With a new film based on thriller writer Ian Fleming in the works, Lee Pfeiffer at Cinemaretro.com looks back on an earlier TV movie about James Bond's creator..
What do you do when you want to make a James Bond movie but lack the legal
rights to do so as well as the budget and the current leading man?
Simple. Just
turn the life of 007's literary creator, Ian Fleming, into a pseudo Bond story,
dispense with most of the facts, add some opulent locations and then cast the
son of Sean Connery in the lead role. Shake (but don't stir!) and - presto!- you
have Spymaker: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming, a 1990 TV movie made by Turner.
The Warner Archive has recently released this 1990 title as a burn to order DVD
(it had previously only been available on VHS). The screenplay should have
included a disclaimer explaining that most of the occurrences in the story are
the stuff of pure fiction.
As it stands, the millions of people who have seen
this comic book version of Fleming's life probably believe he was an action hero
in the mold of 007.
There is do doubt that Fleming led a colorful and exotic
life that included world travel, interaction with larger-than-life people and
bedding numerous women of high pedigree. There is also no doubt that the
creation of James Bond and the supporting characters in his novels was based on
elements of various individuals Fleming knew over a period of decades. However,
all of this is boiled down to the most simplistic formulas in this film which is
otherwise competently directed by Ferdinand Fairfax.
You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:
Note: I thought 1989's Goldeneye: The Secret Life Of Ian Fleming, starring Charles Dance, was a much more historically accurate and better film. I hope this film soon comes out on DVD as well.
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