Danny Graydon

The official James Bond website at 007.com has broken the tremendously exciting news that, in October, German art publisher Taschen are publishing a lavish and officially-endorsed celebration/exploration of 50 years of the Bond film franchise, THE JAMES BOND ARCHIVES – which means I can now officially reveal that I was part of the team of writers who crafted it!

As a passionate fan of both James Bond and Taschen, it was literally a dream come true when Paul Duncan, Taschen’s Film Editor, graciously offered me the opportunity to work on the book, which will be presented in Taschen’s imperious, boxed “XXL Edition” (previously showcased via Taschen’s fantastic Archives editions on Stanley Kubrick, Ingmar Bergman and Pedro Amoldovar). Paul commisioned me to write the chapters on For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), for which I crafted oral histories on the making of said films, utilising a huge amount of material from the archives of Bond film producers EON.

As such, it was an utterly fascinating research job. For a few months earlier this year, my study floor was absolutely covered in reams of papers – early story treatments, various versions of scripts, production call sheets, progress reports, telexes, letters, press cuttings, on-set B-roll material and dozens of interviews with the various casts and crews – which allowed me to discern the unique story behind each production. As a lifelong Bond fan – first film: 1977′s The Spy Who Loved Me – it was, as they say, ”007th Heaven”, providing an intoxicating close-up perspective of the legendary film series.

Leaving aside my bias as a contributor, this unprecedented level of access to Eon’s archives will ensure that THE JAMES BOND ARCHIVES is well and truly set apart from what will be a crowded field of Bond-related publishing this year. Bolstered by hundreds of previously-unseen photographs and, crucially, full access to the latest Bond production, SKYFALL – no, I know nothing about it! –  as well as benefitting from Taschen’s superb production standards, this is going to be a piece of Bondiana to truly savour. Here’s a look at the cover…

Over the next few months, 007.com will be posting previews from the book so you can get an idea of what you’ll be getting for £135 (yes, a hefty, eye-watering price tag, but if you’ve ever seen The Stanley Kubrick Archives, which I rate as one the best Film books I own, you’ll know that you get your money’s worth…). I am exceptionally proud to have been a part of this and I literally cannot wait to see the finished product. Huge thanks to Paul Duncan for giving me one of the most satisfying and enjoyable freelance gigs I have ever had!

The James Bond Archives, edited by Paul Duncan, is available to pre-order now in hardcover (with an original film strip from a new print of DR. NO included with the first printing of the book), 16.2 x 11.8 in., 600 pages £135/$200/€150 from TASCHEN