Original Japanese Movie Poster For Goldfinger

Original Japanese Movie Poster For Goldfinger

November 30, 2013-

William Boyd on Creating James Bond for SOLO

William Boyd on Creating James Bond for SOLO

November 17, 2013- A compelling video interview with William Boyd, the author of the new authorized James Bond novel, SOLO.

SOLO Is Here!

SOLO Is Here!

October 8, 2013- SOLO has arrived.  Review coming soon!

SOLO Launches Tomorrow in Europe

SOLO Launches Tomorrow in Europe

September 25, 2013-  We are just one day away from the European release of William Boyd's authorized James Bond novel SOLO.   The United Kingdom's social calendars are filled with events surrounding the release of this highly anticipated addition to the James Bond novel series.   The US release is now only weeks away.  Stay tuned for the review.

SOLO HITS THE U.S. STORES IN 30 DAYS

SOLO HITS THE U.S. STORES IN 30 DAYS

September 7, 2013- Well, we are in the home stretch.   William Boyd's highly anticipated, authorized James Bond thriller SOLO will hit the U.S. stores and online booksellers on October 8th, several weeks after it's overseas release.     It is the hope of 007 fans everywhere that the book's release will be just the booster shot they need to hold them over until the release of EON Productions' Bond24 in 2015.  The World Of Bond will bring you a review shortly after the release of SOLO. 

Happy Birthday Mr Bond: Sean Connery Turns 83!

Happy Birthday Mr Bond: Sean Connery Turns 83!

August 25, 2013- While Sean Connery is an accomplished actor and producer, whose diverse body of work is beloved by people all over the world, his most notable film accomplishment, to date, is that his 1962 portrayal of Ian Fleming's Secret Agent in Dr. No transformed film history forever.  While people around the world were familiar with the character of James Bond from the written works, that exposure pales in comparison to the familiarity of people to the character as a result of the 50 year film legacy launched by the compelling performance of this dashing, witty, rugged, Scottish Actor who was, virtually, unknown at the time he took the role.  His James Bond was beloved, and set a high standard for his 5 predecessors to follow.  For many Sean Connery IS James Bond.

Sean Connery's work outside of the World of Bond is memorable, and have earned him an Academy Award, 3 Golden Globes, and 2 BAFTA Awards.  Scores of fans, who never even knew him as James Bond were stunned by his award winning performance in The Untouchables (1987).

Happy Birthday, Mr Bond!  We look forward to what the remainder of your "third act" will bring.

World Of Bond Product Review: 007 Signature Fragrance For Men

World Of Bond Product Review:  

007 Signature Fragrance For Men

August 21, 2013-Part of the fun of exploring the culture and lifestyle of James Bond is the opportunity to explore and review various James Bond/007 products under the guise of "work".  I had read about the international release of the the James Bond 007 Signature Fragrance for Men for sometime; however, I struggled with whether or not to purchase it.  My main reason for delay was that I have established certain personal guidelines for adhering to the culture of The World of James Bond.  One of the questions I always ask in relation to these scenarios is "What would Bond do?".

This leads to the invariable question, "Would James Bond, in any of his various incarnations, wear a men's fragrance that bore his name, or even the fragrance of some other character of iconic status?"  The answer is probably not.  Regardless of this response, I decided to broaden my thought processes in order to justify a purchase of this product.  So the next question I asked myself was "Does this product respect the sensibility of the true James Bond Fan?".   The only way to answer this question, I decided, was to purchase the product and find out.

The product is carried in the United States in Kohl's Department Stores.   The packaging and bottle are sharp and aesthetically pleasing.   The bottle has the 007 License to Kill embossed on the side of the glass bottle with a veiled, disappearing spray guard for the nozzle.  The packaging includes a personal, numerical, code which unlocks some additional video footage about the product on the Fragrance's website. All in all, I think the packaging and thoughtful design are really in line with the James Bond style and masculine character.  I approve.

As for the fragrance itself, I believe this is a very subjective determination; however, I tried to judge the fragrance on the standard of whether or not I would purchase the fragrance, again, if it were not a James Bond collectible, which makes it worth an initial purchase, for certain.  The answer to that question is yes.  The scent is appealing and masculine.  It subtly stays with you and stays aromatic without being overpowering at any point.

So, in conclusion, while I am not sure it is the fragrance James Bond would wear, it does treat the culture of Bond, and its fan base respectfully, and it is my new fragrance of choice.

In Memoriam: Bond Stuntman Mark Sutton

In Memoriam:  Bond Stuntman Mark Sutton

August 17, 2013-    The World of Bond honors the memory of Mark Sutton, 42, stuntman who excited the world with a thrilling skydive, as James Bond, to open the London Olympics in 2012.  Mark died in a stunt accident on August 14, 2013 in Switzerland.  People all over the world have shared memories of this thoughtful, gentle, professional and man.

