JAMES BOND
NEWS 2010

GE Fabbri are re-launching a new partwork model magazine giving James Bond fans the opportunity to build a perfect 1:8 scale replica of the iconic Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger. The James Bond’s DB5 magazine is the first model to be fully authorised by EON Productions and Aston Martin and has been precision engineered to make it as accurate as possible.

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27 November 2010
Director Irvin Kershner has passed away in Los Angeles aged 87.

Most famous as the director of the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Kershner is best known to Bond fans as the director of Sean Connery's 1983 comeback as 007 Never Say Never Again. Kershner was chosen by the actor to helm the Thunderball remake after previously directing the star in his 1966 comedy A Fine Madness which co-starred Joanne Woodward.

LEFT: Irvin Kershner (left) with producer Kevin McClory at the Royal Charity Premiere of Never Say Never Again held at London's Warner Theatre on 14th December 1983.

25 November 2010 - Popular Culture: Film and Entertainment
LOT 102 - A Walther air pistol held by Sean Connery as James Bond in the photo-shoot used for the main image in the poster and advertising campaign for the 1963 United Artists/EON film From Russia With Love; the air pistol, a .177 (4.5mm) Walther ‘LP MOD.53’ Air Pistol, Serial No. 054159, with 24cm barrel, blackened finish throughout, in original close-fitted Walther case with sight elements; accompanied by a letter concerning the provenance from the original vendor [David Hurn], who was commissioned to shoot the images required for the publicity campaign for the film. He explains in his accompanying letter that “...it was decided that for the main image in the poster and advertising campaign what was required was a strong portrait of Sean Connery as James Bond 007, with his Walther pistol...” He explains further that when Connery arrived at his studio for the shoot, it was discovered by publicist Tom Carlile that no one had brought the gun needed for the shoot, the smaller Walther PPK automatic. By chance the photographer practised air pistol target shooting as a hobby and had the gun he used for this purpose, also a Walther, at the studio. It was decided “...that without telling Sean or the other representatives of United Artists they would use my pistol for the pictures and presumed that should anyone have doubts on their seeing the name Walther on the gun, they would be reassured. This was, in fact, the case. In theory the long barrel of the air-pistol should have been removed by airbrushing during the designing of the actual poster - in practice this was never done...”

Estimate £15,000 - £20,000 SOLD FOR £477,500

Other notable James Bond items in this auction: LOT 100 - A presentation wallet adorned with sterling sliver badge to the front, engraved ‘DR. NO 1962’ from the collection of the late Peter Hunt sold for £750; LOT 101 - A collection of From Russia With Love publicity material sold for £1,250; LOT 103 - David Niven's green velvet trilby from Casino Royale (1967) sold for £2,375; LOT 104 - A Moviola frame viewer used by director Peter Hunt on a number of films including On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) sold for £1,875, and LOT 105 - A black ski jacket, labelled inside Anba, Sportmode Vorsteher KG, made/bought for Ilse Steppat as Irma Bunt in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) sold for £375.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, 19 November 2010 

The Boscobel Aerodrome in Jamaica is be renamed the Ian Fleming International Airport in honour of the late James Bond author who lived in the north-eastern parish of St. Mary where the facility is located.

Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz said Cabinet has approved the recommendation for the name change.

The late Ian Fleming lived at ‘Goldeneye’ in Oracabessa, St. Mary. There, he wrote all 14 of his novels on which the famous James Bond series of movies are based.

“The Airports Authority of Jamaica is of the view that the new name will significantly enhance the marketing of the airport and the area to the international aviation community and, therefore should prove to be a ‘value-added’ asset,” Vaz said.

He said that the use of the late author's name has been approved by the Fleming family.

Ian Fleming’s classic James Bond novels are to be published for the first time in the UK as eBooks on 4 November 2010.

The fourteen books, which include CASINO ROYALE, LIVE AND LET DIE, FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE and DR. NO, will be sold under the Ian Fleming Publications Ltd imprint and will be available through major retailers including Amazon and Waterstone’s. The eBooks will be priced in line with the lowest-priced Bond paperback editions available on the market.

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On Monday, October 4th, Winter Associates offered for sale the John Griswold Ian Fleming-James Bond Collection. Griswold is the author of the 2005 publication, Ian Fleming's James Bond: Annotations and Chronologies for Ian Fleming's Bond Stories. In 1963, the release of Dr. No, the first James Bond movie, sparked John’s Griswold’s passion for Bond.

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1964 Aston Martin DB5 Chassis No. DB5/1486/R

1964 ASTON MARTIN DB5 ‘THE REAL JAMES BOND MOVIE CAR’
RM Auctions is proud to represent the one of only two - and only known remaining - original 007 Aston Martin DB5 movie car at its October 27, 2010 'Automobiles of London' auction at Battersea Evolution, London.

