The James Bond Bedside Companion (11 page)

The spy world was a glamorous image. Fashion reflected the popularity, and soon designers were creating "007" lingerie and toiletries. Magazine ads featured dashing, handsome spies holding a gun in one hand and a beautiful girl in the other. The appeal of the gadgetry in the films was also reflected in merchandising. James Bond had become England's biggest export next to the Beatles.

The winter of 1964 was Ian Fleming's last in Jamaica. He wrote THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, but somehow wasn't satisfied with it. He wrote to William Plomer that it needed tremendous rewriting, and that he was running out of steam. But his spirits were lifted by a surprise visit from none other than James Bond. The author of
Birds of the West Indies
and his wife happened to be in Jamaica at the time, and decided to drop in on Fleming. When he had read in an interview how Fleming had appropriated the name of his hero, James Bond the ornithologist was amused. Mrs. James Bond (Mary Wickham Bond) stated that the couple constantly had trouble with wisecracking porters and airline personnel. Customs officials would ask, "Not carrying any firearms, Mr. . . er, Bond?" And Bond would invariably pat his armpit and reply, "Now if I were carrying firearms, they wouldn't be in my suitcase, would they?" The Flemings and the Bonds had a pleasant visit, and Mrs. Bond later wrote an account of their "adventures" as Mr. and Mrs. James Bond in a book called
How 007 Got His Name.

In March, Fleming was advised for tax reasons to sell 51 percent of Glidrose Productions. He apparently knew his health was deteriorating; by selling more than half of the shares in his business to a public company, Glidrose would be treated as a separate entity upon the author's death. He eventually negotiated the sale with his golfing friend, Sir Jock Campbell (now Lord Campbell), chairman of Booker Brothers, McConnell & Co. Ltd. and for an estimated $280,000, Booker Brothers became co-owners of James Bond.

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE was published that March with jacket art by Richard Chopping featuring a toad, dragonfly, pink chrysanthemum, and Japanese character lettering. The
Bookman
said it "must rank among the best of the Bonds." The
Daily Herald
said it was "as damnably readable as ever." The book was a runaway bestseller in England. A few months later, New American Library published the book in the United States, and Anthony Boucher called it "a protracted but enjoyable travelogue of Japan, toward the end of which the author reminds himself to insert some action-adventure."

In April,
From Russia With Love
premiered in the United States, again to favorable critical and audience reaction.
Life
magazine ran a feature on the film in their April 3 issue, as well as a profile on Sean Connery who was at the time working with Alfred Hitchcock on his film,
Mamie.

In August, Ian Fleming was asked to be the next captain at the Royal St. George's golf club at Sandwich. Fleming went to his favorite hotel, the Guilford, to attend a committee meeting of the club. On August 11, he suffered his second major heart attack, and was rushed to Canterbury Hospital. His words to the ambulance attendants were typical: "I'm awfully sorry to trouble you chaps."

At 1:00 a.m. on August 12, Ian Fleming died. He was fifty-six years old. At the memorial service held at St Bartholomew's church on September 15, William Plomer gave a eulogy which poignantly captured the essence of the man. It was later published privately.

Ian Fleming never saw the full extent of Bondmania which erupted in the fall. By that time, the
New York Times
estimated his books alone had earned him
$2,800,000. Paperback sales were tripling, and film attendance was beginning to skyrocket. The third film was almost complete, and Fleming's final novel was being revised by his literary executors for publication in the spring of 1965. In October, 1964, CHITTY-CHITTY-
BANG-BANG
was published by Jonathan Cape. The book, with illustrations by John Burningham, was a minor triumph in children's literature. Random House released the book in America and soon, adaptations of the story were published for "younger readers." Actress Shirley Eaton appeared on the cover of the November 6 issue of
Life
magazine, painted entirely in gold paint, publicizing the upcoming release of
Goldfinger
. When the film finally opened in December, the James Bond boom broke through the ceiling.

T
he year 1965 saw an avalanche of James Bond toys and merchandise. The Milton Bradley Company produced jigsaw puzzles and board games based on
Goldfinger
and
Thunderball
,
as well as on James Bond 007 himself. Multiple Toy Makers manufactured a replica of the James Bond attaché case with sniperscope and plastic daggers in the lining. Gilbert produced a number of items, including James Bond and Oddjob action dolls (the latter could throw his bowler hat), as well as four-inch plastic figures of Bond characters and miniature set-pieces. Gilbert even produced a "James Bond 007 Magic Set," which had nothing to do with Bond per se, but was simply a box of magic trick toys with James Bond and spy
-
related
designs. The Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corp. sold a pack of James Bond 007 Bubble Gum trading cards featuring scenes from
Dr. No
,
From Russia With Love
,
and
Goldfinger.
A further set was produced a year later featuring
Thunderball.
For the adults, Weldon, Inc. created 007 pajamas and a complete line of 007 sleepwear, and the Colgate-Palmolive Co. manufactured a line of toiletries, including "007 Talc." Once the juvenile market was tapped, James Bond was very big business indeed.

Multiple Toy Makers' shoulder holster and "missile" gun— "Bond's P.A.K. [Personal Attack Kit]." (Reprinted by permission
of Miner Industries, Inc.)

Multiple Toy Makers' attaché case patterned after the one used in
From Russia With Love
. (Reprinted by permission
of Miner Industries, Inc.)

The by-products of "Bondmania" (Photos by Pamela Cunningham Hampton)

A.C. Gilbert Co.'s Oddjob dolls. The one on the right tosses his bowler hat by spring action. (Reprinted by permission of Gabriel.)

A James Bond "Spy Watch," made by A. C. Gilbert Co. (Reprinted by permission of Gabriel.)

"Action figures" of Dr. No, Oddjob, and Goldfinger, plus a moving laser beam table with James Bond strapped onto it! Made by A. C. Gilbert Co. (Reprinted by permission of Gabriel.)

Battery-operated Aston Martin. Made by A. C. Gilbert Co. (Reprinted by permission of Gabriel.)