OHMSS- Bond getting his Happily Ever After?

James Suzuki · January 2015

So I just finished reading OHMSS.
I'd seen the film heaps of times, knowing how it would end but this is the first time reading it. I really enjoyed it. My favourite Fleming Novel would be DN, but I have a feeling OHMSS might take that top spot. It was so sad, knowing how it would end.
My favourite chapter would have to be, Love For Breakfast. I reckon that moment in which Bond decides that he loves Tracy, and wants to marry her is so well written. -{
Its no doubt that Fleming considered keeping Tracy alive. Does anyone else wish this was the final novel? And that Bond had a happy ending?

Firemass · January 2015

Did you catch how the "Death for Breakfast" chapter title was referenced by Miranda Frost in DAD ?

Personally, I wish Bond never got married. Thunderball would have been a good "final novel"

James Suzuki · January 2015

Now that you mention it, I do remember Miranda's quote.
IMHO, I think it was a great way to show more of Bond's character.
I reckon it would have been a good final novel, with Blofeld dead, Bond married. but look at me. I'm a romantic

)

AlphaOmegaSin · January 2015

Fleming originally finished with FRWL -{

Thunderpussy · January 2015

Yep! Bond was lucky

As for a Happy Ending. NO! Not for me thanks.

)

AlphaOmegaSin · January 2015

stag wrote:

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

Fleming originally finished with FRWL -{

Yes I heard that. He was 'killed' by Rosa Klebb? I stand to be corrected but from what I remember the book was such a success that Bond was resurrected for Dr No - hence the specialist in toxicology being available to diagnose & treat him?

Yes, the Book ends with Bond collapsing to the Floor -{

Thunderpussy · January 2015

Just as Sir Arthur Conan ( the babarian ) Doyle, tried to kill off Sherlock Holmes
But had to bring him back due to public demand.

welshboy78 · January 2015

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

Fleming originally finished with FRWL -{

Hmm wonder what would have happened to the entire series if Fleming had carried this out

David Schofield · January 2015

Fleming thought about Tracy living?

In1962, with James Bond and Sean Connery just launched in the cinema and hopefully going to explode?

Marry him off?

Not a chance.

AlphaOmegaSin · January 2015

'But you have given me a Wedding Present'

Number24 · January 2015

Fleming said he was against Bond being a married man. Imagine books where Tracy is at home worrying about Bond when he was on missions. And imagine when he comes home, he has to listen to her complaining tha the is always away and she shouts at him for sleeping With all the other women. Bond remaining married simply wouodn't work, and Fleming knew this.

002 · February 2015

I agree: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (my favourite novel) would have been a fantastic way to end the series.

However, a happy ending? Pfft! Bond has already had more than his fair share of 'happy endings'.

I wouldn't change a thing about the ending of OHMSS: it's the tragedy at the end that makes it all the more profoundly felt and, had the series ended there, just imagine how rich it would seem to consider what happened next?

Barbel · February 2015

Fleming admired the work of Raymond Chandler, and Chandler's final Philip Marlowe novel "Playback" ended with Marlowe going off to marry a rich girlfriend. This was a few years before OHMSS.
Chandler started his next novel with Marlowe chafing at his now idle rich lifestyle (though in love with his wife) and keen to get back to normal business but died before finishing (it was later finished by another writer, Robert B. Parker). Given Fleming's admiration of Chandler, if Tracy had lived then pehaps this was the direction he would have gone in.

David Schofield · February 2015

Barbel wrote:

Fleming admired the work of Raymond Chandler, and Chandler's final Philip Marlowe novel "Playback" ended with Marlowe going off to marry a rich girlfriend. This was a few years before OHMSS.
Chandler started his next novel with Marlowe chafing at his now idle rich lifestyle (though in love with his wife) and keen to get back to normal business but died before finishing (it was later finished by another writer, Robert B. Parker). Given Fleming's admiration of Chandler, if Tracy had lived then pehaps this was the direction he would have gone in.

A lot of Chandler readers wonder what direction he - Chandler - would have gone with beyond the first couple of chapters of POODLE SPRINGS. Consensus seems to be that Chandler had painted himself into a bit of a corner with the marriage, and besides how would Marlowe have survived living with spoiled brat Linda Loring? (Parker gets round this, IIRC, by having Marlowe strop off back LA regular Linda sulks - how many books could this have worked for?) Substitute Tracy here if you wish.... and consider the Marlowe books didn't rely on him coping a shag from some exotically named female per book as Bond

And as much as Fleming wrote about Chandler and admired his work, I don't recall ever seeing Fleming comment on the Marlowe-Loring union?

Barbel · February 2015

Yes, Fleming and Chandler discussed it in a radio broadcast.

David Schofield · February 2015

Barbel wrote:

Yes, Fleming and Chandler discussed it in a radio broadcast.

What was said? What was IF's view on marrying off the male lead, do you recall?

Barbel · February 2015

IIRC, he felt it would be restricting. Must take another listen.
On a tangent, in Howard Hawks' film of "The Big Sleep" practically every female (not Agnes, of course) hankers for Marlowe in much the same way as happens in the Bond movies.
On a different tangent I thought "Poodle Springs" was passable but "Perchance To Dream" pretty poor. More recently I enjoyed "The Black-Eyed Blonde".

David Schofield · February 2015

Barbel wrote:

IIRC, he felt it would be restricting. Must take another listen.
On a tangent, in Howard Hawks' film of "The Big Sleep" practically every female (not Agnes, of course) hankers for Marlowe in much the same way as happens in the Bond movies.
On a different tangent I thought "Poodle Springs" was passable but "Perchance To Dream" pretty poor. More recently I enjoyed "The Black-Eyed Blonde".

Well, Bogart isn't Marlowe, is he?

POODLE SPRINGS was, as you say, ok and I didn't like PTD at all. Couldn't see the point in a sequel to THE BIG SLEEP with PTD, nor to THE LONG GOODBYE with B-E B????

Some of the short stories in the Priess collection are far better, IHMO. Wonder if Black/Banville wil get a second gig? Hope not myself.

Barbel · February 2015

The Priess book was good stuff (some stories more than others, natch), and B-E B started well though definitely tailed off as it proceeded. Still better than PTD.
And I agree that Bogie ain't Marlowe- Mitchum is!

(albeit about 15-20 years too late).

David Schofield · February 2015

Barbel wrote:

The Priess book was good stuff (some stories more than others, natch), and B-E B started well though definitely tailed off as it proceeded. Still better than PTD.
And I agree that Bogie ain't Marlowe- Mitchum is! (albeit about 15-20 years too late).

You, sir, are my new bessy mate (though read my PM!

) Mitch is Marlowe even in THE BIG SLEEP, swanning around 70s London in some very dubious fashions...

-{

Barbel · February 2015

Have a listen to Fleming and Chandler here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj6cc0T1z7I

OHMSS- Bond getting his Happily Ever After?

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