How Would the Bond Films be Different if Fleming Lived Longer?
samurai4114
Alberta, CanadaPosts: 129MI6 Agent
I was wondering this recently. What if Ian Fleming lived on another, say, 10 years. How would the Bond series be different if at all? Would he approve of...
- The producers taking his titles, but not using the source material, ie) YOLT
- The overall direction of the Spectre films, ie) YOLT and OHMSS out or order, no revenge for Tracy's murder
- Lazenby's Bond
- Moore's Bond
- The jokey sort of route the Moore films employed
But more importantly, how much detriment would it be if Fleming disapproved. How much pressure would the producers feel to change it, if any?
I know that Fleming originally disapproved of Connery as Bond, but was swayed. I was just wondering how much of a hinderance the franchise would feel if in the press Fleming was criticizing the decisions made by the filmmakers at the height to its popularity. I would love to hear what others think.
- The producers taking his titles, but not using the source material, ie) YOLT
- The overall direction of the Spectre films, ie) YOLT and OHMSS out or order, no revenge for Tracy's murder
- Lazenby's Bond
- Moore's Bond
- The jokey sort of route the Moore films employed
But more importantly, how much detriment would it be if Fleming disapproved. How much pressure would the producers feel to change it, if any?
I know that Fleming originally disapproved of Connery as Bond, but was swayed. I was just wondering how much of a hinderance the franchise would feel if in the press Fleming was criticizing the decisions made by the filmmakers at the height to its popularity. I would love to hear what others think.
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Sir Roger Moore was the best James Bond because he was most true to Ian Fleming’s vision for 007, according to Britt Ekland.
The Bond girl, who appeared opposite Sir Roger in The Man with the Golden Gun, said Moore captured the spy’s “sophisticated” manner better than any other actor.
“I think Roger is the best Bond, of course - not just because of being my Bond, but because if you read the early Ian Fleming books describing him, that’s how he was,” said Ekland, who played Mary Goodnight in the 1974 film.
“He was a bachelor, unattached, he was luxurious, sophisticated, and he was not available for females so no long term relationships there. I think Roger really portrayed that."
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Throw in Kevin McClory and I imagine it would have gotten very interesting.
In answer to the question, the book and film industry's interpretations of public opinion changed markedly from the 1960s to the 1970s. I don't think Fleming would have had that much impact on the direction either took, as the public had grown tired of the spy genre, and the camp and counterculture in the late 1960s had changed people's perceptions markedly of what was marketable. I will say, though, that I suspect the Fleming would have written a last novel where Bond dies.