Fleming's Bond

[Cooper]

I recently read almost all of Fleming's Bond books (with the exception of The Spy Who Loved Me, Thunderball and The Octopussy/Living Daylights collection). I was intrigued after catching a few films during Spike's initial marathon around Thanksgiving.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed them. They're like Literary potato chips... after you read one, you have to read another. I was also interested to see the bits of various Bond movies scattered among all the titles. (Die Another Day in Moonraker... License to Kill in Live and Let Die... License to Kill in The Hildebrand Rarity..and so on)

My two questions to the forum...

What is your favorite Fleming Book?

and

Is it just me or would anyone else like to see these books done as they are written? I would love to see these books done as a "Fleming Series" on PBS or HBO, with a different Bond and (sorry DCD) set in the era of the books. You'd have to to stay true to the text. I am against the idea of doing a new story as a retro-Bond, but these books were set in that time period and, if a true adaptation is done, would have to go back there.

These are great stories which, with the exception of the Connery films (except You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever), were butchered. So.... a seperate series of small films done of these books... an intriguing new look at Bond or a complete waste of time?

[LeiterCIA]

What is your favorite Fleming Book?
Mine has always been OHMSS. I am actually rediscovering the Fleming novels too. There are still a lot I hadn't read yet.

Just today I finished Live and Let Die. I have to confess, I was surprised just how much of the novel actually appears in the movie. I'm not sure if it makes me like the movie more.. well, actually maybe it does.

I wonder what everyone would feel about dusting off the Fleming book club??

... an intriguing new look at Bond or a complete waste of time?Cooper! Nice to meet you!! I am LeiterCIA! :)

You have pretty much crystalized my thoughts on this issue... check out the next thread down for some more on this topic.

[Daltons Chin Dimple]

I was lucky enough to discover an almost complete set of first, second or third edition Fleming's in my fathers attic. He let me grab them and I was hooked ever since.

I really like the SPECTRE trilogy, Thunderball, OHMSS and YOLT. And then the bookend to the series set after the events of YOLT, The Man With The Golden Gun, which has an absolutely brilliant opening and an amazing development in the relationship between Bond and M.

[Kara Milovy]

My favorite is Thunderball. I think Domino is the most intriguing woman in the entire series. The plot is thrilling, and the back story is complex.

I have been arguing with Leiter about Diamonds Are Forever for...well, ever. I think it was smart to remove the second half of the book, the part with the choo-choo train and the cowgirl outfit, and replace it with something big and earth-shattering. It is a shame that the filming of the climax is so screwed up in the movie, but I don't think a restoration of the choo-choo train is better.

But if someone did your idea, created a mini-series or something, I'd definitely watch.

[Cooper]

Hey,

Yes, I am new to the discussion boards... always stayed away from things like this cause they always seemed to be filled with such anger (almost psychotic), pettiness and childish rants on other "cool" film sites. When the new Cinescape discussion boards went up, I took a look and this site seemed different so I signed up. Glad I did.

DCD, agreed about the opening of the "Golden Gun" book. It was terrific. They should have pulled those scenes and used them in the post-credit scenes in Die Another Day. ..it would have made M's anger with Bond a little more believable. The last three books are a terrific Bond trilogy...heartbreaking, really. And this is why I'd like to see them done properly.

My favorite Felming book was Moonraker. A different kind of story, completely set in England and a terrific villian. Drax's speech to England before he launches Moonraker is brilliant and chilling (a great Bond villian).

I'm probably not as well-versed in all things Bond as some of you guys, so can can someone tell me why they decided to film You Only Live Twice first?

[Kara Milovy]

They filmed Dr. No first. The original plan was to film Thunderball first, but then the problems with McClory started. (You can find a summary of those on the FAQ pages of Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (http://www.ianfleming.org/mkkbb/afjbfaq/).)

At that time, Eon did not own the rights to Casino Royale (which is why it hasn't been filmed officially until now). So, they weren't going to start with the first book, and chose a book based on location, ease of filming, public appeal, etc.

[Cooper]

Thanks for the link, Kara.

What I meant to say was, why did they film You Only Live Twice first, out of order with Her Majesty's Secret Service. These two books are really the only ones that should be told chronologicaly and they chose not to.

My brother, who is also a big Bond fan, said on the Thunderball (I think) DVD there is an old interview with Connery who says "we're doing OHMSS, next." but that didn't happen.

The bizarre sequence of filming gave OHMSS a huge plot hole... why didn't Blofeld recognize Bond. ...The Clark Kent glasses excuse doesn't fly here.

[Kara Milovy]

Oh. That's because of weather conditions. Filming in the Alps had a very narrow window of opportunity. Connery was getting antsy to get it over with. He didn't want an extended shoot. It was either an extended shoot, a delay of several months, or YOLT.

[Boromir006]

As I recall, the original prints of Goldfinger announced On Her Majesty's Secret Service as the next film. Dreaming about what it would have been like with Connery in the role will forever be one of a Bond fan's most famous "what ifs."

[LeiterCIA]

Dreaming about what it would have been like with Connery in the role will forever be one of a Bond fan's most famous "what ifs." Amen brother!

Dont get me wrong, I'm in the distinguished minority of people who genuinely like Lazenby as Bond, but you really do have to wonder what would have happened if Connery finished out his tenure with OHMSS, with Bond getting married. I wonder if it would have been the end of the Bond series.

[BeauButabi]

I've been reading the books recently. I first read up to Doctor No a few years ago, but didn't really like them and stopped there. But a couple weeks ago I started over, and while I still don't love Fleming's style, it's interesting to see the differences from the movies. Finished Doctor No yesterday and was gonna start Goldfinger today. They're pretty short and I can read one in about 2 days, 1 day if I have enough time on the weekends.

[Cooper]

I enjoyed Goldfinger, although it departs from the film with the most ridiculous plot point ever.

The only book I labored through was Diamonds Are Forever. Just did not like that one at all.