Posted on 12/25/2017 6:28:52 PM PST by nickcarraway
Who said “no man is an island?”
Certainly not Ian Fleming, the writer who wrote “my name is Bond – James Bond.”
He first introduced that identifier in 1962 in a film titled “Dr. No” just two months after Jamaica shed its dependency on its imperial governors.
As a matter of fact, the British novelist and Jamaican resident repeated the line in all his novels and films to successfully clue audiences throughout the world of a spy numbered 007 able to outsmart the most heinous criminals from Asia and Eastern Europe.
That Jamaicans celebrated two coming out events that year was not lost on the international community.
For the island independence signalled a historic, milestone achievement, unprecedented by any British colonial territory in the Caribbean.
And for Fleming, the first of what became a 24-film series shattered ticket sales at box-offices throughout the world; establishing Sean Connery as an international sex symbol, and also showcased the island / nation as an adventure spot.
To commemorate these two special anniversaries, The Jamaica Committee and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) hosted “Fifty-Five By Two” on Nov. 28.
Held at the historic Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, Florida, the charity gala featured a red-carpet event in the theatre’s grand vestibule commemorates the two historic events.
Fleming first visited Jamaica in 1942 while serving as a naval office in the Royal Navy. Reportedly he was there to attend an Anglo-American intelligence summit. His biographer wrote that “despite the constant heavy rains during his visit, he decided to live on the island once the war was over.”
Fleming made Oracabessa in the parish of Saint Mary his home. In 1945, Fleming had a house built, he named it Goldeneye.
Named from his wartime “Operation Goldeneye” in 1941 he had published a novel “Reflections in A Golden Eye,” which described the use of British naval bases in the Caribbean by the American navy.
From the serene house and estate he wrote many novels.
Some of his neighbors included author Noel Coward and Blanche Blackwell, the mother of Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records who signed Robert Nesta Marley to a recording deal..
Needless to say a visit to Goldeneye is eye-candy for any visitor.
Located on a hilltop, the grassy, estate overlooks the beautiful Caribbean Sea and remains one of the island’s most scenic landmarks. This Insider considers the spot a treasured and privileged retreat revisited on many occasions.
Chris has maintained the property in pristine condition and on a visit there the many artifacts remain as if Fleming might be out for a stroll and could return for afternoon tea.
It is there that Fleming penned numerous films including:“Thunderball,” “Goldfinger,” “Live & Let Die,” “You Only Live Twice” and “Dr. No.”
The latter was the first of 24 James Bond films that established the series one of the highest grossing ever. It is estimated that since its release, a quarter of the world’s population have seen at least one Bond film.
Allegedly, Fleming lifted the name James Bond from a book on Jamaican birds. Fleming admitted that having “created the charming, debonair, devilish, charismatic character, the simple, steely name, James Bond was a perfect summation.”
It is no wonder James Bond, in his first appearance in “Dr. No” uttered the line “my name is Bond, James Bond” to premiere on world screens with phenomenal success 55 years ago.
The film also launched a successful genre of “secret agent” films that flourished in the 1960s. The UK Film Distributors’ Association stated that the importance of “Dr. No” to the British film industry cannot be overstated, as it, and the subsequent series of films, “form the backbone of the industry.”
Jamaicans were hired to portray numerous roles. Port Antonio-born, Martine Beswick, a model, debuted in the film and honed her career afterward as an actress and Bond girl featuring in “Thunderball” and “From Russia With Love.”
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires appeared in “Dr. No” and performed some of the music on the later soundtrack album.
The bandleader along with Ernest Ranglin and Carlos Malcolm appeared on the soundtrack.
Ranglin, who had acted as arranger on several tracks, and Malcolm sued the film company for unpaid fees. They both won an out of court settlement for royalties and fees.
Malcolm and his band performed a year later at the film’s premiere in Kingston.
The film was released just two months after Jamaica gained independence on Aug.1962.
While in Jamaica in 1964, an ailing Fleming wrote the first draft of the film “The Man With The Golden Gun.”
He died later that same year at age 56.
In 2011 Fleming became the first English-language writer to have an international airport named after him.
The Ian Fleming International Airport located near Oracabessa, Jamaica was officially opened on Jan. 12, 2011 by Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Fleming’s niece, Lucy.
“We are pleased that the Jamaica Tourist Board is partnering with The Jamaica Committee Inc. of Florida to celebrate these two significant milestones,” Donnie Dawson, Jamaica’s Acting Director of Tourism said.
“As a destination, we have contributed much to the global landscape in not just film, but music, sports as well as the performing and fine arts and hope Jamaicans and lovers of Jamaica will support Fifty-Five By Two.”
