Bond Films That Are IMPROVEMENTS Over the Fleming Novels?

davidelliott101 · February 2013

I started reading through Ian Fleming's "The Man With The Golden Gun" last night and even though the film is WAY low on my list of favorite 007 films, in terms of story, plot and characterization, the film is better than the novel (I know the book's history and it was pretty much "unfinished").

I think in some ways, "Dr. No", FRWL and "Goldfinger" contain some improvements, too.

Are there any of the films that any of you feel improves over the novel? I think "The Spy Who Loved Me" doesn't count and the short stories don't, either...

Dutchfinger · February 2013

I find it very hard to compare. I didn't read all of the novells yet, but I've read the first five..

Casino Royale in a way is an improvement of the novell. Though I really enjoyed the novell as well. But it's so difficult to compare a novel written in the 50'ies with a movie that came out in 2006. In some ways, I felt the From Russia With Love novell was even better than the movie. Even though I already saw the movie it was the most exciting novell of the bunch I have read so far. Somehow SMERSH seems a lot more intimadating and real in the novell compared to SPECTRE in the movie. I always thought it was a shame they didn't include the part where M tells Bond that Tatiana Romanova has fallen in love with Bond from seeing his file. They kind of jumped right into Bond saying: "I never even heard of a Tatiana Romanova"...

The Moonraker novell cannot even be compared with the movie. They are completely different. The novell was exciting but it wouldn't work had that been a movie...

James Suzuki · February 2013

Not with Dr No....the movie cut out a lot off good stuff from the novel.
From Russia With Love-not that either, it misses some of that characterization from the book.

Le Samourai · February 2013

I can only think of two that are arguably slight improvements:

GF: Auric Goldfinger's plot is more interesting and believable, and the handling of Jill Masterson's death is better.

OHMSS: I prefer the structure of the film, such as making Tracy's suicide attempt her first meeting with Bond, not her second. I also like the fact Bond wants to continue with Operation Bedlam, not abandon it like in the novel.

Dalkowski110 · February 2013

DN the book is better with ONE exception: Dr. No's death. I almost pictured Bond breaking character just to say "s*it happens" before leaving.

)

Since I most recently re-read FRWL, I think I can judge that the best. It is better than the film, and Red Grant is a much deeper character.

GF is a tough one. It's my personal least favorite novel, and not helping things is that Goldfinger's plan in the movie is exponentially more intelligent than it is in the book. Goldfinger himself is a "creepy" character, but unfortunately, he comes across as a bit TOO unhinged in the book for me. With that said, the characterization of Bond himself and things going on that are happening on his side REALLY help pull it up and make it a readable book. I'd almost say you have a better Goldfinger with a more sensible and practical plot in the film, but a weaker Bond in the film. Also, you can much more easily imagine Pussy Galore as a bisexual-turned/turning-straight in the film, versus Bond turning Pussy from lesbian to straight in the novel.

Thunderball was an awesome novel (although the inclusion of a real "V bomber" would have made it cooler to this aviation buff). But why oh why, Ian Fleming, did you have to contribute that monologue repeatedly comparing Domino to an unridden Arabian horse? BAD MENTAL IMAGERY!

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TMWTGG just shows how ill Fleming was while writing it. I'm always willing to give a sick or dying author a bit of a pass.

Nick37 · February 2013

I prefer the film versions of Goldfinger and TSWLM over the books. The others are comparable.

jeffch · February 2013

Le Samourai wrote:

I can only think of two that are arguably slight improvements:

GF: Auric Goldfinger's plot is more interesting and believable, and the handling of Jill Masterson's death is better.

OHMSS: I prefer the structure of the film, such as making Tracy's suicide attempt her first meeting with Bond, not her second. I also like the fact Bond wants to continue with Operation Bedlam, not abandon it like in the novel.

Agreed on both accounts.

With OHMSS, having Blofeld capture Tracy and bring her to Piz Gloria was a great addition. It raises the stakes helicopter attack and gives Bond much more incentive to go back, other than just to stop Blofeld. I also think having Blofeld explain his plot to Bond worked much smoother rather than having him sit around and try to piece it together. It brought the momentum of the book to a halt IMO.

AlphaOmegaSin · February 2013

Dutchfinger wrote:

The Moonraker novell cannot even be compared with the movie. They are completely different. The novell was exciting but it wouldn't work had that been a movie...

I think that the Moonraker Novel is one of the best.

Napoleon Plural · February 2013

jeffch wrote:

Le Samourai wrote:

I can only think of two that are arguably slight improvements:

GF: Auric Goldfinger's plot is more interesting and believable, and the handling of Jill Masterson's death is better.

OHMSS: I prefer the structure of the film, such as making Tracy's suicide attempt her first meeting with Bond, not her second. I also like the fact Bond wants to continue with Operation Bedlam, not abandon it like in the novel.

Agreed on both accounts.

With OHMSS, having Blofeld capture Tracy and bring her to Piz Gloria was a great addition. It raises the stakes helicopter attack and gives Bond much more incentive to go back, other than just to stop Blofeld. I also think having Blofeld explain his plot to Bond worked much smoother rather than having him sit around and try to piece it together. It brought the momentum of the book to a halt IMO.

Nah, prefer the book, less stodgy, more eerie up in Piz Gloria. Should have had Terence Young direction if it were to be like that. I preferred the early setting in Marseilles or thereabouts than Portugal.

Nick37 · February 2013

I also liked the added element of Tracy being held by Blofeld as a motivation for Bond and Draco's attack, but I wish they hadn't tried to have Savalas' Blofeld hitting on Tracy. That was the only element that didn't work for me. Especially when she starts reciprocating to distract him from the helicopters. I just don't see the head of Spectre falling for something like that. Personal opinion, however.

jeffch wrote:

With OHMSS, having Blofeld capture Tracy and bring her to Piz Gloria was a great addition. It raises the stakes helicopter attack and gives Bond much more incentive to go back, other than just to stop Blofeld. I also think having Blofeld explain his plot to Bond worked much smoother rather than having him sit around and try to piece it together. It brought the momentum of the book to a halt IMO.

DangerMouse · February 2013

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

Dutchfinger wrote:

The Moonraker novell cannot even be compared with the movie. They are completely different. The novell was exciting but it wouldn't work had that been a movie...

I think that the Moonraker Novel is one of the best.

Agreed. You can have it as a film but you'll need to add in a few more action pieces a la Casino Royale to hold the general audience's attention.

Lazenbyfan · February 2013

This is an interesting question, because most of the films have nothing to do with or have little in common with, the books.

Silhouette Man · February 2013

Goldfinger the film was an improvement plot-wise over the novel, I suppose.

Bond Films That Are IMPROVEMENTS Over the Fleming Novels?

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