The Battle for Bond

The Battle for Bond chronicles the complex legal battles and creative disputes surrounding the development of the James Bond film Thunderball. The book draws from private documents, letters, and interviews to document the contentious relationship between novelist Ian Fleming, producer Kevin McClory, and screenwriter Jack Whittingham. Robert Sellers examines the transformation of James Bond from literary character to cinematic icon through the lens of the Thunderball project. The narrative covers the initial collaboration, Fleming's unauthorized use of the material, and the subsequent lawsuits that would impact the Bond franchise for decades. The book includes previously unpublished materials, including five different Thunderball screenplays and treatments, though some content was later withdrawn due to objections from the Ian Fleming estate. The story tracks McClory's persistent attempts to establish his own competing Bond film series and his claims to the character's cinematic incarnation. At its core, The Battle for Bond reveals the tension between artistic collaboration and ownership, demonstrating how intellectual property disputes can shape entertainment history. The book stands as a record of one of cinema's most significant legal conflicts.

Readers describe this as a detailed legal history of Ian Fleming's Thunderball and the decades-long battles over James Bond film rights. Many find it reads like a courtroom drama, with extensive primary source documents and correspondence. Readers appreciated: - Research depth and use of original documents - Clear explanation of complex legal proceedings - Behind-the-scenes revelations about Fleming and Kevin McClory Common criticisms: - Dense legal terminology makes sections hard to follow - Repetitive court details - Some felt it focused too much on documents vs narrative - Book's own legal troubles and recall affected availability Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (46 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) "A fascinating look at the legal mess behind Bond" - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes gets bogged down in minutiae but worth reading for Bond fans" - Amazon reviewer "The included letters and memos are the real treasure" - LibraryThing review

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🎬 The original "Thunderball" screenplay was developed in 1958, several years before the first James Bond film "Dr. No" was released, making it technically the first attempt to bring 007 to the big screen. 📚 The legal battles documented in the book resulted in Kevin McClory retaining rights to SPECTRE and Blofeld until 2013, which is why these iconic elements were absent from most official Bond films between 1971 and 2015. 📖 The book itself was pulled from shelves shortly after its 2008 release due to legal pressure from Ian Fleming Publications, with existing copies becoming rare collectors' items. ✉️ The author accessed over 40 years of private correspondence and legal documents that had never before been made public, including personal letters between Ian Fleming and Kevin McClory. 🎥 The rights dispute led to two competing versions of "Thunderball": the 1965 EON Productions film starring Sean Connery, and 1983's "Never Say Never Again," which saw Connery return to the role outside the official series.