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Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films
The first biography of the making of the James Bond series, drawing on hundreds of unpublished interviews with the cast and crew
For over 50 years, Albert R. Broccoli’s Eon Productions has navigated the ups and downs of the volatile British film industry, enduring both critical wrath and acclaim in equal measure for its now legendary James Bond series. Latterly, this family-run business has been crowned with box office gold and recognized by motion picture academies around the world. However, it has not always been smooth sailing. Changing tax regimes forced 007 to relocate to France and Mexico; changing fashions and politics led to box office disappointments; and changing studio regimes and business disputes all but killed the franchise while the rise of competing action heroes displaced Bond’s place in popular culture. But against all odds the filmmakers continue to wring new life from the series, and 2012’s Skyfall saw both huge critical and commercial success, crowning 007 as the undisputed king of the action genre. Some Kind of Hero recounts this remarkable story, from its origins in the early 1960s right through to the present day, and draws on hundreds of unpublished interviews with the cast and crew of this iconic series.
For over 50 years, Albert R. Broccoli’s Eon Productions has navigated the ups and downs of the volatile British film industry, enduring both critical wrath and acclaim in equal measure for its now legendary James Bond series. Latterly, this family-run business has been crowned with box office gold and recognized by motion picture academies around the world. However, it has not always been smooth sailing. Changing tax regimes forced 007 to relocate to France and Mexico; changing fashions and politics led to box office disappointments; and changing studio regimes and business disputes all but killed the franchise while the rise of competing action heroes displaced Bond’s place in popular culture. But against all odds the filmmakers continue to wring new life from the series, and 2012’s Skyfall saw both huge critical and commercial success, crowning 007 as the undisputed king of the action genre. Some Kind of Hero recounts this remarkable story, from its origins in the early 1960s right through to the present day, and draws on hundreds of unpublished interviews with the cast and crew of this iconic series.
704 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 19, 2025
"[Author/creator] Ian Fleming had always wanted his James Bond novels to be filmed. He understood that, commercially, more books were sold as a result of films being made from them - cinema reached larger audiences than libraries . . . the writer elaborated 'You don't make a great deal of money from royalties and translation rights and so forth, unless you are very industrious and successful, [.] but if you sell the film rights, you do very well.'" -- from the introductory chapter, on page 21
I remarked to a friend, upon finishing Field & Chowdhury's Some Kind of Hero, that I was wishily-washily having difficulty nailing down a firm opinion on it. Covering the long-running 007 film series from Dr. No (1962) to Spectre (2015), the authors have assembled a 700-page tome that is detailed yet curiously sort of remote in its tone - I'm guessing it is maybe due to the authors were working in cooperation with the production company, leading to an editorial stance that is both unlikely and unwilling to upset the proverbial apple cart. The Sean Connery / George Lazenby era (1962-1971) sections are somewhat bereft of first-hand anecdotes since many of the cast and crew have passed away given the realities of time moving on, but happily a shift is noticeable, beginning with the Roger Moore years (1973-1985), with the trivia and interviews becoming increasingly much more prevalent and/or frequent. Additionally, some of the early chapters focusing on producer duo of Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman - who were largely responsible for bringing the book series to the silver screen, and crafting the comfortable formula of sorts that made said secret agent flicks a dependable favorite to an international audience - were thoroughly excellent in explaining their individual personalities and work ethics. If you are a fan of 'the king of the sequels' (hey, 24 films over 58 years arguably deserves a crown), this is worth your time, if more strictly in a completionist sense. However, I'd still first recommend Sinclair McKay's wittily outstanding The Man with the Golden Touch - or the offbeat Love and Let Die by John Higgs, which covers Bond AND the Beatles impacting the pop culture world - and Edward Gross' Nobody Does It Better ahead of this one.
