The American censors nearly spat the dummy at “Pussy Galore” (it wasn’t subtle, Ian) until Cubby Broccoli showed them the newspaper coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh and Honor Blackman under the headline “The Prince and the Pussy”. Oh well, if it’s by royal appointment, must be legit, and absolutely definitely not a single entendre.
Well,early news stories did suggest the Duke of Edinburgh was very fond of cats and liked to be up West and in their company. I think Liz kept him in line. Anyway the most exciting men to have are the ones other women might want to steal off you! Bad boys
Fantastic piece. I've never understood the draw of goff either. Too boring. Unlike this excellent film!
As you don't mention the story of how Fleming probably took the name 'Goldfinger' from Erno Goldfinger, the architect, who was his neighbour in Hampstead, I feel I should. When the book came out Mr Goldfinger considered a potential libel action which apparently prompted Fleming to suggest renaming the character 'Goldprick'. Goldfinger subsequently settled out of court in return for his legal costs, six copies of the novel, and an agreement that the character's first name 'Auric' would always be used.
and p.s. No, actually, I DO get golf- in fact, I 'get' it incredibly well- it's that masculine, perfect, anal, control freak, collecting thing going on- the jargon, the precision, the terminology, the expensive kit to amass, the sense of order and control, it's like a club or secret society... even if I find it disturbing.
I rather agree with you. Near my parents, in South Oxfordshire (a few miles from Henley), what used to be a rather beautiful Upper Thames water meadow (with hedgerows lined with ancient oak)- has been turned into a hideous golf course. Also have to put up with the sight of the golfers in their natty checked golfing 'pants' and those awful plastic buggies. Visual pollution.
Goldfinger, music composed by John Barry, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.
Great piece, and for someone who doesn’t get Bond, you know an awful lot about him…ha-ha!
And Bond’s upper-middle class suburban aspirations had never really occurred to me before, but coming from a resolutely and fairly indestructible working class background, I don’t suppose it would. It was all above my station back in the day!
Not a Bond fan but I've seen about 4 of the movies,if I was,lol,trapped in someone's house as a guest and it was on telly. I've got a theory about Ian Fleming but I'm going to put it on my own Substack.
I saw Roger Moore "in conversation" at Bath Theatre Royal a few months before he died. Shrewd and urbane. I thought Sean C is the iconic Bond but,for me,there was always a shade of the Glasgow bruiser about him. But RM just DIDNT really convince us those were real fights.
I'm about two thirds way through N Shakespeares new bio on Fleming. Bond it seems to me was written to pay for Flemings wife incredibly lavish lifestyle and because he desperately missed DNI in which he served in ww2. He only joined RNVR and DNI because the head Admiral Godfrey was looking for what we would call today a Chief of Staff, a Gatekeeper, a trustworthy competent intelligent well connected urbane and capable operational leader. Godfrey moved in highest circles in the Admiralty, Chiefs of Staff, Heads of Services and Cabinet. Fleming was recommended recommended to him, they had lunch at Whites ,( I think) , Fleming passed and he turned out to be actually quite good.
I suspect his wartime DNI Service fave him something nothing else had done prior. A sense of self worth and intrinsic value. Just reading his life immediate post war demob and return to ' civvy street' he seems to me to have experienced transition stress and floundered trying to establish who he was now.
Bond was a mix of his own life and people around him. Bond was a drinker. So was Fleming. Ditto women, gambling, golf, lavish lifestyle etc. He took his own wartime experience and built upon it. He knew he wasn't writing 'great literature' but he instinctively seemed to know it could be commercially successful. He shamelessly exploited every single opportunity to raise the profile of Bond at every opportunity. JFK loved Bond. So Fleming dined with JFK.
I'm not sure I like Fleming. I respect his loyalty and service I ww2. I almost now begin to pity him.
Tania Mallett. Her step father was the infamous George Dawson. A very unpleasant man indeed but father of a good friend of mine in my late teenage years. Tony Dawson who was at his father’s beck and call. They lived in Albion Street w2. Tania would come by occasionally - a distant very glamourous but much older step sister to Tony!
Oh yes, I was taken in by the celluloid glamour of Goldfinger (my dad was a huge Bond fan so he dragged me to the movies at an age when kids were supposed to watch Disney goop.) That was well before I contemplated the atrocious wall of concrete of the Florida coast, and to my husband's dismay never got interested in playing golf - give me these 4 hours to do something else (note that golf in the US is probably less elitist than tennis by now.) But yes, I'll rewatch for the cheating at golf and cards, the deliciously wicked Oddjob, and that sadistic laser...
The American censors nearly spat the dummy at “Pussy Galore” (it wasn’t subtle, Ian) until Cubby Broccoli showed them the newspaper coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh and Honor Blackman under the headline “The Prince and the Pussy”. Oh well, if it’s by royal appointment, must be legit, and absolutely definitely not a single entendre.
Well,early news stories did suggest the Duke of Edinburgh was very fond of cats and liked to be up West and in their company. I think Liz kept him in line. Anyway the most exciting men to have are the ones other women might want to steal off you! Bad boys
All my family are keen golfists, member of Moor Park. My one rebellion was not taking up the game. My grandfather used to worry about me.
