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MI6 looks back at 'The Untold History of the First
James Bond Screenplay by Jack Whittingham' written
and compiled by Sylvan Whittingham Mason
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Thunderball Script Timeline
21t January 2006
MI6 looks back at "The Thunderball Story - The Untold History
of The First James Bond Screenplay Written by Jack Whittingham",
with excerpts from 1963 Court Case Documents. Chronology compiled
by Sylvan Whittingham Mason.
The Thunderball Years
|
29th April 1959 |
"The trouble about writing
something specially for a film is that I haven’t got
a single idea in my head".
- Ian Fleming to Kevin McClory |
| 27th May 1959
|
Ernest Cuneo writes brief outline
of story. |
| June/August 1959 |
Ian Fleming writes a memo of his
version of Cuneo story. |
| July/August 1959 |
Fleming writes more detailed treatment
of story. |
| September 1959 |
Leigh Aman telephones to say that
Kevin McClory would like to get in touch with Jack Whittingham. |
| 22nd September
1959 |
Jack’s first meeting with
Kevin McClory. |
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25th September 1959
"Ian is meeting another writer called Jack Whittingham
on Monday."
"I have had talks with him and gave him Ian’s
first rough treatment, which he is extremely enthusiastic
about, he also came back with some highly interesting and
intelligent constructive story points".
- Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce
Left: Kevin McClory's cameo in Thunderball
(the figure blowing smoke in the air on the far right).
|
| 28th September 1959
|
"Brighton stop excellent
meeting Ian and Whittingham stop Ian would like Whittingham
start work immediately. Meeting his agent Monday regards Kevin"
- Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce |
| 1st October 1959 |
"Meanwhile, Whittingham, whom
I think I told you I greatly liked, is fiddling about most
creatively with the story. I’m much impressed by Whittingham
and he has some excellent ideas which cut out a lot of the
muck at the beginning of my story".
- Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce |
| 2nd October. 1959 |
First dated Whittingham notes on
new opening sequence written and sent to Kevin McClory. |
| 7th October 1959 |
"No news from Hitchcock. Meanwhile,
the script writer is busily writing the script, and I gather,
coming up with some excellent ideas, so no time is being wasted".
- Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce |
| 9th October 1959 |
"I do feel sure that the sooner
we can give a definite go ahead to Jack Whittingham, the better,
as he is a most sort after writer in England, and will obviously
not be idle for long. I enclose a very rough outline covering
our suggested take over of an aircraft which was written by
Jack Whittingham".
- Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce |
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14th October 1959 "For
a thousand reasons I cannot be more than your shadow Chief
of Staff. Annie, rightly, is terrified by the prospect of
me being constantly away on the film and imagines heaven
knows what, but at any rate she imagines it all, and I’m
having much trouble with her on this account."
"As to my help over the script, it will of course
be forthcoming in full measure but simply must take second
place to the rest of my rather complicated life."
"In any case, Whittingham will have to be number one
on the script, because he is a script writer and I am not,
and this is a professional job on which total concentration
is necessary".
- Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce
Left: Sean Connery poses with a spear
gun |
| 14th October 1959
|
"Delighted new script version
stop"
- Ivor Bryce to Ian Fleming |
| 17th October 1959 |
"I have a feeling that we
should sign up Jack Whittingham forthwith. The only qualm
is that, that is - for the first time, really sinking the
landing craft behind you. Like deciding to give a party, &
then actually putting the first invitation in the post. Not
that I am faltering in any way. Still it is a milestone. Would
that Kevin was more reliable and businesslike. If Kevin was
different though, he would no doubt be unable to make movies".
- Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce |
| 20th October 1959 |
"Leigh & I had a meeting
this morning with Jack Whittingham’s agent and we think
we can get him to write the script for £5000 (today’s
equivalent £150,000). This, for a writer of his experience,
is less than he normally takes and I think we should make
an immediate decision on this, and I do know that Walt Disney
want very much to put him under contract. I will cable you
as soon as I hear definitely that he can be obtained for this".
- Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce |
| 21st October 1959 |
Fleming delivers second treatment
of story incorporating work with Whittingham. |
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21st October 1959
"Timetable - I don’t think the film timetable
will suit any of our conveniences quite as nicely, as you
see it."
"The time you are essential is obviously during preparation
of the script. Even if Whittingham writes every word, you
really must be within reach for overall decisions."
"I think once that is over, you needn’t be there
at all, except for fun. I personally think the Nassau shooting
should be from mid-April to June when the weather is the
most reliable".
"I like the new script better and better: so does
Ernie".
- Ivor Bryce to Ian Fleming
Left: Adolpho Celi as villain Emilio
Largo. |
| 23rd October 1959
|
"So far as making a profit
is concerned, I’m personally of the opinion that we
have a financial winner in this film, whether done in colour
or monochrome, so long as we have a couple of good stars,
though J. de B. should remember, I think, that Bond must be
an Englishman. With Kevin as producer, X as Director, Aman
perhaps as manager, Whittingham as script writer and you as
general energiser, assisted as much as possible by me, I don’t
see why the vehicle shouldn’t roll".
- Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce |
| 24th October 1959 |
"Have managed reduce Whittingham
fee fom six to five thousand pounds stop Ian thinks we should
engage him immediately I know we shall loose him is we don’t
will funds be available me sign contract regards".
- Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce
Jack’s normal fee reduced on the understanding that
this would be the first of a series of Bond screenplays.
(See reference to first James Bond screenplay 27th October).
|
| 27th October 1959 |
Agreement drawn up between Xanadu
Production and Jack Whittingham to complete first James Bond
Screenplay later to be entitled "THUNDERBALL". |
| 10 November 1959 |
Whittingham outline with temporary
title "James Bond of the Secret Service" |
| 24th November 1959 |
Jack meets with Ian Fleming in
New York and is introduced to Ivor Bryce |
| 26th November 1959 |
Recci to Bahamas.
Contract signed between Jack & Kevin on behalf of Xanadu
for £5,000. Jack assigns all rights "of whatsoever
nature" in Thunderball to Kevin McClory. |
| 7th December 1959 |
Kevin registers Thunderball title
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| December - February 1960
|
Thunderball (Original title "Longitude
78 West") the first ever James Bond screenplay completed
by Jack Whittingham. |
| 5th February 1960 |
Ernest Cuneo calls to ask if Jack
has been paid yet and asked that the screenplay be sent to
him direct instead of to Kevin and was negative about Kevin.
They were getting nervous about having Kevin as Producer. |
| 15th February 1960 |
Screenplay completed and re-titled
Thunderball
Nervousness continues about Kevin McClory as producer.. |
Messrs Saltzman & Broccoli enter scene
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Summer 1960
Unaware
of any production problems, Jack writes a second draft of
the screenplay.
28th October 1960 Fleming assigns Thunderball
to Trustees - Glidrose Productions.
19th December 1960 Agreement signed between
Glidrose & Jonathan Cape for Thunderball book rights.
21st March 1961 Injunction sought against
Jonathan Cape publishers by Kevin McClory & Jack Whittingham
fails in attempt to prevent forthcoming "Thunderball"
novel debut.
Left: Sean Connery with the iconic
jetpack |
| 27th March 1961 |
Fleming publishes Thunderball novel plagiarising
Jack’s screenplay
on over 200 pages with no acknowledgements. |
| June 1961 |
Movie deal completed with Saltzmann & Broccoli
|
| 18th August 1961 |
First Richard Maibaum version of Thunderball
hastily withdrawn.
"Actually, Cubby Broccoli, in his autobiography, When
the Snow Melts, discusses this at some length. Originally,
Broccoli, Saltzman, and Fleming all thought Kevin (and [Whittingham],
although he is not mentioned by those I spoke to) would
likely settle the matter. Maibaum’s script was withdrawn
when everyone realized the matter would not be settled quickly.
Maibaum also wrote about the first Thunderball script for
Esquire magazine in 1965".
- John Cork |
| 4th September 1961 |
Jack’s daughter, Sylvan Whittingham,
starts 1st job as assistant secretary to Oswald Hickson,
Collier & Co where Peter Carter-Ruck is Senior Partner.
Shortly after McClory & Whittingham engage Peter Carter-Ruck
to act for them in their case against Fleming. |
| 1962 |
1st official Richard Maibaum screenplay of Doctor
No (written in 1961, with re-drafts by Berkeley Mather and
Joanna Harwood - (and an unaccredited Wolf Mankowitz) |
Thunderball Trial Commences
| 20th November 1963 |
Thunderball trial commences. At Chancery
Division of the High Court, London. Initially McClory&
Whittingham v Fleming& Bryce then McClory solo with
Whittingham as principal witness. |
| 3rd December 1963 |
Case settled after 10 days in court. Due to
brilliantly & meticulously prepared 999 document case
by top copyright lawyer, Peter Carter-Ruck, a settlement was
reached on this potentially lengthy trial and Kevin McClory
was awarded film rights to ‘Thunderball’ and £50,000
damages. Kevin abandons Jack Whittingham and eventually goes
into production with Broccoli & Saltzman. He received
a sole producer credit; Broccoli & Saltzman [who do produce]
take a ‘presented by’ credit. |
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10th December 1963 Whittingham
issues his own writ against Fleming for damages for libel,
malicious falsehood and damage to professional reputation.
11th August 1964 Case dropped when Ian
Fleming dies of heart attack.
29th December 1965 Thunderball-
by now the 4th Bond film premieres at The London Pavilion,
Piccadilly Circus and Rialto Theatre, Coventry Street.
1967 Jack writes screenplay about Ian
Fleming based on John Pearson’s biography for The
Sunday Times.
Left: Claudine Auger |
© Sylvan Mason 2002
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