“I know the rules, and number one is ‘no deals.’” – Die Another Day
“Miss Anders! I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on.” – The Man with the Golden Gun
“Run along now dear, man talk.” – Goldfinger
You may have recognized the lines of the famous spy “Bond… James Bond.”
With more than $7.000 billion in total and as the fourth highest grossing film series (26 movies), James Bond has become the most famous British Spy during the last 55 years.
Who created James Bond?
Ian Fleming, a British author and journalist, is the creator of the most famous spy, James Bond. Son of a major, educated at Eton and Sandhurst, , foreign correspondent and then personal assistant to the director of naval intelligence during World War II, married to a countess with whom he’s had an affair, Ian Fleming wrote about what he knew to create the famous character.
The first Bond book, Casino Royale, was published in 1953. In all, Fleming wrote 12 novels and two short story collections about Agent 007, which together sold more than 18 million copies. According to The New York Times: “Bond himself, Fleming said, was ‘a compound of all the secret agents and commandos I met during the war,’ but his tastes– in blondes, martinis ‘shaken, not stirred,’ expensively tailored suits, scrambled eggs, short-sleeved shirts and Rolex watches–were Fleming’s own.
Since Fleming’s death in 1964, eight other authors have written authorised Bond novels: Kingsley Amis, Christopher Wood, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, Sebastian Faulks, Jeffery Deaver, William Boyd and Anthony Horowitz.
Source: Flickr
Is he inspired by a real person?
Historians are convinced that Ian Fleming has been inspired by a real British spy of WWII, a secret agent, Yeo-Thomas, who went by the code name White Rabbit. The two men worked in different units – Yeo-Thomas for the Special Operations Executive and Fleming in the Naval Intelligence Division – and this is the first time a connection has been established between them.
They believe the actual character of Bond was based on traits Fleming must have observed in Yeo-Thomas. The real spy was, like his fictional counterpart, a dashing secret agent who surrounded himself with women, ruthlessly despatched his enemies and had a series of swashbuckling adventures.
Yeo-Thomas was parachuted into occupied France three times before being captured and tortured by the Gestapo. He was taken to Buchenwald concentration camp but managed to escape and reach the Allied lines. After the war, Yeo-Thomas succumbed to recurring nightmares and illness, attributed to his wartime experiences. In this, he appears closer to the “darker” and more “psychologically troubled” Bond of the Fleming novels
Who are the Bond actors?
Sean Connery played the first James Bond on the big screen. Sean Connery and Roger Moore have both played James Bond seven times – a number which is yet to be beaten by any other Bond actor.
– Sean Connery: 1962-67, 1971 and 1983. He first appeared in Dr No, which became an instant success. He went on to star in From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice, before a brief break. Sean returned to star in Diamonds Are Forever in 1971 and then again for Never Say Never Again in 1983.
– George Lazenby: 1969. The Australian actor played Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
– Roger Moore: 1972- 1985. He made his debut in Live and Let Die and starred in: Moonraker, A View to a Kill, The Man with the Golden Gun, Octupussy, For Your Eyes Only and The Spy Who Loved me.
– Timothy Dalton: 1986-1994. He took over from Roger Moore and appeared in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
– Pierce Brosnan: 1995-2004. He appeared in Golden Eye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.
– Daniel Craig: 2005-present. He became the sixth actor to win the role of James Bond in 2005 and his debut was in Casino Royale. He’s appeared in Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre.
You can find the list of every James Bond’s movies here: https://evert.meulie.net/various/media/all-james-bond-movies/
James Bond: Everybody needs a hobby.
Silva: So what’s yours?
James Bond: Resurrection. – Skyfall
Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/5825134/james-bond-actors-order-most-first/
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-bond-creator-ian-fleming-dies
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