FLEMING, THE MAN WHO WOULD BE BOND

UK, 2012, 170 minutes, Colour.
Dominic Cooper, Lara Pulver, Samuel West, Anna Chancellor, Rupert Evans, Lesley Manville, Pip Torrens.
Directed by Matt Whitecross.

Fleming was designed for television, broadcast sometimes in four episodes, sometimes in two.

The film goes back into Fleming’s life in the 1930s, his being a correspondent and interviewing Goebbels, his being a man about town, his womanising, his being seen as unreliable. Comparisons were made with his brother, Peter, author as well as highly involved in war activity. There are several scenes with Fleming’s mother, a haughty and disdainful woman, with connections to Winston Churchill.

The film is quite meticulous in its re-creation of the period, of war activity, training in Canada, action in Germany, as well as the background and desk work.

Dominic Cooper seems rather wooden at times as Ian Fleming. Lara Pulver is a presence as Anne, whom he eventually marries. There is solid support from Samuel West as the admiral who takes on Fleming, is often exasperated at his insubordination and his daring but who supports his ideas. Is the model for M. Anna Chancellor has a very good role as, secretary of the admiral, liaison with Fleming, the model for Miss Moneypenny.

The film shows Fleming developing when given responsibilities during the war, always taking risks, always having new and daring ideas, many of which succeeded in practice. Which means that Fleming’s own background is very influential in his imaginative creation of James Bond.

1. The popularity of James Bond? Interest in Ian Fleming? Fleming himself, his life, experience, the background to his novels, his writing?

2. The film designed for a television audience?

3. Britain in the 1930s, London, scenes in Canada in the 1940s, France? The West Indies in the 1950s?

4. Dominic Cooper as Ian Fleming, the credibility of his characterisation?

5. The family background, the father dead in World War I, the mother and her ambitions, idolising Peter, criticising Ian? Peter as a hero, writer, activity in the war, his opportunities, desk work? The contrast with Ian?

6. The opening, West Indies, the yacht, Ian and his wedding to Anne, his character, her character? Finishing Casino Royale? The relationship, sex, with the violent touch? Fleming’s attitude towards women?

7. Fleming as young, the journalist, the interview with Goebbels? As a collector, as a playboy, womaniser? The meeting with Muriel, his love for her, their scenes together, the banter, going to see her and her death in the Blitz? Casual relationships, personal relationships? The meeting with Anne, married, her husband at war? His continued seeing her? The flirtatious behaviour, the violent sexual behaviour? Anne and her wanting him to marry her? Her relationship with Esmond, the wedding? Her regrets?

8. His relationship with his brother, some rivalry, yet his regard for his brother? Their social meetings, the discussions, serious?

9. The manuscript, the Nazi? Godfrey and the interview, offering Ian the job, the risks, his accepting? His being insubordinate? Godfrey, his work, the Navy, old-style, yet interested in Fleming’s ideas? The model for M? Monday, her personality, her work, the banter with Fleming, support of Godfrey, going out with Fleming, his following the woman, the bombing and her being injured? Her being the model for Miss Moneypenny?

10. Fleming and the staff, having to draw their attention, the importance of information going through him? His desk and his office? His creative ideas? The visit to Portugal? Playing cards with the Nazis? Getting information? The Hungarian girl, the rape, killing the Nazi? Fleming’s idea of the advance spies? The reputation for wild behaviour?

11. Going to Canada, the tests, his training, the plans, his return? The American officers?

12. Continuing the relationship with Anne, their encounters? Desmond, the hunting trip and the shooting? Anne’s husband dying? The possibilities for
marriage, the opportunities, Fleming not taking them?

13. The development of the war, Godfrey, the relationship, his having to retire? Monday and her continuing?

14. The 30 squad, the complaints, the scene of the recruiting of the prisoner and his later saving of Fleming?

15. The story of the man who never was, the papers, the body, everything being authentic? Being washed ashore? The effect on the war?

16. The change of admirals, the new admiral and his more severe attitude towards Fleming?

17. The interventions of his mother, meeting with Anne, her disdain of people, Fleming rebelling against his mother?

18. The action in France, Churchill and the decision about the French navy, Fleming’s disobedience, his chauffeur, confronting the admiral who admired him, a successful mission? Reactions back in London?

19. The nuclear documents in Germany, Fleming’s proposal, the trip to Germany, the dangers, finding the town, finding the building, the documents, the man in charge, his collaboration, the arrival of the Nazis, Fleming and his German, his bargaining, but allowing the keeper of the documents to be executed?

20. The end of the war, Fleming and his marriage to end, the honeymoon in the West Indies, his drawing on his experience for his novels, the completion of Casino Royale?