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Was James Bond "too ridiculous"?

James Bond “too much on the edge of ridiculous” according to the film studio who turned down Ian...

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08.00 15 May 2026


Was James Bond "too ridiculous"?


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08.00 15 May 2026


James Bond “too much on the edge of ridiculous” according to the film studio who turned down Ian Fleming’s character multiple times.

All this has come to light from a set of reviews where Elstree designated Ian Fleming’s novels as anything from “ridiculous”, “old fashioned” and containing “defects certain to show up more disastrously on the screen”.  

The documents are currently up for sale jointly by Carter Rare Books and Neil Pearson Rare Books and Actor, Writer and Proprietor of Neil Pearson Rare Books. Neil joined Anton to discuss.


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