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The James Bond Archives
Fifty years of Bond, James Bond "Bond, James Bond." Since Sean Connery uttered those immortal words in 1962, the most dashing secret agent in the history of cinema has been charming and thrilling audiences worldwide. This impeccably British character created by author Ian Fleming has starred in 23 EON-produced films, played by 6 different actors over five decades.
To celebrate 50 years of this innovative franchise, EON Productions opened their archives of photos, designs, storyboards, and production materials to editor Paul Duncan, who spent two years researching over one million images and 100 filing cabinets of documentation. The result is the most complete account of the making of the series, covering every James Bond film ever made, beginning with Dr. No (1962) and ending with the upcoming Skyfall (2012), including the spoof Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again (1983).
The stunning imagery is accompanied by an oral history recounted by over 150 cast and crew members, relating the true inside story of how the Bond films were made. Containing previously unpublished photography and artwork, as well as production memos from filming, this book is a comprehensive tribute to the legend of James Bond.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the most successful and longest-running film franchise in cinema history! Made with unrestricted access to the Bond archives, this XL tome recounts the entire history of James Bond in words and pictures Among the 1,100 images are many previously unseen stills, on-set photos, memos, documents, storyboards, posters, and designs, plus unused concepts, and alternative designs Behind-the-scenes stories from the people who were there: producers, directors, actors, screenwriters, production designers, special effects technicians, stuntmen, and other crew members Includes every Bond film ever made, from Dr. No (1962) to Skyfall (2012) Special bonus included with the first print run of the book only: an original strip of film from Dr. No
James Bond films © 1962–2012 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Also available in 2 Art Editions, each limited to 250 copies.
To celebrate 50 years of this innovative franchise, EON Productions opened their archives of photos, designs, storyboards, and production materials to editor Paul Duncan, who spent two years researching over one million images and 100 filing cabinets of documentation. The result is the most complete account of the making of the series, covering every James Bond film ever made, beginning with Dr. No (1962) and ending with the upcoming Skyfall (2012), including the spoof Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again (1983).
The stunning imagery is accompanied by an oral history recounted by over 150 cast and crew members, relating the true inside story of how the Bond films were made. Containing previously unpublished photography and artwork, as well as production memos from filming, this book is a comprehensive tribute to the legend of James Bond.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the most successful and longest-running film franchise in cinema history! Made with unrestricted access to the Bond archives, this XL tome recounts the entire history of James Bond in words and pictures Among the 1,100 images are many previously unseen stills, on-set photos, memos, documents, storyboards, posters, and designs, plus unused concepts, and alternative designs Behind-the-scenes stories from the people who were there: producers, directors, actors, screenwriters, production designers, special effects technicians, stuntmen, and other crew members Includes every Bond film ever made, from Dr. No (1962) to Skyfall (2012) Special bonus included with the first print run of the book only: an original strip of film from Dr. No
James Bond films © 1962–2012 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Also available in 2 Art Editions, each limited to 250 copies.
600 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2012
21 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 25, 2023
When I decided to read THE JAMES BOND ARCHIVES, I was immediately faced with a dilemma. Not only was the book "oversized" (making it very difficult to hold), it also had wonderful photographs throughout that I didn't want to mar with my fingerprints. In addition, according to my bathroom scale, the book weighs 15-lbs ... much too heavy to balance on my lap without cutting off my circulation. My solution was to create a special reading area that was sturdy, and would hold the book at a comfortable elevation. Q couldn't have done better.
Because it has sections dedicated to every James Bond movie from "Dr. No" to "No Time To Die" ... and, yes, it includes sections for the "Casino Royale" spoof from the 1960's and the return of Sean Connery in "Never Say Never Again" ... my initial thought had been to read a movie section, and then watch the movie itself from the perspectives uncovered in my reading. However, when I finished the "Dr. No" section, I thought two things: I couldn't wait to continue reading, and that one section immediately confirmed that my purchase of the book was money very well spent.
The behind-the-scenes revelations were outstanding. For instance:
* The screenwriters hired to provide a script for "Dr. No" provided five versions that the producer thought were unusable. They kept changing the novel's plot. The reason was because they thought that the novel's story was ridiculous. One of them actually made the character of Dr. No the name of a monkey that perched on the villain's shoulder!
