JAMES BOND FACT FILES

On completion of his first James Bond novel CASINO ROYALE in 1952, Ian Fleming took the advice of his accountant and bought a small defunct theatrical company, Glidrose Productions Limited (named after its founders John Gliddon and Norman Rose) [also known as Glidrose Publications]. Fleming then assigned most of his rights in CASINO ROYALE and the works that followed to Glidrose. In 2002 the company changed its name to Ian Fleming Publications Limited, and continues to administer the literary works of Ian Fleming, and licences the use of the character James Bond to other authors with the publication of new stories and spin-offs. In the UK the original James Bond novels are protected by copyright law until 2034 – 70 years after Ian Fleming's death. Global copyright laws often differ to those in the UK, and whilst the character of James Bond is not copyrighted as such, the name, and his code number “007” are separate Trade Marks, and renewed every 10 years as required. The name “James Bond” (and several derivatives) and “007” are the registered trademarks of DANJAQ LLC, set up by Harry Saltzman & Albert R. Broccoli in 1962 as the holding company responsible for the copyright and trademarks to the characters, elements, and other material related to James Bond on screen. Founded in 1961, their affiliate company EON Productions licences the rights to produce the James Bond films.

Although the sales of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels in paperback were phenomenal throughout the 1960s, a large amount of Glidrose’s earnings came from peripheral activities linked to the films. Shortly before Ian Fleming died in 1964, Glidrose had entered into an agreement with EON Productions to share the marketing rights to the 007 trademark. By the end of 1965, 148 licences had been granted worldwide to manufacture Bond-related goods - from toys and jigsaw puzzles; to clothes, shoes and even toiletries. Nowadays it is virtually impossible to list the number of products licenced by Ian Fleming Publications and DANJAQ, with so many having somewhat tenuous links to the film series; with items ranging from expensive Teddy Bears to 007 socks, and other over-priced merchandise. However, from 1962-1989 many of these licenced products were listed in the  issued by the National Screen Service which showed all materials available to promote each new film. Many of these products were directly related to the film - but others were often a cross promotion to tie-in with a particular product featured in the film, or even a specific location used within the storyline. Most of the products licenced to tie-in with the films were within the reach of the majority of cinemagoers at the time. Whilst they were probably unable to buy a real Aston Martin DB5, the more affordable Sunbeam Alpine from Dr. No (1962) or Ford Escort featured in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) were not entirely unattainable.

Although the sales of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels in paperback were phenomenal throughout the 1960s, a large amount of Glidrose’s earnings came from peripheral activities linked to the films. Shortly before Ian Fleming died in August 1964, Glidrose had entered into an agreement with EON Productions to share the marketing rights to the “007” trademark. By the end of 1965, 148 licences had been granted worldwide to manufacture Bond-related goods – from toys and jigsaw puzzles, to clothes, shoes, and even toiletries. Nowadays it is virtually impossible to list the complete number of products licenced by Ian Fleming Publications and DANJAQ, with so many products having somewhat tenuous links to the film series; with items ranging from expensive Teddy Bears to 007 socks, and other over-priced merchandise. However, from 1962-1989 many of these licenced products were listed in the Exhibitors’ Campaign Books issued by the National Screen Service (UK) which illustrated all materials available to assist in the promotion of each new film. Many of these products were directly related to the film – such as tie-in paperbacks, CORGI Toys, and original soundtrack albums; while others were often a cross-promotion to tie-in with a particular product featured in the film, or even a specific location used within the storyline. Most of the products licenced to tie-in with the films were within the reach of the majority of cinemagoers at the time. While it was highly unlikely the majority were able to purchase a real Aston Martin DB5, the more affordable Sunbeam Alpine from Dr. No (1962) or the Ford Escort featured in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) were not unattainable.

The products and promotions presented in the original Exhibitors’ Campaign Books were only shown in black & white, with many not illustrated at all. Due to the ever-changing marketplace, some items were not ready at the time the booklet was produced, and occasionally illustrated with temporary artwork or a prototype image, as was the case with the CORGI Diamonds Are Forever Moon Buggy, which was not issued until June 1972.

