All My Flashbacks: The Autobiography of Lewis Gilbert

ALL MY FLASHBACKS
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LEWIS GILBERT

Reach for the Sky, Carve Her Name With Pride, Sink the Bismarck!, Alfie, You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me, Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine … a remarkably varied collection of subjects and just some of the films directed by Lewis Gilbert during the courseof seven decades in the industry.

In All My Flashbacks Lewis Gilbert recalls his tragic childhood as a music hall entertainer, his traumatic wartime service in the RAF and ultimately one of the most distinguished careers in British cinema. Along the way he describes working with such diverse personalities as Laurence Olivier, Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Liza Minnelli.

From modest post-war comedies to the most lavish James Bond epics ever made, Gilbert shares the secrets behind some legendary movies and reveals the sometimes uncomfortable truth about the stars he worked with.

All My Flashbacks is the inside story of some of our best-loved films, but above all it is a warm, incisive and deeply moving account of an extraordinary life.

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Lewis Gilbert was born in 1920 and began his career as a director while attached to the US Army Air Corps in the Second World War. He went on to direct over 40 films, includingthree James Bond movies and such classics as Sink the Bismarck! and Shirley Valentine. Also a prolific writer and producer, Gilbert’s numerous awards include two BAFTAs (Reach for the Sky and Educating Rita) and a Golden Globe (Friends). His 1966 movie Alfie was nominated for numerous Academy Awards.

In 1997 Gilbert was appointed a CBE for his achievements in film, and five years later directed his final picture, Before You Go.

Wherever he lives in the world, he remains a loyal supporter of Arsenal Football Club.

A strictly limited number of signed copies of All My Flashbacks are available to buy from the Reynolds & Hearn website: www.rhbooks.com

• Order the UK hardback edition of All My Flashbacks: The Autobiography of Lewis Gilbert from Amazon.co.uk

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MGM lenders to meet after underwhelming bids

Reuters – More than 100 MGM lenders will meet Thursday to decide a course of action in the wake of disappointing bids for the struggling studio.

A brief additional extension of MGM’s debt forbearance is possible, if only to allow a bit of decorum as a plan is concocted to shift studio ownership from a consortium including Sony and Comcast to the debtholders.

Further bidding for the entire studio is unlikely, but a handful of investors likely will be asked to make offers on narrow equity stakes as a means of raising operating capital.

Wednesday is the deadline on a $200 million-plus interest payment by MGM, whose credit facility expires April 8, forcing an additional $250 million payment to lenders. To get past those two deadlines, something like a 15-day extension of the most recent debt-forbearance agreement is envisioned.

MGM and its consultant Moelis & Co. have asked for a 45-day extension, but lenders seem in no mood to comply.

“The lenders are frustrated and disappointed with the bidding process,” a lenders-side source said. “They are also frustrated by the existing restructuring proposals, which amount only to pledges to do better.”

But though attempts to sell the studio outright seem to have hit a brick wall, an eventual restructuring of MGM appears inevitable. Companies keen to assist in the process are expected to meet with Moelis reps and MGM chief Stephen Cooper in an effort to detail investment proposals key to any restructuring.

Access Industries, Qualia Capital and Anchorage Advisors are among those willing to invest $500 million-$1 billion in MGM to obtain a chunk of studio equity, and News Corp. has signaled a possible interest. A key talking point among the parties: their vision for the future mix and scope of operations at MGM, which somehow must re-capitalize movie production if its large-but-overexploited film library is to grow in value.

It’s also possible the studio will allow offers for narrowly defined assets, such as the James Bond film franchise or rights to The Hobbit. Sony is interested in the 007 rights, while Warner Bros. would be willing to buy out MGM’s share of Hobbit, which Warners controls 50-50 with MGM.

Meeting in Los Angeles, a J.P. Morgan-led lenders committee will discuss ways to restructure MGM, with the aim of making a recommendation to the entire lenders group. The debtholders would have about a week to vote, with two-thirds majority needed to approve any plan. Once approved, a restructuring plan would be filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. A judge would be asked formally to approve a dramatic debt reduction and to wipe away other outstanding liabilities.

Moelis tried unsuccessfully in two rounds of bidding to secure offers of $2 billion or more for MGM from other companies such as Warners parent Time Warner, Lions Gate and others. The auction was forced by the Lion’s crushing $3.7 billion debt load and the looming interest and principal payments. Current MGM owners also include Providence Equity, TPG Capital, DLJ Merchant and Quadrangle.

Separately Wednesday, Disney will conclude an auction of its Miramax specialty film division. The studio also reaped underwhelming offers in a round of bidding set to conclude March 15, until Disney extended the process to month’s end. The studio is running the Miramax auction itself, seeking $700 million for the unit’s 700-title library, but so far it has attracted offers spanning a considerably lower range.

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Ian Fleming's From Russia with Love now shipping from Amazon.co.uk

A brand new special printing of Ian Fleming’s fifth James Bond adventure, 1957’s From Russia with Love, is now shipping from Amazon.co.uk.

This reissue of From Russia with Love is apart of the Penguin Decades series—a collection of works that helped shape modern Britain. Featuring all-new cover artwork, this paperback edition of the novel retails for £8.99.

The full blurb follows below:

Penguin Decades bring you the novels that helped shape modern Britain. When they were published, some were bestsellers, some were considered scandalous, and others were simply misunderstood. All represent their time and helped define their generation, while today each is considered a landmark work of storytelling.

Ian Fleming’s From Russia with Love was published in 1957 and made suave, steely secret agent James Bond an icon. Here 007 encounters the deadly machinations of Russian organisation SMERSH, the fiendish Colonel Rosa Klebb—and the irresistible beauty Tatiana Romanova—in one of the most thrilling classic novels of the Cold War.

Order online:

• Order the UK paperback edition of From Russia with Love on Amazon.co.uk

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Titan's Nightbird James Bond collection released in UK

The latest James Bond newspaper strip collection from Titan Books, Nightbird, is now available in the UK.

Due out in the US late next month, the Nightbird collection brings together Hot-Shot and Ape of Diamonds in addition to the title story. This latest illustrated 007 release marks the complete publication of all 52 James Bond comic strips listed in the Titan checklist.

Titan’s Nightbird retails for £12.99 / $19.95. Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com order links follow below.

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Ian Fleming's Goldfinger radio production preview clip online

As earlier reported on CommanderBond.net, this upcoming Easter weekend will mark the release of the BBC Radio 4 production of Ian Fleming’s seventh James Bond adventure, Goldfinger.

The production will begin at 2:30pm on Saturday, 3 April. Click here to listen to a preview clip from Goldfinger.

In addition to featuring Sir Ian McKellen in the title role, numerous James Bond film alumni will also star in the production, including: Toby Stephens (Die Another Day), Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day) and Tim Pigott-Smith (Quantum of Solace).

The official IanFleming.com news release follows:

A brand-new radio recording of Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger has been produced by Jarvis & Ayres, featuring an all-star cast and scheduled to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 over Easter weekend 2010.

Dramatisation is by award-winning Archie Scottney – Murder She Thought and Spy Stories, Something Fresh (P.G. Wodehouse), Man of The Moment and A Small Family Business (Ayckbourn), The Mysterious Mr Quin (Agatha Christie), Shadowlands (Nicholson).

As with Jarvis & Ayres’ production of Dr No, music is specially composed by Mark Holden and Sam Barbour.

This remarkable radio adaptation stays true to Ian Fleming’s novel. A full cast list is below.

Keep visiting the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for the most up-to-date 007 coverage on the web.

Rumour control: Rachel Weisz under consideration for Bond 23?

Although the never-ending sale of MGM seems to have put a damper on Bond 23 for the time-being, we do have one brand new rumour to report on…

An unnamed, but ‘reliable, proven source’ at Cinema Blend has broken the news that Academy Award-winning actress Rachel Weisz may be under consideration for a major role in the 23rd James Bond film—as the villain.

The source states that Weisz would play the head of Quantum, the villainous organization featured in both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace which includes Mr. White and the deceased Dominic Greene as its members.

It’s incredibly tricky to pinpoint just exactly how likely this rumour is of turning out true. Understandably, Cinema Blend cautions readers with the following note:

What we can tell you in this case is that our information comes from a reliable, proven source who’s broken numerous, since confirmed stories to us over a period of several years. For instance, it was this same source that was the first anywhere to break the news that Black Widow would be in Iron Man 2. But as with all rumors, even when they’re from a proven source like this one, it’s just rumor until it can be confirmed by a second, independent source. In fact this particular source affirmed that in our communication, reiterating that it’s still very early in the process and that because of this, “things can change in a heartbeat and they might even try to deny what I told you but that’s what’s the brainstorming going on now.” Now you know what we know.

Weisz is presently filming the thriller Dream House along with Daniel Craig. Her past notable films include The Lovely Bones, The Constant Gardener, Runaway Jury and The Mummy.