* "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" has the most annoying continuity error. Special effort was made to show that this was not a reboot of the series, but a continuation of it. However, Blofeld was the villain in "You Only Live Twice," and he is once again the villain in this one. Despite having met Bond face-to-face in the previous film, he doesn't know who he is in this one! The book explains the original attempt to address it ... and it was certainly for the best that it was abandoned.
* Tmothy Dalton gave one of my favorite portrayals of James Bond in his two films. For years, I'd heard that the decision was made to replace him because of the disappointing earnings from "License To Kill." That wasn't the case at all. It was entirely Dalton's decision, and his reasoning was sound.
There are so many revelations in this book that the James Bond movie fan will be elated. The production and behind-the-scenes stories are fascinating and, as I mentioned before, the photographs are outstanding.
Naturally, everyone will want something that isn't in the book. For example, one of my favorite films is "You Only Live Twice" which led to my lifelong obsession with Japan. Unfortunately, there aren't quotations from the Japanese performers relating their experiences. Also, the book usually talks about the creation of the memorable title songs ... then omits any contribution from some singers such as Carly Simon despite wonderful information from others such as Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and Sheena Easton.
Probably the biggest omission that I wish had been addressed was some of the controversial production decisions that gained a lot of negative press. For instance, there is a lot of commentary about Sophie Marceau (who was excellent in "The World Is Not Enough"), but barely a mention of Denise Richards who was almost universally panned. (In defense of Richards, her role was changed in a rewrite. I can see her fitting into the original concept.)
It took me almost exactly one month to read THE JAMES BOND ARCHIVES, and I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It will remain a highly treasured reference book. I strongly recommend it to any fan of the James Bond films ... regardless of whether your preference is for Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig.
Because it has sections dedicated to every James Bond movie from "Dr. No" to "No Time To Die" ... and, yes, it includes sections for the "Casino Royale" spoof from the 1960's and the return of Sean Connery in "Never Say Never Again" ... my initial thought had been to read a movie section, and then watch the movie itself from the perspectives uncovered in my reading. However, when I finished the "Dr. No" section, I thought two things: I couldn't wait to continue reading, and that one section immediately confirmed that my purchase of the book was money very well spent.
The behind-the-scenes revelations were outstanding. For instance:
* The screenwriters hired to provide a script for "Dr. No" provided five versions that the producer thought were unusable. They kept changing the novel's plot. The reason was because they thought that the novel's story was ridiculous. One of them actually made the character of Dr. No the name of a monkey that perched on the villain's shoulder!
* "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" has the most annoying continuity error. Special effort was made to show that this was not a reboot of the series, but a continuation of it. However, Blofeld was the villain in "You Only Live Twice," and he is once again the villain in this one. Despite having met Bond face-to-face in the previous film, he doesn't know who he is in this one! The book explains the original attempt to address it ... and it was certainly for the best that it was abandoned.
* Tmothy Dalton gave one of my favorite portrayals of James Bond in his two films. For years, I'd heard that the decision was made to replace him because of the disappointing earnings from "License To Kill." That wasn't the case at all. It was entirely Dalton's decision, and his reasoning was sound.
There are so many revelations in this book that the James Bond movie fan will be elated. The production and behind-the-scenes stories are fascinating and, as I mentioned before, the photographs are outstanding.
Naturally, everyone will want something that isn't in the book. For example, one of my favorite films is "You Only Live Twice" which led to my lifelong obsession with Japan. Unfortunately, there aren't quotations from the Japanese performers relating their experiences. Also, the book usually talks about the creation of the memorable title songs ... then omits any contribution from some singers such as Carly Simon despite wonderful information from others such as Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and Sheena Easton.
Probably the biggest omission that I wish had been addressed was some of the controversial production decisions that gained a lot of negative press. For instance, there is a lot of commentary about Sophie Marceau (who was excellent in "The World Is Not Enough"), but barely a mention of Denise Richards who was almost universally panned. (In defense of Richards, her role was changed in a rewrite. I can see her fitting into the original concept.)
It took me almost exactly one month to read THE JAMES BOND ARCHIVES, and I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It will remain a highly treasured reference book. I strongly recommend it to any fan of the James Bond films ... regardless of whether your preference is for Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig.
