Ian Fleming - The Man Who Would Be Bond

[Foxer55]

Anyone see the new BBC series Ian Fleming - The Man Who Would Be Bond? Another great effort to give us some background on history but I wonder how much is history and how much is rumor. I wish the series was longer than 4 episodes, I'd like to see more of it on film. There's plenty of biographical data on they web and his life may have been a little boring beyond his activities during the war but I'd still like to know more. If his character is portrayed accurately in the series he was a guy with balls. He would just confront people and say what he thought regardless of who it was. I admire that but living in an environment not unlike his, with senior military executives and politikers, I could find myself in a lot of hot water for saying the kinds of things he says. I like to think I could get away with it, though.

http://www.bbcamerica.com/fleming/characters/ian-fleming/

http://www.bbcamerica.com/fleming/videos/sneak-peek-2/

 

[Two Types]

I would imagine that most of his wartime activities would have been incredibly dull. After all, Fleming sat on (if I recall correctly) the Priorities committee of the Combined Intelligence Objectives, Sub-Committee: I've read some of the minutes of their meetings, it appears to have been rather unexciting.

 

[Fading Fast]

The series is beautifully filmed - it is absolutely gorgeous. The clothes, buildings, sets, cars, etc. are a treat to look at - for that alone, I've been enjoying it. Many years ago, I read a biography on Ian Fleming and based on that old and faulty memory, it seems that the series is taking liberty with the facts, but the stories have a basis in truth.

What I find disconcerting is that, as with many shows like this, the characters - the dialogue, their views, how they interact with each other - feels way too modern to me. The director seem to take great care to capture a visual period accuracy, but he /she doesn't want the characters to be very period accurate (and maybe that is just the demands of the market - people don't want to see true period characters).

This is one of my favorite things about old movies, since they were written in the period, they will more accurately reflect the time.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I only made it fifteen minutes into the first episode. I didn't believe it for a second, and I agree, it didn't remotely feel like authentic period dialog or attitudes. The production design and attractiveness of the cast wasn't enough to hold me. Another instance (a la Mob City, Bonnie & Clyde) of period-look porn that looks great but gets the story essentials utterly wrong.

 

[Fading Fast]

I only made it fifteen minutes into the first episode. I didn't believe it for a second, and I agree, it didn't remotely feel like authentic period dialog or attitudes. The production design and attractiveness of the cast wasn't enough to hold me. Another instance (a la Mob City, Bonnie & Clyde) of period-look porn that looks great but gets the story essentials utterly wrong.

I could not sit through Mob City and suffered through Bonnie and Clyde for the exact reason you said. For some reason, I've been able to sit through this Fleming thing, but not 'cause it is better (although, the dialogue is less embarrassing than Mob City or B&C, but still not good), but the period details are just that freakin' good.

 

[Kirk H.]

I do know that the part in episode 3 where Flemming writes a manual for the O.S.S. was true. He was presented with a Colt Police Positive engraved with "For Services Rendered" by the Americans. I hated how the show had "Wild Bill" Donovan referring to his organization as the C.I.A. That did not happen until the 1950's. As far as the other stuff, from what I have read Flemming rode a desk during the war.

 

[Mr Oldschool]

IIRC, his own quotes tended to say that James Bond was more based on people he knew or knew about in the service, rather than his own exploits. The notion that Bond was based on himself is more of a 3rd party speculation I believe.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I've never much liked Bond - either the films or the novels. The sexist, brand obsessed, alpha male posturing is dull. On the positive, the early Connery films used great Ken Adam set designs and have beautifully preserved one form of sixties excess for history. But as entertainment they are not much more than teen films really.

 

[Fastuni]

Kirk, the CIA was established 1947, but your point is of course absolutely correct.

Seb, I agree - I never found the Bond films appealing. Very flat, predictable and campy.
Watching the Fleming trailers I sense the same over the top exaggeration and cliches that spoil most ¨action films¨.