Cinema history might have been very different had the first James Bond film not been "Dr. No" in 1962 starring Sean Connery, but "Thunderball" directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1959 and starring Richard Burton as agent 007. It sounds preposterous and unbelievable, but it almost happened. This book unravels the untold story behind the most controversial part of the James Bond legend using previously unpublished material including letters and private documents. It is a tale of bitter recriminations, betrayal, multi-million dollar lawsuits and even death. It starts way back in 1959 when colourful Irish film producer Kevin McClory collaborated with Ian Fleming and Hollywood screenwriter Jack Whittingham on a screenplay for what was intended to be the first ever James Bond film, entitled "Thunderball". When the project collapsed, Fleming instead used its plot as the basis for his next Bond novel, but without permission. An incensed McClory and Whittingham sued. The resulting trial was one of the most high profile and complex of the 1960s. Essentially the creator of the 20th century's greatest fictional character was in the dock, accused of plagiarism. Already gravely ill, many of Fleming's friends feared the pressure of the trial would have a detrimental effect on his health. Tragically they were proved right when only a few months later Fleming died of a massive heart attack aged only 56. As for Kevin McClory, he became a millionaire over night, winning the film rights to "Thunderball". He was now in the enviable position of being able to make his own 007 movie. But the already established Sean Connery series was a hard act to compete with and McClory instead decided to join forces with Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman in a one-off deal to co-produce "Thunderball". Released in time for Christmas 1965, Thunderball was the "Star Wars" of its day, becoming one of the most successful films in movie history. Part of McClory's court victory entitled him to remake "Thunderball" at a future date, resulting in 1983s "Never Say Never Again", which saw Sean Connery returning to the Bond role after a 12 year absence and was the film that Broccoli tried desperately to ban. Following its success McClory tried in vain to start his own 007 film series, using the rights he owned in "Thunderball", but was thwarted at every turn in a succession of increasingly hostile legal battles against Broccoli and Bond studio MGM. McClory even made the claim that he was co-creator of the cinematic James Bond character and demanded a share in the three billion dollars of profits the 007 series had earned. Even in the late 1990s McClory was still determined to make more Bond films and in one last giant court battle the entire future of James Bond was to be decided. Would the Broccoli family and MGM, home to the 007 series since 1962, emerge triumphant. Or would Kevin McClory's 40-year claims on the Bond character succeed. In preparing the book the author was granted exclusive access to a wealth of previously unpublished material including hundreds of letters from the principal characters in the "Thunderball" story, including Fleming himself, business and private documents and never before seen papers from the 1963 court case. And also the five different screenplays that were written for "Thunderball" - two from Fleming and three from Jack Whittingham. The author also interviewed many of the actors and production people who worked on "Thunderball" and "Never Say Never Again". Their memories and colourful anecdotes bring to life two of the most successful and universally popular Bond movies of all time.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"...an explosive read, well researched yet controversial, filled to the brim with intrigue, betrayal and legal battles ...entertaining, well paced and enjoyable." -- Synergy Magazine, October 2008. " "The best book about the Bond movies to come along in some time. Truly new insight for the seasoned Bond fan. Absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in the Bond films, the entertainment industry or copyright law." -- Cinemaratty.com
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
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About the Author
Robert Sellers is the author of several entertainment books including biographies on Sean Connery, Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise. He was also the author of ‘Very Naughty Boys’ the history of George Harrison/Monty Python’s HandMade Films, a book Empire magazine called, ‘essential reading.’
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For Bond Fans,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Battle for Bond: The Genesis of Cinema's Greatest Hero (Paperback)
Alot of the history of THUNDERBALL isn't new to me but Sellers writes a really entertaining and fascinating bit of history. I couldn't put it down until I had finished it -- in one seating. Great treasure of previously unseen material (Connery scouting the State of Liberty for the never made WARHEAD, production drawings, rare photos, etc). As it has been pulled off the market because litigation from the Fleming Trust (who could they be? Fleming's been dead since 1964, his wife died years ago and his only son died from a drug overdose in the early 1970's) so it is going to be harder to get. Worth the effort! In this you have -- in incredible detail and thoroughly enthralling -- the story of THUNDERBALL. Frustrated by earlier efforts to get his character to the big screen, he came in to contact with Kevin McClory -- an Irish film maker who had some kind of connection to Mike Todd's AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS. The film maker convinced Fleming to join him in creating a whole new story that would involve Bond in an underwater epic to be filmed in wide screen. In the end it went nowhere and Fleming went to his summer residence Goldeneye to write his Bond novel for 1961 and -- without anyone's permission -- used the story he had devised with McClory and Jack Whittingham and called it THUNDERBALL. In the meantime along comes Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman. Originally Richard Maibaum was comissioned to do a screenplay based on TB but McClory's lawsuits forced them to start the series with DR. NO. Not wishing to enrage Fleming, Broccoli & Saltzman did not pursue a joint venture deal on THUNDERBALL until after McClory had exhausted all means of getting his own Bond film off the ground and Ian Fleming was dead. In the deal that was struck, McClory was given the right to remake the film ten years after THUNDERBALL's release -- some wit once said that Broccoli & Saltzman didn't think the series would live that long. In the book you will get a good look at what did happen. Well worth the price of admission. A pity WARHEAD was never realized. It would have been a much better film than NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Marks!,
This review is from: The Battle for Bond: The Genesis of Cinema's Greatest Hero (Paperback)
There are many of us who do care to know the true story about Thunderball - have a look at the uk reviews! This is a landmark book and contains fresh information on this fascinating subject. Top marks to author Robert Sellers who tells an unbiased factual story about the origins of the Bond movies
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
History of the other Bond,
By Chih Hung Lee (Rosemead, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Battle for Bond (Paperback)
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.
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