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The
James Bond Story - Bond, James Bond. Perhaps the greatest
fictional cinema icon ever. He first appeared on the big screen
in 1962 in Dr.
No, and has remained the most powerful action hero ever
since. The secret to his success is his adaptability. No matter
what tight spot he finds himself, he always appears to be suave,
sophisticated and cool. As a spy Bond is constantly reinventing
himself, and on the big screen he has done this five times,
as Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton
and Pierce Brosnan. The documentary looks at the different characterizations
each actor has brought to the role to discover the elements
that make up Bond. It also traces the character back to its
origin, the Bond novels by Ian Fleming, whose creation was semi-autobiographical.
From the gadgets to the girls, The James Bond Story also
features interviews with Q (the late Desmond Llewelyn), Maud
Adams, Jane Seymour, Terence Young (Director), Cubby Broccoli
(Producer), Ian Fleming and more, along with extensive film
clips from Dr.
No
to The
World is Not Enough. This action-packed documentary presents
an in-depth look at the quintessential spy who has a license
to kill.
Best
of Bond James Bond - If you are a fan of the Bond movies
and particularly the various musical themes, this Music CD is
a must-have for your collection. Of course, the classic Bond
theme is here in its full orchestral glory. Other well-know
classics include "Goldfinger"
by Shirley Bassey (who actually sings three different Bond themes
offered here), "Nobody
Does It Better" from Carly Simon, and "Live
and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and the Wings. More
recent Bond themes have been included as well, from the 80s
hits "For Your Eyes Only" by Sheena Easton and "View
to a Kill" from Duran Duran to "Golden Eye" (Tina
Turner) and "Tomorrow Never Dies" (Sheryl Crow) from
the late 90s Bond films.
From
Autogiro to Gyroplane: The Amazing Survival of an Aviation Technology
- Predating the invention of the helicopter by two decades,
the Autogiro was the world's first rotary-wing aircraft. The
helicopter had the advantageous ability to rise straight up,
while the Autogiro/gyroplane could only taxi. Yet the gyroplane
was safer and more stable; both aircraft should have had value
in market. Why did the helicopter survive and prosper, while
the Autogiro became a nearly forgotten historical footnote?
Why didn't the Autogiro catch on, and why is it being revived
today? This is the first book to tell the fascinating 80-year
history of today's gyroplane and its antecedent, the Autogiro.
Charnov explains that the near-eclipse of the Autogiro was caused
by a potent combination of bad luck, the impact of the Great
Depression and World War II, and egregious business decisions.
Only by understanding the amazing manner in which this aviation
technology has persisted and evolved can one fully understand
the basis for its future. In contrast to the fate of the Autogiro,
the gyroplane's unfolding story is characterized by successful
business models, effective decision making, and the emergence
of cutting-edge technology. The survival of the gyroplane may
be a paradigm for the persistence of earlier, less complex technologies,
and its future relies on grasping its colorful history.
Dream of Flight - Starting in 1953, Bensen built a series
of helicopters and gyroplanes (Gyroplanes are helicopter-like
flying machines whose rotor blades receive power not from an
engine but from the force of air as the machine moves forward).
Many photographs in this book from the Bensen archives show
his unusual designs, including Gyrocopters with as many
as six engines, one- and two-seat Gyrocopters, jet-powered helicopters,
a multi-engine flying platform and many others. Bensen tells
about his first crash, his near misses while flying air shows
with the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels, and his world speed
record flights. This book also includes a biography of Igor
Bensen written by Paul Bergen Abbott based on a personal interview
with Bensen. The biography tells how the young boy Igor became
fascinated while watching birds in his native Russia. After
he and his family fled the Russian revolution and came to the
United States, Bensen pursued his dream of flight. Along with
developing many unique flying machines, Bensen invented the
idea of selling his machine in a kit so people could build their
own aircraft, a very popular practice today. His small rear-engine
Gyrocopter became the basic design for all modern gyroplanes.
He also founded the Popular Rotorcraft Association, a worldwide
organization that promotes flying amateur-built helicopters
and gyroplanes.
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