The 1960’s saw not only the birth of yours truly, but also that of Beatlemania, the Tim Tam biscuit, GI Joe action figure, Ford Mustang car, Mary Poppins and the first James Bond adventure on celluloid, Dr No.
Let me start by emphasising that James Bond is ultra-cool. He’s charming, debonair, secretive, elusive and bloody handsome. But he’s also rugged, tough and wins out in the ultimate battle of good versus evil. He’s the British Secret Service agent who became an international and iconic symbol of 1960’s chic.
When I think of the Sixties I’m usually reminded of pop culture images such as the Beatles’ green Apple Corps logo, Snoopy on his kennel, that yellow smiley face and VW Kombi vans covered in peace signs.
In fact I even remember as a pre-teen, wearing a peace badge and door-knocking my local neighbourhood – petition in hand – to ‘Stop the Bomb’!
But I also remember a more sophisticated flip-side to the Sixties. Pan Am flight attendants, astronauts in space, exquisite Asian cuisine, fluorescent city billboards, the Aston Martin, House of Dunhill and fancy cocktail shakers seemed all colourful privileges for grown-ups, and the world of 007 somehow encapsulated it all.
And then there was surf-rock guitar (think The Surfaris and The Shadows) which became a timeless part of the James Bond fanfare, thanks to composer Monty Norman.
“Dum Di-Di Dum Dum…”
Originally, as a little kid, I found the Bond films scary with their sinister cloak and dagger stories, but as I grew older I discovered the adventure, humour and somewhat camp qualities, benchmarking a new unique genre. When you think about it, Maxwell Smart is really a protege of 007.
Then there are the actual Bonds. Sean Connery, Aussie George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, who all encompassed that shaken-not-stirred masculinity wrapped up in a tuxedo.
A couple of years back I was lucky to attend the 50 Years of Bond Style exhibition in Melbourne, which displayed amongst many things, Madonna’s Verity costume, Jaw’s silver teeth and THE golden gun. But undoubtedly the highlight was Daniel Craig’s famous skimpy blue swimming trunks!
The 007 franchise has excitement, exotica, sex appeal, fashion, international culture and music. In fact the music has helped contemporise each outing. From Nancy Sinatra to Paul McCartney & Wings, Duran Duran to Garbage and Madonna to Adele, each bond theme brings in a little piece of that era – just like a time capsule.
Time capsule indeed! Like the one that started around fifty years ago with GI Joe, Tim Tams, James Bond and The Celebrity Whisperer!
Read my article Bond Ambition in the Classic Articles section.
Up close and personal, from 50 Years of Bond Style in Melbourne. Mr Connery hangs to the left, Mr Craig to the right.
Watch my favourite Bond theme You Know My Name by Chris Cornell here.