Book Review: Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks

Book Review:  Devil May Care

August 3, 2013-  The rumor mill has been abuzz, in the last month, over the working title and basis for the Eon Productions' Bond 24 film.  Many sources have reported that the title of the latest installment in the franchise will be Devil May Care and the film may be based upon the 2008 Sebastian Faulks "writing as Ian Fleming" James Bond novel of the same title; however, neither the Ian Fleming Estate nor Eon Productions has confirmed this.  On the possibility that there may be some truth to the rumor I have decided to provide an updated review of the book.

Devil May Care was released for the posthumous 100th birthday celebration of Ian Fleming, and on the heals of the debut of Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale (2006).  Faulks was not previously known for writing in this genre and he was viewed as an unusual choice for the assignment by the Fleming Estate, yet he managed to do justice to the Fleming legacy and the Bond character.  The book is both a good edition to the James Bond novel series, and as a stand alone thriller.  I highly recommend it, especially, as a summer read because it is an easy to read, well written, and engaging thriller.

Faulk weaves a continuation tale which overtly relies on, and references, the prior assignments, villains, and Bond girls of James Bond fame.   The work is a Vietnam War era story of an aging, emotionally and physically battered James Bond, torn between retirement and getting back into the game as a 007, License to Kill. Faulks uses a formula not unfamiliar to Bond film goers and, at times, the novel reads more like a screenplay than a novel. 

The work relies on the appearance of classic Bond characters as well as a new Bond villain in Dr Julius Gorner, who is forged in the image and likeness of Dr. Julius No, Auric Goldfinger, with a touch of Ernst Starvros Blofeld.  He is accompanied by a henchman who is a cross between Red Grant and Odd-Job.   Bond, together with Scarlett Papava, a Bond girl to match all prior Bond Girls, brings us to France, Iran, and Russia as he fleshes out a story of revenge, Cold War espionage, and adventure.  

One of the great strength's of the novel is that the Bond persona in Faulks' novel is deeply rooted in the character, as written by Fleming and as played by Sean Connery and by Daniel Craig.   It is for this reason, although the script would need to be updated to a post Cold War world, that it lends itself to the possibility of being a decent choice for the follow up to Skyfall (2012), the most successful James Bond film in the 50 year franchise.

Regardless of whether the next Bond film borrows anything from the Faulks novel, in name or storyline, it is still a worthwhile read for James Bond fans.   I am sorry it took me 5 years to pick it up.

SOLO's INTERNATIONAL COVERS UNVEILED

SOLO's INTERNATIONAL COVERS UNVEILED

AUGUST 2, 2013-  With September 26, 2013's release date for the United Kingdom's version of the new Ian Fleming authorized, James Bond thriller, SOLO, by William Boyd being only weeks away, Random House has unveiled the cover design of this highly anticipated novel.  Random House designer, Suzanne Dean, is responsible for the bullet-hole laden design for the UK version.

Simultaneously the North American cover version has been unveiled by HarperCollins in anticipation of the October 8, 2013 release of the book in this region.  

The much anticipated written work can be pre-ordered through major booksellers in either region, as well as the highly anticipated audio versions.

8 Fun Facts About James Bond-Vol. 2

8 Fun Facts About James Bond-Vol. 2

July 26, 2013-  Here is our second installment in the 8 Fun Facts About James Bond series.  Enjoy.

1.   Ian Fleming's novel, The Spy Who Loved Me, (1962) has the distinction of being one of the least popular and most critically despised novels in the James Bond series.  This experimental tale is told from the perspective of the lead character, Viv Michele, a Canadian woman.   007 does not even appear in the story until the final third of the novel.  The 1977 Roger Moore film of the same name has no plot or character elements from the novel whatsoever.

2.   Christopher Lee, British film actor who began his career in the 1940's, and has starred as such great film characters as Dracula, Saramun the White, Count Dooku and 100's more, played James Bond villain, Francisco Scaramanga in 1974's The Man With The Golden Gun.  Lee was the first cousin to James Bond novelist, Ian Fleming, who never lived to see Lee play the part.

3.  The voices of the actors playing Bond villains, Auric Goldfinger and Emilio Largo, played by Gert Frobe and Aldolfo Celi, respectively, in the films Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965), were dubbed for the films due to the belief that audiences would find their think accents difficult to understand.

4.  Here is some insight into the universal impact that one movie series can have on the world.  It is estimated that more than one half of the entire world's population has seen, at least, one of the James Bond films.  This statistic may make James Bond the single most recognizable fictional character in the history of the world.

