Noted author Ian Fleming, who introduced the world to James Bond in 1953 with Casino Royale would have turned 99 today. I must admit that most of my exposure to Fleming and his work has been on the silver screen. The difference between books about bond and the films based on them is that the books are edgier, darker if you please. Last year’s adaptation of the first Bond novel actually held more true to the book than any of the others I have had the opportunity to read and/or see.
Many people are unaware that Fleming also brought us that wonderful flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The stories appeared in 1964 and were dedicated to the “original” Chitty Chitty Bang Bang built in 1920 according to Fleming. I procured a reprint of the original stories a few years ago and fell in love all over again with Caracticus Pott and his magical car.
As with Bond the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang stories and movies have very little in common. I would say that the
similarities end almost as quickly as the movies begin. In the case of Fleming books and the movies “based” on them, I would not hazard to indicate one is superior to the other because of this departure. Instead I would say consider them as separately qualified and separately entertaining. Enjoy the books; enjoy the films; and don’t bother trying to unite the two.
And happy birthday Mr. Fleming.
Many people are unaware that Fleming also brought us that wonderful flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The stories appeared in 1964 and were dedicated to the “original” Chitty Chitty Bang Bang built in 1920 according to Fleming. I procured a reprint of the original stories a few years ago and fell in love all over again with Caracticus Pott and his magical car.
As with Bond the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang stories and movies have very little in common. I would say that the
similarities end almost as quickly as the movies begin. In the case of Fleming books and the movies “based” on them, I would not hazard to indicate one is superior to the other because of this departure. Instead I would say consider them as separately qualified and separately entertaining. Enjoy the books; enjoy the films; and don’t bother trying to unite the two.And happy birthday Mr. Fleming.
This entry was posted
on 28 May 2007
at 8:11 PM
and is filed under
Birthdays,
Bond,
Books,
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,
Ian Fleming,
Movies
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