Bond By Numbers
100 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★ - 4 ratingsBond By Numbers is a celebration of the James Bond world. More an enthusiast's journey than an expert's quest, each episode investigates the world of a different 007 production or topic with in-depth conversation, opinion and regular features. If you like your podcasts well-researched but crave the down-to-earth energy of amateur minds, join life-long 007 fans Scott, Josh and Jeff for a fresh look at one of the entertainment world's most successful franchises.
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Episodes
Farewell, Mr. Connery
November 03, 2020 14:40 - 16 minutes - 22.9 MBA short reflection and tribute on the occasion of Sir Thomas Sean Connery's passing.
007 Music: Eric Serra's Goldeneye
October 28, 2020 06:19 - 2 hours - 173 MBEric Serra's music for "Goldeneye" still manages to elicit grumps, frumps and outrage among Bond fans a quarter-century after its arrival on the scene. However, the soundtrack for Pierce Brosnan's 007 premiere isn't short on creativity and is staunchly defended by some for its tradition-breaking novelty. From guttural beats to "hammer and sickle synth", BBN investigates the story, tracks and controversy of this unorthodox volume in the Bond music library.
No Time To Die - COVID Delays
October 05, 2020 14:55 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MBJosh and Scott weigh in on the recent announcement of a further six-month delay to NTTD and related issues facing the franchise, its distribution and of cinemagoing more generally.
What If? - 007 in Canada
September 27, 2020 13:02 - 2 hours - 199 MBLong overlooked by 007 location scouts and producers, Canada remains an untapped well of potential for the adventures of James Bond. In this special "What If?" episode, Josh, Jeff and Scott put their fandom to creative work and share their ideas for original James Bond missions featuring the true north, strong and free!
Tom Mankiewicz
September 06, 2020 20:02 - 2 hours - 226 MBTom Mankiewicz wrote three James Bond films. He also came from Hollywood royalty and developed for himself a reputation as script doctor extraordinaire. A creative talent and raconteur beloved by his friends and collaborators, "Mank" never won an Academy Award like his father or uncle did but succeeded where they failed in "playing the game" by his own rules. In this special episode, BBN digs deep on the life and times of the man and writer lovingly dubbed "Wanky Mits" by Sir Roger Moore and ...
What If? - Alternate 007 Singers
August 22, 2020 12:49 - 2 hours - 206 MBIn our second "What If?" of the series we throw caution to the wind and let our roulette wheel guide us through the reimagined world of 007 title singers. Some hit the musical wall softly and stick, while some other selections miss horribly and fall heavy to the ground. In any case, we welcome you behind the glass and inside the BBN (re)production booth as movie music history falls victim to whimsy. Luckily, at least one of us knows something about music... even if our toy wheel is clueless!
Never Say Never Again (1983)
August 04, 2020 09:05 - 2 hours - 195 MBAfter years of false-starts, Kevin McClory's remake of "Thunderball" finally got green-lit in 1982. Sean Connery's involvement in the project stretched far beyond his reprisal of 007 and ensured that Cubby Broccoli and EON were kept guessing as production on their own feature evolved simultaneously. Despite its origins in bad blood, "NSNA" nevertheless has its devotees and defenders and holds a firm place within the Bond universe. From foie gras to smoking heels, BBN is delighted to offer its...
007 Music: John Barry's OHMSS
July 20, 2020 12:04 - 2 hours - 177 MBJohn Barry's creative ambitions for "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" played innovatively off the electronic landscape of the late '60s and brought James Bond music to new heights. Revered by fans, Barry's work for George Lazenby's lone outing also pushed the envelope for film music in general, opening up new doors of perception and possibility for composers to come. In its first soundtrack deep-dive, BBN tells the story of this landmark achievement from 1969.
The Eiger Sanction (1975)
July 06, 2020 07:00 - 2 hours - 173 MBClint Eastwood politely turned down the role of 007 when it was offered to him after Connery's departure, which probably leaves "The Eiger Sanction" as the closest fans ever got to seeing him play the secret agent. Like Bond, Jonathan Hemlock also has henchmen, villains and a speckled past to contend with. This controversial film from 1975 is part spy thriller, part mountaineering adventure and marks the end of our "3 Non Bonds" review miniseries. Grab your pitons, crampons and pemmican and j...