As always, CommanderBond.net will keep you updated with all the latest news circling Bond 23.

CommanderBond.net celebrates 11,000 members

The CommanderBond.net James Bond Forums have just reached a milestone number of 11,000 members.

Congratulations to ‘SmiertSpionam’ for being CBn’s 11,000th member. With nearly 1.1 million posts, CBn is without question one of the largest and most active discussion forums in the world.

In addition, the CommanderBond.net news feed syndicates CBn news stories all over the world. As always, visit the CBn main page for your daily dose of 007 news. In addition, there are numerous other ways to stay up-to-date…

• Become a fan of CBn on Facebook
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• Visit us on MySpace
• Listen to the CBn Podcast—the very first James Bond podcast on the internet

Not a member of the CBn Forums yet? Simply register here—it’s free and only takes a minute.

CommanderBond.net – Where all other Bond sites end…this one begins!

Ian Fleming's Quantum of Solace collection published in large print

Ian Fleming’s Quantum of Solace collection is now available in large print.

First published in 2008 to tie in with the release of Daniel Craig’s second James Bond film, Quantum of Solace: The Complete James Bond Short Stories collects together the nine 007 short stories that make up Fleming’s For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and The Living Daylights collections:

• From a View to a Kill
• For Your Eyes Only
• Quantum of Solace
• Risico
• The Hildebrand Rarity
• Octopussy
• The Living Daylights
• The Property of a Lady
• 007 in New York

This new large print edition of Quantum of Solace is published by W. F. Howes Ltd and released under their Clipper Large Print imprint. It joins the line-up of the other 14 Fleming Bond titles, which the publisher released in July 2008.

This large print hardback edition of Quantum of Solace: The Complete James Bond Short Stories retails for £17.95 and can currently be ordered from the W. F. Howes Ltd website:

• Order the UK large print edition of Quantum of Solace: The Complete James Bond Short Stories from wfhowes.org

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John Barry to receive Lifetime Achievement Award in October 2010

11-time James Bond composer John Barry will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Soundtrack Academy this upcoming October in Ghent, Belgium.

The renowned composer will be present at a special tribute concert at the Ghent International Film Festival on Thursday, 21 October 2010 ar 8:30pm to collect his award.

Full details follow in the news release below:

John Barry receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from World Soundtrack Academy

On Thursday October 21, 2010 four-time Oscar winner, John Barry’s music will be performed live in concert at the Ghent International Film Festival. This unique, one-night-only event will be held on Thursday 21 October at 8.30 pm at ‘t Kuipke Concert Hall in Ghent. The 80 members Brussels Philharmonic will be performing selections from many of Barry’s classic scores including Goldfinger, Mary Queen of Scots, Out of Africa, Dances with Wolves and Midnight Cowboy, conducted by Nicholas Dodd. As always, the concert will be accompanied by a video presentation of film clips.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary The World Soundtrack Academy will present Barry with a Lifetime Achievement Award, their most prestigious honor.

In 1962 when Barry was hired to score the first James Bond film, Dr No he unknowingly secured a place for himself in history; the resulting Bond theme has become one of the most iconic pieces of film music and has been heard on 11 Bond soundtracks. The accomplished English born composer has penned scores for over 100 films and was honored with the Academy Award for Born Free, The Lion in Winter, Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves as well as nominations for Mary Queen of Scots and Chaplin.

With the John Barry concert, the Ghent Film Festival will be continuing its tradition of showcasing memorable, award-winning film music in the form of live concerts. Previous editions featured Ennio Morricone, Maurice Jarre, Elmer Bernstein, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore and Alexandre Desplat among others.

In its 37th year the Ghent International Film Festival will run from October 12th – October 23rd with the World Soundtrack Awards being presented on the final night.

Tickets to the event range in price from €25 to €45. Click here to order your e-Ticket (payment: via Visa and Master Card only).

For further information, visit the official Ghent Film Festival website.

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April arrival for Charlie Higson's By Royal Command in France

Literary James Bond fans in France will only need to wait a few weeks more to pick up Charlie Higson’s fifth adventure in the Young Bond series, By Royal Command.

The Young Bond Dossier reports that an Amazon.fr listing for By Royal Command sets the release date for mid-April. Regular publisher Gallimard Jeunesse will release the book under the translated title Par ordre de sa majeste.

Cover artwork for this French edition By Royal Command can be viewed online here.

Pre-order online:

• Order the French paperback edition of By Royal Command (Par ordre de sa majeste) from Amazon.fr

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