts for full info!
Leasor- I enjoyed them at the time, but haven't seen or read any in thirty years or more.
James Mayo- the Charles Hood series had a few good moments.
John Le Carre- not my cup of tea.
Gardner- the Boysie books are his best work.
I'll keep an eye out for the Blackstone titles in my travels.
I read all of the Fleming books in order when I was in highschool and have been hooked ever since.
http://forceh.com/song10.html
we would love to have the money to re do it, but this is what we did on our PC for free.
FORCE H
FORCE H
Paul
~Pen -{
mountainburdphotography.wordpress.com
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
My first Bond experience was TSWLM at about 3 or 4, but I didn't become immersed with Bondmania until the mid-1980s, when I saw DN on TV. The moment Ursula Andress emerged from the sea, I had joined the Bond fan club.
I remember putting the Goldfinger themed slot-car set at the top of my Christmas list the year the film came out.
Imagine my disappointment when it failed to materialize under the tree.
Sure -- Mom and Dad did their best to pin the blame on Santa. I can still remember their frantic pleas years later, as the heavy nursing home doors closed behind them ...
What goes around,comes around ....
I too wanted that slot car set and didn't get it. The kid across the street did and I played his. To be honest, it had a lot of problems, like not working. However, the attache case, that the kid across the street got and I didn't was way cool. The only Bond related item I got was a lunch box and an Oddjob and Bond model kit.
Not trying to hijack the thread, my age? About the same as dirt.
They said the same thing in one of the Bond DVD featurettes. I'm glad you're able to confirm it was a piece of crap, Barry. I'll admit the idea gives me a feeling of satisfaction, petty as it sounds. As I recall, that toy cost a good chunk of change for its day -- 30 bucks or so, I think, which was a lot of dough for a kid's Christmas present. I've never actually seen one except in the Sears or Ward's catalog.
That got to be worth a couple bucks. Question is: didn't it come with a little ejectable man? And do you still have him?
Actually it came with two little ejectable men and I managed to lose both of them! I've got a replacement now (bought it from eBay).
I've also still got my Corgi Moonraker, my 007 watch, etc. My kids look forward to cashing in someday...:))
That's a pretty good collection, Barbel -- I probably wouldn't linger too long at the top of staircases or stand too close to the curb on busy streets if I were you.