I remarked to a friend, upon finishing Field & Chowdhury's Some Kind of Hero, that I was wishily-washily having difficulty nailing down a firm opinion on it. Covering the long-running 007 film series from Dr. No (1962) to Spectre (2015), the authors have assembled a 700-page tome that is detailed yet curiously sort of remote in its tone - I'm guessing it is maybe due to the authors were working in cooperation with the production company, leading to an editorial stance that is both unlikely and unwilling to upset the proverbial apple cart. The Sean Connery / George Lazenby era (1962-1971) sections are somewhat bereft of first-hand anecdotes since many of the cast and crew have passed away given the realities of time moving on, but happily a shift is noticeable, beginning with the Roger Moore years (1973-1985), with the trivia and interviews becoming increasingly much more prevalent and/or frequent. Additionally, some of the early chapters focusing on producer duo of Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman - who were largely responsible for bringing the book series to the silver screen, and crafting the comfortable formula of sorts that made said secret agent flicks a dependable favorite to an international audience - were thoroughly excellent in explaining their individual personalities and work ethics. If you are a fan of 'the king of the sequels' (hey, 24 films over 58 years arguably deserves a crown), this is worth your time, if more strictly in a completionist sense. However, I'd still first recommend Sinclair McKay's wittily outstanding The Man with the Golden Touch - or the offbeat Love and Let Die by John Higgs, which covers Bond AND the Beatles impacting the pop culture world - and Edward Gross' Nobody Does It Better ahead of this one.
May 4, 2021
An 800-page book about Bond films felt a bit much even for me, but this is a surprisingly easy and engrossing read. This is an updated edition ending with 'the road to Bond 25' - which turned out to be far longer than anyone expected, alas.
I'm the kind of person who has trouble remembering who directed and produced which film, and also the difference between a producer and a director, so it was a handy reference. I especially liked the film industry ads at the start of each chapter, which put a different spin on promoting Bond - by profits rather than thrills.
There are a lot of dangling participles. I only mention this in case the authors are writing another Bond book and want a proofreader.
I'm the kind of person who has trouble remembering who directed and produced which film, and also the difference between a producer and a director, so it was a handy reference. I especially liked the film industry ads at the start of each chapter, which put a different spin on promoting Bond - by profits rather than thrills.
There are a lot of dangling participles. I only mention this in case the authors are writing another Bond book and want a proofreader.
February 25, 2017
A little repetitive in structure, literally moving from film to film, which makes for a less interesting read. Each chapter is organised in the same way, there are fewer insights than might have been expected given the access they had to key players, although it is interesting to imagine what the franchise would have been like if key personnel decisions (James brolin as bond? Simon Russell Beale as q? Henry cavill?) had been different
February 9, 2016
This mamouth book (over 600 pages long) contains a huge amount of interviews with the cast & crew of the James Bond films. Many of the interview are new, or have never been published before. Having been a fan of 007 for over forty years it is an absolute joy to learn new things about how the films were made. While other books on the making of the series have been lavishly illustrated this volume contains some photographs, but concentrates on the stories behind the films instead. It is perhaps not for the casual Bond fan, but for someone like myself it is a truely wonderful publication.
April 23, 2016
While this book has much to commend it, it is also not without faults. There is plenty here for both fans and non-fans to enjoy with many fascinating insights. Each Bond film is discussed within it's own chapter (including the non-canon Never Say Never Again), some at more length and in more detail than others. There are plenty of interviews, old and new, with key personnel from both behind and in front of the camera. I did particularly like the interviews with the story and scriptwriters where details are given about the original ideas for the films which were either altered to be included or cast off altogether. If I had a complaint it would be that a lot of page space is taken up with recounting the plot of each film, I can understand why it is included but I did find myself skipping to end a lot of the time. On the downside, I would highly doubt that there was any proof-reading done on the manuscript as there are spelling mistakes and grammatical errors aplenty. There is also something in the writing style that causes you to constantly go back and read sentences and paragraphs a second time because they don't make sense and you can't tell who is speaking about whom and about what. If you're looking for a warts-and-all book then there's a good chance you will be disappointed. It seems that the authors are keen to keep a good relationship with Eon Productions as there is a positive spin put on all aspects of the Bond films and even the most mediocre of them sound like they are a fantastic success. I am a big fan of the Bond franchise but even I would admit that it has not always delivered in terms of the finished product. Overall, I would give this book a 3 1/2, it's better than a 3 but not quite a 4. It does pack in a lot of detail and is a very good read...but it could have been better in places.
June 17, 2021
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Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury tells the story of the making of the 007 movies. Both authors are, obviously, James Bond fans drew on their analysis on interviews and articles.
