James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze

 James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze

Reviewed By  Janet Mawdesley       April 17, 2024

 

Author  Thom Shubilla

Distributor:      Amazon
ISBN:                 978-1493079766
Publisher:         Applause.
Release Date:   April 2024  

Website:    https://www.amazon.com/James-Bond-Sixties-Spy-Craze/dp/149307976X 

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When the first James Bond movie hit the wide screen in the i960’s, Dr No in 1962, it began craze if you like, for more of this farfetched and yet very believable espionage, secret agent spy thriller genre. This was to last from 1962–1969—peaking in 1966–1967.

The timing was perfect as the world was grappling with the effects of Russia and their Communist philosophies, the very serious threat of nuclear war between the USA and Russia with fear widespread, when along comes James Bond, a man who not only looked handsome, had a very good way with women and had a ruthless personality when came to getting the job done.

Based on the books by Ian Fleming, who saw James Bond as his alter ego, the pace was fast, the settings exotic and the glamour surrounding Bond made it all the more believable in the cinemas. People needed a hero, even if he was a fictitious fellow.

The franchise was to go on to great Box Office success and is still alive and well after more than sixty years, the men playing Bond have changed several times with the last Bond, Australian Daniel Craig bringing this man of secrets and talents into the world of today.

This spawned many other Spy concepts, with In Like Flint being the first one to take a tilt at the Bond franchise, which then lead on to a range of secret agent material for both television and Cinema. Charlies Angels, the Austin Powers series and The Man From Uncle to name a few, are directly related to the original James Bond concept.

In James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze, Thom Shubilla looks at the influence James Bond has had on wider range of media productions, the establishment of the ‘franchise’, a little about the very careful selection of who was to play Bond and the men who followed in the footsteps of Sean Connery, Box Office takings and why the concept of James Bond is still popular today.

 For anyone who is an avid James Bond fan, and there are many, James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze is a must read and a most enjoyable walk back down memory lane.

Biographies, Documentary, Lifestyle, Non Fiction