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British Secret Service Agent James Bond 007 was the creation of novelist Ian Fleming. A former British naval intelligence officer, Fleming wrote 12 novels and two collections of short stories between 1952 and 1964 detailing the exploits of his fictional hero. The James Bond movies have been produced since 1962, collectively grossing an estimated $1-billion worldwide. One of the reasons for their tremendous success is a formula that deftly interweaves action, suspense, humour, sex, and high technology. Never has there been a Bond movie that didn't feature gorgeous women, humour in the face of danger, an assortment of exotic weaponry and mechanical gadgetry, suggested sexual liaisons, an evil villain and his murderous henchmen (and women), larger-than-life plots, beautiful foreign locales, futuristic set designs, plenty of action in the way of hand-to-hand combat, high-calibre fire-power, key chase or 'stunt' scenes, and, of course, a dramatic musical score. So popular were the first few films that, by 1966, Bondmania had become a worldwide phenomenon. Licensed James Bond merchandise flooded stores and included board games, die-cast cars, toys, bath towels, trading cards, rings, watches, apparel, posters, and soundtrack albums by every orchestra imaginable. All in all, the mid-60s saw a Bond-inspired 'secret agent craze' that had the entertainment, advertising and merchandising industries - not to mention the public - ablaze in excitement. |
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