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Season 1 – Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond Jan 2014 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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57% Tomatometer 23 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
This four-part miniseries explores the life of Ian Fleming, who created the James Bond icon in his spy novels. Ian's story begins at the outset of World War II, when he is a mischievous playboy who is chasing women, collecting books and living off his family's fortune. He believes he's a disappointment to his mother, as he lives in the shadow of older brother Peter, a successful author married to a movie star. Ian, a lost young man, dreams of becoming the "ultimate" man and finally sees direction in his life when he is recruited to begin a naval intelligence job to help take down the Nazis. This experience paves the way for his creation of 007.
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Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond — Season 1

Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Dominic Cooper makes a decent Ian Fleming, but Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond offers no new insight into the author, settling for a generic biopic approach.

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Critics Reviews

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Maureen Ryan HuffPost 02/04/2014
Even if you're not particularly into Bond-ian history, a reason to give Fleming a try comes in the form of Lara Pulver, who manages to steal the show from its ostensible lead. Go to Full Review Tim Goodman The Hollywood Reporter 02/04/2014
What fuels Fleming are the riveting performances by Cooper and Pulver, who manage to take as much passion and pulp as possible and run with it. Go to Full Review John Teti AV Club 02/03/2014
C
Fleming the man knew which parts of a story to punch up. Fleming the show lacks the same instinct. Go to Full Review Joyce Slaton Common Sense Media 02/04/2014
4/5
Bond fans are squarely in the wheelhouse of this BBC series, but it's not just for Bond geeks. Go to Full Review Mark A. Perigard Boston Herald 02/03/2014
C
Ultimately, Fleming will leave you neither shaken nor stirred. Go to Full Review Ed Bark Uncle Barky 01/30/2014
C+
The music swells on cue but the story just doesn't jell. Had Ian Fleming written his Bond novels in this fashion, well, there likely wouldn't have been any sequels. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Giorgio G @GioBlob 11/18/2022 Any Bond lovers among you? Well, this 4 episode mini series is not new (2014), but I discovered it only last night, and I have to say it's quite cool and well done. It delivers a "part real/ part fictional" life of Ian Fleming, years before he wrote his Bond books, and shows his time in the army which apparently influenced his writing. It's interesting enough as a Stand Alone story, but it is even better when one looks into some chapters and story lines of his Bond escapades which he started writing 7 years after the end of WWII in connection to his own life. 6 1/2 of 10 points. See more Read all reviews
Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Dominic Cooper

Actor

Lara Pulver

Actor

Rupert Evans

Actor

Camilla Rutherford

Actor

Annabelle Wallis

Actor

Lesley Manville

Actor

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 29, 2014 Eclipsed by his father and brother, Ian Fleming cooks up a scheme to obtain information from captured German submariners. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 5, 2014 Fleming tries to convince Godfrey to send him to France, in order to oversee the destruction of secret files. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 12, 2014 Fleming is asked to write a blueprint for the CIA; Godfrey is persuaded to form a group of tough soldiers. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 19, 2014 With Fleming's days in Naval intelligence coming to an end, he considers other ways to use his ingenuity and imagination. Details

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Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond — Season 1

Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond View more photos

Season Info

Director
Mat Whitecross
Executive Producer
Douglas Rae, Michael Parke, Robert Bernstein
Screenwriter
John Brownlow, Don MacPherson
Network
BBC America
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Jan 29, 2014