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When Harry Met Cubby: The Story of the James Bond Producers
ALBERT R. ‘CUBBY’ BROCCOLI and HARRY SALTZMAN remain the most successful producing partnership in movie history. Together they were responsible for the phenomenally successful James Bond series, separately they brought kitchen sink drama to the screen, made a star out of Michael Caine in the Harry Palmer films and were responsible for the children’s classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.But their relationship was fraught almost from the very beginning. With such contrasting personalities, their interactions often span out of control. They managed to drive away their coveted star, Sean Connery, and ultimately each other.Loved and hated in equal measure, respected and feared by their contemporaries, few people have loomed as large over the film industry as Broccoli and Saltzman, yet their lives went in very different directions. Broccoli was feted as Hollywood royalty, whereas Saltzman ended up a forgotten recluse. When Harry Met Cubby charts the changing fortunes and clashing personalities of two titans of the big screen.
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288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 4, 2019
Here's a book I've been looking forward to, but not just because I'm a huge fan of 007. Robert Sellers is absolutely superb when it comes to research & I've read a few of his previous books & never been disappointed.
This time he turns his eye to the James Bond film producers Broccoli & Saltzman. Even before the book gets to the Bond films there's an amazing amount of fascinating facts about these two legendary producers.
Sellers has a writing style that moves things along at a perfect pace & there are some excellent interviews. Some have been done especially for this book & there are others Sellers conducted in the past. The saddest thing about the book for me was the amount of people mentioned in the book who are no longer with us.
Having been a Bond fan since the age of 10 (45 years ago) I still found plenty of new information in this outstanding book. Highly recommended for James Bond fans, especially those like myself who think there's nothing left to say about the Bond franchise.
This time he turns his eye to the James Bond film producers Broccoli & Saltzman. Even before the book gets to the Bond films there's an amazing amount of fascinating facts about these two legendary producers.
Sellers has a writing style that moves things along at a perfect pace & there are some excellent interviews. Some have been done especially for this book & there are others Sellers conducted in the past. The saddest thing about the book for me was the amount of people mentioned in the book who are no longer with us.
Having been a Bond fan since the age of 10 (45 years ago) I still found plenty of new information in this outstanding book. Highly recommended for James Bond fans, especially those like myself who think there's nothing left to say about the Bond franchise.
October 7, 2022
How the two upstarts began the most profitable movie franchise of all time. A Sicilian and a Jew.
March 21, 2021
Needless to say, those that aren’t fans of the movie business or Bond aren’t likely to get much from this book.
Before reading it I didn’t know too much about the wheeling and dealing producers behind the scenes of the movies. How they got the rights, how they got on with Fleming, annoyed Connery, and gambled a little too much in certain areas. It’s a great little read and thoroughly researched and referenced throughout. The bibliography and footnote references are exhaustive.
Recommended?: only for fans of Bond or Hollywood production that want to know more about the work behind the scenes. It verges on repetitive at times, we’re constantly reminded of the same things from multiple references, Cubby was firm but fair, Harry was off his head, bad tempered and a proper short attention spanned gambler, but his ideas hit gold on occasion. But there’s lots to enjoy and learn here. Well worth a look.
Before reading it I didn’t know too much about the wheeling and dealing producers behind the scenes of the movies. How they got the rights, how they got on with Fleming, annoyed Connery, and gambled a little too much in certain areas. It’s a great little read and thoroughly researched and referenced throughout. The bibliography and footnote references are exhaustive.
Recommended?: only for fans of Bond or Hollywood production that want to know more about the work behind the scenes. It verges on repetitive at times, we’re constantly reminded of the same things from multiple references, Cubby was firm but fair, Harry was off his head, bad tempered and a proper short attention spanned gambler, but his ideas hit gold on occasion. But there’s lots to enjoy and learn here. Well worth a look.
May 10, 2020
As you can imagine, being such a Bond fan, I have read many books on the subject and I have to admit that this fascinating insight to the relationship between producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman enters into my top five.
Rather like Sellers’2007’S excellent ‘The Battle For Bond’ about ‘…how the literary character James Bond metamorphosed to the cinema James Bond and the collaboration among film producer Kevin McClory, novelist Ian Fleming, screenwriter Jack Whittingham and others to create the film Thunderball.’ this is another excellent read for both Bond and film fans.
It’s an easy read with Sellers’ chatty style of writing complimenting some excellent interviews and research.
Having read so much about Bond it’s good to read material and stories that I wasn't aware of.
Highly Recommended!
Rather like Sellers’2007’S excellent ‘The Battle For Bond’ about ‘…how the literary character James Bond metamorphosed to the cinema James Bond and the collaboration among film producer Kevin McClory, novelist Ian Fleming, screenwriter Jack Whittingham and others to create the film Thunderball.’ this is another excellent read for both Bond and film fans.
It’s an easy read with Sellers’ chatty style of writing complimenting some excellent interviews and research.
Having read so much about Bond it’s good to read material and stories that I wasn't aware of.
Highly Recommended!
October 7, 2022
As the title says, the biography of how the Bond producers met. Personally I found Harry Saltzman pre-Bond life more interesting as it's one I hear less about.
There are some interesting bits of information here such as Goldfinger being filmed until pretty much the last minute; You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty's being swapped production order to try to retain Connery; the story of how Harry Palmer got his name is hilarious. 10/10
Scoring: 0 bad; 1-3 poor; 4-6 average; 7-9 good; 10 excellent.
There are some interesting bits of information here such as Goldfinger being filmed until pretty much the last minute; You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty's being swapped production order to try to retain Connery; the story of how Harry Palmer got his name is hilarious. 10/10
Scoring: 0 bad; 1-3 poor; 4-6 average; 7-9 good; 10 excellent.
March 15, 2021
An excellent insight into the world of the men most famous for producing the James Bond movies. Harry Saltzman produced several additional films such as 'The Battle of Britain' that I watched last night from a totally new perspective. This was an insightful gift from my incredible fiancee for my birthday. Insightful, as I am currently working with Producers, Screenwriters, etc. on several projects.
January 13, 2020
Enthralling story of how Bond came to be
The fascinating story of how Cubby and Harry came together to turn Ian Fleming’s books into one of cinema’s longest running series. Clearly researched in depth and with written with a love of the subject. At the same time like a great novel, you have to keep turning the pages.
You don’t need to need to be a Bond fan to find this fascinating.
The fascinating story of how Cubby and Harry came together to turn Ian Fleming’s books into one of cinema’s longest running series. Clearly researched in depth and with written with a love of the subject. At the same time like a great novel, you have to keep turning the pages.
You don’t need to need to be a Bond fan to find this fascinating.
November 22, 2019
Great insight into the Bond Producers
This book would appeal to all Bond lovers and film fanatics alike.
It gave great insight into the working of the wildly different men.
Many anecdotes are quoted (particularly about Harry Saltzman).
Fantastic read.
This book would appeal to all Bond lovers and film fanatics alike.
It gave great insight into the working of the wildly different men.
Many anecdotes are quoted (particularly about Harry Saltzman).
Fantastic read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews