Best of James Bond 30th Anniversary 2 CD Set

The Best of James Bond 30th Anniversary Limited Edition 2 CD Ultra-Set, EMI Records, © 1992.

At the time this was released, halfway between the six-year chasm that separated License To Kill and Goldeneye, this collection must have provided much-needed hope for fans that James Bond would return, and it was unquestionably the best Bond music compilation available.  We purchased our copy, one of the museum's earliest acquisitions, in the late 1990's, at the now-extinct Virgin Megastore at the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

The first disc contains the theme songs to the then-16 films.  Before the soundtracks were re-released with additional material on CD, before Napster, before YouTube, if you wanted most of the material on the second disc, you needed to own this collection.

The most memorable part of this set is not any of the tracks, however.  That honor goes to this line from the booklet, the most ridiculous thing I have ever read about a Bond movie: 

"A View To A Kill" is actually one of the better Moore episodes, a basically serious adventure story that offers some suspense and an edge of danger.

Octopussy 6th U.K. Penguin Paperback Printing

Octopussy & the Living Daylights, Ian Fleming, 6th Penguin paperback printing, U.K.

This edition contains four stories: "Octopussy", "The Property of a Lady", "The Living Daylights", and "007 in New York".

Among Fleming's Bond titles, Octopussy is the hardest to find, so when we stumbled upon this printing in a bookshop in Dallas last year, we nabbed it.

Penguin became the new Bond paperback publisher in 2002 in both the U.S. and the U.K., with different cover art in each country.

We would like to say that this cover art is the most forgettable that we've posted so far, but you can't forget what you didn't know in the first place, and we just don't know what we're looking at.  

Skyfall ticket stub

Skyfall ticket stub, 11/9/12, Regal Green Valley Ranch Stadium 10, Henderson, NV, $11.00.

The ticket says "advance" not because it was for an advance screening, but because it was purchased a day in advance.  11/9/12 was the theatrical wide release date for Skyfall in the United States and Canada; it opened exclusively in IMAX the day before.

Casino Royale Jove Paperback Printing

Casino Royale, Ian Fleming, Jove paperback printing, July 1980, U.S., originally priced at $1.95.

In February 1980, Jove became the new U.S. paperback publisher of Fleming's Bond books.  After having issued only the first 8 novels -- and non-sequentially, at that -- Jove's run abruptly came to an end about a year and a half later (Berkley quickly became the new U.S. paperback publisher).  The cover art, from illustrator Barnett Plotkin, is more reminiscent of a Bond movie poster than a Bond book cover, complete with a tagline.  Every cover features three characters: Bond (with one exception) in the center, a girl, and a villain, against a backdrop related to the storyline.  Roger Moore had been the on-screen Bond for 4 films over 7 years at this point, yet this Bond is clearly not Moore, although neither is he Sean Connery; he actually looks more like George Lazenby than either of then.  Nonetheless, the quality of Plotkin's illustrations is among the best from any Bond publisher.  I like his style, although I can't always say the same about the characters' clothing styles.  Although this was the 1980's, it was the early 1980's, and 1970's clothing styles were on their last leg.  

Casino Royale was the 6th Bond book that Jove published.  The main issue I have with this cover is not the depiction of Bond or the clothing styles (although Le Chiffre should not be wearing red pants with flared legs).  The issue I have is with the background and tagline.  The game played in Casino Royale is not roulette; it's baccarat.  It's one thing to have changed the card game to Texas hold'em in the movie.  But Texas hold'em is still a card game (and one that works better on screen than baccarat), and a card game is essential to the storyline.  It's essentially a character along with Bond, Vesper, and Le Chiffre.    I know -- I hope -- that roulette is only being used figuratively on the cover.  But the cover gives the impression that Jove and Plotkin never read the book they published and illustrated, respectively.  

Once Is Never Enough Bond Film Festival 2008 Brochure

Brochure for Once Is Never Enough, Bond film festival, spring/summer 2008, Rosslyn, Virginia, free admission.

Several months before the theatrical release of Quantum of Solace, the Rosslyn, Virginia, BID (Business Improvement District) held a Bond film festival in the spring/summer of 2008.  Every Friday at 8 pm from May 2nd-August 22nd (with the exception of July 4th), rain or shine, at the Gateway Park in Rosslyn, a different film was shown.  The schedule was as follows:
- 5/2: Dr No
- 5/9: From Russia with Love
- 5/16: Goldfinger
- 5/23: Thunderball
- 5/30: You Only Live Twice
- 6/6: Diamonds Are Forever
- 6/13: Live and Let Die
- 6/20: The Man with the Golden Gun
- 6/27: The Spy Who Loved Me
- 7/11: Moonraker
- 7/18: For Your Eyes Only
- 7/25: Octopussy
- 8/1: A View to a Kill
- 8/8: Goldeneye
- 8/15: Tomorrow Never Dies
- 8/22: Die Another Day

There were 21 Bond films at the time, with only 16 slots, so five films didn't make the cut: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, The Living Daylights, License To Kill, The World Is Not Enough, and Casino Royale.  We can understand why they passed on OHMSS, License To Kill, and TWINE.  But The Living Daylights and Casino Royale didn't make the cut while View to a Kill did?  Unfortunately, View to a Kill was the only film we were able to see at the festival.  Still, watching any Bond film -- even one of the two worst -- on the big screen is a worthwhile experience.

The most memorable part of the night was not the movie itself.  Before the movie started, we were treated to, among other things (including this brochure), Bond music -- and not just the theme songs.  That was the only time we've ever heard Nina's "Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?" (from OHMSS) outside of the museum.  

From Russia, with Love 2nd Berkley Paperback Printing

From Russia, with Love, Ian Fleming, 2nd Berkley paperback printing, October 1982, U.S., originally priced at $2.75.

The cover art for these Berkley printings depict James Bond as a silhouette.  The silhouettes are a timeless and classic way to depict the character on the cover of one of his novels.  He isn't the actor currently playing him; he isn't not that actor.  He's James Bond.  Unfortunately, while these covers are not the ugliest -- they're not ugly at all -- they are among the most forgettable.  If it weren't for the title, the reader would have no idea which Bond novel he was looking at.  Bond is not depicted doing anything unique to that novel.  The only differences among the covers are precisely what position Bond is in and where he's pointing his gun.  You've seen one, you've seen them all.

For Your Eyes Only Soundtrack LP

For Your Eyes Only, soundtrack to the film of the same name, composed by Bill Conti, LP (33 1/3 rpm), Liberty Records, 1981.

LP was one of the three formats on which the soundtrack was released, along with cassette and 8-track (both of which will be covered in future posts).

The cover art is a cross between the U.S. teaser poster (which will be the subject of a future post) and the U.S. theatrical release poster.

The LP clocks in at 35 minutes, 58 seconds.  The 12 tracks -- half on each side -- are comprised of "For Your Eyes Only", the theme song song by Sheena Easton; "Make It Last All Night" sung by Rage; an instrumental track/reprise of the theme sung by Sheena Easton; and 9 instrumental tracks.  

OHMSS 3rd U.K. Paperback Printing

On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Ian Fleming, 3rd U.K. paperback printing, Pan, originally priced at 60c (intended for sale in Canada).  

In 1955, Pan became the first publisher to print the Bond books in paperback in the United Kingdom, and Pan was still the paperback publisher there during the height of Bondmania, when this printing was issued.

The Pan cover art during this time period consisted of a few images related to the novel.  Here we have the most effective example of this style, and one of the best Bond covers overall.  The cover depicts three simple images: a wedding ring, snow, and blood.  If a picture was ever worth 1,000 words, this is it.  A fitting cover to one of the two best Bond novels. 

This cover alone is better than the entire movie.

Entertainment Weekly 11/2/12

Entertainment Weekly # 1231, November 2, 2012, originally priced at $4.99.

This issue is dated a week before the U.S. theatrical release of Skyfall.  The cover features Daniel Craig in his Skyfall midnight blue tuxedo, with Bérénice Marlohe (Sévérine) and Naomine Harris (Moneypenny) at his sides. This pose is right out of a generic Bond poster from the Brosnan years.  Thankfully the Craig posters have eschewed this look, which has been relegated to magazine covers, where it's perfectly satisfactory.  I wouldn't expect anything more out of Entertainment Weekly.  

(p. 2, advertisement for Bond fragrance, which we will cover if anyone donates it to the museum)

(pp. 28-35, cover story)

(p. 43. advertisement for 50 Years of James Bond by Life Books, which we will cover soon because it's already been donated to the museum)

Dr No 9th Coronet Paperback Printing

Dr No, Ian Fleming, 9th Coronet paperback printing, U.K., originally priced at £5.99 (UK) and $14.95 (Australia).

From the copyright page we can tell this book was not printed before 1989.  Since this is the 9th printing from this publisher, and we purchased it at Borders in the late 90's, it was probably printed in the mid-to-late 90's.  Question: why was a Borders in the United States selling a printing from the United Kingdom?  Borders is no longer around to answer.

Many Dr No covers understandably depict Honey Rider in some form or another.  This cover emphasizes her strength rather than her sex appeal, her bravery rather than her body.  All we see of her is one of her bronzed hands (which inexplicably has painted nails), tightly grasped around her gleaming hunting knife.  

For Your Eyes Only Postcard

For Your Eyes Only postcard, 1995 (last copyright year on back of card).

The image on the card is almost the same as the international one-sheet poster for the movie, with only a few lines of credits at the bottom cropped.

One of the earlier acquisitions of the museum, this was purchased at what was then Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney's Hollywood Studios) in Florida, in 2002.  The patron who donated

it referred to the film as "For Your Thighs Only".

Diamonds Are Forever 1st Signet Paperback Printing

Diamonds Are Forever, Ian Fleming, 1st Signet paperback printing, United States, November 1961, originally priced at 50¢.

Signet was the second U.S. publisher to print Diamonds Are Forever in paperback.  The cover art for most Signet printings in the 1960's consisted of a small drawing on a solid-colored ground (in this case pink).  The Diamonds drawing is one of the few from these covers that isn't forgettable.  

Although it doesn't get all the details exactly right, this drawing captures Tiffany Case as first seen by Bond, in chapter 5 of the novel:

She was sitting half naked, astride a chair in front of the dressing table, gazing across the back of the chair into the triple mirror.  Her bare arms were folded along the tall back of the chair and her chin was resting on her arms.  Her spine was arched and there was arrogance in the set of her head and shoulders.  The thin black strap of her brassiere across the naked white back, the tight black lace pants and the angled thrust of her legs whipped at Bond's senses.  

"Skyfall" U.S. CD Single

"Skyfall", theme song to the film of the same name, sung by Adele, written by Adele and Paul Epworth, U.S. CD single, Columbia Records, 11/6/2012.

CD was one of the three formats on which the single was released, along with vinyl (which will be the subject of a future post) and digital download.  The CD single was released in the United States a month after the digital download, and three days before the film's U.S. theatrical release.

The cover art is cropped from the Skyfall U.S. teaser poster (which will also be the subject of a future post), with two additions: most of Adele's face, and a filter of aquamarine -- a color that prominently figures in the film's title sequence over which the theme plays.  And on the top left corner of the case, there's a superfluous sticker.

The CD single version clocks in at 4 minutes, 46 seconds.  Unlike on the UK release, there is no instrumental track.

The British singer-songwriter was the first female solo act to record a Bond theme since Madonna did “Die Another Day” a decade before.  Adele's song was popular with critics, the public at large, and Bond fans alike -- a win-win-win situation that hadn't happened in many years.

Firstly, and least importantly, her theme garnered generally positive reviews from critics, and won numerous awards, the most prestigious of which was the Academy Award for Best Original Song.  "Skyfall" was the first Bond theme to be nominated for that award since Sheena Easton's "For Your Eyes Only" in the early 80's, and the first ever to win.

Secondly, her single sold well and received ample radio play -- unlike the last two Bond themes songs, “You Know My Name” from Casino Royale (one of the better modern themes) and “Another Way To Die” from Quantum of Solace (possibly the worst ever). The digital download hit #1 on the iTunes charts.  Then the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at # 8, immediately joining “Goldfinger”, “Live and Let Die”, “Nobody Does It Better”, “For Your Eyes Only”, “A View to a Kill”, and “Die Another Day” in the pantheon of Bond themes to reach the top ten of that chart.  The single has since been certified Platinum.

And lastly, and most importantly, her theme was a Bond theme.  "Skyfall" was the best and most Bondian since at least Sheryl Crow's “Tomorrow Never Dies” or Tina Turner's “Goldeneye”.  Her voice naturally lent itself to a Bond theme.  She fondly recalled Shirley Bassey without sounding like she was trying to sound like her.

Man with the Golden Gun 3rd U.S. Hardcover Printing

The Man with the Golden Gun, Ian Fleming, third U.S. hardcover printing, published by the New American Library, originally priced at $4.50.

This book was donated to us by one of our generous patrons.  Apparently our patron paid $10 for it, and apparently the bookseller believed, mistakenly, that it was printed in 1969.

Perhaps if the seller had known this printing was a few years older, it may have charged a little more.  Although the copyright page doesn't specify the year of this printing, there are three clues in the book that disprove that it was printed in 1969.

First, the copyright page shows that The Man with the Golden Gun was copyrighted in 1965. There's no way that Fleming's last Bond novel, published during the height of Bondmania, would have taken 4 years to reach its third printing.

Second, this printing lists all of the Bond books published up until that time.  If this was printed in 1969, the list would have also included Octopussy, which was published in 1966.  But this list ends at You Only Live Twice.

Third, there's an inscription in the book dated 1966.  

Presumably Bruce A. McLeod knew what year it was.

Monopoly 007 Collector's Edition

Monopoly, 007 Collector's Edition, 2006.

This, the first of three James Bond editions of Monopoly, was released a few months before Daniel Craig's first outing, Casino Royale.  The properties are the Bond films, in chronological order from Dr. No to Casino Royale.   However, because there are spaces for 22 properties on the board but there were only 21 films at that point, the cheapest property (Mediterranean Ave in the original game) is a generic "Double-0 Assignment."  Villains and Bond "Women" replace Community Chest and Chance, respectively.  Houses and hotels are renamed safe houses and headquarters, respectively.  And the tokens are the Aston Martin DBS, Odd Job's bowler hat, the 007 logo, the Lotus submarine car, the Acrostar plane, and Rosa Klebb's shoe. 

Here is where we would evaluate the game play -- if we had ever played it.  We would love to try it out, but that would involve breaking the seal, which would devalue what cost far more than your typical off-the-shelf Monopoly game.  Perhaps one day we may no longer be able to resist the temptation, and that may be the subject of a future post.  But for right now, the "O.H.M.S.S. Not to be opened until Officially Authorized" seal on this file remains unbroken.  

Goldfinger Bantam Paperback Printing

Goldfinger, Ian Fleming, Bantam paperback printing, June 1972 (according to a library stamp in the book, it was first due back on Oct 25 '72), U.S., originally priced at 95¢. 

For our first post, we went with this copy of Goldfinger, even though it's not a first edition or a movie tie-in edition or autographed.  We just picked it up at a used bookstore in Reno for a few bucks several years ago.  But this printing is noteworthy for two reasons. Primarily, because the cover, like the title sequence of a Bond film before political correctness set in, depicts the bare breasts (well, one breast) of a woman – presumably Jill Masterson, the golden girl. 

Additionally, this is one of the few printings of a 007 novel, after the theatrical release of Dr. No in 1962, to depict the character of James Bond on the cover – as someone other than the actor playing the part in the movie (in a tie-in edition) or as a silhouette, as we shall see in future posts.  He isn't actually supposed to be Sean Connery, although he resembles him. This was no accident, considering that Sean Connery played Bond in Goldfinger, and that this was printed only one year after Connery's last Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever, and the year before Roger Moore's first, Live and Let Die.  At this point (but not for much longer), in the eyes of most people, Sean Connery was still James Bond. 

As dated as this cover might seem, it's not nearly as dated as some others we're going to see from the late 1960's through the 70's.