Every other year or so, a James Bond film comes to the cinemas around the world. We are all used to it and either adore it or ignore it. Like a meteor, these films trail after them a trail of book publications, most of which are not worth the paper they are printed on. I had warned in my last review ‘Quantum of Solace by Ian Fleming‘ that more would be coming soon.

In his book, McKay tells the story behind the Bond films. It is not a new story, others have done it before. It tells the story of the producers, Broccoli and Saltzmann, two creative genies with the talent to find the right people for the job. Out of it, he makes a good case for the claim that without the films Fleming would be forgotten and his books out of print. Due to the films, his books are to be found in book shops everywhere.

McKay gives us the full treat, taking us through every film produced up to the present. It is obvious that he knows them well, and the facts are well researched. Having said this, I have to admit that I tend to disagree with him on most statements all the same. But that is a matter of opinion, not science. He is right, though, to attribute the timelessness of the films to two sound producers. Broccoli and Saltzmann had the knack of concentrating on what matters while ignoring the fads of time. Where most films become hopelessly outdated, Bond films just have aged respectfully.

I also agree with him that Thunderball was the most boring Bond film ever. But how he can be kind to ‘poor’ Lazenby beats me, though McKay alleges him selling minty chocolates before becoming an actor. And I for one violently disapprove of Roger Moore who should have played comedy instead. McKay on the other hand is highly appreciative of Moore, though he sees that the errors in taste in these films were many. His list of atrocities committed is quite impressive, actually.

Besides the producers and the actors, he pays tribute to the three men who set the style for Bond films to this day, Adam, Barry, and Binder. I tend to think that the mixture of all these talents including Connery made the first films so highly memorable. In a way, Quantum of Solace is still carried by these films despite the many years that have gone by.

The book makes a good read, maybe because there is nothing really new in it. McKay has done his homework on details, obviously, and writes a droll style. It’s well worth a rainy afternoon. If it’s worth its selling price of £18.99 I must leave up to you. I would rather wait for it in the library on a day I have nothing better to do.