K1Bond007.com » Probably not "True Bond"

Just a reminder tomorrow, June 22 at 8pm (ET), Encore presents “True Bond” an original special on Ian Fleming’s supposed inspiration for James Bond. This will be followed by a 52-hour “Bond-A-Thon” featuring all the films between Dr. No and Licence to Kill as well as Never Say Never Again.

I don’t have Encore so I can’t see it, but given the description I’ll go ahead and just caution everyone to take what you see with a grain of salt. If you want to find out who (if anyone) inspired Ian Fleming for James Bond, it’s best to read Andrew Lycett’s “Ian Fleming” or John Pearson’s “The Life of Ian Fleming“. In my opinion anyway…

Still, hopefully it’ll be informative. If you miss the special, they’ll be replaying it at 10am on June 23 and at 12:45pm on June 24 (all times ET). For Encore’s press release, keep on reading, and if you happen to catch it leave me a comment telling me what you thought.

His name was Popov, Dusko Popov. Not a household name like James Bond, Sean Connery or Roger Moore, but nevertheless, he was the spy who came in from the cold that author Ian Fleming reputedly based 007, his legendary secret agent on. On Friday, June 22 beginning at 8 p.m. (et/pt), Encore presents True Bond, an original special on Fleming’s inspiration, followed by a 52-hour Bond-A-Thon featuring 16 classic Bond films, including Dr. No, The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldfinger, From Russia With Love and Thunderball, among others.

Popov, a Yugoslav playboy, was recruited by Britain as a double agent during World War II after earlier agreeing to work for the Germans. Popov’s codename was “Tricycle,” originally thought to be attributed to him for his penchant for menages a trois’. However, his original codename “Scout” was changed when he appointed two sub agents under him (hence referencing the three-wheeled cycle).

Around the same time, author Ian Fleming worked in British naval intelligence and was detailed to trail the charismatic Popov, who stayed at the most posh hotels, ate at the finest restaurants, played at the top casinos and was indeed a suave ladies man — a worthy predecessor to the fictional 007.

True Bond will be followed by a 52-hour Bond-A-Thon featuring the action thrillers that made Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and, hmmmm, George Lazenby, famous. Other notables who appear in some of the Bond-A-Thon films include Kim Basinger, Benicio Del Toro, Rowan Atkinson, Jane Seymour, Yaphet Kotto, Carey Lowell, Jill St. John, Donald Pleasance, Ursula Andress and Britt Ekland.

007 in ‘07

A 52-hour marathon of James Bond films beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, 6/22 through Sunday, 6/24.