This book is a must for fans of James Bond, however the vast amount of information is altogether astounding. As a matter of fact, I read the book one chapter between other books I read, not to get information overload. That approach worked for me and, in my opinion, made it more enjoyable.
Even though there is a lot of information, Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury is very well designed. Each chapter only talks about one movie, with its history, anecdotes, summaries, and interviews. I understand that the book is updated with every movie, this one only goes up to Spectre with an additional chapter to “Bond 25” – which we now know is called “No Time to Die” and has not yet been released due to the 2020 COVID pandemic.
I enjoyed that the authors wrote a synopsis of the James Bond movies and the books, comparing the two. Reading all of the Ian Fleming books, and I appreciated the refresher for both. The one thing I found amusing is that the actors kept complaining about the difficulties of working 5-8 months on a movie. I understand that, but people work 40 years just as hard making half the money, if that much.
No sympathy from this fan!
The book also honor Albert R. Broccoli , as well as Harry Saltzman the original producers of the series. For example, the authors tell of their complicated relationship which merits a whole book all by itself. I enjoyed that the behind the scenes look at the Bond series, in particular how the crew was like a family. Stories such as when Mr. Broccoli cooked when he needed to, the same crew members were rehired for each movie, up until this day – it was very heartwarming to read.
The book was an easy and engrossing read. A fascinating introduction written by George Lazenby was a fun way to start such an encyclopedic venture.
Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury tells the story of the making of the 007 movies. Both authors are, obviously, James Bond fans drew on their analysis on interviews and articles.
This book is a must for fans of James Bond, however the vast amount of information is altogether astounding. As a matter of fact, I read the book one chapter between other books I read, not to get information overload. That approach worked for me and, in my opinion, made it more enjoyable.
Even though there is a lot of information, Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury is very well designed. Each chapter only talks about one movie, with its history, anecdotes, summaries, and interviews. I understand that the book is updated with every movie, this one only goes up to Spectre with an additional chapter to “Bond 25” – which we now know is called “No Time to Die” and has not yet been released due to the 2020 COVID pandemic.
I enjoyed that the authors wrote a synopsis of the James Bond movies and the books, comparing the two. Reading all of the Ian Fleming books, and I appreciated the refresher for both. The one thing I found amusing is that the actors kept complaining about the difficulties of working 5-8 months on a movie. I understand that, but people work 40 years just as hard making half the money, if that much.
No sympathy from this fan!
The book also honor Albert R. Broccoli , as well as Harry Saltzman the original producers of the series. For example, the authors tell of their complicated relationship which merits a whole book all by itself. I enjoyed that the behind the scenes look at the Bond series, in particular how the crew was like a family. Stories such as when Mr. Broccoli cooked when he needed to, the same crew members were rehired for each movie, up until this day – it was very heartwarming to read.
The book was an easy and engrossing read. A fascinating introduction written by George Lazenby was a fun way to start such an encyclopedic venture.
February 15, 2021
Some Kind of Hero is as close as one is likely to get to a definitive history of the James Bond films in a single volume, collecting interviews from an extraordinary array of Bond alumni to compile a satisfyingly detailed biography of these films.
It took me 16 months to read this book from start to finish. This is highly unusual for me. I normally like to get through a book as quickly as possible. But this one felt slightly different. Each of the 32 chapters was almost like a Bond adventure in itself, a chronicle of a significant part of the Bond mythos. As a result I deliberately spaced out my reading of this book, typically taking in a chapter or two between reading novels. As a result, each chapter felt like a refreshing foray into the background behind one of my favourite films of all time. Indeed, the story behind every Bond film is so interesting that I frequently found myself wishing that the chapters could be expanded into a standalone book about each film.
My congratulations to Ajay Chowdhury and Matthew Field for this outstanding contribution to the documented history of James Bond. The last chapter (the road to Bond 25) will certainly be interesting reading when updated to include all the SPECTRE-like machinations that No Time To Die has already endured, and continues to endure. The legacy and the history of Bond carries on, and I hope that Ajay and Matthew will continue to be its biographers.
It took me 16 months to read this book from start to finish. This is highly unusual for me. I normally like to get through a book as quickly as possible. But this one felt slightly different. Each of the 32 chapters was almost like a Bond adventure in itself, a chronicle of a significant part of the Bond mythos. As a result I deliberately spaced out my reading of this book, typically taking in a chapter or two between reading novels. As a result, each chapter felt like a refreshing foray into the background behind one of my favourite films of all time. Indeed, the story behind every Bond film is so interesting that I frequently found myself wishing that the chapters could be expanded into a standalone book about each film.