Moor Park! I was their the other day. Superb house. It's in Genevieve (1953). In that bit when they break down.
Beautiful building and frescoes but too many memories of stilted lunches and congealed gravy.
Which almost adds to the charm...
Fantastic piece. I've never understood the draw of goff either. Too boring. Unlike this excellent film!
As you don't mention the story of how Fleming probably took the name 'Goldfinger' from Erno Goldfinger, the architect, who was his neighbour in Hampstead, I feel I should. When the book came out Mr Goldfinger considered a potential libel action which apparently prompted Fleming to suggest renaming the character 'Goldprick'. Goldfinger subsequently settled out of court in return for his legal costs, six copies of the novel, and an agreement that the character's first name 'Auric' would always be used.
and p.s. No, actually, I DO get golf- in fact, I 'get' it incredibly well- it's that masculine, perfect, anal, control freak, collecting thing going on- the jargon, the precision, the terminology, the expensive kit to amass, the sense of order and control, it's like a club or secret society... even if I find it disturbing.
Yes. I left that one for you.
Brilliant. Bonus points for refusing to use "iconic."
This brings out beautifully how utterly naff Bond is, and was.
But sometimes naff tv is what you need.
'Death by prawn cocktail'! Love it!
And yes, golf courses are a horrendous waste of countryside
I rather agree with you. Near my parents, in South Oxfordshire (a few miles from Henley), what used to be a rather beautiful Upper Thames water meadow (with hedgerows lined with ancient oak)- has been turned into a hideous golf course. Also have to put up with the sight of the golfers in their natty checked golfing 'pants' and those awful plastic buggies. Visual pollution.
A plague on Rotarians in check pants
On the other hand, I DO understand the appeal of golf. I mean, I really get it.
Me too (Marco here). Loved the game in my teens and twenties
Isn't golf in the same category as Bridge?
Both played on green, felt-like surfaces in foursomes
Goldfinger, music composed by John Barry, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.
Great piece, and for someone who doesn’t get Bond, you know an awful lot about him…ha-ha!
And Bond’s upper-middle class suburban aspirations had never really occurred to me before, but coming from a resolutely and fairly indestructible working class background, I don’t suppose it would. It was all above my station back in the day!
Not a Bond fan but I've seen about 4 of the movies,if I was,lol,trapped in someone's house as a guest and it was on telly. I've got a theory about Ian Fleming but I'm going to put it on my own Substack.
I saw Roger Moore "in conversation" at Bath Theatre Royal a few months before he died. Shrewd and urbane. I thought Sean C is the iconic Bond but,for me,there was always a shade of the Glasgow bruiser about him. But RM just DIDNT really convince us those were real fights.
Going to have to watch it this afternoon now.
I'm about two thirds way through N Shakespeares new bio on Fleming. Bond it seems to me was written to pay for Flemings wife incredibly lavish lifestyle and because he desperately missed DNI in which he served in ww2. He only joined RNVR and DNI because the head Admiral Godfrey was looking for what we would call today a Chief of Staff, a Gatekeeper, a trustworthy competent intelligent well connected urbane and capable operational leader. Godfrey moved in highest circles in the Admiralty, Chiefs of Staff, Heads of Services and Cabinet. Fleming was recommended recommended to him, they had lunch at Whites ,( I think) , Fleming passed and he turned out to be actually quite good.
I suspect his wartime DNI Service fave him something nothing else had done prior. A sense of self worth and intrinsic value. Just reading his life immediate post war demob and return to ' civvy street' he seems to me to have experienced transition stress and floundered trying to establish who he was now.
Bond was a mix of his own life and people around him. Bond was a drinker. So was Fleming. Ditto women, gambling, golf, lavish lifestyle etc. He took his own wartime experience and built upon it. He knew he wasn't writing 'great literature' but he instinctively seemed to know it could be commercially successful. He shamelessly exploited every single opportunity to raise the profile of Bond at every opportunity. JFK loved Bond. So Fleming dined with JFK.
I'm not sure I like Fleming. I respect his loyalty and service I ww2. I almost now begin to pity him.
I had the Corgi DB5.
Just sayin’ 😎
Jealous.
Still have mine, and yes the ejector seat does work. :)
Tania Mallett. Her step father was the infamous George Dawson. A very unpleasant man indeed but father of a good friend of mine in my late teenage years. Tony Dawson who was at his father’s beck and call. They lived in Albion Street w2. Tania would come by occasionally - a distant very glamourous but much older step sister to Tony!
Oh yes, I was taken in by the celluloid glamour of Goldfinger (my dad was a huge Bond fan so he dragged me to the movies at an age when kids were supposed to watch Disney goop.) That was well before I contemplated the atrocious wall of concrete of the Florida coast, and to my husband's dismay never got interested in playing golf - give me these 4 hours to do something else (note that golf in the US is probably less elitist than tennis by now.) But yes, I'll rewatch for the cheating at golf and cards, the deliciously wicked Oddjob, and that sadistic laser...
I take it you're familiar with Jonathan Meades' TV essay on golf and the suburbs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjc51wydcV4 - Moor Park even features
I am! Brilliant stuff...
Excellent essay. And I’m afraid all I can do is lower the tone by singing: “Goldfinger… He’s the man, who should have used thicker toilet paper”.