‘Secretan. James Secretan’: How James Bond Nearly Ended Up with a Different Name
An extract from a 1952 draft of the first Bond novel, Casino Royale, made public this past weekend to coincide with the book’s 60th anniversary, revealed that the novelist had another name in mind for his most famous creation. “Ian’s first idea was to give James Bond an assumed name as his cover,” niece Kate Grimond told the Sunday Times of London (Grimond’s family owns the draft).
The idea, apparently, was that while the character would still be named Bond, he’d use a different handle in the field. And so when a CIA operative introduced himself to 007 at the Hotel Splendide casino – “My name’s Felix Leiter. Glad to meet you” – Bond’s original response was, “Mine’s Secretan. James Secretan.” The word “Secretan” was subsequently scrawled out in blue ink, and “Bond” became the replacement. Grimond said that, “Ian must have realised it would cause confusion if he had Bond known as Bond to friends and the security services in London, but as Secretan for his cover name to strangers or people he didn’t want to know he was a spy.”
It wasn’t the only thing Fleming ended up changing before the book was published (at an on-sale price that he thought was too low, according to a newly released letter). In the earlier version, Miss Moneypenny was originally going to be named Miss Pettavel.
Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/04/15/sec ... rent-name/
Secretan. James Secretan
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Secretan. James Secretan
Credit to JackJamesBond007 for adding the story first
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
Thank you, Blowfeld. I'm really honoured. However, seeing as the character never saw the light of the day, I baptize Craig as James Secertan from now on, because obviously he's not Bond. People are comparing him to Fleming's character, could they have been comparing him to James Secretan? That's possible.
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
Secret Cretin is more like Cr-egg's Bond portrayal.
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
Secret Cretin would be a great title for Bond 24
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
Really subtle name for a secret agent. Right up there with Pussy Galore. He may as well have called him Mr Spy.
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
Reminds me of the Team Fortress 2 character. LOL!
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
JackJamesBond007 wrote:Reminds me of the Team Fortress 2 character. LOL!
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
Awesome artwork, Saint!! Introducing Craig's replacement, Mr. Spy as the new James Secretan in Secret Cretin.The Saint 007 wrote:JackJamesBond007 wrote:Reminds me of the Team Fortress 2 character. LOL!
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
I never heard this Name before, if you'd told me I was watching a James Secretan film in CR I might of believe it
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
My EXACT thoughts, Dr. No. People, Craig fans, are saying that Craig is exactly the same character as Fleming's. Could they have talking about James Secretan? LOL!Dr. No wrote:I never heard this Name before, if you'd told me I was watching a James Secretan film in CR I might of believe it
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
[video][/video]
Wayne Rooney as the next James Secretan.
Wayne Rooney as the next James Secretan.
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
I Googled it and it seems to be a normal surname; so it's not far fetched a story. Bond is better.
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
Heh. If he'd been James Secretan-with Craig playing him-we could have had a lot of fun with that name- Excrementan, Cretinman, for starters.
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Re: Secretan. James Secretan
The Adventures of Secret Cretin: The Boredom Still Continues