The James Bond Bedside Companion by Raymond Benson Page A

himself. Multiple Toy Makers manufactured a replica of the James Bond attaché case with sniperscope and plastic daggers in the lining. Gilbert produced a number of items, including James Bond and Oddjob action dolls (the latter could throw his bowler hat), as well as four-inch plastic figures of Bond characters and miniature set-pieces. Gilbert even produced a "James Bond 007 Magic Set," which had nothing to do with Bond per se, but was simply a box of magic trick toys with James Bond and spy - relateddesigns. The Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corp. sold a pack of James Bond 007 Bubble Gum trading cards featuring scenes from Dr. No , From Russia With Love ,and Goldfinger. A further set was produced a year later featuring Thunderball. For the adults, Weldon, Inc. created 007 pajamas and a complete line of 007 sleepwear, and the Colgate-Palmolive Co. manufactured a line of toiletries, including "007 Talc." Once the juvenile market was tapped, James Bond was very big business indeed.

Multiple Toy Makers' shoulder holster and "missile" gun— "Bond's P.A.K. [Personal Attack Kit]." (Reprinted by permission of Miner Industries, Inc.)

Multiple Toy Makers' attaché case patterned after the one used in From Russia With Love . (Reprinted by permission of Miner Industries, Inc.)

    The by-products of "Bondmania" (Photos by Pamela Cunningham Hampton)

A.C. Gilbert Co.'s Oddjob dolls. The one on the right tosses his bowler hat by spring action. (Reprinted by permission of Gabriel.)

A James Bond "Spy Watch," made by A. C. Gilbert Co. (Reprinted by permission of Gabriel.)

"Action figures" of Dr. No, Oddjob, and Goldfinger, plus a moving laser beam table with James Bond strapped onto it! Made by A. C. Gilbert Co. (Reprinted by permission of Gabriel.)

Battery-operated Aston Martin. Made by A. C. Gilbert Co. (Reprinted by permission of Gabriel.)

Bubble-gum trading card box. (© Copyright 1965 by the Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corp., used by permission.)

Bubble-gum trading cards. (© Copyright 1965 by the Phil adelphia Chewing Gum Corp., used by permission.)

Ever since Kevin McClory had obtained the film rights to THUNDERBALL, he had been anxious to begin production. The only problem was that Eon Productions had the market monopolized. Sean Connery was the only James Bond as far as the public was concerned, and McClory had trouble finding a suitable actor for the role. At one point, McClory approached Richard Burton to consider playing Bond, and reportedly, the actor was very interested. McClory says that while he was in the midst of his plans to launch his own production, he was approached by Broccoli and Saltzman about a deal. Perhaps the Eon producers felt that a rival 007 picture would be damaging to their own series. Cubby Broccoli flew to Dublin where he and McClory met at the airport. Here, the deal was made to make Thunderball ,the fourth James Bond film, which Albert R Broccoli and Harry Saltzman would present,but Kevin McClory would produce. In actuality, the film was produced by all three men, but because of McClory's legal victory in 1963, it was he who received full credit. McClory claims that as a condition of the contract, the copyright to the film rights to the THUNDERBALL novel and screenplays related to the film would revert back to McClory ten years after the domestic release date of Thunderball. He agreed not to make further Bond pictures based on "The Film Scripts," during this period.
    In late 1964 and early 1965, Leonard Russell, features editor on the Sunday Times , commissioned a biography of Ian Fleming and engaged John Pearson, a writer who had assisted Fleming on the "Atticus" column in the newspaper, as the author. Throughout 1965, Russell and Pearson collected reminiscences and letters from Fleming's friends and colleagues, and put together the pieces of the man's many-faceted life. Fleming's personal correspondence was purchased from Anne Fleming as well. Pearson traveled all over the world to interview people