The James Bond films, based on Ian Fleming's creation, have been seen by around half the population of the world, since their first release in 1962. The films have charted the changes in political and social sentiments for forty years and have now become the subject of academic study.
Jamesbondresearch.co.uk is an introduction to my own research, at the University of Wales Swansea, into this area. Ian Fleming's 007 has been the subject of substantial interest over the years, but only recently have the films been properly assessed for their political and social content. This website is intended to give an insight into the relationship between the James Bond films and historical reality.
The aim of this site is
not only to introduce James Bond, from an academic perspective, but also to show
him within the wider espionage genre. Other influential authors within the
genre, such as Graham Greene, Eric Ambler, John Buchan, Sapper, Len Deighton and
others are also discussed.
I've tried to get across what I think the main points are in studying Bond, from an academic point of view. As best I can, I've tried not to suck the fun out of watching a Bond film too much, but if you watch the films with half an eye on the context, you can clearly see how the producers tried to use contemporary themes to give something extra to the films.
NEW
- Special Effects Superman: The Art and Effects of Derek Meddings (Foreword by
Sir Roger Moore)
Download the military records of 'Buster' Crabb - one of the men alleged to be the 'real' James Bond
Where you can see the TV adaptation of Len Deighton's Game, Set and Match
Was there a 'real' James Bond?
©2008 Andrew J. Rhodes