Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader | Live And Let Die (1954) by Ian Fleming: Literary James Bond #2 book overview and analysis @DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader | Uploaded July 2024 | Updated October 2024, 23 hours ago.
#liveandletdie #ianfleming #jamesbond #booktube
This is my overview analysis of Ian Fleming’s second James Bond novel, 1954’s LIVE AND LET DIE. This is the first mission oriented pure adventure book Fleming wrote and arguably the most action oriented book of the series. The growth in the writer’s confidence is remarkable but readers to have to contend with the inherent racism throughout the book and other related aspects which resulted in the Fleming approved slightly altered 1955 American text which is now used in editions worldwide.
I discuss these elements plus the various adaptations in other media and how they compare to the source material. The 1973 film adaptation, the two comic versions and finally the BBC radio adaptation. I conclude with a discussion of the various editions of the novel, cover artworks and what I have in my own collection.
00:00 Introduction and status as the more confident second novel
07:13 Descriptions of 50’s America
8:21 style change from Casino Royale
09:18 Plot discussion and set pieces
10:07 Mr. Big-the first true Fleming supervillain
12:37 Smersh involvement and more plot summary
13:57 Felix Leiter
14:57 Solitaire as the Bond heroine
15:31 The Silver Phantom train to Florida section, Bond and Solitaire dynamic,
Solitaire is a conscious riff on the damsel in distress. Plus she's a bit spunky.
17:28 Transition to the Florida section
18:25 Transition to Jamaica for the final act, book nicely divided into sections
19:03 Book peppered with mentions of voodooism used by Mr. Big
20:10 little bit of inherent sexism, Bond in closed off battle mindset, Solitaire character analysis
22:36 Felix Leiter and his disagreeing with something...
24:19 Introducing Commander Stangways and Quarrel
25:52 Bond character analysis
29:20 Live And Let Die is a collection of setpieces instead of a central card game
32:56 The "Oh Dear" element: the inherent racism and other dated aspects
35:37 There are at least some positive characters
35:53 The big problem overall is the stereotyped dialogue for secondary characters
37:06 Fleming has both Bond and Leiter express some admiration for black culture
40:11 The 1955 American text version and changes requested, the main passage of contention
44:49 The chapter title change and the literary reference Fleming was making
49:53 Ian Fleming Publications used this example as an excuse to edit the other books randomly
52:33 Final thoughts on reading the novel for the umpteenth time
57:21 The 1973 Film Adaptation
58:45 Inherently echoing Dr. No
59:21 The unheralded GENIUS of Tom Mankiewicz
01:10:33 Unused moments repurposed in other EON films
01:13:08 The usage of Leiter in the films, the David Hedison version and Mank's genius
01:15:24 Mankiewicz wanted to push progressive elements even further-Diana Ross as Solitaire
01:17:00 Summary of film's impact and legacy
01:21:32 The best release of the film is the 1993 letterbox Laserdisc reissue with the best version of the mono mix and isolated M&E track
01:22:17 The Daily Express Newspaper Comic Strip adaptation
01:27:03 Dynamite Comics Adaptation
01:31:14 2019 BBC Radio drama adaptation
01:35:09 Book editions, artwork discussion and editions in my collection. UK 1st Cape
1:36:10 American 1st edition
01:37:33 Bluebook magazine cover painting
01:39:04 UK pan paperback covers
01:39:33 UK 1960's pan paperback
01:40:25 US Perma books paperback
01:42:17 Early Signet paperback covers
01:42:29 The iconic 1960's US Signet paperback
01:43:51 Jove books and Berkley/Charter paperbacks
01:46:01 James Bond Classic Library hardcover
01:46:50 2002 Penguin paperback, UK text debut in USA
01:48:34 The UK Penguin paperbacks
01:49:46 Thomas And Mercer 2014 paperbacks
01:50:20 UK vintage classics
01:51:02 Ian Fleming Publications 2023 UK Paperback
01:51:54 The APPALLINGLY BAD USA 2023 Harper Collins paperback-the WORST Bond book covers of all time!!!
01:53:54 Final Summary
Links and references:
All of my James Bond videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzJOW64UiyQLsSD7Fxavu6Jww8Pqc-b__&si=V1PLt_XBSIgfYf9F
My Literary Bond videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzJOW64UiyQIQ9kCYJJqbLsnSwpUaQI3G&si=q-LHYA57HnhoNZ_G
My Live And Let Die film audio commentary: youtu.be/rtPwU71mePE?si=PlQE6bAgygcM9Efv
My Fleming book collection: youtu.be/S5i4Gy5o8DY?si=eo0z5vDACfWsUS9k
BBC Radio drama adaptation: youtu.be/pBT0SLN6_ew?si=vogpC1_iGp9qyszX
Newspaper strip comic titan books reprints: titanbooks.com/catalog/?creator=john-mclusky&page=1
Dynamite comic: dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C1524112720
Carl Van Vechten novel: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Van_Vechten
@TheBondExperience stream discussion: youtube.com/live/6oaC17Agq9E?si=petBJJXyYGpc3Dpf
@calvindyson review: youtu.be/C2YssH0o-u4?si=E4CU4Ul7qyg6AsZd
@DutchBondFan review: youtu.be/OVLmX7kffgw?si=OesFM6GtpvganzWN
#liveandletdie #ianfleming #jamesbond #booktube
This is my overview analysis of Ian Fleming’s second James Bond novel, 1954’s LIVE AND LET DIE. This is the first mission oriented pure adventure book Fleming wrote and arguably the most action oriented book of the series. The growth in the writer’s confidence is remarkable but readers to have to contend with the inherent racism throughout the book and other related aspects which resulted in the Fleming approved slightly altered 1955 American text which is now used in editions worldwide.