Ronin (1998)
June 22, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 151 MBMore than twenty years after its release, John Frankenheimer's "Ronin" still delivers to audiences some of the best car chases ever manufactured for cinema. But the film's impact isn't restricted to its 150 stunt drivers tearing up French highways and locales. "Ronin" also offers the promise of Robert DeNiro in full action mode and an ensemble cast featuring no less than three 007 villain actors. Join BBN for a ride behind the wheel of Jeff's inspired selection as its review miniseries of "3-...
Bond @ Blockbuster: The 007 Rental Lists
June 08, 2020 07:30 - 2 hours - 166 MBSix Bonds walk into a Blockbuster Video... this might be the start of a bad joke but it's also the premise of our fanciful discussion for Ep.40! What will they rent? What confectionary is collected at the counter? Do they rewind the tape? The variables abound as Josh, Scott and Jeff wax hypothetical on this singular topic so grab your membership cards and join BBN for some weekend rentals!
Mission Impossible (1996)
May 26, 2020 07:30 - 1 hour - 158 MBOur seasonal survey of "3 Non Bonds" kicks off with Josh's selection, 1996's "Mission Impossible". The teaser poster forewarned audiences to "expect the impossible"... which is another way of saying "suspend your disbelief, a whole lot of crazy is on the way"! And yet, the production confidently came in under budget and ahead of time. Most critics warmed to the performances and the ambitious vision of De Palma's slick, complex thriller but veteran fans and cast members of the original TV show...
What If? - Alternate 007 Ladies
May 12, 2020 05:30 - 2 hours - 176 MBOur first What If? episode renders a range of scenarios spanning from the intriguing to the incredulous. We unleash our roulette and empower it as casting director in charge of the Bond Ladies. Every film is subjected to its spinning whimsy and judgement. There probably aren't enough polite disclaimers to cover this one - trust a toy wheel and you'll get what you deserve!
Terence Young: Bond's Elemental Executive
April 27, 2020 05:30 - 1 hour - 134 MB"The First James Bond Director"... that's the starting point for most of us in regarding Terence Young. Credited with schooling Sean Connery in the ways of cool, Young was at the helm for three of Bond's first four adventures so it's impossible to downplay his impact on the franchise. In Episode 37, BBN looks back on the career and contributions of Terence Young in this first panel discussion on the 007 directors.
"2C or not 2C?": Our Favourite Chases
April 07, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 86 MBKick the mud off your shoes, store your drink and buckle up, friends! Season 2 of BBN enjoys an early launch here with a quarantine-enabled chinwag over some favourite car chases. Join your hosts as they shift gears through the varied terrain of this much-loved 007 topic!
Season Finale: The EONours List
February 26, 2020 17:30 - 3 hours - 284 MBDry-clean the evening wear, Bond fans, it's awards season! Yes, the finale of BBN’s inaugural series sees the panel join forces and butt heads over their evaluations of all things EON. Cars, gadgets, locales and all the rest – we’ve got you covered. Who’ll earn a coveted spot and who’ll be sent home in a Citroen C2V? Play along and join in the fun as Josh, Scott and Jeff say farewell to Season 1 in style!
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
January 29, 2020 06:45 - 3 hours - 316 MBWith a script tailored to his unique brand of 007, Roger Moore delivered what many feel was his best of seven EON performances. Complemented by outstanding stunts, evocative sets and the world's largest sound-stage, TSWLM is still held up as a favoured instalment. Nevertheless, controversies loom large like Liparus over elements of production. Grab your ticket for the Good Ship BBN and let it guide you through the fabled fathoms of Moore's third Bond adventure! All aboard!