5.   Two universally recognized associations of the James Bond character are that his drink of choice is  a martini, "shaken, not stirred" and that he drives an Aston Martin, yet neither appears in any of the Sir Roger Moore films.  Moore felt distancing himself with certain associations of Sean Connery's version of the character would allow him to carve out his own, distinct persona as Bond.

6.   Sean Connery faces the issuance of an arrest warrant in Spain if he fails to appear to testify, before the end of the year, in a corruption investigation involving the sale of a home in Marbella, Spain to developers several years ago.   The property was later demolished and a scandal over zoning laws, money laundering, and political corruption ensued.   To date, Connery has refused to appear.

7.   George Lazenby, star of 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, was a Used Car salesman prior to being selected to fill Sean Connery's shoes in the role of the world's most famous secret agent.

8.   Skyfall (2012), the 23rd installment in the James Bond film series just surpassed Avatar (2009) as the highest grossing film ever in the history of Great Britain.  

I'd love to hear from you with any Fun Facts, or story ideas....

Book Review: Bond on Bond by Sir Roger Moore

Book Review: Bond on Bond by Sir Roger Moore

July 14, 2013- Bond on Bond: Reflections On 50 Years Of James Bond (Lyons Press, 2012) by Sir Roger Moore is everything you would expect from a 220 page, photo filled, coffee-table book written by the actor that starred as the world's most famous Secret Agent for the longest run of the Big Six.  It is entertaining, informative, and rich with nostalgic photos and artwork from the 50 year legacy of the James Bond movie franchise.

Moore tells the story of the transition of James Bond from the fictional character of the Ian Fleming novels to the central character of the longest running film franchise in movie history.  This is all done through Roger Moore's eyes, and in his unique voice.  Moore provides a chronological perspective and a "behind the scenes" look at the how the Eon Productions' team created the winning James Bond formula, and what it has taken to sustain it through 50 years, 23 films, and 6 Bond Actors. 

Bond on Bond includes chapters on the Gadgets, the Villains, the Bond Girls, and even, one on James Bond's style.  It is light hearted, self effacing and filled with personal narratives, opinion, and touching tributes to many of the individual actors and professionals that have passed on from the long history of Bond film making.  Moore provides a wealth of information and trivia in an easy to read, visually pleasing format.

While it is no secret that Roger Moore is not my favorite Bond, I found his perspectives on the series, the character, and the films riveting.  While Moore could have written a book solely devoted to his tenure as Bond, he chose to take on the entire Bond franchise and he manages to provide a work that gives respectful and insightful treatment to the other 5 actors who played the role; although clearly from his personal perspective.  I applaud Moore's deference to Sean Connery, his praise of Daniel Craig, and his unbiased approach to discussing Lazenby, Dalton and Brosnan, as well as his honesty about the limitations of his own approach to the role.  

The book is filled with a wonderful collection of photos from the films and from "behind the scenes".   It also contains full page, colorful photos of the original movie posters from the entire film series, which makes the book worth the cover price, in and of itself.

Bond on Bond is a fun, fact filled, trip through 50 years of Bond film history. Moore is an excellent tour guide and this book is a must for any Bond Fan.

Bond 24: Devil May Care?

Bond 24: Devil May Care?

July 12, 2013- Rumors are circulating that Eon Productions' James Bond 24, starring Daniel Craig and directed by Sam Mendes, will be based upon the Ian Fleming's Estate authorized 2008 novel Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks.   As of the posting of this story the Ian Fleming Estate and the Official James Bond Website have not confirmed this news but it is being widely reported.   Stay tuned for more...

COMING SOON-Book Review: Sir Roger Moore's Bond on Bond

COMING SOON-Book Review: Roger Moore's Bond on Bond

July 12, 2013- In our next installment of the World of Bond we review last year's coffee table selection, Bond on Bond, by Sir Roger Moore.  The actor who played the role of the world's most famous secret agent for the longest period in history recounts 50 years of the longest running film franchise in history.

Stay Tuned...

The World of James Bond Mourns The Passing of Pierce Brosnan's Daughter

The World of James Bond Mourns The Passing of Pierce Brosnan's Daughter

July 2, 2013- It seems like only yesterday when the world was fixated on the loss of a major star's wife to ovarian cancer in a story fit for a romantic tear-jerker.  That star was Pierce Brosnan, whose wife Cassandra died in 1991, at the age of only 43 years young.  Cassandra, incidentally, was one of the driving forces behind Pierce taking the role as the world's most famous secret agent, James Bond 007.  Following her loss, Pierce touched the world with these words,"

"When your partner gets cancer, then life changes. Your timetable and reference for your normal routines and the way you view life, all this changes. Because you're dealing with death. You're dealing with the possibility of death and dying. And it was that way through the chemotherapy, through the first-look operation, the second look, the third look, the fourth look, the fifth look. Cassie was very positive about life. I mean, she had the most amazing energy and outlook on life. It was and is a terrible loss, and I see it reflected, from time to time, in my children."