My congratulations to Ajay Chowdhury and Matthew Field for this outstanding contribution to the documented history of James Bond. The last chapter (the road to Bond 25) will certainly be interesting reading when updated to include all the SPECTRE-like machinations that No Time To Die has already endured, and continues to endure. The legacy and the history of Bond carries on, and I hope that Ajay and Matthew will continue to be its biographers.
June 27, 2024
First of all, note the 5-star rating. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Despite its massive length, it reads briskly and is full of information about the making of the Bond films, including a ton of research and new interviews conducted specifically for this book.
But, this has to be the worst copy-edited book I've ever seen. The errors in the text are legion. The worst offense, however, is that, apparently, someone did a find-and-replace on the whole text for the phrase "Albert R. Broccoli," changing it to "Albert R. Broccoli. Broccoli" I stopped counting how many times this shows up, but as an example here is a direct quote of the book's last line:
"Albert R. Broccoli. Broccoli's Eon Productions will return..."
I get it that proof-reading is hard -- and even harder on a book this long. But, seriously? No one even noticed the last line?
I read the 1st edition, published in 2015. I see that there is a revised (even longer) edition that came out in 2018. I hope that, at least that error was caught and corrected.
But, I guess that is a minor quibble. This book is a keeper, and I'll be cracking it open from time to time for a long time to come...
But, this has to be the worst copy-edited book I've ever seen. The errors in the text are legion. The worst offense, however, is that, apparently, someone did a find-and-replace on the whole text for the phrase "Albert R. Broccoli," changing it to "Albert R. Broccoli. Broccoli" I stopped counting how many times this shows up, but as an example here is a direct quote of the book's last line:
"Albert R. Broccoli. Broccoli's Eon Productions will return..."
I get it that proof-reading is hard -- and even harder on a book this long. But, seriously? No one even noticed the last line?
I read the 1st edition, published in 2015. I see that there is a revised (even longer) edition that came out in 2018. I hope that, at least that error was caught and corrected.
But, I guess that is a minor quibble. This book is a keeper, and I'll be cracking it open from time to time for a long time to come...
August 1, 2023
This was an epic read, over 700 pages. Pretty much everything you could want to know about the history of the Bond films is in there, plus a whole lot of stuff you probably don’t. I understand the authors enthusiasm for their material but some of the minutiae could have probably been left on the editing floor.
That being said, the broad strokes here are perfectly judged. The history of each film is gone over in detail, with lots of trivia and behind the scenes stuff. Plenty of quotes from all the actors, directors, producers involved, and without doubt you’ll learn things you didn’t know before.
Recommended for Bond fans, fans of British cinema, and for fans of cinema in general.
That being said, the broad strokes here are perfectly judged. The history of each film is gone over in detail, with lots of trivia and behind the scenes stuff. Plenty of quotes from all the actors, directors, producers involved, and without doubt you’ll learn things you didn’t know before.
Recommended for Bond fans, fans of British cinema, and for fans of cinema in general.
September 30, 2021
So much work and love has gone into this, the best book about the Bond films since Sinclair MacKay's The Man with the Golden Touch. But where that was objective and more concerned with Bond's place in an ever-changing world, this looks at the film production only, and from an admirably objective stance (certainly Field and Chowdhury are to praised for consistently avoiding the phrase 'And then Kevin McClory turned up again, being a right dick about everything'). A few typos aside, this is pretty much a perfect example of how to compile film history.
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March 18, 2022Libro muy exhaustivo sobre los orígenes e historia de la saga fílmica de JAMES BOND. Está lleno de anécdotas tras las cámaras, lo que podría ser interesante mas que todo para los fans acérrimos del personaje, quienes desean saberlo todo sobre Bond. Es para ellos este libro fundamentalmente. No cuenta con ilustraciones ni fotos. Le pongo 5 estrellas por lo completísimo que es este libro, que recomiendo sólo a los seguidores de Bond .