Literary Gunbarrel #9: Tie-in Episode
January 18, 2020 17:45 - 2 hours - 146 MBRegarded by its author as a "cautionary tale" (...uh, sure, okay Ian...) Bond's 1962 literary adventure, set in leafy upstate New York, is anything but classic 007. Narrated by a vulnerable female protagonist trapped in a motel with libidinous ghouls, "The Spy Who Loved Me" has more in common with Hitchcock's "Psycho" than the EON production of the same name. Maligned by critics and fans alike, Fleming's experimental novel is here put through the BBN apparatus ahead of their upcoming review o...
Literary Gunbarrel #8: Tie-In Episode
January 05, 2020 07:40 - 2 hours - 160 MBExpectations were high when Fleming's "You Only Live Twice" hit the shelves in 1963. The anticipated follow-up to "OHMSS" did, indeed, return James Bond to the field after tragedy befell him but how fitting was the resolution? Set exclusively in Japan, this controversial conclusion to the Blofeld trilogy is as much travelogue as dramatic denouement. Asking a lot from his readers, Fleming straddles dangerously the boundary between his own indulgence and his audience's satisfaction. Bowman & th...
You Only Live Twice (1967)
January 01, 2020 07:15 - 3 hours - 305 MBGiven Ian Fleming's fascination with Japan, detailed for readers in his final novel, it was destined that the cinematic Bond would soon delve into the culture's offerings. But with a new director at the helm, a tiring star in the lead and diverse challenges facing the production team, no one knew how "You Only Live Twice" would measure up to previous successes of Sean Connery's 007 run. Join BBN as the panel katana-cuts through the franchise's fifth instalment with ambitious precision and off...
Literary Gunbarrel #7: Tie-In Episode
December 16, 2019 17:45 - 2 hours - 113 MBIf "Casino Royale" marked the cool and understated edge of a careful new spy writer courting the literary scene, then "Live and Let Die" was that writer's caution-to-the-wind stag party. Rowdy and unforgiving, Fleming's follow-up narrative offers high adventure, colourful characters and social commentary deeply rooted in challenging cultural conceptions. In spite of its shortcomings, "Live and Let Die" is regarded by many critics and fans as the finest of the Fleming Bond plots. So what's the...
Live and Let Die (1973)
December 04, 2019 06:30 - 3 hours - 297 MBRoger Moore's first outing as 007 remains, for many fans, his best. Reading Blaxploitation trends of early '70s cinema, Saltzman and Broccoli gambled on there not being a better time to adapt Ian Fleming's racially-charged second novel. The film was a financial success and heralded Moore's hold on the role for a new era. From cultural misappropriation to Bond sans Barry, inflated villains to catalytic convertors, BBN plows the poppy fields of this controversial instalment.
Licence to Kill (1989)
November 06, 2019 17:45 - 3 hours - 262 MBLTK's deviation from typical Bond formulae remains as much a matter of controversy now as it did 30 years ago. Some welcome its impulsive punches and sing praises for its fresh, revenge-driven plot. Others find Dalton's second and final outing too gritty and imitative of 80s action themes to celebrate with comparative canonical ease. Charter your planes and fuel your transports, the BBN crew is going rogue to settle the score!
Literary Gunbarrel #6: Tie-In Episode
October 24, 2019 12:45 - 2 hours - 127 MBIf you like your spy adventures with a taste of the sea then "Dr No" is the novel for you! Aside from its Caribbean setting, complete with coastal breeze and moonlight sailing, Fleming's 6th effort deviates from the sublime to the ridiculous with a fauna-heavy plot featuring centipedes, spiders, magnified fish and giant calamari. But wait, there's more! Like a backdrop of colonial politics and agent reconditioning, not to mention a handless master villain looking to upset the mental health of...
Dr. No (1962)
October 16, 2019 06:00 - 3 hours - 267 MBApart from early adaptations for broadcast radio and television, 1962 marked the true event horizon for James Bond. It was here, with Dr. No, that 007's genetic code was written. Iconic on screen, iconic in team, the ingredients for franchise success evolved out of a shared ambitious vision and a tight million-dollar budget. So come aboard and keep your eyes peeled for blind mice and dragons as the good ship BBN sails through the curious waters of the first Bond motion picture!
