"The
trouble about writing something specially for a film is that I haven’t got a single
idea in my head".
Ian Fleming to Kevin McClory
27th May 1959
Ernest Cuneo
writes brief outline of story.
June/August 1959
Ian Fleming
writes a memo of his version of Cuneo story.
July/August 1959
Fleming
writes more detailed treatment of story.
September 1959
Leigh Aman
telephones to say that Kevin McClory would like to get in touch with Jack Whittingham.
22nd September 1959
Jack’s
first meeting with Kevin McClory.
25th September 1959
"Ian is
meeting another writer called Jack Whittingham on Monday. I have had talks with him and
gave him Ian’s first rough treatment, which he is extremely enthusiastic about, he
also came back with some highly interesting and intelligent constructive story
points".
Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce
28th September 1959
"BRIGHTON
STOP EXCELLENT MEETING IAN AND WHITTINGHAM STOP IAN WOULD LIKE WHITTINGHAM START WORK
IMMEDIATELY. MEETING HIS AGENT MONDAY REGARDS KEVIN"
Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce
1st October 1959
"Meanwhile,
Whittingham, whom I think I told you I greatly liked, is fiddling about most creatively
with the story. I’m much impressed by Whittingham and he has some excellent ideas
which cut out a lot of the muck at the beginning of my story".
Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce
2nd October. 1959
First dated
Whittingham notes on new opening sequence written and sent to Kevin McClory.
7th October 1959
"No
news from Hitchcock. Meanwhile, the script writer is busily writing the script, and I
gather, coming up with some excellent ideas, so no time is being wasted".
Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce
9th October 1959
"I do
feel sure that the sooner we can give a definite go ahead to Jack Whittingham, the better,
as he is a most sort after writer in England, and will obviously not be idle for
long"
"I enclose a very rough outline
covering our suggested take over of an aircraft which was written by Jack
Whittingham".
Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce
14th October 1959
"For a
thousand reasons I cannot be more than your shadow Chief of Staff. Annie, rightly, is
terrified by the prospect of me being constantly away on the film and imagines heaven
knows what, but at any rate she imagines it all, and I’m having much trouble with her
on this account.
As to my help over the script, it will of
course be forthcoming in full measure but simply must take second place to the rest of my
rather complicated life. In any case, Whittingham will have to be number one on the
script, because he is a script writer and I am not, and this is a professional job on
which total concentration is necessary".
Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce
14th October 1959
"DELIGHTED
NEW SCRIPT VERSION STOP"
Ivor Bryce to Ian Fleming
17th October 1959
"I have
a feeling that we should sign up Jack Whittingham forthwith. The only qualm is that, that
is - for the first time, really sinking the landing craft behind you. Like deciding to
give a party, & then actually putting the first invitation in the post. Not that I am
faltering in any way. Still it is a milestone.
Would that Kevin was more reliable and
businesslike. If Kevin was different though, he would no doubt be unable to make
movies".
Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce
20th October 1959
"Leigh
& I had a meeting this morning with Jack Whittingham’s agent and we think we can
get him to write the script for £5000 (today’s equivalent £150,000). This,
for a writer of his experience, is less than he normally takes and I think we should make
an immediate decision on this, and I do know that Walt Disney want very much to put him
under contract. I will cable you as soon as I hear definitely that he can be obtained for
this".
Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce
21st October 1959
Fleming
delivers second treatment of story incorporating work with Whittingham.
21st October 1959
"Timetable
– I don’t think the film timetable will suit any of our conveniences quite as
nicely, as you see it. The time you are essential is obviously during preparation of the
script. Even if Whittingham writes every word, you really must be within reach for overall
decisions. I think once that is over, you needn’t be there at all, except for fun. I
personally think the Nassau shooting should be from mid-April to June when the weather is
the most reliable".
"I like the new script better and
better: so does Ernie".
Ivor Bryce to Ian Fleming
23rd October 1959
"So far
as making a profit is concerned, I’m personally of the opinion that we have a
financial winner in this film, whether done in colour or monochrome, so long as we have a
couple of good stars, though J. de B. should remember, I think, that Bond must be an
Englishman.
With Kevin as producer, X as Director,
Aman perhaps as manager, Whittingham as script writer and you as general energiser,
assisted as much as possible by me, I don’t see why the vehicle shouldn’t
roll".
