14 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

Now on the CBn main page...

Encore Presents 'True Bond: Ian Fleming's Inspiration For James Bond'

Followed by a 52 hour 007 film marathon beginning 22 June

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]Hopefully they

[zencat]

How many people have been claimed as Fleming's "inspiration" or model for Bond?

[Qwerty]

How many people have been claimed as Fleming's "inspiration" or model for Bond?

Based on the new articles covering this topic over the past two years or so, I'd say the number is around 40.

[Turn]

How many people have been claimed as Fleming's "inspiration" or model for Bond?

No kidding. I remember in my early days of collecting getting a magazine Marvel Comics used to put out called Pizzaz or something like that. They did an article on some guy who was supposedly Fleming's inspiration for Bond. What caught my eye at the time was they took one of Moore's poses from TSWLM and put a beard on him like the guy used to have. That article is still in my collection somewhere.

[Dr. Noah]

2002 BBC article on Popov:

http://news.bbc.co.u.../uk/1973962.stm

[spynovelfan]

How many people have been claimed as Fleming's "inspiration" or model for Bond?

Loads! And while I think he undoubtedly did use some real-life people and incidents for the character, he certainly didn't use just one person. And, of course, the person Bond most resembles is Ian Fleming himself. Fleming was a suave womaniser, so that's why Bond is - nothing to do with Popov. Bond's tastes are largely Fleming's, while his character is broadly a genre archetype: the brilliant, ruthless, high-living secret agent. Hardly anyone reads those early British thrillers by E Phillips Oppenheim, William Le Queux and their like these days, but Fleming was a great fan of them, which is why in MOONRAKER Gala Brand thinks the following of 'Commander Bond. James Bond':

'He could probably shoot all right and talk foreign languages and do a lot of tricks
that might be useful abroad. But what good could he do down here without any beautiful spies to make love to. Because he was certainly good-looking. (Gala Brand automatically reached into her bag for her vanity case. She examined herself in the little mirror and dabbed at her nose with a powder puff.) Rather like Hoagy Carmichael in a way. That black hair falling down over the right eyebrow. Much the same bones. But there was something a bit cruel in the mouth, and the eyes were cold. Were they grey or blue? It had been difficult to say last night. Well, at any rate she had put him in his place and shown him that she wasn't impressed by dashing young men from the Secret Service, however romantic they might look. There were just as good-looking men in the Special Branch, and they were real detectives, not just people that Phillips Oppenheim had dreamed up with fast cars and special cigarettes with gold bands on them and shoulder-holsters.'

[Navy007Fan]

I always thought that Sidney Riley was Fleming's inspiration for Bond, at least in part.

[Professor Dent]

[quote name='Mister Asterix' post='742924' date='29 May 2007 - 16:41'][mra]Hopefully they

[DLibrasnow]

Just saw the trailer for TRUE BOND on Encore...It looks pretty sweet. I'll definately TiVo it.

[DLibrasnow]

Just a reminder that this TRUE BOND special airs tonight on ENCORE.

Followed by a "007 in '07" marathon.

[Qwerty]

Let us know how it is, Dlib.

[clublos]

I was not impressed with True Bond. Maybe going in I was biased because of all the other "true life" spies that claim to have been the basis for Bond. First, the editing. The filmmakers took footage from the trailers for the Bond films (and I use "trailers" liberally because some of the footage used was actual film scenes put through Adobe Premiere to appear worn out) and spliced them into various places of the documentary about Dusko Popov to hold the audience's interest. Then, in order to provide some commentary about Bond, they hire "film critics." The only Bond historian interviewed was Andrew Lycett, and he was only referenced when asserting whether or not Fleming was acquainted with Popov.

True Bond could have been an amazing documentary on Popov without all the Bond references. I assume Encore couldn't afford to produce an authentic documentary about Bond, so they did the next best thing. Unfortunately, it wasn't all that enthralling.

[DLibrasnow]

Though I agree for the most part with clublos, I did enjoy TRUE BOND. You have to take into account that the documentary was not made for the hardcore Bond fan, but the more casual viewer.
And it certainly was an interesting and at times compelling case that the documentary made for Popov as the inspiration for James Bond - particularly all the stuff about his time in Portugal.
At the very least the case for Popov was more credible that the majority of (more commonly cited) cases that have been given the tag as the inspiration for 007.

One question though...all that footage of Q and Miss Moneeypenny chatting. I assume ut was from a Bond trailer, but I did not recognize it.

[Professor Dent]

I would agree that this special is more for the casual Bond fan vs the die hards. Given this, I believe it fits in nicely with the typical audience watching Encore. I knew very little detail of the Popov/Bond connection so I did find this to be entertaining most of the time. Popov's visit to the US in August of 1941 to collect information on Pearl Harbor was kind of creepy, especially with the fact that the FBI was more interested in Popov's sex life than any attack on the US. Even if he was not the inspiration for Bond, he did lead a very interesting life.

Harry Saltzman's daughter, Hilary, makes a few appearances. The scenes of Popov on The Mike Douglas Show from 1974 were great. Nothing like '70's clothing & hair styles.

Most all of the Bond footage was taken from the various movie trailers. The filters they applied applied to make it looked aged were just bad.

One question though...all that footage of Q and Miss Moneeypenny chatting. I assume ut was from a Bond trailer, but I did not recognize it.

This scene was taken from the "Welcome to Japan Mr. Bond" extra found on the YOLT Ultimate Edition DVD. Again, they applied a filter to turn the footage into black & white. It's in color on the DVD.