Die Another Day (2002)
October 02, 2019 17:45 - 3 hours - 300 MBAdored by few, reviled by most, "Die Another Day" offered audiences and Bond fans alike a ticket to 007 crazy town. But just how troubled is this reputed stinker? Are there enough "slivers of maybe" to help justify the disbelief that we were forced to suspend with Brosnan's fourth and final outing? Josh and Scott soften the sofas and brandish the inkblots as they "analyse this" 40th anniversary paradox.
Literary Gunbarrel #5: Tie-In Episode
September 21, 2019 06:00 - 2 hours - 126 MBWith the exception of the villain's name and the implication of rockets, EON's 1979 production of "Moonraker" shares little in common with its literary antecedent from 1955. Ian Fleming's cold-war novel might not have blasted its characters off into space but it certainly hit the peaks and troughs of spy thriller excitement, further strengthening his (and Bond's) name in the publishing world. Here, your BBN hosts close down a gunbarrel double-bill with a full analysis of this third and very u...
Literary Gunbarrel #4: Tie-In Episode
September 14, 2019 08:20 - 2 hours - 179 MBEncouraged by listener request, this latest tie-in episode changes the literary menu from piecemeal-tapas to full-flavoured stew! Scott & Josh's deep-dive discussion of Fleming's "From Russia With Love" from May 2016 pairs nicely with BBN's recent film review and is presented here in updated full fashion. Пожалуйста! That's right, BBN listeners, "you're welcome!"
Moonraker (1979)
September 08, 2019 18:25 - 3 hours - 253 MBIt was only a matter of time before Roger Moore's trend-jumping Bond wound up on a spaceship. Hoping to cash in on the sci-fi craze of the late 1970s, "Moonraker" remains, to many fans, one giant leap too far in narrative and canonical credibility. Still, few can deny the impact of the awe-inspired Ken Adam sets, the ethereal punch of John Barry's score and the location hopping that unlocked the inner-adventurer in us all. With so much crazy packed in to one film, you'd be excused for needing...
Spectre (2015)
August 21, 2019 16:15 - 3 hours - 258 MBWhen retcon rides sidecar to fan-service along the poached narrative road of a surveillance empire's sinister takeover, you know you're in for a bumpy journey as a Bond fan. Critics called it crap but EON called it Spectre! Daniel Craig's fourth outing is probably his most contentious but how much of the "style over substance" complaint is warranted? Beware the cuckoo and step inside the nest as your BBN hosts untangle the tentacles of this complex canonical cephalopod!
From Russia With Love (1963)
July 16, 2019 08:15 - 3 hours - 283 MBRevered by many fans and critics alike, 1963's From Russia With Love ushered in a retinue of slick canonical tropes and features without compromising its cold-war storytelling. Sean Connery reprises his 007 role as the realities of "franchise" come into focus. Join your BBN hosts as they punch tickets and settle first-class passengers into a thorough and sometimes controversial tour through this impactful sophomore instalment. From SPECTRE island to Gypsy camp, Bucharest to Venice's Grand Can...
Literary Gunbarrel #3: Tie-In Episode
July 08, 2019 19:30 - 2 hours - 133 MBIn this third companion episode, Scott and Josh share their thoughts on three more Fleming texts. First up, and markedly different from the film, is short story "From A View to a Kill" where Bond reminisces on becoming a man in Paris before lending his expertise in the investigation of a murdered dispatch driver. Discussion on "Thunderball" gets the central billing, highlighted by a female character written with welcome care and complexity. Intrigue and autobiography mix in "Octopussy", the f...
A View to a Kill (1985)
July 01, 2019 07:30 - 4 hours - 354 MBWise to the last, Roger Moore couldn't leave 007 until his bond baked a quiche, stole a fire truck and hung perilously from a blimp. Enter 1985 and "A View to a Kill", EON's canonical answer to the computer and steroid action of the era. But just how much of Moore's swansong is a burgeoning vessel of hot smelly air? Can it withstand the electromagnetic pulse of the critics? Join Scott, Josh and Jeff as they negotiate the gears of the BBN machine across the terrain of this infamous instalment....
