TV biopic 'Spymaker: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming' available now on DVD

30-Jul-2013 • Collecting

The fastest cars. The most desirable women. The most hazardous missions. A sizzling, action-packed adventure of the life of the man who created James Bond: Fleming, Ian Fleming.

So goes the marketing blurb for the 1990 made-for-television-movie biopic of 007 creator Ian Fleming. Now available for the first time on DVD, this curio of the Bond canon is an amusing watch, and not just for the stunt casting of Jason Connery (Sean's son) as Fleming and a (then) relatively unknown Kristin Scott Thomas - her sister Serena would go on to become a real Bond girl as Dr Molly Warmflash in "The World Is Not Enough". A great deal of creative licence was taken with this biopic, with completely fictional events that never took place peppering the third act. Do not watch this for any historical account of Fleming's life, but rather an enjoyable romp by a TV production company that wanted to make a pseudo Bond film without having the rights.

Note: Sky Atlantic and BBC America are currently filming a new version of this concept for release in early 2014.

Synopsis
Torrid love affairs. Elegant and erotic women. Spine-tingling espionage. Exotic locales. Diabolical villains. The man who created James Bond, Ian Fleming (Jason Connery, the son of Sean Connery), actually lived the most exciting spy thriller of all. His adventures span the world - from Russia (with love and betrayal) to a top-secret Nazi fortress, where he defeats the enemy on His Majesty's secret service. Born into an aristocratic English family, Fleming had the sexual exploits and talent for danger and intrigue that made him destined for a life of a hero and spy. He single-handedly outwits Soviet intelligence, foils an S.S. monster at a glamorous casino, steals the secrets of the German high command and storms an enemy stronghold against impossible odds. Evil adversaries are no match for his strength and cunning. The fastest cars. The most desirable women. The most hazardous missions. A sizzling, action-packed adventure of the life of the man who created James Bond: Fleming. Ian Fleming.

Year: 1990
Director: Ferdinand Fairfax
Cast: Jason Connery, Kristin Scott Thomas, Joss Ackland, Patricia Hodge, David Warner, Colin Welland, Fiona Fullerton, Richard Johnson
Running Time: 96 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 4 X 3 FULL FRAME|ORIGINAL ASPECT RATIO - 1.37:1