The Man with the Golden Touch: How the Bond Films Conquered the World - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 184513429X ISBN 13: 9781845134297

Synopsis

When Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman set out to make what they expected to be the first of three or four movies based on the espionage novels of Ian Fleming they can hardly have dreamt that they were founding a business that would still be going strong nearly half a century later. Yet the role of James Bond, which transformed Sean Connery's career in 1962 when Dr No came out, still retained its star-making power in 2006 when Daniel Craig made his Bond debut in Casino Royale. This is the story of how, with the odd misstep along the way, the owners of the Bond franchise, Eon Productions, have contrived to keep James Bond abreast of the zeitgeist and at the top of the charts for 45 years, through 21 films featuring six Bonds, three M's, two Q's and three Moneypennies Thanks to the films, Fleming's original creation has been transformed from a black sheep of the post-war English upper classes into a figure with universal appeal, constantly evolving to keep pace with changing social and political circumstances. Having interviewed people concerned with all aspects of the films, Sinclair Mckay is ideally placed to describe how the Bond 'brand' has been managed over the years as well as to give us the inside stories of the supporting cast of Bond girls, Bond villains, Bond cars and Bond gadgetry. Sinclair Mckay, formerly assistant features editor of the Daily Telegraph, works as a freelance writer and journalist. He is also the author of A Thing of Unspeakable Horror: The History of Hammer Films, which the Guardian called 'A splendid history' and the Independent on Sunday described as 'Brisk, cheerful and enthusiastic'.

About this title

Review

`...marvellously entertaining tome...an arch but jolly 350-page 'galumph' (to deploy his [McKay] own splendidly fruity posho banter) through Eon's 21 productions up to Casino Royale...It's blessedly free of highbrow discussion of Bond as an iconic, socio-cultural construct; the book instead treats us to a dissection of each film, with a vague wave at contemporary cultural context (Woodstock, the arrival of the contraceptive pill), nostalgia about school trips on hovercrafts and much chuckle-inducing praise of Roger Moore and his reversible safari suits.' -- Metrolife, October 21, 2008

About the Author

Sinclair Mckay, formerly assistant features editor of the Daily Telegraph, works as a freelance writer and journalist. He is also the author of A Thing of Unspeakable Horror: The History of Hammer Films, which the Guardian called 'A splendid history' and the Independent on Sunday described as 'Brisk, cheerful and enthusiastic'.

Edition details

• ISBN 10: 184513429X
• ISBN 13: 9781845134297
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English