January 8, 2013
Fabulous, outstanding, beautiful. Everything worked about this compilation. The design, layout and binding are gorgeous. The photos are lavish and often full/oversized and top quality with just the right mix of iconic and "behind the scenes" to add interest. The text/interviews are interesting enough to read cover to cover (I did and didn't regret it). Over the chapters (one for each film) they begin to get a little formulaic by the time the 80s roll around (not unlike the films themselves): setup on evolution of the story and script, nuggets about the stunts and effects, commentary by some actors, then a final section on promotion, release and reception. That said, the formula works, and the text becomes more interesting again during the Dalton, Brosnan and Craig "rebirths". Completeness all the way through contemporary Skyfall is a major bonus.
At its price tag this book is a bit of an indulgence, but well worth every penny.
At its price tag this book is a bit of an indulgence, but well worth every penny.
January 5, 2022
Impressive! This giant book is a masterpiece! Every Bond movie so far, from Dr. No right up to No Time To Die, including the spoofy Casino Royale and the Thunderball remake, Never Say Never Again. Amazing photos, great behind-the-scenes stories and a synopsis and credits list for each film, as well as casting, locations and stunt info. It also includes the Playboy interview of Ian Fleming and the Rolling Stone interview of Sean Connery. Whether you're a true-blue Sean Connery fan, like I am, or you prefer Daniel Craig (not), you'll love this book, if you can lift it. James Bond Forever!
Read
November 11, 2021Pretty good, pretty good. Great pictures. But in spite of its sprawling, truly inconvenient size it’s sort of slight, particularly as it gets into the less mythologized, more recent films. There’s a lot of background that I as just a casual (well, can I say that anymore?) Bond fan am aware of that this book will cover in a sentence or doesn’t even touch. Even stuff that you would imagine would be entirely non-controversial like the record-setting explosion in Spectre is just sort of tossed away. But it’s still a cool piece of behind the scenes content with a lot of pretty wild anecdotes sprinkled throughout and it’s neat to have any sort of documentation of how filmmaking has changed over the course of 50 years.
January 25, 2022
Comprehensive and beautifully constructed, this is a treasure trove of never-before-seen (at least by me, and I'd say I'm fairly advanced on the Bond fanatic spectrum!) photographs and never-before-heard stories from behind the scenes of each James Bond movie, with contributions from all of the actors and filmmakers who were there at the time. It has been an absolute joy to work through this at my leisure.
December 28, 2017
basically Broccoli family propaganda, but the goddamn treasure trove of beautiful glossy BTS photos and often ridiculous oral histories of each film in the franchise make it a must-own for any Bond fan. note: this tome is about the size of Hervé Villechaize so clear off some room on your shelf
January 16, 2018
Voor elke James Bond liefhebber! Een mooi vormgegeven boek met foto’s en verhalen van alle films. Klein nadeel: hele kleine lettertjes!
November 12, 2018
If you buy one Bond book...this should be your book.
May 31, 2024
What an absolute blockbuster of a coffee table book :)
Obviously made for diehard fans of the James Bond franchise, this book is packed with information, notes, interviews, and thousands of photos!
Obviously made for diehard fans of the James Bond franchise, this book is packed with information, notes, interviews, and thousands of photos!
December 27, 2015
The James Bond Archives
is a must-read for fans of the Bond film franchise. This latest edition, edited by Paul Duncan and published by Taschen, is updated and expanded to include new material from the latest film "Spectre".
The book, which contains over 600 pages, does into great detail about each and every bond film to date. In the introduction, it is stated that the editor was given access to more than 100 filing cabinets of production documentation and over one million photos in his effort to compile this book. There have been 24 films over a span of 50+ years, and there is so much information about the films, the stars, and the productions that will be of interest to fans.
The text reads sort of like a journal. The author provides relevant information about each movie in chronological order - this ranges from the earliest notions of the film; to principal photography; to editing and the finishing touches; and of course concluding with the film's release. Also included is dialogue from key creatives on the film - in most cases the director, the producers, as well as members of the cast and crew.
For example, the newest chapter for "Spectre" begins with information about a rights dispute regarding the name SPECTRE and the character Blofeld, before moving on to the the complexities of the production. Main commentary is intercut with pieces from director Sam Mendes, co-star Dave Bautista, and production designer Dennis Gassner, among others.
