Time Tunnel - James Bond In History

Step back in time with the Time Tunnel feature series at MI6. Discover how the media viewed James Bond, and how the world received the movies and books in a snapshot in history. From reviews and opinions to on-set reports and news, Time Tunnel looks back at the legacy and popularity of the worlds most famous secret agent.

  1962
No, No, A Thousand Times No
MI6 takes a look back at how the world's media viewed Ian Fleming's James Bond days before Dr No hit cinemas
  1954
You Asked For It
MI6 looks back at how America was introduced to James Bond when Ian Fleming's debut novel Casino Royale was unleashed upon the masses

  1965
On The Brink of Bondmaina
Casino Royale may be breaking all the box-office records, but back in 1965 the world was on the brink of Bondmania
  1973
The Roger Moore Era Begins
After switching between actors on the three previous films, James Bond fans were introduced to Roger Moore as the new 007 in 1973

  1963
Filming From Russia With Love
In April 1963, Ian Fleming and intrepid reporters were on location in Istanbul to report on James Bond's latest big screen adventure
  1962
Fleming Turns The Tables
MI6 looks back to the year of 1962, and the press reaction to Ian Fleming’s surprising James Bond novel "The Spy Who Loved Me"

  1964
Connery Offbeat In Hollywood
MI6 looks back to 1964 and the effect Sean Connery had on the movie business in Hollywood as Agent James Bond 007
  1963
Setting The Formula
MI6 looks back to 1963 and the observations of the press whilst the world awaited 007's return in "From Russia With Love"

  1963
Saved By The Bells
MI6 travels back to 1963 for the release of Ian Fleming's epic novel "On Her Majesty's Secret Service” and the press reactions to Mrs. Bond
  1958
The Upper-Crust Low Life
MI6 travels back to 1958 for the release of Ian Fleming's sixth 007 novel "Dr No”, when critics were still struggling with his mix of sex, sadism and snobbery

  1977
Jottings From The Screening Room
30 years on, how do notes taken from advanced press screenings of The Spy Who Loved Me stack up against modern reviews?
  1975
All That Glistens Isn't Gold
According to reviewers in 1974, the only thing golden about James Bond's ninth cinematic adventure was Scaramanga's gun. MI6 looks back at the critical mauling

  1976
The ABC TV Edit of O.H.M.S.S.
MI6 looks back on the controversial edit of OHMSS that was broadcast by ABC TV in the USA thirty years ago
  1966
The Real Story of Ian Fleming
MI6 looks back to October 1966 with America Life Magazine, and what John Pearson had to say about Ian Fleming

  1979
007 Goes Into Orbit
MI6 looks back to 1979 and the observations of the press when outer space belonged to James Bond
  1965
The Bond Market
MI6 steps back in time to 1965 to witness the first wave of James Bond toys and merchandise that took the world by storm

  1965
Larger Than Life
MI6 dives in to the deep end to find out what the reviewers thought of Sean Connery's fourth outing "Thunderball" back in 1965
  1964
Knocking Off Fort Knox
MI6 travels back to December 1964, a week before Goldfinger was released in the USA to look at how the press were hyping 007's next adventure

  1983
007 Head To Head
MI6 looks back to 1982 when Octopussy and Never Say Never Again were both in production, with Moore and Connery preparing to duel at the box office
  1966
Barry On The Bondwagon
MI6 looks back to 1966, when John Barry's film scores were chart topping albums and his rise in stardom was inextricably linked to Bond Mania

  1971
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Sean Connery's return to the role of James Bond in the 1971 film "Diamonds Are Forever"
  1962
007 v. SMERSH
Just before his hero made the leap to the silver screen, Soviet press outlets went on a propaganda offensive against Ian Fleming's adventures

  1994
The Passing Of A Legend
MI6 looks back to the media coverage in 1994 when director and Bond-maker Terence Young passed away
  1973
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Roger Moore's debut as James Bond in the 1973 film "Live And Let Die"

  1977
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Roger Moore's third outing as James Bond in the 1977 film "The Spy Who Loved Me"
  1983
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Roger Moore's 'all time high' outing as James Bond in the 1983 film "Octopussy"

  1979
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Roger Moore's fourth outing as James Bond in the 1979 film "Moonraker"
  1985
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Roger Moore's final outing as James Bond in the 1985 film "A View To A Kill"

  1979
People "Moonraker"
People magazine featured "Moonraker" in August 1979 with interviews from Roger Moore, Lois Chiles and Richard Kiel
  1981
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Roger Moore's down to earth outing as James Bond in the 1981 film "For Your Eyes Only"

  1989
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Timothy Dalton's second and final outing as James Bond in the 1989 film "Licence To Kill"
  1995
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Pierce Brosnan's very first outing as James Bond in the 1995 film "GoldenEye"

  1983
People: "Bond's Babes"
Shortly after "Octopussy" hit the big screen in 1983, People magazine covered the release with a feature on the James Bond girls...
  1969
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received George Lazenby's one and only outing as James Bond in the 1969 film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"...

  1999
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Pierce Brosnan in the 1999 adventure "The World Is Not Enough"...
  1994
Bailing On Bond
MI6 looks back to 1994 and the day that Timothy Dalton announced his retirement from the James Bond role...

  2002
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received the 40th anniversary 007 outing, "Die Another Day"...
  1964
Review Rewind
MI6 trawls the archives to see how critics of the day received Sean Connery's second outing as James Bond in "From Russia With Love"...

Related Areas
James Bond 101 Articles
Movie Index
Literary Index