Richard Maibaum helped define James Bond — but did he ever get the credit he truly deserved?
In this episode of The 007 Files, Bill Koenig talks to writer, producer and New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg, whose 2022 book The James Bond Films 1962–1989: Interviews with the Actors, Writers and Producers collects his remarkable 1980s interviews with the people who built 007’s world — from screenwriters and directors to the actors themselves.
Goldberg shares how his first major interview, a candid conversation with Richard Maibaum, opened the door to years of insider access to Bond. He recalls meeting Roger Moore on set in San Francisco, where the encounter took an unexpected turn with an unforgettable perspective of 007 himself.
We explore Maibaum’s immense but under-recognised influence on the Bond films that continues to this day. Along the way, we look at the 1988 writers’ guild strike, the curious world of product placement, and the ever-changing style and tone of the Bond films.
It’s a revealing, sometimes hilarious conversation about the people who shaped 007 from behind the scenes — and a reminder that even the world’s best-known secret agent depends on those who put the words in his mouth.
Where to find us:
Lee Goldberg
https://leegoldberg.com/about-lee/
Bill Koenig