James Bond: 5 Things to Know
Born on Paper
James Bond started life on the page, his name taken from the cover of a Jamaican bird-watching book because author Ian Fleming wanted something as mundane as possible. Fleming was able to draw from some rich real-life experiences, having served in naval intelligence during World War II. One of Commander Fleming’s key missions was Operation Goldeneye, aimed at sabotaging ties between Spain and Germany – which later gave him the name for his Jamaican home, and inspired the 1995 movie. His first novel, “Casino Royale”, was released in 1953 and was a huge hit – the escapades of a larger-than-life secret agent giving the British public a brief escape from the grim reality of post-war rations and hardship.
Big Money
The figures vary, but Bond is clearly one of the most successful film franchises of all time, having spawned 25 official films and enough product placements to make a glossy magazine editor blush. Industry data site The Numbers places Bond in third place for worldwide box office takings, behind only the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars. While franchises like King Kong and Godzilla have been around longer, Bond is more regular, rarely going more than two or three years between instalments. The longest gap was between Timothy Dalton’s last 1989 outing “Licence to Kill” and Pierce Brosnan’s “Goldeneye” in 1995. Underlining the immense value of the franchise, Amazon bought the Bond rights from MGM for a cool $8.45 billion in 2021.
International Agent
The various Bonds of the past 60 years have included Englishmen Daniel Craig and Roger Moore, Scotsman Sean Connery, George Lazenby from Australia, Timothy Dalton from Wales, and Irishman Pierce Brosnan. In the novels, Bond is the son of a Scottish father and Swiss mother – both of whom die in a climbing accident when he is a boy.
Codenames
The codename “007” has a specific meaning. The “00” designation signifies the agent’s licence to kill, while the “7” is his identification within the elite unit of MI6, Britain’s external intelligence service. The M designating Bond’s boss comes from the “Missions Department”. Q, who furnishes Bond with all his nifty gadgets, gets his moniker from “quartermaster” – a military term referring to the person in charge of supplies. The bad guys have their own codenames. “SPECTRE”, the organisation that causes Bond so much trouble, is short for “Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion”.
A Famous Fan
One big name who gave Bond an early boost was President John F Kennedy, who cited “From Russia With Love” in his top 10 books. Reportedly, it was also the last film he ever watched before leaving for Dallas in November 1963.
Conclusion
James Bond is a global phenomenon, with a rich history and a future that continues to unfold. With a new era of Bond coming under Amazon’s creative control, fans can expect even more thrilling adventures from the world’s most famous secret agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who created James Bond?
Ian Fleming created the character of James Bond in his novels. - What is the significance of the codename “007”?
The codename “007” signifies the agent’s licence to kill, with the “00” designation and the "7" identifying him within the elite unit of MI6. - How successful is the James Bond franchise?
The James Bond franchise is one of the most successful film franchises of all time, with 25 official films and a worldwide box office gross of over $8 billion.