James Bond & Friends

What has been going on in the world of Bond recently? 

In this episode, we cover the latest news and current events in the world of James Bond. With the long-lead articles about No Time To Die starting to drip out, we discuss the points raised by Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, and Ana de Armas in interviews. Along the way, we suggest some alternative approaches to publicity over the well-worn trope of being a 'different Bond girl,' catch Roger Moore in Black Widow, ponder if the 007 series has so much influence over the spy genre that there is no room left to move for upcoming properties, ask if the billion-dollar club is gone for good, and bask in David's statistics. 

The recording took place on July 23rd, 2021 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

Paul Atkinson and James Page are co-founders of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential 

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com  

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson  

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma 

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com 

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

Have some of the Bond villains inspired real-world events? 

In this episode, we flip the discussion of villainy as the world bears witness to billionaires shooting rival rockets into space. Oftentimes, real-world events have inspired the plots of James Bond films, but we ponder which Bond villain plots may have pre-empted real-world events? What did Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Nestle, microchip manufacturers, Newsmax, and the CIA possibly learn (allegedly) from Bond villains? Along the way, we discover Roger's television toaster, golden toilets, Elliott Carver's missing internet, unnecessary turns in space, and a real-world SPECTRE. 

The recording took place on May 21st, 2021 in the USA and UK. 

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential 

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com  

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson 

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential  

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma 

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr 

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

How did the two games Agent Under Fire and NightFire succeed in capturing the essence of Bond? 

In this episode, we revisit two of the best-loved James Bond games ever as they come up on 20 years since release. We uncover some strange development history and explore the overlap between the two games that were released in the shadow of GoldenEye but still found a huge audience away from the spotlight of Halo. Along the way, we discover jiggly boobs, a Neighbours connection, how the Moonraker novel was adapted twice the same year, and find the most obscure James Bond Jr reference.  As mentioned in the podcast, the online PC NightFire community is alive and well at nightfirepc.com, and the recommended PS2 emulator to play both games can be downloaded from pcsx2.net 

The recording took place on June 17th, 2021 in the USA and UK. 

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential 

Kim Justice makes documentaries about old computer and video games, mostly with a European slant, at youtube.com/KimbleJustice 

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson 

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

In which film did each lead actor put in their best acting performance?

In this episode, we try and anticipate the audience vote on which film enjoyed the best performance of each James Bond actor. Just looking at the performance of the lead role, and not the film as a whole, can we guess the results of the real-time Twitter polls, or will our panel's consensus reach different conclusions?

The recording took place on June 11th, 2021 in the USA, UK, and Canada.

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential 

Michael Boyce (@mwboyce) is a Professor of English and Film Studies and host of Geek 4

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr 

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma 

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com 

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

Who is in a Bond film for just a few moments but makes a big impact?

In this episode, we each choose a character that is only in a James Bond film for a few minutes but makes a big impact on the adventure, the viewer, or the series as a whole. Along the way we stumble upon engagement rings, a non-human selection, witness Calvin tempt fate, and expand the sweeper guy universe.

The recording took place on June 4th, 2021 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential 

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr 

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com 

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com  

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson 

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

Why is You Only Live Twice unloved by most fans? 

Following our recent You Only Live Twice watchalong, we revisit the question as to why the film with such iconic imagery and all the Bond ingredients fails to stick the landing and isn't that well regarded within fandom. Why is the sum of the parts not greater than the whole? We ponder if the character of James Bond himself has drifted too far from his introduction in Dr. No, whether the film has become a deep source of parody, the boldness of using Japan in 1967, or if the dream logic of the plot are contributing factors. 

The recording took place on April 2nd, 2021 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential 

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr 

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com  

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

How will the Amazon take-over of MGM affect the James Bond series? 

With the news that Amazon will spend $8.45b to take over MGM, we discuss the potential ups and downs of having half the James Bond rights owned by a company with deep pockets. Will the film series see stability in the future with the rocky financial turmoil of MGM behind it, or could there be more drama ahead? Along the way, we ponder the impact of changing traditions, question the currency of nostalgia, and look forward to what could be. 

The recording took place on May 26th, 2021 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com  

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger  

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

This episode we survey the book covers of ‘Goldfinger’, including the first edition by Richard Chopping. This strong graphic cover was apparently Chopping’s favourite Bond effort. After discussion of the first edition our panelists bring a cover or two to discuss, some with more artistic merit than others.

Along the way we discover the boatman and the Styx, a jumbo rose, murder for art’s sake, dogs in the garden, the opposite of travel writing, design by the tea boy (in his tea break), David Lynch’s book covers, Matisse’s cutouts meet Picasso’s George Sanders, awards for the most megalomaniacal villain, when David last used gun in anger, sparkle filters, missing aviators, and piton guns.

Covers discussed

David's picks: Spanish cover 1 / Spanish cover 2

Ben's pick (Book Club 1959)

Sean's picks: Turkish cover / Bantam US cover

The recording took place on April 16th, 2021 in the USA, UK, Spain, and New Zealand.

Paul Atkinson is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger  

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

Join us as we watch 1967's You Only Live Twice together as a group experience. 

With the essential ingredients dialed up to 11, is the film less than the sum of its parts? Along the way, we recall Terence Stamp's wild idea for the film, discover why they don't serve beans on submarines, ponder Bond's while you wait tailoring, recall a near decapitation, hunt for sunken car treasure, resurrect Q's label maker, discuss the joys of monorails and abandoned tractors, and debut Calvin's vocal performance as Blofeld's cat. 

The recording took place on October 2nd, 2020 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

Is the Daniel Craig era responsible for a Timothy Dalton renaissance?

With the ratings of his two James Bond films seeing a boost from 2005 onwards, we ponder what effect (if any) that Daniel Craig's tenure may have had on Timothy Dalton's appreciation within the fan base and wider audience. Along the way we question the urban legend that is Fleming's darker Bond and Dalton's strategy, recall what it was like to witness his launch back in 1987, ask what impact nostalgia is having on the era, and whether a dip back into the books in 2005 started this ball rolling...

The recording took place on May 7th, 2021 in the USA and UK.

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger  

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr 

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021