Ian Fleming to Ivor Bryce
24th October 1959
"HAVE
MANAGED REDUCE WHITTINGHAM FEE FOM SIX TO FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS STOP IAN THINKS WE SHOULD
ENGAGE HIM IMMEDIATELY I KNOW WE SHALL LOOSE HIM IS WE DON’T WILL FUNDS BE AVAILABLE
ME SIGN CONTRACT REGARDS".
Kevin McClory to Ivor Bryce
Jack’s normal fee reduced on the
understanding that this would be the first of a series of Bond screenplays. (See reference
to first James Bond screenplay 27th October).
27th October 1959
Agreement
drawn up between Xanadu Production and Jack Whittingham to complete first James Bond
Screenplay later to be entitled "THUNDERBALL".
10 November 1959
Whittingham
outline with temporary title "James Bond of the Secret Service"
24th November 1959
Jack meets with Ian Fleming in
New York and is introduced to Ivor Bryce
26th November 1959
RECCI TO BAHAMAS
Contract signed between Jack & Kevin on behalf of Xanadu for £5,000. Jack assigns all
rights "of whatsoever nature" in Thunderball to Kevin McClory.
7th December 1959
Kevin registers Thunderball
title
December - February 1960
THUNDERBALL (Original title
"LONGITUDE 78 WEST") the first ever James Bond screenplay completed by Jack
Whittingham.
5th February 1960
Ernest Cuneo calls to ask if
Jack has been paid yet and asked that the screenplay be sent to him direct instead of to
Kevin and was negative about Kevin. They were getting nervous about having Kevin as
Producer.
15th February 1960
Screenplay completed and
re-titled THUNDERBALL
Nervousness continues about Kevin McClory as producer..
19??
Messrs Saltzman & Broccolli
enter scene.
Summer 1960
Unaware of any production
problems, Jack writes a second draft of the screenplay.
28th October 1960
Fleming assigns Thunderball to
Trustees – Glidrose Productions.
19th December 1960
Agreement signed between
Glidrose & Jonathan Cape for Thunderball book rights.
21st March 1961
Injunction sought against
Jonathan Cape publishers by Kevin McClory & Jack Whittingham fails in attempt to
prevent forthcoming "Thunderball" novel debut.
27th March 1961
Fleming publishes Thunderball
novel plagiarising Jack’s screenplayon over 200 pages with no acknowledgements.
6th -10th May 1961
Letters of
concern between Whittingham & Fleming – both suffering from
heart attacks.
First
Richard Maibaum version of Thunderball hastily withdrawn.
"Actually, Cubby Broccoli, in his
autobiography, When the Snow Melts, discusses this at some length. Originally, Broccoli,
Saltzman, and Fleming all thought Kevin (and your father, although he is not mentioned by
those I spoke to) would likely settle the matter. Maibaum’s script was withdrawn when
everyone realized the matter would not be settled quickly. Maibaum also wrote about the
first Thunderball script for Esquire magazine in 1965".(John Cork)
4th September 1961
Jack’s daughter, Sylvan
Whittingham, starts 1st job as assistant secretary to Oswald Hickson, Collier
& Co where Peter Carter-Ruck is Senior Partner. Shortly after McClory &
Whittingham engage Peter Carter-Ruck to act for them in their case against Fleming.
1962
1st official Richard Maibaum
screenplay of Doctor No (written in 1961, with re-drafts by Berkeley Mather and Joanna
Harwood
(and an unaccredited Wolf Mankowitz)
20th November 1963
THUNDERBALL TRIALCOMMENCES
At Chancery Division of the
High Court, London. Initially McCLORY & WHITTINGHAM v FLEMING & BRYCE Then McCLORY
solo with WHITTINGHAM as principal witness
Jack & Margot at Law
Courts
3rd December 1963
Case settled after 10 days in
court. Due to brilliantly & meticulously prepared 999 document case by top copyright
lawyer, Peter Carter-Ruck, a settlement was
reached on this potentially lengthy trial and Kevin McClory was awarded film rights to
‘THUNDERBALL’ and £50,000 damages. Kevin abandons Jack Whittingham and
eventually goes into production with Broccoli & Saltzman. He received a sole producer
credit; Broccoli & Saltzman [who do produce] take a ‘presented by’ credit.
