节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-11-23
难易度:High
关键字:sophisticated, fictional, trait, adaptation, secret service, intrigue
Welcome back.
Now 007's creator Ian Fleming was an avid bird watcher.
He loved watching birds.
And one of the many books on his bookshelf was a field guide about birds from
the West Indies.
That guide's author was a Caribbean bird expert from America, and his name was
James Bond.
And now you know that's where Bond's name comes from.
OK, more with how Bond began down on line 3.
(Music).
007: Man of Mystery.
He gave Bond traits based on his own personality and on spies he had met during
the war.
Fleming went on to write 12 novels and two series of short stories featuring
Bond.
The character caught a filmmaker's attention, and James Bond's film debut came
in 1962 in Dr. No.
This was the first of 23 films centered on the skilled special agent.
Since then, television, radio, comics, video games and novels written by other
authors have all featured adaptations of the Bond character.
The 007 franchise is about more than a man; it's become a cultural phenomenon.
Friends, his name is Bond, James Bond.
And we're discussing how this British Secret Service character got his start.
And we looked first back in the 1950s when author Ian Fleming began to write his
character off of his own experiences serving in World War II.
Now friends, did you know that Bond is not actually originally from a movie but
from a book series?
Well, now you know, and let's look at how he became a character that we all
recognize.
Now Ian Fleming here gave Bond some traits that, we saw earlier, came from his
own experiences of serving, but also... also of his own personality.
That's right.
So Bond, James Bond, has different traits.
And a "trait" is characteristic that kind of defines who you are and what you
act like.
That's right, so maybe something special about you.
One thing we know about Bond is he takes his drink shaken, not stirred.
That's right, so.
That would be a certain trait, kind of the way that he behaves.
And these were originally based off of Ian Fleming's personality but also
something else, right?
That's right, also off of the spies he met during the war.
Your personality is kind of who you are.
So he takes pieces of himself as well as other people to create this man of
mystery that we all love.
Exactly.
Now Ian Fleming went on to write 12 novels, meaning long story books, and two
series of short stories featuring Bond.
Which is why we have so many stories to base so many Bond movies off of -
because this author gave us so much information to write on.
That's right.
In fact, the first book, If I remember correctly, Kaylah, is called Casino
Royale.
And a few years ago, they recently made a James Bond movie based off of that
first book.
And it was good.
I think it's probably my favorite Bond movie.
I think so, me too.
It was a good one.
I really enjoyed it.
Well, the character caught filmmaker's attention.
Now "to catch your attention" means they notice you, and they would... they're
interested in you.
It's not just something you've... you pass by very quickly but to be captured
by.
"Capture your attention" means you're really interested.
Right. And a filmmaker is someone who makes movies, so.
Film... filmmakers noticed, and then the first James Bond film debuted in 1962
called Dr. No.
That's right.
Now "debut" means it comes out.
It's the first time we see it.
In 1962, Dr. No was the very first James Bond movie.
But this wasn't the last one.
No. It was the first of 23 films that were centered on the skilled special
agent.
That's right, the skilled special agent.
Now since then, television, radio, comics, video games and novels written by
other authors have all featured adaptations of the James Bond character.
OK. So he is not just existed in books or just movies.
It's spread to comics, video games, all kinds of different types of media
written by other authors with different adaptations.
That's right.
Now an "adaptation" is something that is very similar to another thing, it is
based off of something else.
So they would be based off of this novel, these original stories about James
Bond.
They take these characteristics, these traits, and they use him and put him into
different places.
So it's an adaptation, taking and using for another reason.
Exactly. Friends, if you have watched James Bond movies over the years, you've
noticed that they change actors from time to time.
But not only do the actors change, they also sometimes change their
characteristics, the way that they behave during those movies.
That's right.
And also, if we look at this whole list of things, let's look back at that...
these lists of things.
There's television, radio, comics, video games and other authors writing him,
which means there's all kinds of people working to create new pieces of who
James Bond is.
So these adaptations would be very different, but they all... they have a common
thread of James Bond is this very mysterious special agent.
Yes. He's always mysterious, he's always suave, and he's always very
good-looking.
That's right.
He's always very good-looking with dark hair and blue eyes that pierce straight
through you.
Exactly. So we've seen how James Bond got his start in novels and eventually
movies,
and now all over the place being a very special and mysterious secret agent.
But now the 007 franchise is about more than just a man; it's actually becoming
a cultural phenomenon.
That's right.
Now a franchise is something that is connected to a character.
So you could say that the 007 franchise is everything connected to James Bond.
So that would be all those comics, video games, novels, TV series.
All these things that come together they create a franchise based around
originally this man; but it's so much more now.
Exactly. It's become a cultural phenomenon.
Now a phenomenon is something that happens to make a big change in something
else; in this case, a big change in global culture.
That's right.
You can go just about anywhere in the world where they have modern media, and
people will know James Bond, Agent 007.
That's right, usually holding his gun really cool-like.
OK. Well, we're going to talk more about James Bond and the men who have created
him tomorrow.
But first, let's watch today's skit.
(Music).
I'm Bond, James Bond.
Yeah, you're secret agent 007.
You're a spy.
I am a sophisticated man, a handsome man traveling the world in style.
You're a funny guy with cool gadgets.
I have a sharp wit and fancy weapons.
Yes. You've been in movies all over the world for a long time.
Fifty years of international intrigue on screen.
But you're still pretty cool.
Well, I'm as cool as ever.
Yeah, not bad for a fictional character.
Fictional character? I beg your pardon!
Well, a writer named Ian Fleming invented you.
That's ridiculous.
I was not invented.
Well, your personality traits are based on Mr. Fleming's.
That's a lie.
This is my personality.
Your made-up character started out in novels, then caught the attention of a
filmmaker.
I'm not made up.
I'm a skilled secret agent.
You are a fictional character.
I am a huge success.
Fans love my charm, high-tech gadgets, expensive cars.
All made up!
My first-class lifestyle, my signature tuxedo and my gun.
Yes, all made up!
Invented!
I'm the same stylish man of mystery today that I was 50 years ago.
The same? For 50 years?
Can you explain that?
No. I can't.
Well, I can.
Fictional, not real, made up, invented.
Stop saying that.
No! No!
You're made-up. You're made-up.
You're not real.
No!
(Music).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And I guess we have to say goodbye now.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Bye-bye.
The first James Bond movie, 1962's Dr. No, starred Scottish actor Sean Connery,
who, some say, was the best Bond actor of all time.
Now regardless of who your favorite Bond actor is,
it's well-known that Connery's portrayal of Agent 007 on the big screen
influenced Ian Fleming's later interpretations of the Bond character.
So in subsequent books and movies, Fleming gave Bond a Connery-style sense of
humor and a back story about his Scottish family.
OK, everyone.
Please come back tomorrow when we continue our celebration of Bond, James Bond.
Take care.