|
|
MI6 previews the forthcoming book The Battle For
Bond by Robert Sellers, unraveling the untold story
behind the 007 legend...
|
|
Book Preview: The Battle For Bond
7th August 2006
The Battle For Bond - "The Genesis of Cinema's Greatest
Hero" by Robert Sellers
Preview
Cinema history might have been very different had the first James
Bond film not been
Dr. No in 1962 starring Sean Connery, but Thunderball directed
by Alfred Hitchcock in 1959 and starring Richard Burton as agent
007. It sounds preposterous and unbelievable, but it almost happened.
Battle for Bond unravels the untold story
behind the most controversial part of the James Bond legend
using previously unpublished material including letters
and private documents. It is a tale of bitter recriminations,
betrayal, multi-million dollar lawsuits and even death.
It starts way back in 1959 when colourful Irish film producer
Kevin McClory collaborated with Ian Fleming and Hollywood
screenwriter Jack Whittingham on a screenplay for what was
intended to be the first ever James Bond film, entitled
Thunderball. When the project collapsed, Fleming instead
used its plot as the basis for his next Bond novel, but
without permission. An incensed McClory and Whittingham
sued.
The resulting trial was one of the most high profile and
complex of the 1960s. Essentially the creator of the 20th
century’s greatest fictional character was in the
dock, accused of plagiarism. Already gravely ill, many of
Fleming’s friends feared the pressure of the trial
would have a detrimental effect on his health. Tragically
they were proved right when only a few months later Fleming
died of a massive heart attack aged only 56.
|
|
Above: Front cover artwork
Pre-Order
Amazon UK (Paperback) |
As for Kevin McClory, he became a millionaire over night, winning
the film rights to Thunderball. He was now in the enviable position
of being able to make his own 007 movie. But the already established
Sean Connery series was a hard act to compete with and McClory
instead decided to join forces with Albert R. Broccoli and Harry
Saltzman in a one-off deal to co-produce Thunderball. Released
in time for Christmas 1965, Thunderball was the Star Wars of
its day, becoming one of the most successful films in movie history.
Part of McClory’s court victory entitled him to remake
Thunderball at a future date, resulting in 1983s Never Say Never
Again, which saw Sean Connery returning to the Bond role after
a 12 year absence and was the film that Broccoli tried desperately
to ban. Following its success McClory tried in vain to start
his
own 007 film series, using the rights he owned in Thunderball,
but was thwarted at every turn in a succession of increasingly
hostile legal battles against Broccoli and Bond studio MGM. McClory
even made the claim that he was co-creator of the cinematic James
Bond character and demanded a share in the three billion dollars
of profits the 007 series had earned.
Even in the late 1990s McClory was still determined to make more
Bond films and in one last giant court battle the entire future
of James Bond was to be decided. Would the Broccoli family and
MGM, home to the 007 series since 1962, emerge triumphant. Or
would Kevin McClory’s 40-year claims on the Bond character
succeed.
In preparing the book the author was granted exclusive access
to a wealth of previously unpublished material including hundreds
of letters from the principal characters in the Thunderball story,
including Fleming himself, business and private documents and
never before seen papers from the 1963 court case. And also the
five different screenplays that were written for Thunderball -
two from Fleming and three from Jack Whittingham.
The author also interviewed many of the actors and production
people who worked on Thunderball and Never Say Never Again. Their
memories and colourful anecdotes bring to life two of the most
successful and universally popular Bond movies of all time.
About the Author
Robert Sellers is the author of several entertainment books including
biographies on Sean Connery, Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise. He
was also the author of ‘Very Naughty Boys’ the history
of George Harrison/Monty Python’s HandMade Films, a book
Empire magazine called, ‘essential reading.’
Stay tuned to MI6 for further details.