In the first interview segment, filmed in 1985,
thirteen-time 007 screenwriter Richard
Maibaum talks about how they never started
the series too seriously, injecting humour in places, but admitting
that "sometimes the spoofery became too overt." Maibaum
goes on to explain that, in his opinion, the scene where 007
shoots Professor Dent in "Dr.
No' is when "James Bond
was born."
"There has to be a frame of reference that has some relationship
to reality." - Richard Maibaum
The second segment features five-time Bond writer Tom
Mankiewicz, recorded in 1995,
who explains that his favourite adventures were the early
years when 007 "was a semi-polished thug." Mankiewicz
died in 2010 but would have seen this return to form in 2006's "Casino
Royale." He cites the unveiling of the Aston Martin
DB5 in "Goldfinger" as
the turning point where the films "started
to get bigger, and bigger, and bigger." He also reiterates
that he wanted
Solitaire to be played by Diana Ross in "Live
And Let Die", before the studio played it safe.
"Sean [Connery] has a face with violence in it. Sean looks
like a bastard." - Tom Mankiewicz
