The Battle for Bond by Robert Sellers Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Battle for Bond
Book Review: Great Bond book any really serious fan.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book goes into great detail to go through the most controversial aspect of the James bond history: the writing of the novel Thunderball and its complicated journey to the screen twice.
The author does an amazing job analyzing everything and reserving judgment. In the end Ian Fleming and Kevin McClory wind up being both villains and victims. Its a sad story but an amazing one.
Book Review: History of the other Bond
Summary: 5 Stars
Given that the 007 films of the official series from MGM/UA, produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Brocolli (now by the latter's daughter and stepson) have been cultural icons and guaranteed blockbusters since the mid-1960s, it is unsurprising that nearly every James Bond movie book focuses on them, but only scantly covers Irish producer Kevin McClory's attempts to bring Ian Fleming's super spy to the cinema (as well as others' makings of the television program Casino Roayle in 1954 and the 1967 film of the same name).
The Battle for Bond does just the opposite; it details McClory and screenwriter Jack Whittingham's collaboration with Fleming and others to develop the script of what they had hoped would be the first 007 movie, which never materialized, plus McClory's ensuing lawsuit against Fleming, alleging plagarism, after the author had developed a new Bond novel entitled Thunderball, that the Irishman claimed was based too closely on their script, the out of court settlement which gave McClory film and television rights to Thunderball, his agreement with Brocolli and Saltzman that made it the fourth entry of the offical series in 1965, subsequent efforts to produce other 007 movies and television projects (including Warhead, co-written by Sean Connery in the mid-1970s), all unsuccessful, except Never Say Never Again, the 1983 remake of Thunderball. Additionally, the book describes the productions of Thunderball and Never Say Never Again, based on interviews with cast and crew members, as well as some rare photographs, including that of Connery scouting locations for Warhead near the Statute of Liberty.
Whether you are a casual or serious fan of the world's most famous fictional secret agent, The Battle for Bond will be very informative and interesting, as it provides a history of 007 that has hitherto received little coverage. You owe to it yourself to read this book.
Book Review: If you are a Bond History Fanatic...
Summary: 4 Stars
Then this was written especially for you! The book offers a perspective (In this readers opinion somewhat biased) based on letters and various documents contrary to the popularly conceived notion that Kevin McClory was the "Bad Guy". The author often uses his scources liberally without citation, creating ambiguity in some aspects. Overall The Battle for Bond is thoroughly enjoyable for the Bond buff who noticed with curiosity that Thunderball is the only book in the original series featuring anyones name other than fleming as the author.Book Review: Terrific Research
Summary: 5 Stars
"Idiotic" is the word Sellers uses to sum up producer Kevin McClory's decades-long attempts to parlay his rights to Thunderball into a rival James Bond series. Idiotic is a strong word, but it's accurate, and the details of McClory's wrong-headed attempts to hijack the world's most popular film franchise makes for remarkable reading.
Reverent, but not a spiral-eyed fan, Sellers negotiates teams of lawyers more voracious than the sharks 007 used to fight; the details about the production of Thunderball are rarely found elsewhere. The book is gently nostalgic and even tragic in parts; the tale of the relics of this glorious movie rotting on the grounds of an abandoned Bahamanian mansion is enough to wring the heart of any serious Bond fan.
The Battle for Bond is a very low-budget production, and it could use a proofreading and a copy-editing, but that's immaterial compared to the hard labor and harder research Sellers put into untangling this dismaying story of hubris, folly and cinematic magic. Great stuff.
Book Review: Uniquely Revealing "Back-Stage" View of James Bond's Creation
Summary: 5 Stars
As someone who grew up with James Bond and was blown away by the original screening of "Thunderball" in the early sixties, I was fascinated to read this incredibly detailed account of how the movie got to the screen and how the future of the "James Bond" we see in cinemas to this day hung by a thread.
Not only is this a blow-by-blow of the twists and turns behind the making of the movie itself - which is reason enough for any Bond fan to buy the book - but also it gives the first in-depth account that I've ever seen as to how the cinematic version of James Bond was developed from the original Fleming creation. This is where the book becomes particularly fascinating for would-be authors, screenwriters and anyone interested in film production, as it gives a window on the creative process behind what is arguably the most commercially successful literary character in history.
Essential reading for Bond fans, as well as those who may want to create their own blockbusters some day.