007 MAGAZINE presents a comprehensive film-by-film look at many of the items available in the United Kingdom during the original release of the James Bond films between 1962 and 1989, and wherever possible illustrates all products with an example of the actual item featured in the Exhibitors’ Campaign Book accompanied by the original text.

The blue Sunbeam Alpine driven by Sean Connery in Dr. No was owned by Kingston resident Jennifer Jackson, who was paid £10 per day for the eight days her vehicle was required between January 20 and February 21, 1962. For the rear projection close-ups of Sean Connery filmed back at Pinewood Studios on April 26th, the production utilised a Sunbeam Alpine supplied by the Rootes Group in London. Production manager L. C. Rudkin wrote to Rootes’ public relations manager thanking him for the use of the car, explaining that they had been unable to acquire one from the Rootes Group in Jamaica, and had to hire one at considerable expense on the open market. For comparison, the price of a new Sunbeam Alpine in the UK in 1962 was £695, and the average weekly wage for a manual worker was £16. £1,000 was considered a good annual salary in the 1960s, and people saw this as the dividing line between a well-paid respectable job and a poorly-paid position.

Three pieces of music featured in Dr. No (1962) were also issued as sheet music. ‘The James Bond Theme’, ‘Jamaica Jump-Up’, and ‘The Mango Tree’, with music and words by Monty Norman were available at a price of two shillings and sixpence from United Artists Music Ltd.

A soundtrack album was issued for the second James Bond film From Russia With Love (1963) and advertised [although not illustrated] alongside the 45rpm single (and four-track EP) recording of the title song by Matt Monro. Issued on October 4, 1963 as Parlophone R 5068, the single reached number 20 in the UK chart during the original release of From Russia With Love. The Exhibitors’ Campaign Book also announced the reprinting of the sheet music of ‘The James Bond Theme’ [pictured below], also featured in From Russia With Love with a new cover including elements from the UK film poster painted by Renato Fratini.

For the scene in From Russia With Love (1963) where M (Bernard Lee) and Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) listen to James Bond's description of the Russian Lektor Decoding machine, a Grundig TK46 model is seen on screen. This stereo reel-to-reel tape recorder from the German manufacturer Grundig was available in the UK between 1962 and 1964, and a tie-in with UK stockists was suggested for the promotion of From Russia With Love. Another tie-in with the Southampton based powerboat manufacturer Fairey Marine Ltd. was also suggested, but one suspects the purchase of a Fairey Huntress 23 as seen in the film was far beyond the capabilities of most enthusiasts in 1963! A full-page promotional advertisement appeared in the October 24, 1963 edition of the British film industry trade magazine Kinematograph Weekly, two weeks after the opening of From Russia With Love at London's ODEON Leicester Square.

In addition to the aforementioned tie-ins targeted at the male audience, two further campaigns aimed at female cinemagoers were initiated to cross promote From Russia With Love via two popular beauty products. Pond's cosmetics released the Double-O-Lipstick Range promoted with a Display Showcard [pictured below left] which also featured the PAN Books paperback film tie-in, and with full-page colour advertisements in several women's magazines. 1963 saw the first ever James Bond themed television commercial advertising the new Double-O-Lipstick. The commercial’s voiceover was by Charles Gray, who would later play Henderson in You Only Live Twice (1967) and Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Gray's distinctive voice was also heard in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) as the narrator of the ‘Son et Lumiere’ sequence at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. On November 28, 1963 (around the time he could be heard on TV narrating the Pond's TV commercial) Gray was selected to play Auric Goldfinger in Harold Sakata's screen test as Oddjob in Goldfinger (1964), although there is no evidence to suggest he was ever considered for the lead role of the eponymous villain himself.

A second tie-in with Lux Toilet Soap, offered customers the chance to obtain a “From Russia With Love” Nylon fur hat. Although thousands of display units were distributed to stockists along with fan-cards and leaflets, none of these appear to have survived.

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