by Apostolos Kotsabasis

“Bond, James Bond”. Ever since Sean Connery spoke those immortal words in Dr. No, the most famous secret agent in film history continues to fascinate audiences around the world. Created in 1953 by Ian Fleming, this fearless, peerless and flawless British character has starred in twenty-five EON-produced films, played by six different actors over seven decades. And the franchise goes on.

To tell the full story of how it all began, EON Productions opened its archives of photos, drawings and production material to TASCHEN. The result is this remarkable account of the filming of Dr. No, of Bond’s first cinematic outing: a tome containing a treasure trove of words and images, many of which have never been seen before.

Access to EON’s James Bond archives has been completely unrestricted, so this book is the most comprehensive account of one of the most iconic films the world has ever seen. Delve into the pages to find the true inside story and extraordinary insight into the personalities and processes behind the most successful and longest-running franchise in film history.

You can follow the filming of the movie up close through a day-by-day description of what happened, what scenes were shot and who made the decisions that shaped the story and characters during filming. Among the 1,007 images, you’ll see many rare and never-before-seen stills and on-set shots from photographers such as Bert Cann, Bunny Yaeger, and Bradley Smith, as well as memos, documents, posters, and production plans.

And the behind-the-scenes stories also paint their own pictures, told by the people who were there. From producers Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman to director Terence Young and production designer Ken Adam, as well as the cast, crew, writers and stuntmen, these personal accounts invite readers back in time and on the film set itself.

Author Paul Duncan is a film historian whose TASCHEN books include The Star Wars Archives, The James Bond Archives, The Charlie Chaplin Archives, The Godfather Family Album, Taxi Driver, Film Noir and Horror Cinema, as well as publications on directors, film genres and film stars.

Collector’s edition (no. 501-1,962), each copy numbered.

Photos courtesy of Taschen