All of this is enhanced with something like 1,000 images. This includes title designs, photos from on-set/location, concept art, etc. The behind-the-scenes pictures are the most interesting because it gives you a peek behind the curtain of what it's like to make a Bond film. Recently it has become more popular for filmmakers and studios to let fans in on their process, but that wasn't always the case - which makes the photos and information included on some of the earlier films such as "Dr. No" and "Goldfinger" all the more valuable.
Some of the information will be of particular interest to filmmakers (or those interested in the process), because every production has it's ups and downs - and to the author's credit the book doesn't shy away from the many problems encountered. But the book also celebrates that which makes a Bond film unique - the cars, the guns, the girls, the stunts, etc. It's really a fascinating look inside the making of James Bond both old and new; and it is fun to see how the movies and the character change over the decades.
A quality franchise like Bond deserves a great book like this one, and I'm happy to own it.
Click to view a photo gallery of the book.
*Thanks to Taschen for providing me a review copy of the book.
The book, which contains over 600 pages, does into great detail about each and every bond film to date. In the introduction, it is stated that the editor was given access to more than 100 filing cabinets of production documentation and over one million photos in his effort to compile this book. There have been 24 films over a span of 50+ years, and there is so much information about the films, the stars, and the productions that will be of interest to fans.
The text reads sort of like a journal. The author provides relevant information about each movie in chronological order - this ranges from the earliest notions of the film; to principal photography; to editing and the finishing touches; and of course concluding with the film's release. Also included is dialogue from key creatives on the film - in most cases the director, the producers, as well as members of the cast and crew.
For example, the newest chapter for "Spectre" begins with information about a rights dispute regarding the name SPECTRE and the character Blofeld, before moving on to the the complexities of the production. Main commentary is intercut with pieces from director Sam Mendes, co-star Dave Bautista, and production designer Dennis Gassner, among others.
All of this is enhanced with something like 1,000 images. This includes title designs, photos from on-set/location, concept art, etc. The behind-the-scenes pictures are the most interesting because it gives you a peek behind the curtain of what it's like to make a Bond film. Recently it has become more popular for filmmakers and studios to let fans in on their process, but that wasn't always the case - which makes the photos and information included on some of the earlier films such as "Dr. No" and "Goldfinger" all the more valuable.
Some of the information will be of particular interest to filmmakers (or those interested in the process), because every production has it's ups and downs - and to the author's credit the book doesn't shy away from the many problems encountered. But the book also celebrates that which makes a Bond film unique - the cars, the guns, the girls, the stunts, etc. It's really a fascinating look inside the making of James Bond both old and new; and it is fun to see how the movies and the character change over the decades.
A quality franchise like Bond deserves a great book like this one, and I'm happy to own it.
Click to view a photo gallery of the book.
*Thanks to Taschen for providing me a review copy of the book.
November 3, 2012
Von Connery bis Craig: Zum 50. Geburtstag des Geheimagenten Ihrer Majestät und der Premiere des aktuellen Kinohits "Skyfall" veröffentlichte der TASCHEN Verlag dieses wohl umfangreichste Werk zu James Bond.
Dieses Archiv vom ersten, 1962 erschienenen "Dr. No", bis zum dato aktuellen James Bond "Skyfall" ist eine wahre Kostbarkeit für Kinoliebhaber und Fans des Meisterspions. Schlägt man es auf, erwartet uns direkt der Abdruck eines Original Cross Plots aus "From Russia with Love" und man taucht ein in die Welt Hollywoods. Es beginnt mit dem Interview des Playboy mit dem Bond-Schöpfer Ian Fleming.
Diese bislang umfrangreichste Dokumentation beinhaltet unter anderem unveröffentlichte Bilder vor und hinter den Kulissen, Ausschnitte aus Storyboards, handschriftliche Notizen, Filmposter aus diversen Ländern, Telegramme und Schriftstücke rund um die Entstehungsgeschichte. Der renommierte Autor Paul Duncan recherchierte dazu jahrelang in Archiven der Produktionsfirmen. Eine Besonderheit liegt diesem Werk noch bei: ein Original-Filmstreifen von Dr. No, der nur in ersten Auflage des Buches enthalten ist!
