You Won’t Believe Roald Dahl Wrote a James Bond Movie!

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Acclaimed by numerous fans and contemporaries as “an exceptional storyteller for children during the 20th century,” renowned British author Roald Dahl is best known for crafting a multitude of cherished novels and short stories, such as “James and the Giant Peach,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda,” and “The BFG.” With over 300 million copies of his captivating and enchanting books sold worldwide, Dahl’s literary prowess is widely recognized. Interestingly, what many might not know is that he also ventured into Hollywood and wrote the screenplay for the 1967 James Bond film “You Only Live Twice.

Roald Dahl, who was close friends with the renowned author Ian Fleming, found himself in the world of filmmaking without any prior experience, when he contributed to the creation of an exciting and captivating adventure that Sean Connery’s Bond embarked on. Let’s delve deeper into how Dahl became part of You Only Live Twice, and explore its reception by both critics and audiences during its spectacular premiere.

One of the Literary World’s Finest Authors Embraces the Cinema

Known for penning some of the most cherished children’s novels and short stories, such as “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda,” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Roald Dahl is an author adored and respected by many. With over 300 million copies of his books sold, both during and after his lifetime, he stands among the greatest authors ever. In the 1960s, Dahl dipped his toes into the world of Hollywood and penned two screenplays. Notably, these were for films based on Ian Fleming’s books: “You Only Live Twice” (a James Bond film) and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Ian Fleming, an accomplished storyteller and personal friend, was assigned to pen the adaptation for the film “You Only Live Twice,” as producers turned down Sydney Boehm’s initial script and Richard Maibaum, the original Bond screenwriter, was unreachable. Despite having no prior experience in writing for cinema, Fleming was given creative freedom to develop the storyline due to his belief that “Casino Royale” was Fleming’s weakest book with no movie-worthy plot. Consequently, he had to create an entirely new narrative while incorporating around four or five ideas from the original story.

Dahl found ideas for his screenplay from two actual occurrences: the historic spacewalks during Gemini 4 and Voskhod 2 in 1965 by the United States and Soviet Union, and the startling disappearance of a nuclear-armed U.S Air Force bomber over Spain. Notably, this renowned author worked closely with director Lewis Gilbert on the film You Only Live Twice, greatly admiring him for his impressive work on three James Bond films, including The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. Dahl himself spoke highly of teaming up with Gilbert.

Different directors sometimes have such inflated self-confidence that they feel compelled to rewrite scripts and insert their own dialogue, which more often than not leads to catastrophe. What I greatly respected about Lewis Gilbert was his ability to simply use the script as written and direct it. That’s what great directing is all about: either you trust the writer or you don’t.

‘You Only Live Twice’ Made Its Mark

The iconic actor Sean Connery once again took on the role of suave secret agent James Bond in the 1967 spy thriller “You Only Live Twice.” In this film, Bond embarks on a covert mission to a secluded island in the Sea of Japan, where he searches for a missing American and Russian spacecraft that vanished under mysterious circumstances amidst the tense backdrop of the Cold War. With assistance from Tiger Tanaka, the head of Japanese Secret Service (portrayed by Tetsurō Tamba), and the enigmatic ninja agent Aki (played by Akiko Wakabayashi), Bond delves into uncovering the sinister global plot that’s unfolding.

The movie “You Only Live Twice,” released on June 13, 1967, was a significant success both critically and commercially, earning more than $111 million against its production budget of $9.5 million. It received widespread acclaim for its entertaining concept, Sean Connery’s charismatic portrayal, and Donald Pleasence’s captivating performance as Ernst Stavro Blofeld. However, it marked the first decrease in overall revenue for a James Bond film, primarily due to numerous imitations becoming popular and the saturation of the spy genre.

Despite initially receiving mixed reviews upon release, the film “You Only Live Twice” has since earned critical acclaim for its spectacular special effects, stunning visuals, and thrilling gadgetry. The character of Aki, played by Akiko Wakabayashi, is often hailed as one of the franchise’s most memorable Bond girls. The character was a tribute to the Japanese woman of the 1960s, as specifically created for the movie by its director Lewis Gilbert. Although it may not be the strongest film in the James Bond series, its distinctive origins and lasting influence have kept “You Only Live Twice” a must-watch for fans nearly six decades later.

Rent/Buy You Only Live Twice on Prime Video.

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2025-01-26 18:02