Whittingham issues his own writ
against Fleming for damages for libel, malicious falsehood and damage to professional
reputation.
11th August 1964
Case abandoned when Ian Fleming
dies of heart attack.
29th December 1965
THUNDERBALL – by now 4th Bond film PREMIERSat The London Pavilion,
Piccadilly Circus and Rialto Theatre, Coventry Street.
1962
Jack takes up sailing (Went to
the boat show; ordered small ketch; bought 6 books on sailing; spent weekend on friend Tom
Farmiloe’s boat and set off for France. Miraculously survived many mishaps.
Known as "Basher" Whittingham at Solent boatyard.
1964
Jack writes
‘Danger Man’ scripts for television
August 1965
Sylvan
launches Jack’s boat and her pop record "We Don’t Belong".
1967
Jack writes
screenplay about Ian Fleming based on John Pearson’s
biography for The Sunday Times.
1969
Jack writes
screenplay about Oleg Penkovsky with Greville Wynne as consultant.
1971
Operation
for throat cancer at Royal Marsden Hospital. Continued to smoke in spite of Doctor's
advice – thought it highly amusing to blow smoke rings through hole in throat!!
1972
Jack dies in
Malta aged 62 of merciful heart attack one month, sadly, before the birth of first
grandchild Samuel to Jonathan and Jessica Whittingham, and Suilven’s (Sylvan’s)
wedding to songwriter Barry Mason.
1975
Ivor Bryce
libels Jack & Kevin in his book "You Only Live Once" and Kevin McClory sues.
The allegations were categorically withdrawn and Kevin was awarded "a substantial
sum" for damages.
Apology made in the High Courts in 1975
to Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham’s widow
1975
In
the statement in the High Court in the libel action on ’You Only Live Once’, it
was stated that it was "a matter of sadness" to the plaintiff, Kevin
McClory," that Jack was not there to defend himself against the wanton libel".
The publishers and the author of the book, it stated, have withdrawn these allegations
without reservation; agreed to apologise and to pay substantial damages to Kevin, which,
it was added, "would remove the unwarranted blemish upon the late Jack
Whittingham’s name".
"The publishers and the author
stated in Court that they recognised these allegations should never have been made and
apologised to Kevin and to the widow of the late Jack Whittingham".
1975 - 1985
Jack
Whittingham’s widow and family remained unaware of this case, (and indeed, the book),
as they had not been notified about the proceedings by Kevin McClory or told of the
apology that had been directed to them, nor was any offer made to his widow for a share of
the damages awarded.
In law, no right of redress survives
for relatives of a deceased person who has been libelled, so that although the book
seriously libelled Jack with a number of entirely false allegations, there were no means
of redress for his widow. Nonetheless, the apology in Court was made for the
"distress suffered by Jack’s widow" and it was felt that Kevin should
surely have paid a share of the damages he received to her, for the unjust and ill-founded
attack on Jack.
1983
NEVER
SAY NEVERAGAIN
is released by Kevin McClory. This film was based on the original screenplay of
Thunderball written by Jack Whittingham. No credit for this fact was given to Jack by
Kevin, only a shared ‘Story’ credit. Jack’s widow & family were not
notified that this film was to be made nor invited to Premier.
Sylvan (Whittingham)
Mason has
collaborated with author Robert Sellars on
the
book "Battle For Bond" - the history of Thunderball, which has been
published by Tomahawk, and will be available in March 2007 to coincide with the release of Casino Royale on DVD.
CBn Interviews Jack Whittingham's
heirs. Sylvan Whittingham Mason and Jonathan Whittingham on
Thunderball, the swinging '60s, and the unmade Ian Fleming biography
film.
on over 200 pages with no acknowledgements.
a settlement was
reached on this potentially lengthy trial and Kevin McClory was awarded film rights to
‘THUNDERBALL’ and £50,000 damages. Kevin abandons Jack Whittingham and
eventually goes into production with Broccoli & Saltzman. He received a sole producer
credit; Broccoli & Saltzman [who do produce] take a ‘presented by’ credit.
at The London Pavilion,
Piccadilly Circus and Rialto Theatre, Coventry Street.
the
book "Battle For Bond" - the history of Thunderball, which has been
published by Tomahawk, and will be available in March 2007 to coincide with the release of Casino Royale on DVD.