Man erfährt geheime Details aus dem Making Of (z.B. dass Ian Fleming gar nicht so überzeugt von Sean Connery war, bis er den fertigen Film gesehen hatte und seine Meinung revidierte). Hinzu kommen Regisseure, Mitarbeiter und Schauspieler der einzelnen Produktionen selbst zu Wort. Die Probleme am Set, die Effekte und kleinen Tricks werden ebenso beschrieben wie die einzelnen Drehorte und die liebenswerten Eigenheiten der Schauspieler. Eingeleitet wird jedes Kapitel mit dem Zitat eines Beteiligten. Als Appendix folgt noch eine ausführliche Chonologie.
Dieses Werk überzeugt allein schon durch seine Präsenz! Ein übergroßes Hardcover-Format mit textilen Kanten, geprägtem Titel auf edler Schlangenlederoptik zieht den Leser magisch an. Man benötigt Tage, ja Wochen, um dieses Archiv wirklich im einzelnen zu sichten. Dazu liegt die komplette deutsche Übersetzung im flexiblen Einband separat bei, wie ein übergroßes Taschenbuch.
Ein passender Umkarton mit Tragegriff erleichtert den Transport, sollte man es jemals aus dem Bücherregal entfernen wollen. Es hat Gewicht und nicht nur in den Worten! Volle fünf Punkte. Eine andere Wertung ist da gar nicht möglich, denn in diesem Buch schlägt das Herz einer Legende!
Dieses Archiv vom ersten, 1962 erschienenen "Dr. No", bis zum dato aktuellen James Bond "Skyfall" ist eine wahre Kostbarkeit für Kinoliebhaber und Fans des Meisterspions. Schlägt man es auf, erwartet uns direkt der Abdruck eines Original Cross Plots aus "From Russia with Love" und man taucht ein in die Welt Hollywoods. Es beginnt mit dem Interview des Playboy mit dem Bond-Schöpfer Ian Fleming.
Diese bislang umfrangreichste Dokumentation beinhaltet unter anderem unveröffentlichte Bilder vor und hinter den Kulissen, Ausschnitte aus Storyboards, handschriftliche Notizen, Filmposter aus diversen Ländern, Telegramme und Schriftstücke rund um die Entstehungsgeschichte. Der renommierte Autor Paul Duncan recherchierte dazu jahrelang in Archiven der Produktionsfirmen. Eine Besonderheit liegt diesem Werk noch bei: ein Original-Filmstreifen von Dr. No, der nur in ersten Auflage des Buches enthalten ist!
Man erfährt geheime Details aus dem Making Of (z.B. dass Ian Fleming gar nicht so überzeugt von Sean Connery war, bis er den fertigen Film gesehen hatte und seine Meinung revidierte). Hinzu kommen Regisseure, Mitarbeiter und Schauspieler der einzelnen Produktionen selbst zu Wort. Die Probleme am Set, die Effekte und kleinen Tricks werden ebenso beschrieben wie die einzelnen Drehorte und die liebenswerten Eigenheiten der Schauspieler. Eingeleitet wird jedes Kapitel mit dem Zitat eines Beteiligten. Als Appendix folgt noch eine ausführliche Chonologie.
Dieses Werk überzeugt allein schon durch seine Präsenz! Ein übergroßes Hardcover-Format mit textilen Kanten, geprägtem Titel auf edler Schlangenlederoptik zieht den Leser magisch an. Man benötigt Tage, ja Wochen, um dieses Archiv wirklich im einzelnen zu sichten. Dazu liegt die komplette deutsche Übersetzung im flexiblen Einband separat bei, wie ein übergroßes Taschenbuch.
Ein passender Umkarton mit Tragegriff erleichtert den Transport, sollte man es jemals aus dem Bücherregal entfernen wollen. Es hat Gewicht und nicht nur in den Worten! Volle fünf Punkte. Eine andere Wertung ist da gar nicht möglich, denn in diesem Buch schlägt das Herz einer Legende!
March 27, 2015
Great big doorstop of a book, packed with wonderful behind the scenes photos, but lacking any real bite in the text. Films as muddled as QoS are let off very lightly. Despite that though it's a fun enough read. But if you're a huge Bond fan, and you'd have to be to splash out for this, there won't be much in here that you don't already know.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews