JAMES BOND
NEWS 2011

SYD CAIN (April 16th 1918-November 21st 2011)

After a short illness, Production Designer Syd Cain passed away quietly in hospital on November 21st with members of his family at his bedside.

He was 93.

The celebrated Production Designer worked on five James Bond films starting with Dr. No in 1962. His first solo credit as Art Director was on 1963's From Russia With Love. Syd's crowning achievement in the series was the creation of Blofeld's headquarters at Piz Gloria atop the Schilthorn mountain in Switzerland for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). He returned to the series for Roger Moore's 1973 debut Live And Let Die, making his final contribution to the series in 1995 when he produced storyboards and concept artwork for GoldenEye.

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LONDON, 3 November 2011

Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today presented the cast of the 23rd James Bond adventure, entitled Skyfall. The film, from Albert R. Broccoli's EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, is directed by Academy Award^® winner Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his third film as James Bond 007. The screenplay is written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan. Skyfall, which goes into production on Monday, November 7th, will begin its worldwide roll-out in the UK and Ireland on October 26th 2012 and in North America on November 9th 2012.

FULL PRESS RELEASE AND EXCLUSIVE IMAGES FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE

CAST AND CREW IMAGES & INTERVIEWS

Skyfall FACT FILE

7 October 2011
George Baker, the English actor and writer has died at the age of 80. He will be best-known to James Bond fans for playing Sir Hilary Bray in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), (and also dubbing George Lazenby in those scenes where James Bond impersonates Sir Hilary Bray). Baker had also been considered (although never tested) for the role of James Bond in 1961. Baker returned to the series in 1977 to play Captain Benson in The Spy Who Loved Me.

Born in Varna, Bulgaria on April 11, 1931, Baker made his screen debut in The Intruder (1953) directed by Guy Hamilton, and later had a small role in the classic British war film The Dam Busters (1955). After several years as a leading man, Baker turned to television where one of his early roles was “the new Number Two” (the second actor to play the part after Guy Doleman) in Arrival - the first episode of the cult sci-fi/drama series The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan.

In 1973 Baker starred in his own ITV situation-comedy series Bowler; and later in the acclaimed BBC drama serial I, Claudius (1976), playing the Emperor Tiberius Caesar. But it was Barker's starring role as Detective Chief Inspector Reg Wexford in the long-running ITV series The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987-2000), for which the actor will be best remembered. George Baker was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his charitable work in 2007.

GEORGE LAZENBY VISITS THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE
FRIDAY JUNE 17, 2011

STEVE RUBIN hosted an interview with one-time James Bond actor, and reports for 007 MAGAZINE.

Nearly 42 years after the nationwide debut of the sixth James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, actor George Lazenby took the stage at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood on June 17th as part of an American Cinematheque Father’s Day weekend tribute to 007.

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The never to be forgotten John Barry

Monday 20 June 2011 will forever be remembered by all who were in attendance at the Royal Albert Hall as a truly magical evening; for it was on this evening, in that place that the worlds of music and the movies united to pay fulsome tribute to the finest film composer to ever draw breath – John Barry Prendergast. LUKE WILLIAMS’ personal and poignant report perfectly captures the emotional ambiance experienced by many at ‘John Barry - The Memorial Concert’.

Full report and exclusive images from the event

Wednesday 25th May 2011, St. Pancras International, London

The first copies of the eagerly awaited new Bond book, CARTE BLANCHE, arrived in style at St Pancras International in London today. Copies of the book by the best–selling American thriller writer Jeffery Deaver, published in the UK tomorrow by Hodder & Stoughton, were delivered by the Royal Marines Commandos in a stunning display involving abseiling, a fast car and a beautiful Bond girl on a motorbike.

In a scene which could have been lifted from a James Bond novel, Jeffery Deaver pulled up at Europe’s longest bar – The Champagne Bar at St Pancras International – in a special CARTE BLANCHE red Bentley Continental GT flanked by a Bond girl clad in black leathers....

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	CARTE BLANCHE - UK Launch! MARK MAWSTON reports exclusively for 007 MAGAZINE
	LUKE WILLIAMS reports from a ‘Q & A’ session in London with Bond ‘re-boot’ author Jeffery Deaver, held to coincide with the publication day of CARTE BLANCHE.
	Jon Auty reviews CARTE BLANCHE
	Luke Williams reviews CARTE BLANCHE

To celebrate the release of CARTE BLANCHE, the new James Bond book by Jeffery Deaver, on 26th May 2011, publisher Hodder & Stoughton has partnered with Bentley Motors to create an exclusive Bentley special edition: the ultimate luxury edition of the highly anticipated new James Bond adventure. The 500 limited edition copies are available for pre-order from Tuesday 26th April 2011, exactly a month before publication date.

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More Moore for Michael O'Mara

Sir Roger Moore will provide a guide to the cars, gadgets and girls of the James Bond movies to help celebrate the spy series' 50th anniversary on the big screen.

Louise Dixon, Michael O'Mara senior editorial director, bought world rights to Bond on Bond from Lesley Pollinger at Pollinger Ltd. The book will be published in September 2012, coinciding with 50 years of the Bond film franchise and the release of a new movie featuring the suave super-spy.

Michael O'Mara said: “Once you have worked with Roger you find yourself saying, like Oliver Twist: ‘Moore please!'”

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Monday 4th April 2011, 6:30pm
The Jarvis Hall at Royal Institute of British Architects
66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD

In this special tribute and belated 90th Birthday Celebration, BAFTA welcomed fans and colleagues to explore the extraordinary work of Oscar winning Production Designer Sir Ken Adam.

FULL REPORT AND PICTURES FROM THE EVENT

John Gardner's Bond Licence Renewed!

All fourteen of John Gardner's James Bond books will be republished by Orion in the UK, starting in June this year. Orion will celebrate the 30th anniversary of John Gardner's LICENCE RENEWED by publishing the first five titles in hardback, featuring their original covers, in Summer 2011. US reprints by Pegasus with new covers and introductions will follow later in the year.

FULL DETAILS

13 February 2011
The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts presented Sir Christopher Lee [Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)] with the Academy Fellowship at the Orange British Academy Film Awards ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House.

Awarded annually by the Academy, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film.

Previously honoured Fellows include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, John Barry, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench.

VIEW EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS FROM THE 2011 BAFTAs
 

Bond is back, and as ever he is sporting the best in luxury cars. In the pages of CARTE BLANCHE, the new James Bond book by international best-selling author Jeffery Deaver, the fictional British spy has continued with his classic preference of luxury sports car by selecting the breathtaking new Bentley Continental GT as his transport of choice.

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30 January 2011
Composer John Barry has died of a heart attack in New York aged 77.

His arrangement of Monty Norman's ‘James Bond theme’ for Dr. No in 1962 led to him composing scores for 11 films in the series.

A five-time Oscar winner for Born Free [two awards], The Lion In Winter, Out of Africa and Dances With Wolves John Barry was an integral part of the success and longevity of the James Bond series.

007 MAGAZINE Editor & Publisher Graham Rye pays tribute to the prolific composer in this personal recollection. An exclusive report from 2007 - A Tonic For The Heart.

17 January 2011
The new James Bond book, due to be published later this year and written by best-selling thriller writer Jeffery Deaver, is to be called CARTE BLANCHE. Its title and cover artwork are unveiled today (Monday 17th January), at a special launch event at the InterContinental Hotel in Dubai.
 

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