Thunderball (1965)
June 16, 2019 07:00 - 3 hours - 315 MB"...Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink." When Coleridge revised his Ancient Mariner in 1834 he couldn't have known he was forecasting Thunderball's controversial "production-bloat to audience-nourishment" ratio... or could he? Were the Romantic Poets the first Bond critics? Hmm, the suggestion holds more water than you might think because here we are, 185 years later, grappling with the paradox of the Thunderball experience. Is Connery's 4th outing sodden, spectacular or somewhere...
Octopussy (1983)
May 23, 2019 19:00 - 3 hours - 311 MBThe title won't be the only thing about this 007 adventure that jumps out to grab you. Running against Sean Connery's controversial remake of Thunderball, "Octopussy" offered audiences a lot of outrageous spectacle for their money. Ever want to see Q fly a hot-air balloon festooned with liquid crystal closed circuit cameras? How about a crocodile submarine infiltrate a girl-powered island of octopus cult devotees? Or maybe flicking antennas at man-crushable henchmen while straddling Beech Mod...
Literary Gunbarrel #2: Tie-In Episode
May 11, 2019 07:30 - 2 hours - 220 MBOkay, so a caveat: the recordings here aren't ideal. Sorry about that. In addition to occasional skype signal drops with FYEO, the BFG's then-sinus infection did feature uniquely to antagonise his usual dulcet tones in parts of The Man With the Golden Gun. We've tried to edit around these things. The conversation speaks for itself, however, and we hope you'll enjoy the book reviews as we aim to offer info about these canonical films. If you didn't check out the first Literary Gunbar...
The World is Not Enough (1999)
April 28, 2019 16:00 - 3 hours - 250 MBPatricide, boat chasing, parahawks, caviar farming, oil pipelines, buzz-sawed BMWs, revenge-napping and a nuclear sub out to destroy Istanbul: is that your idea of explosive fun or a 00-plot headache? Some say the Bond producers didn't know when to stop in party-planning for Y2K with this film, Brosnan's penultimate, while others guffaw at the very notion of a bond film without excess baggage. Wherever you sit on the fence, one thing is certain: The World is Not Enough offers the BBN panel a ...
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
April 15, 2019 07:00 - 2 hours - 231 MBDon your snowsuits and wax your skis, Bond fans, it's time to cut edges around the slopes of "For Your Eyes Only"! A new decade brings in a new director as veteran Bond craftsman John Glen is handed control and helms his inaugural adventure. In a conscious effort to return sobriety to the series after visiting outer space in "Moonraker", Glen & Co. gravitate towards some key Flemingian sources for their script. But FYEO also famously introduces us to Bibi Doll, a plot-motivating parrot and a ...
The Man With the Golden Gun (1974)
March 31, 2019 20:00 - 3 hours - 302 MBSo this exited the wash as our longest episode to date. Cubby's corner and critical reception for TMWTGG offered a lot of discussion in leadup to the main event. Jeff's context on the energy crisis of the early 70s was quite helpful in situating the film's secondary plot within the wider world (even if we all agreed it wasn't the story we wanted to be following). Throughout the course of the show, similar feelings are shared on TMWTGG, a film that could have been a knockout had the ...
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
March 17, 2019 19:00 - 3 hours - 278 MBWhat do you get when you combine a stealth ship, the world's fastest no-look typing megalomaniac, shameless product placement, endless rounds of ammo and more techno-buzz than even Q can handle in his rent-a-Hertz crimson coat? It's Tomorrow Never Dies, of course, the 18th entry in the official James Bond series! In spite of some shortcomings and egregious call-backs, this film is full of surprises and freaky connections to real-world culture and curios. Join your hosts as they deco...