October 9, 2022
The 'James Bond' movies have spanned over sixty years and this is an extremely thorough look at the making of each movie, with copious quotes and well sourced observations. Be prepared for a very long look at British cinema's longest running franchise. Well written and researched, the authors do not shirk from the problems besetting each production and this book stands as a testament to the achievements of Saltzman and Broccoli, who created a cinematic icon from Fleming's novels.
June 21, 2021
While the 800 pages may put you off at first, Some Kind of Hero still keeps all the background information very entertaining. I guess the quality of the chapters really vary on how interesting the production was on a particular film. The book is really well put together, packed full of interviews and behind the scenes info. Overall, I’d say this is a must read for all Bond fans.
July 5, 2024
Some Kind of Hero: 007
I love the Bond franchise, booth the books (which I have read all) and the movies (have and seen them all). I was interested in finding out what went on behind the scenes in the making of all the movies. This tome is a good read for those who want to know how each of the movies came about.
I love the Bond franchise, booth the books (which I have read all) and the movies (have and seen them all). I was interested in finding out what went on behind the scenes in the making of all the movies. This tome is a good read for those who want to know how each of the movies came about.
February 27, 2018
Very good
A lot of interesting details. You have to keep your bullshit meter on high because you can tell the authorization depends on the access afforded by the Eon people. In particular his soft soap handling if Quantum is kind if painful. But it is still worth reading.
A lot of interesting details. You have to keep your bullshit meter on high because you can tell the authorization depends on the access afforded by the Eon people. In particular his soft soap handling if Quantum is kind if painful. But it is still worth reading.
May 24, 2020
For Bond fans
Thorough research behind it. Fun facts and gossip behind the scenes. Recommended for any diehard Bond fan. Would have preferred more interviews with the main actor though.
Thorough research behind it. Fun facts and gossip behind the scenes. Recommended for any diehard Bond fan. Would have preferred more interviews with the main actor though.
July 7, 2020
Great book
This is a great book, filled with so many behind the scenes stories about the lengthy process it takes to bring Bond to the silver screen. I would highly recommend it to any James Bond fan.
This is a great book, filled with so many behind the scenes stories about the lengthy process it takes to bring Bond to the silver screen. I would highly recommend it to any James Bond fan.
December 31, 2020
Excellent well researched encyclopedia on the James Bond films, their plots, background, movie theatre reception, the lot. From getting the Saltzman and Broccoli partnership ready to film Dr No right through to today.
A handy reference book to have on standby.
A handy reference book to have on standby.
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May 25, 2021I have lots of the sources for this and recognised several of the quotes.. But it's nice to have them all in one place. Dense, enjoyable stuff. Basically a "making of" for each film, quote from pre production to post.
October 26, 2021
Quite Informative
Deep dive into the history of the Bond franchise, including plenty of Behind the Scenes type scoops. Some typos and fragmented sentences or paragraphs aside, well written and worth the time.
Deep dive into the history of the Bond franchise, including plenty of Behind the Scenes type scoops. Some typos and fragmented sentences or paragraphs aside, well written and worth the time.
September 14, 2023
They really missed a trick by not doing an edition post-No Time To Die's finality. It's even in the book as still being directed by Danny Boyle. Otherwise this is a tremendous and revealing resource that's tough to beat.
January 7, 2024
This book truly is remarkable. It is packed full of all sorts of behind the scenes stories from the making of the Bond films. Watch the film then read the chapter to discover what it took to make that film.
April 20, 2019
Brilliant, brilliant overview of the Bond films, a wonderful history and a thrill to read. Fascinating!
November 21, 2019
Incredibly comprehensive and detailed history of the Bond films with full access to virtually everyone involved (except Sean Connery...because he's a jerk?). One of the best film books I've read.
July 18, 2020
This book is enthralling to read and highly recommended for any James Bind fan
September 14, 2020
Really informative book. Lots of interesting anecdotes and facts about the movies and people involved. Structure can be a bit repetitive at times but overall it’s quite an enjoyable read
February 1, 2022
An interesting overview of the Bond movies... though it can be a bit repetitive. No actual analysis of the films and their social context which was a bit disappointing.
April 3, 2022
Red wine with fish? Well that should've told me something....
September 12, 2024
Good accessible overview of the making of the Bond movies, filled with lots of very odd typos but well-footnoted.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews