Unwritten/Rarely Written About Areas of the James Bond Phenomenon

Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
in General James Bond Chat
This is the thread to suggest such areas of the Bond phenomenon (literary and cinematic) where you feel commentators and aficionados have overlooked in books, journals, articles etc.?

What areas of the Bond phenomenon are still very much virgin territory would you say?

I hope to get some good responses on this one! :) -{
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).

Comments

  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,863Chief of Staff
    How much (or how little) input/influence the various directors and/or screenwriters have, since they have to operate within strictly defined guidelines under powerful producers with a long history.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,863Chief of Staff
    The Lament of the Lyricist: How did Don Black (TB, DAF, TMWTGG, etc), Leslie Bricusse (GF, YOLT, ao), etc, manage to turn the titles they were given into viable songs, and how was it decided that certain titles (OHMSS, CR, QoS, etc) couldn't be incorporated into the song? How much freedom were they and their successors given to come up with NDIB, ATH, YKMN, etc?
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    The Lament of the Lyricist: How did Don Black (TB, DAF, TMWTGG, etc), Leslie Bricusse (GF, YOLT, OHMSS), etc, manage to turn the titles they were given into viable songs, and how was it decided that certain titles (OHMSS, CR, QoS, etc) couldn't be incorporated into the song? How much freedom were they and their successors given to come up with NDIB, ATH, YKMN, etc?

    My guess for CR is that they didn't think they could top Hal David's lyrics. :))

    I would really like to know why they didn't want to go with title songs for QOS and SP. Those aren't impossible.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,863Chief of Staff
    Matt S wrote:
    My guess for CR is that they didn't think they could top Hal David's lyrics. :))

    :)) :)) :))
    Matt S wrote:
    I would really like to know why they didn't want to go with title songs for QOS and SP. Those aren't impossible.

    Yes, I agree. Wonder why Don Black wasn't involved? Right man for the job (and in case anyone needs evidence.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAHu_ZKWcCQ ) If he could pull off TB, DAF, TMWTGG, TWINE, and others he could have done QoS and SP too.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,863Chief of Staff
    As touched on in the Literary forum http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/44503/anthony-horowitzs-trigger-mortis-2015-discussion-thread/: exactly how many outlines did IF come up with for the proposed Bond TV series, how many of them did he turn into stories, and how many are left?
  • clublosclublos Jacksonville, FLPosts: 193MI6 Agent
    I would enjoy reading an analysis of the vapid era between Licence to Kill and Goldeneye, including an interpretation of the legal battles and shedding light on the details of the television rights and how there was more at stake than what has been reported as Cubby's thinking television would cheapen the brand. And please forgo discussion on Tim's third outing, that topic has been discussed ad nauseam.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    edited September 2015
    clublos wrote:
    I would enjoy reading an analysis of the vapid era between Licence to Kill and Goldeneye, including an interpretation of the legal battles and shedding light on the details of the television rights and how there was more at stake than what has been reported as Cubby's thinking television would cheapen the brand. And please forgo discussion on Tim's third outing, that topic has been discussed ad nauseam.

    Yes, I've had that suggestion put to me before. I might well write that one up as it is certainly underwritten about! :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • clublosclublos Jacksonville, FLPosts: 193MI6 Agent
    Silhouette Man wrote:
    clublos wrote:
    I would enjoy reading an analysis of the vapid era between Licence to Kill and Goldeneye, including an interpretation of the legal battles and shedding light on the details of the television rights and how there was more at stake than what has been reported as Cubby's thinking television would cheapen the brand. And please forgo discussion on Tim's third outing, that topic has been discussed ad nauseam.

    Yes, I've had that suggestion put to me before. I might well that that one up as it is certainly underwritten about! :) -{

    Wonderful! I look forward to reading it!
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    clublos wrote:
    Silhouette Man wrote:
    clublos wrote:
    I would enjoy reading an analysis of the vapid era between Licence to Kill and Goldeneye, including an interpretation of the legal battles and shedding light on the details of the television rights and how there was more at stake than what has been reported as Cubby's thinking television would cheapen the brand. And please forgo discussion on Tim's third outing, that topic has been discussed ad nauseam.

    Yes, I've had that suggestion put to me before. I might well that that one up as it is certainly underwritten about! :) -{

    Wonderful! I look forward to reading it!

    "James Bond: The Wilderness Years 1990-1994" was the suggested title I recall. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • GrindelwaldGrindelwald Posts: 1,341MI6 Agent
    I wish there was any trivia about the unknown/obscure Bond stars , for example did Anthony Chinn have any hobbies or what is Yuri Borienko doing these days ?

    I heard that Willoughby Gray liked collecting tin soldiers......
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Grindelwald wrote:
    I wish there was any trivia about the unknown/obscure Bond stars , for example did Anthony Chinn have any hobbies or what is Yuri Borienko doing these days ?

    I heard that Willoughby Gray liked collecting tin soldiers......

    Another great suggestion and one I'd never really thought about before! :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    Possibly this has been covered before , but how do Ian Fleming publications (Glidrose? Or IFF?) choose their continuation authors?

    They hit gold with Amis/Markham but it's been a mixed bag since then - whist inspires their choice?
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,863Chief of Staff
    In the 50+ years since Ian Fleming died, how have literary Bond (Amis, Gardner, Benson....) and cinematic Bond (Maibaum, Mankiewicz, Wood, Purvis & Wade...) both differed (MR) and come together (LTK, CR)?
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Charmed & Dangerous wrote:
    Possibly this has been covered before , but how do Ian Fleming publications (Glidrose? Or IFF?) choose their continuation authors?

    They hit gold with Amis/Markham but it's been a mixed bag since then - whist inspires their choice?

    I tried to research that by asking IFP in a letter meant for Peter Janson-Smith in 2003 but they refused to reveal the list of authors John Gardner was in the shortlist along with. I also asked Gardner as well but he did not know either. There were reportedly five names altogether considered and Gardner was the first to be approached. Therefore, I would not be too hopeful about us ever finding out about that. In the words of Natasha Bedingfield, it may remain unwritten... :#
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,863Chief of Staff
    Silhouette Man wrote:
    Charmed & Dangerous wrote:
    Possibly this has been covered before , but how do Ian Fleming publications (Glidrose? Or IFF?) choose their continuation authors?

    They hit gold with Amis/Markham but it's been a mixed bag since then - whist inspires their choice?

    I tried to research that by asking IFP in a letter meant for Peter Janson-Smith in 2003 but they refused to reveal the list of authors John Gardner was in the shortlist along with. I also asked Gardner as well but he did not know either. There were reportedly five names altogether considered and Gardner was the first to be approached. Therefore, I would not be too hopeful about us ever finding out about that. In the words of Natasha Bedingfield, it may remain unwritten... :#

    Gardner's own words (taken totally out of context :D ):
    "We've tried Len and J le C and they won't cough, so we're landed with handing the cookies in your direction".
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