Skyfall (2012)
March 04, 2019 11:00 - 2 hours - 217 MBFor Bond's 50th Anniversary in 2012, Sam Mendes was brought on board to help Craig & Co. deep dive into the complex relations of MI6 and the vengeful nerds it leaves behind. Join your hosts as they explore the finer points of surrogate maternal love and the many other features that help to make Skyfall a fan favourite. Don't forget your hairpiece and Heineken!
Literary Gunbarrel #1: Tie-In Episode
February 20, 2019 16:00 - 2 hours - 165 MBSifting through the archives of our Ian Fleming series from 2016-17, we have pieced together a sample of our conversations based on the literary source material for the movies being discussed throughout BNB. Appearing every 6 episodes or so, these bonus shows throw chronology to the wind and are cut to follow the order of our BNB roulette, inviting you to learn a bit more about the stories behind the films. For this first bonus ep, we dive deep into the source material for The Living Daylight...
Casino Royale (2006)
February 10, 2019 19:00 - 2 hours - 230 MBNow heralded as one of the best 007 actors, Daniel Craig was much maligned by the public and press when news of his replacing Pierce Brosnan was announced in 2005. "Casino Royale" ushered in a newly dark and gritty era for James Bond and solidified the "contemporary edge" that Barbara Broccoli was hoping for in steering the franchise forward. Join your hosts as they knead the dough on this quick-rising character reboot inspired by Ian Fleming's first novel. From pretentious first impressions ...
Diamonds are Forever (1971)
January 31, 2019 20:00 - 2 hours - 237 MBWith 1971's "Diamonds are Forever", Bond producers encouraged moviegoers to forget the recent past of OHMSS's character arc and tragic love by resurrecting earlier moves and establishing a zanier tone. And how better to erase awkward feels than to bring Sean Connery back for the greasy and bling-studded stateside adventure? Not without its charms, DAF remains one of the series' more distracting entries that never fails to generate opinion. Join your hosts in rolling the dice around this compl...
Quantum of Solace (2008)
January 12, 2019 19:00 - 2 hours - 201 MBThe fifth film to fall under BBN scrutiny, Quantum of Solace is a fast and angry action film. It may have withstood the Hollywood writer's strike and its lukewarm audience reception but can it survive being explored by our intrepid panel and the dreaded Granny-O interview?
Goldfinger (1964)
December 28, 2018 19:00 - 3 hours - 255 MB"Do you expect me to talk...?" I sure hope so... and for over three hours, please, because Goldfinger is regarded by many fans as the top Bond film of the franchise! Aware of their responsibility, the BBN hosts navigate the glittering vaults of this 24-carat classic with dutiful care and enthusiasm.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
December 15, 2018 19:00 - 3 hours - 249 MBJust in time for the holidays, the trio ponder the mysteries of Christmas trees, Swiss locales and, of course, George Lazenby's sole and controversial outing as James Bond. Scott, Josh and Jeff cut powdered shapes around the slopes of Peter Hunt's neatly structured cult classic.
The Living Daylights (1987)
November 25, 2018 19:00 - 2 hours - 203 MBJosh and Scott welcome back Jeff the Roommate and scare the living daylights out of each other in a discussion that tips its hat to one of Ian Fleming's best (short stories) and Felix Leiter's worst (... sorry, John Terry!). The short tenure of Timothy Dalton began here and brought to the franchise the iciest 007 to date. In a conversation full of "what ifs?" and "how comes?", John Glen's penultimate directorial bid is put under the microscope.
Goldeneye (1995)
November 10, 2018 19:00 - 2 hours - 229 MBJosh and Scott measure steps through their first discussion, focusing on 1995's Goldeneye. It's a new Bond, a new decade and a new world post-USSR. Joining our hosts to share some insight is Jeff Chapman, military and cold war history buff, and our nonagenarian grandmother for her first interview of the series!
Welcome to BBN: Introduction & Parameters
October 27, 2018 19:00 - 41 minutes - 57 MBHaving previously explored the literary and musical landscapes of the 007 world, Bowman & the BFG here lay out plans for their mightiest (if inevitable) James Bond adventure yet - the films themselves!