Features

In the film version of Casino Royale James Bond and Vesper stay in Hotel Splendide in an unidentified town in Montenegro. While there does turn out to be a Hotel Splendide in Montenegro, it is a concrete highrise rather than the neo-baroque design of the film. The real Hotel Splendide is located in Becici, on […]

In 1981 John Gardner was asked by Glidrose Productions (now Ian Fleming Publications) to write a series of new James Bond novels.  The former Royal Marine had been a successful author since the 1960s, firstly with a series of light hearted thrillers and later with more series spy novels. Gardner’s first James Bond book was […]

After the warm reception for his soundtrack to Tomorrow Never Dies, the producers had a relatively simple choice when deciding who to select to score the next instalment in the 007 series.  So, in September 1998, David Arnold became the first person to be invited to score a second Bond film since John Barry when […]

This article is by guest writer Edward Biddulph. The actor Mark Greenstreet screen-tested for the role of James Bond in The Living Daylights in 1986 when Roger Moore retired from the part after completing A View to a Kill (1985). He came very close to winning the role, but it ultimately went to Timothy Dalton. […]

This article is by guest writer David T Smith of Summer Fruit Cup. The Pink Gin is an old navy drink, a mix of gin and Angostura Bitters. Gin was the Naval Officer’s drink of choice and the bitters were thought to have medicinal properties. Traditionally, the drink is associated with Plymouth Gin, a spirit […]

After Eric Serra’s score for Goldeneye met with a less than positive response, the producers of the next instalment of the 007 series, Tomorrow Never Dies, once again had to search for a new composer.  And, thanks to a recommendation from the man whose name will forever be associated with the music for 007, an […]

A deal struck between MGM and Sony will see a third of the budget for Bond 23 to come from product placement deals, some $45 million according to The Australian. Of course, the James Bond films are no stranger to such deals, which in the past have included BMW, Brioni and Omega and a deal […]

After a six year absence due to legal issues, it was once again all change for the James Bond series.  The end of the Cold War, a new Bond, a new, female M and the first Bond film not to take any story elements from Ian Fleming’s books, Goldeneye introduced 007 to a new generation. […]

In the second part of his tribute to John Barry, Bond fan and professional musician Tim Mottershead takes an in depth look at Barry’s work for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. With Connery having filmed the first novel in the so-called Blofeld trilogy Thunderball, in 1965, the logical next step would have been to film […]

The Old Fashioned is a Grandfather of a drink and adheres to a very early definition of a cocktail; alcoholic spirit, bitters, water, and sugar.