The Jamaica Committee Inc. is using the occasion of both anniversaries to organize the gala event from which the proceeds raised will go toward five charities: Chi Chi Bud, Jamaica Epilepsy Association, Maxfield Park Children’s Home, The Animal House and Victims of the September Storms.
Ortanique on the Mile, a reputable Jamaican restaurant in Florida has collaborated to provide the culinary menu for the occasion.
With a pledge to satisfying every palate and highlight the nation’s birth the affair will epitomize the glitz and dynamism of Bond.
The event will also feature Bond’s exclusive martini “Shaken, not Stirred.”
Entertainment for the evening will comprise a variety of music genres including mento and ska.
Exclusive, never-before released photographs taken on the “Dr. No” set 55 years ago will be on display during the evening.
The landmark “Dr. No” film will be screened following a reception.
Quarrel and Quarrel Jr...
In the Spring of 1964 several of us qualified for the State Track Meet in Gainesville. The first night, our coach took us to see a movie. It was “From Russia With Love”.
There were college students lined up around the block to get in. Fortunately the line moved fast. I had never seen or even heard of a Bond Film but one of our classmates had read the book and told us a lot of the plot.
Also saw several Corvettes parked on the block. Probably also the first ones I had ever seen tho I had read a lot about them.
>>It is no wonder James Bond, in his first appearance in “Dr. No” uttered the line “my name is Bond, James Bond”.<<
He did not say that. The lady at his blackjack table said, “I admire your luck, Mr....?” To which be replies, “Bond. James Bond.”
Worthwhile to buy the original Bond books. The sequence of stories is different from that of the movies. And many of the movie versions have very different plots and settings. The original Moonraker book is almost completely different from the movie. About the only thing in common are rockets and the name of the main villain ‘Drax’.
Fleming had dealings with the Soviet government during WWII, knew what they were capable of, and hated them. In the original books Soviet intelligence was most often the bad guys. SPECTRE did not appear until much later chronologically speaking in contrast to appearing immediately in the first movie ‘Dr. No’. Decades before the term “politically correct” was coined the movie producers seemed to have changed plots to make SPECTRE the ever-appearing bad guys instead of SMERSH, perhaps to make the movies less inflammatory than the books and, therefore, more sellable during the Cold War.
I bought all the original Bond books in paperback. They were very readable.
One thing I recall is Fleming describes Dr. No’s employees as being “Chigroes”. Part Negro and part Chinese. I just bet they have changed that now.
I have all the paperbacks in a cardboard box in the closet somewhere. Been probably 15 years since I’ve read them. About time to go through them again.
Yes, they’re great reads still. Fleming was really good with a typewriter.
Sean Connery is the only James Bond...All the others are just fake...:>)
We’ve been to Jamaica multiple times. Wonderful place, gorgeous beaches, fantastic food, friendly people, and a damn near perfect climate.
The best thing that could happen would be the return of British rule.
Check that, May is running Britain.
Oh well.
L
One of my friends in HS brought the books to school and we passed them around. The first one I read was casino royale and IIRC it was a BOTM club choice. I’ve seen most of the movies at least 3 times and the TV production of Casino from mercian TV in the 50s.
“Sean Connery is the only James Bond”.
My sentiments exactly!!!
Sean Connery’s fight scenes look real. The only actor in the Bond series who looked that way. He probably was the toughest one in real life too.
John Donne.
I was gonna say, “Paul Simon?” ;)
British intelligence was honeycombed with Soviet assets. The head of MI5 was a GRU mole.
Sean Connery’s Bond was a serious dude.
In Dr. No (I believe) a guy tries to kill him and Bond had set a trap. The guy shoots the Bed where he thinks Bond is sleeping, but it was just a bunch of Pillows.
The guy walks in after shooting the Bed and Bond is sitting there waiting. The guy still has his Gun in his hand and Bond tells him the Smith and Wesson he just used is out off Bullets. (I think it was an S&W)
He them says something British like “tough luck old man” and shoots and kills the guy like it’s nothing. Cold as ice.
After Katrina, lots of services were out for quite a while and while I rebuilt the house, I wanted something other than local news from the antenna to watch fro entertainment. Found a Walmart special in a full complement of the James Bond movies - at least as of 2005....the only problem was they weren’t all laid out chronologically so I had to take notes and switch DVDs to view them in order.
The way **I** heard it, is:
“Sean Connery thinks he *IS* James Bond.
Roger Moore thinks he is Sean Connery. . . .”
(grin)
https://web.cs.dal.ca/~johnston/poetry/island.html
‘No Man is an Island’
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man’s death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
Olde English Version
No man is an Iland, intire of itselfe; every man
is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine;
if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe
is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as
well as if a Manor of thy friends or of thine
owne were; any mans death diminishes me,
because I am involved in Mankinde;
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.
MEDITATION XVII
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions
John Donne
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