It is with shock and sadness that the BBC reported that on June 28, Pierce and Cassandra's daughter, Charlotte died at 41 years young, after a 3 year battle with the same dreaded disease.  Pierce released this statement:

"On June 28 at 2 p.m. my darling daughter Charlotte Emily passed on to eternal life, having succumbed to ovarian cancer.  Charlotte fought her cancer with grace and humanity, courage and dignity. Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our beautiful dear girl," said the man who had played James Bond four times.  We pray for her and that the cure for this wretched disease will be close at hand soon. We thank everyone for their heartfelt condolences." 

Pierce Brosnan is not only James Bond, but an actor and a humanitarian who is beloved around the world.    These losses are hard to understand and our hearts and prayers are with him and his family at this difficult time.

8 Fun Facts About James Bond-Vol.1

8 Fun Facts About James Bond-Vol. 1

Every week as I research article topics for The World of Bond I find myself smiling as I stumble across fun facts that I either didn't know, or had completely forgotten, about the world's most famous secret agent, James Bond.  I decided to compile these facts and share them in a new series called "8 Fun Facts About James Bond".

Here is our first installment:

1.     James Bond was not Ian Fleming's first choice for the character's name.  The original draft of Casino Royale identified the character as James Secretan.  Fleming then opted for a name less coded in double meaning and, subsequently, chose Ornithologist James Bond to model the character after, in name only.

2.     Ian Fleming was unhappy with the selection of Sean Connery for the role in Dr. No.  He actually referred to the choice of Connery as "simply dreadful" after an initial screening of Dr. No.   He later changed his mind.  By the time he died, prior to Goldfinger's release, Fleming began to appreciate the choice.

3.     President John F. Kennedy's praise of Ian Fleming's James Bond series propelled the sales of the Ian Fleming novels, which were previously less than stellar sellers.

4.     George Lazenby was the only Bond actor to publicly criticize the Daniel Craig era films.   While Lazenby praised Craig as an actor, he felt that the Bond character in the Craig era lacks heart.  That characterization makes me wonder if Lazenby actually sat through till the end of Casino Royale.

5.   Roger Moore used a stunt double for scenes where he was running, of all things.   Not that Moore was incapable or unwilling to engage in a good sprint; he simply felt he looked awkward doing it after watching himself run in test footage.

6.   Sean Connery broke his hand training with, none other than martial arts master and fight coordinator, Steven Seagal, on the set of Never Say Never Again (1983).  There is, apparently, still no love loss between the two actors.

7.     In 1986 Pierce Brosnan was the popular favorite to ascend to the Bond throne, succeeding Roger Moore in the film, The Living Daylights.   He was forced to wait another 8 years to fulfill that destiny because the producers' of the television show, Remington Steele (1982), refused to allow Pierce out of his contract.

8.    Daniel Craig's film, Casino Royale (2006), the 23rd installment in the James Bond, Eon Productions film series was, by far, the closest in plot, character development, and dialogue to the original Ian Fleming novel.  It took almost 50 years for Hollywood to acknowledge that Fleming's source work was the best place to re-visit to insure that the James Bond legacy stay alive.   This was a genius move that together with the casting of Daniel Craig, resuscitated a franchise headed for decline.

Stay tuned for more installments.  Please send any Fun Facts you'd like me to include in future installments.

JAMES BOND REMINDER:    Only 4 months until the release of the new James Bond novel, SOLO, by William Boyd.

Your Favorite Bond Theme Song Is...?

Your Favorite Bond Theme Song Is...?

There are few things more signature to James Bond Films than their theme songs.  Introduced as part of the "Bond Formula" after Dr. No, the theme song, built around the film's title has become synonymous with each of the Bond films.   In fact, many of the theme songs have been more popular and well received than the films they support.    In response to our reader poll you have selected a theme song which is associated with the most popular James Bond film in movie history, Skyfall.  

With the critical and financial success of both the film and the theme song it is no surprise that Skyfall would be the winner.  This 2012 hit song was co-written and performed by the world famous, Adele.  The song's release preceded the film's and it instantly became an international musical hit, topping the UK Charts and becoming the eighth ranked all time hit on the Billboard 100 rankings.  

The song's accomplishments were not limited to the music world.  It garnered a Brit Award, a Golden Globe and, even, an Academy Award at the 85th Academy Awards, where Adele performed it live during the 50th Anniversary Tribute to the James Bond Film series.  Adele, an already accomplished singer and songwriter, has established herself as the most iconic Bond musical persona since Shirley Bassey and has been invited to return with the theme for Bond 24.  As a fan we can only hope the song, as well as the film, will come close to the success of Skyfall.