The first James Bond film Dr. No, was a gamble. The aspirational lifestyle depicted by the Bond films were very much part of the artistic revolution that defined the 1960s. But no-one could have predicted that the first Bond film would spawn twenty-four sequels so far, including the most recent entry, No Time To Die. The remarkable success of the franchise can be attributed to many factors: the strength of Ian Fleming's original novels; the consistency of the creative and production teams and the skill of the screenplays.
The basic formula of the Bond film remains, essentially, the same. But, crucially, the main character - whilst still the ultimate male fantasy - has been re-invented by the actor of the moment. Connery: virile, charismatic, cocksure. Lazenby: physical, charming, handsome. Moore: wry, smart, self-mocking. Dalton: saturnine, professional, dangerous. Brosnan: smooth, shrewd, efficient. Craig: taciturn, driven, dark.
This book revisits and analyses all twenty-five official films, as well as the two attempts to steal some of that lucrative Bond audience and examines both their contemporary impact and their relevance today. Everyone remembers seeing their first James Bond film, their first James Bond actor, and the first time they saw the iconic opening 'gun barrel' sequence. What was yours?
Andrew Wild is an experienced playwright and author, with recent books about Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles to his credit. He is also a film buff. The James Bond films have been part of his life since 1976, when From Russia With Love and Goldfinger were shown on TV. The following year he went to see The Spy Who Loved Me at his local cinema and has been hooked ever since. He lives in Rainow, Cheshire, UK.