Ian Fleming’s only film script was for Moonraker but it was never used. The undeveloped screenplay has come to light as part of a major collection of Bond material amassed by two leading antiquarian bookshops in London, Peter Harrington and Adrian Harrington Rare Books, where Gilbert is the resident Fleming expert. All 12 of the Bond novels, including From Russia With Love, became popular motion pictures, although many strayed from Fleming’s original plots.
The novelist had to wait until 1962, two years before his death, to see any of his novels adapted for cinema: Albert (“Cubby”) Broccoli and Harry Saltzman adapted his 1958 novel Dr No for the now classic film starring Sean Connery, which led to one of cinema’s most successful franchises.
The typed screenplay, still in its Rank folder, remained forgotten decades after Fleming had submitted it. It is a very Bondian scenario – a megalomaniac who wants to see the downfall of Britain.”īut the Rank Organisation, at the time the biggest film company in the UK, failed to see its potential. It is his only attempt at a film script, so it’s hugely important. Jon Gilbert, an expert in Fleming literature, told the Observer: “This is the very first screenplay written by Fleming imagining Bond for the big screen. M’s flirtatious secretary, Miss Moneypenny, is conspicuous by her absence.Ī Cockney card sharp called Tosh – a special branch officer working undercover – is one of a new cast of characters who take on the villain Hugo Drax. The head of the British secret intelligence service is not called “M”, and more closely resembles an affable 1950s city gent than the gruff character of the novels and films. Just as in the novel, Bond is portrayed as a cold-hearted assassin, but Fleming makes some changes.
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