For your ears only: All about James Bond
If one or two viewings of “No Time To Die” have got you itching for more 007, we have some insight from James Bond expert, Danny Morgenstern, and some fascinating facts for you.
Did James Bond really play Texas Hold'em poker in Casino Royale? How does Ian Fleming decide Dr No’s fate? Which two short stories were the inspiration behind the film Octopussy? Which Bond sayings are Fleming’s originals? Dive into the depths of the Bond universe with our infographic.
How do the films compare to the books? Find out here.
An interview with James Bond expert Danny Morgenstern
We talked to James Bond expert and writer Danny Morgenstern. After his first book about 007, James Bond XXL came out, the Bond fanatic became a full-time Bond expert.
Danny Morgenstern, what was your first experience with James Bond?
My first introduction to James Bond was when I watched the film Live and Let Die for the first time in 1986. The first of Ian Fleming’s James Bond books I read was Dr. No. It was the only one of the series that I could borrow from the library at the time. However, my very first James Bond novel was Role of Honour by John Gardner. I've been fascinated by James Bond for over 30 years.
What fascinates you most about him?
As a teenager, I loved the films as purely entertaining action movies. Nowadays, I’m interested in everything behind the scenes, like how did the films come about? I pay a lot of attention to detail, for example, looking at the works of art that are hanging up in the background. I also like the humour, the mixture of action and excitement, and the often unusual ideas.
What sets Ian Fleming’s Bond apart from the character in the films?
Ian Fleming created a character who lives during the time of the Cold War. In the films, the stories are adapted to the respective time. However, the novels were not really suitable for cinema screens. For movies to be successful, they need to be more thrilling, for example, featuring action-packed car chase scenes. That's why new stories were added to the film scripts, to make James Bond a cinematic success. In the first three to four films, the novels and films are very similar. From You Only Live Twice, only the titles of the books were used in the film version because the books sold well.
Which Fleming novel should James Bond fans start with?
It depends on whether listeners want to finish the novel with a gloomy feeling or a positive one. Ian Flemings's first novel, Casino Royale, is quite negative and the ending could leave you feeling a bit flat. Some of his other novels will get you into a more positive mood when Bond turns out to be the hero in the end, for example, in Moonraker. My favourite book by Fleming is Live and Let Die, which is action-packed with an exotic edge, but also tense and gloomy at times.
Which 007 film is your favourite and why?
Skyfall is my favourite. The film is very contemporary, full of action, and Daniel Craig portrays the character very well. I have fond memories of the Skyfall premieres in London and Berlin. All of this together is the complete feel-good package for me.
Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig – who do you like best as James Bond?
My favourite Bond actor changes from time to time. I'm a big fan of Roger Moore and I particularly like his sense of humour. I also really like Daniel Craig and how he portrays him with completely different character traits. Of course, the typical James Bond attributes are the same – beautiful suits, fast cars and lots of action. But Daniel Craig gives the Bond character an edge of hardness and I like that.
Which is the better film adaptation of the novel for you, Thunderball or Never Say Never Again?
Thunderball is more similar to Ian Fleming's novel and Never Say Never Again drifts further away from it. The films are made several years apart: Thunderball was released in 1965, and Never Say Never Again came out in 1983. I watched Never Say Never Again first and I like it better. I was born in 1979, so films shot before the year 1970 appear quite old-fashioned to me. Never Say Never Again is more modern and therefore more appealing to me.
Why is the 007 series so much more successful than other spy series?
I wouldn't say the 007 series is much more successful than others. If you look at the box office figures, you'll see that some James Bond films haven't been very successful at all. Other films such as Mission Impossible or the Jason Bourne series have been huge hits, although they are not as long-lived as the James Bond series.
Why has the James Bond series lasted so long?
The James Bond series moves with the times and adapts to the current spy film standards. This makes the films appeal to younger generations and constantly attracts new audiences as the concept of the series doesn’t change too much and therefore retains its appeal. You could say that once you become a James Bond fan, you’ll always be a James Bond fan.
How do you do your James Bond research?
I talk to the people who were involved in making the Bond films, mainly directors and actors. I study secondary literature and read and compare the novels, including those alongside the Fleming series – for example, by John Gardner, Raymond Benson and Anthony Horowitz. I also browse sources and documents from the corresponding years. It's real detective work but it's definitely worth it.
What is your favourite fun fact from the James Bond universe?
There are so many fun facts in the James Bond universe, so it’s impossible to pick a favourite. An interesting fact, however, is that the name of the Bond girl in GoldenEye, Natalya Simonova, is based on the film location manager. Also, the German actress Antje Schmidt played an employee of the Avis car rental company in a scene of Tomorrow Never Dies and so it was widely publicised in the German media, but her character actually only said one line.
What is the greatest myth about James Bond, the books, films, and performers?
A common myth is that the James Bond films are built chronologically on one another, but that’s not the case with the James Bond series. For example, the series was restarted from scratch in Casino Royale in 2006.
Which novel that isn’t from the Fleming series has inspired you?
High Time To Kill by Raymond Benson has an incredible narrative, a lot of tension and some funny moments. There is an instance when James Bond has to reach a mountain peak in the Himalayas before a rival group and then urinates on their food supplies.
Which non-Fleming Bond novel do you think has good film potential?
All of Raymond Benson's novels are suitable. John Gardner’s books have less potential because they portray a more realistic life of an agent. Raymond Benson’s Bond works are action novels, hence why they would be well suited to the big screen.
License to listen
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