*** UPDATE***  SOLD FOR £2,912,000

Chassis: DB5/1486/R; Engine: 400/1469/V; Original UK Reg: FMP 7B

FMP 7B and its movie history:
Two Aston Martin DB5s were used on screen for the production of the timeless 1960’s James Bond classics, Goldfinger and Thunderball. One of those two cars was reported stolen in 1997 and is believed to have been destroyed. The other is FMP 7B.

Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 and its gadgets were the brainchild of Oscar-award-winning special effects expert John Stears, also of Star Wars and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fame.

FMP 7B was the 'Road Car' used in Goldfinger. Featured in various locations and intended for the fast driving sequences, FMP 7B was given substantial screen time, most notably the scenes at the Stoke Park Club and, even more recognizably, when Bond is spying on Mr. Goldfinger from the picturesque Furka Pass in Switzerland. For Thunderball, FMP 7B was to have most of the screen time, so it was fitted with the full complement of gadgets which it carries to this day.

FMP 7B, the only remaining Bond DB5 movie car in existence, is extremely original. Its specification has not changed since its appearance in Thunderball and virtually all its distinctive gadgets remain intact - a remarkable discovery.  

7 August 2010
1964’s Goldfinger was shown as part of this year’s Somerset House Summer Screen event in association with Film4, and director Guy Hamilton and golden girl Shirley Eaton were on hand for a question and answer session on stage after the screening. Composer David Arnold was also in attendance to spin a few tunes prior to the film.

VIEW EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

22 August 2010
Raymond Hawkey who revolutionised the design of the PAN James Bond paperbacks in the 1960s has died at the age of 80. Hawkey was one of the most innovative, influential and imitated graphic designers of the second half of the 20th century. As design director at the Daily Express in its prime in the late 1950s and early 60s, and later at the Observer until the mid-70s, with his introduction of banner headlines, using a simple photographic line technique and sans-serif fonts, he not only revolutionised the look of newspapers but also changed the course of the visual culture in Britain.

It was James Bond co-producer Harry Saltzman who was so impressed by the stark contemporary design of the dust jacket for Len Deighton's The Ipcress File (1962), that he persuaded Aubrey Forshaw, the chairman of PAN Books, to commission Raymond Hawkey to redesign the James Bond paperbacks. Raymond Hawkey proposed for the first time that ‘JAMES BOND’ should be elevated above the book title, and this be twice the size of the title and author's name. The THUNDERBALL cover also broke new ground in that it had two .38 calibre bullet holes die-cut into Brian Duffy's cover photograph. Surrounding each bullet hole is a torn-paper effect, so it is not the man that has been shot, but the book itself - the two bullets are then seen on the opening page.

31 July 2010
Screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz passed away in Los Angeles on 31st July at the age of 68. The acclaimed screenwriter co-wrote Sean Connery's comeback as 007 Diamonds Are Forever (1971) with Bond veteran Richard Maibaum, and was the sole writer on Roger Moore's 007 debut Live And Let Die (1973). Collaborating once again with Richard Maibaum on the screenplay for The Man With The Golden Gun (1974), Mankiewicz also worked uncredited on The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979). Tom was the son of multi Oscar-winning writer-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz All About Eve (1950) and Sleuth (1972) and nephew of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, who co-wrote Citizen Kane with Orson Welles in 1941.

007 MAGAZINE #54 “As long as the collar and cuffs match”
In remembrance of this witty and talented man who injected great fun into his Bond pictures, RICHARD SCHENKMAN's 1980 interview with the late Tom Mankiewicz.

13 July 2010
Three-time James Bond film cinematographer Alan Hume has died at the age of 85. Following his work as second unit director of photography on The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Hume later served as overall director of photography on three consecutive films starring Roger Moore. For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983) and A View To A Kill (1985) were all directed by John Glen - who had worked with Hume as the second unit director of the spectacular pre-credit ski chase sequence in The Spy Who Loved Me.

Alan Hume was born in London on October 16, 1924 and began his film career as a clapper boy at Denham Studios, his first job being on Leslie Howard's The First Of the Few (1942). After serving in the Royal Navy during WWII, Hume was assistant to cinematographer Guy Green on David Lean's Great Expectations (1946) and Oliver Twist (1948). From 1953 to 1960, he was chief camera operator on dozens of British films, including Carry On Sergeant (1958), the first of the popular British comedy series, which ran until 1992. From 1961 Hume was then director of photography (DP) for the majority of films in the long-running Carry On series. Hume also served as DP on an astonishing 28 episodes of The Avengers TV series 1965-1968, in addition to photographing Kiss Of The Vampire (1964) for Hammer films, and Dr. Terror's House Of Horrors (1965) for Amicus.