I discuss these elements plus the various adaptations in other media and how they compare to the source material. The 1973 film adaptation, the two comic versions and finally the BBC radio adaptation. I conclude with a discussion of the various editions of the novel, cover artworks and what I have in my own collection.
00:00 Introduction and status as the more confident second novel
07:13 Descriptions of 50’s America
8:21 style change from Casino Royale
09:18 Plot discussion and set pieces
10:07 Mr. Big-the first true Fleming supervillain
12:37 Smersh involvement and more plot summary
13:57 Felix Leiter
14:57 Solitaire as the Bond heroine
15:31 The Silver Phantom train to Florida section, Bond and Solitaire dynamic,
Solitaire is a conscious riff on the damsel in distress. Plus she's a bit spunky.
17:28 Transition to the Florida section
18:25 Transition to Jamaica for the final act, book nicely divided into sections
19:03 Book peppered with mentions of voodooism used by Mr. Big
20:10 little bit of inherent sexism, Bond in closed off battle mindset, Solitaire character analysis
22:36 Felix Leiter and his disagreeing with something...
24:19 Introducing Commander Stangways and Quarrel
25:52 Bond character analysis
29:20 Live And Let Die is a collection of setpieces instead of a central card game
32:56 The "Oh Dear" element: the inherent racism and other dated aspects
35:37 There are at least some positive characters
35:53 The big problem overall is the stereotyped dialogue for secondary characters
37:06 Fleming has both Bond and Leiter express some admiration for black culture
40:11 The 1955 American text version and changes requested, the main passage of contention
44:49 The chapter title change and the literary reference Fleming was making
49:53 Ian Fleming Publications used this example as an excuse to edit the other books randomly
52:33 Final thoughts on reading the novel for the umpteenth time
57:21 The 1973 Film Adaptation
58:45 Inherently echoing Dr. No
59:21 The unheralded GENIUS of Tom Mankiewicz
01:10:33 Unused moments repurposed in other EON films
01:13:08 The usage of Leiter in the films, the David Hedison version and Mank's genius
01:15:24 Mankiewicz wanted to push progressive elements even further-Diana Ross as Solitaire
01:17:00 Summary of film's impact and legacy
01:21:32 The best release of the film is the 1993 letterbox Laserdisc reissue with the best version of the mono mix and isolated M&E track
01:22:17 The Daily Express Newspaper Comic Strip adaptation
01:27:03 Dynamite Comics Adaptation
01:31:14 2019 BBC Radio drama adaptation
01:35:09 Book editions, artwork discussion and editions in my collection. UK 1st Cape
1:36:10 American 1st edition
01:37:33 Bluebook magazine cover painting
01:39:04 UK pan paperback covers
01:39:33 UK 1960's pan paperback
01:40:25 US Perma books paperback
01:42:17 Early Signet paperback covers
01:42:29 The iconic 1960's US Signet paperback
01:43:51 Jove books and Berkley/Charter paperbacks
01:46:01 James Bond Classic Library hardcover
01:46:50 2002 Penguin paperback, UK text debut in USA
01:48:34 The UK Penguin paperbacks
01:49:46 Thomas And Mercer 2014 paperbacks
01:50:20 UK vintage classics
01:51:02 Ian Fleming Publications 2023 UK Paperback
01:51:54 The APPALLINGLY BAD USA 2023 Harper Collins paperback-the WORST Bond book covers of all time!!!
01:53:54 Final Summary
Links and references:
All of my James Bond videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzJOW64UiyQLsSD7Fxavu6Jww8Pqc-b__&si=V1PLt_XBSIgfYf9F
My Literary Bond videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzJOW64UiyQIQ9kCYJJqbLsnSwpUaQI3G&si=q-LHYA57HnhoNZ_G
My Live And Let Die film audio commentary: youtu.be/rtPwU71mePE?si=PlQE6bAgygcM9Efv
My Fleming book collection: youtu.be/S5i4Gy5o8DY?si=eo0z5vDACfWsUS9k
BBC Radio drama adaptation: youtu.be/pBT0SLN6_ew?si=vogpC1_iGp9qyszX
Newspaper strip comic titan books reprints: titanbooks.com/catalog/?creator=john-mclusky&page=1
Dynamite comic: dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C1524112720
Carl Van Vechten novel: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Van_Vechten
@TheBondExperience stream discussion: youtube.com/live/6oaC17Agq9E?si=petBJJXyYGpc3Dpf
@calvindyson review: youtu.be/C2YssH0o-u4?si=E4CU4Ul7qyg6AsZd
@DutchBondFan review: youtu.be/OVLmX7kffgw?si=OesFM6GtpvganzWN
