"Dr. No (1962) was the first entry in what would become the longest-running series cinema history. It established the formula of the James Bond films - outlandish plots, improbable heroism, bizarre villains, beautiful women, colorful locations, a style of tongue-in-cheek parodic humor - and laid the foundations of an unstoppable series of box-office attractions that is still going strong after 60 years. The cultural and economic influence of the James Bond films is widely acknowledged, but until now there has been no detailed study of how the series began. This book will locate Dr. No in the industrial and cultural contexts of the film industry in the 1960s, with a particular focus on the "Hollywood, UK" phenomenon of which it is a prominent example. It will also explore the process of adaptation of Ian Flemings book from page to screen, as well as give a close reading of the film itself. Chapman will also document the production history of the film based on significant original archival research, dispelling some of the most persistent myths about the difficult production.

Finally, the book will also consider both the contemporary reception of Dr. No and its cultural legacy in light of the newest films in the series, which have (for the most part) received the kind of positive critical attention that the first films in the series never got"--.