Alan Hume was elected to the British Society of Cinematographers in 1964, serving as president for three years. In 1983, Hume took of the role of DP on third Star Wars film Return of The Jedi, although fell out with the producers (when he protested about what he felt was their mistreatment of the director Richard Marquand), and was replaced by his assistant Alec Mills. Towards the end of his career, Hume was still working on high-profile British films such as A Fish Called Wanda (1988) directed by Ealing Studios veteran Charles Crichton; and Shirley Valentine (1989) and Stepping Out (1991) both directed by Lewis Gilbert.

Award winning artist Joss Stone is set to debut as the newest Bond girl in Activision Publishing, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ATVI) James Bond 007: Blood Stone, an original Bond experience from legendary screenwriter Bruce Feirstein. In addition to stepping into a leading role, Grammy and BRIT Award winner Joss Stone will create original music for the game, luring players into an explosive third-person action adventure where they will unravel an international conspiracy across exotic locales. Players will experience full-throttle, behind-the-wheel action on land and sea while using the most high tech gadgetry known to James Bond 007, the world's most skilled secret agent.

"James Bond 007: Blood Stone captures the cinematic intensity of a Bond film by immersing players in an intriguing conspiracy that will require them to think and act like James Bond," said David Pokress, Head of Marketing for Licensed Properties, Activision Publishing. "In addition, the game will feature a diverse array of multi-player modes and debut strategic objective-based gameplay that will allow Xbox 360, PS3 and PC players to battle as teams of spies and mercenaries through authentic Bond locales."

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Ian Fleming Publications Ltd has chosen international bestselling thriller writer, Jeffery Deaver, to write a new James Bond book.

The novel, currently known as Project X, will be published one year from today for Ian Fleming’s birthday – 28 May 2011. It will be published by Jeffery Deaver’s publishers Hodder & Stoughton in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US.

Jeffery Deaver has written 26 novels and sold more than 20 million books worldwide. His books have topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and he has been described as ‘the most creative, skilled and intriguing thriller writer in the world’ (Daily Telegraph) and ‘the master of ticking-bomb suspense’ (People magazine).

007 came to life fully-formed in 1952 when Ian Fleming wrote CASINO ROYALE. Since then over 100 million James Bond books have sold worldwide.

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3 April 2010 BBC Radio 4
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Ian Fleming's 1959 novel faithfully dramatised by Archie Scottney and directed by Martin Jarvis. Toby Stephens returns as 007, and a glittering cast is led by Ian McKellen in the title role. With cameo roles by top actors - all delighted to contribute to this remarkable Fleming adventure. Rosamund Pike plays wacky gang-boss Pussy Galore and Lisa Dillon is the vengeful Tilly Masterton. John Standing returns as M. Tom Hollander, Tim Pigott-Smith and American star Hector Elizondo as New York City mobsters. Bond and Goldfinger are joined in the famous golf game by Alistair McGowan as the caddie, Hawker. Henry Goodman, Ian Ogilvy and Lloyd Owen contribute to the excitement. And Jon David Yu throws his bowler-hat with deadly effect as 'Oddjob'.

Auric Goldfinger is not only a cheat at canasta and golf, he's also an international criminal on a massive scale. His obsession: gold. James Bond is charged by the Bank of England and MI5 to discover what Goldfinger is actually doing with his vast hoards of gold. Is he somehow connected with SMERSH - the feared soviet spy-killing organisation? When 007 becomes an undercover member of Goldfinger's team he soon learns that the madman's plans are more grandiose than even M could possibly have imagined. Amazingly, robbing Fort Knox is on the agenda - and mass murder...

31 July 2010
The Irish born stuntman, who doubled Roger Moore as James Bond, has died at the age of 67.

Martin Grace died in Spain on 27 January after being hospitalised following a cycling accident in which he fractured his pelvis. This injury was originally sustained whilst doubling for Roger Moore in Octopussy during the train sequences filmed on the Nene Valley Railway in 1983.

Joining the series in 1966 (along with every available stuntman in England), he performed stunts during the climactic volcano battle in You Only Live Twice. Grace first doubled Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me and again in subsequent films until A View To A Kill in 1985.

Martin Grace also doubled Roger Moore in two non-Bond films The Sea Wolves and North Sea Hijack (USA Ffolkes) both released in 1980.

Ian Fleming’s character James Bond has always been associated with the finest of everything; cars, clothes and, of course, watches.

The National Watch & Clock Museum will be presenting an exhibit which runs from June 18 2010 to April 30 2011 will explore the subject of the watches of James Bond.

The exhibit, Watches, James Bond Watches, will feature the watch that provided the inspiration for James Bond’s wristwatch: Ian Fleming’s own Rolex Explorer.  

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Every wanted to own an Aston Martin DB5 like the one driven by Sean Connery in the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965) ...?

If you can't afford a full-sized DB5 then Diamond Cars of Germany have the answer...

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