"James Bond, the Last Englishman (2008). As part of the Ian Fleming centenary, Prof. David Cannadine sets James Bond and his creator in their historical context. He suggests that Bond was popular not just because he was sexy and suave - he was seen as a consoling fantasy for a country that had lost an Empire but not yet found a role in the world.
"All the greatest men are maniacs. They are possessed by a mania which drives them forward towards their goal. The great scientists, the philosophers, the religious leaders - all maniacs. What else but a blind singleness of purpose could have given focus to their genius, would have kept them in the groove of purpose. Mania ... is as priceless as genius.
“A dry Martini,' he said. 'One. In a deep champagne goblet.' ...Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel. Got it?
Alex Jennings reads Ian Fleming's Casino Royale (2009).
Here's a great way to while away a couple of hours. Robin The Fog took over hosting duties on Jonny Trunk's OST show this week on London's Resonance FM. The theme was BBC Records and the show includes a few radiophonic favourites you can still find at Ripping Yarns, along with plenty more oddities to keep things interesting. I love the bits there BBC Sound Effects Vol.13 pops in and out of the mix. Full description, tracklist and HQ mp3 download can be obtained from Robin's blog here.
Monkey Magic: Music From BBC TV Series Monkey by Godiego. Auntie Beeb released two singles of the Monkey theme with different tracks on the B-side. I decided to stick them both together along with a rip of the broadcast version with that ever quotable voice over. If I can ever get my sweaty mitts on the full soundtrack lp you can be sure I'll be posting that too. For more on this classic show go here and here. Then go watch some Monkey, it's fab, not to mention wicked, skill and indeed ace.
This time in the Ripping Yarns recommended listening corner it's a bit of a no-brainer. In Happy Days: Children Of The Stones comedian Stuart Lee returns to Radio 4 to give a highly enjoyable overview of the classic HTV show made for children in 1977. I was a tad too young to catch it the first time around, but managed to get caught up by the time of the recent dvd release and can happily confirm Children Of The Stones remains every bit as powerful as 'they' say it is.
"Writer and comedian Stewart Lee explores the ground breaking television series Children of the Stones and examines its special place in the memories of those children who watched it on its initial transmission in a state of excitement and terror.
In 1977 HTV launched the revolutionary children's television drama telling the story of an astrophysicist and his son who arrive in the village of Milbury to study ancient stones. The residents greet each other with the phrase "Happy day", and the community is held in a strange captivity by the psychic forces generated by the circle of giant Neolithic stones which surround it.
Filmed at Avebury in Wiltshire, it is a strangely atmospheric production with the baleful, discordant wailing voices of the incidental music increasing the tension.
The story, involving a temporal paradox and issues of individuality and community assimilation thematically challenged the after-school audience, which included Stewart Lee.
In this documentary Lee returns to Avebury to discuss the serial's impact, examine its influence on him and explore the history and secrets of the ancient stones.
1970s kids may have dived behind the sofa during Doctor Who, but it was Children of the Stones that gave them nightmares. The series is frequently cited by those who remember it as one of the scariest things they saw as children.
The programme includes contributions from series co-creator Jeremy Burnham, cast members and fans.
