007GB Agent in the field: Ciaran Brown – 00435
Event Photography: Mark Wooldridge – 0030
‘Operation: Solex’. When I utter this title, it conjures a whole host of memorable moments. In short, a truly ‘glittering’ day that celebrated the 50th anniversary of ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.
My love for this film goes right back to my childhood. When I was eight years old, I watched ‘Live and Let Die’ and this was my ‘proper’ introduction to the wonderful world of James Bond. I had truly been infected by the 007 virus!
or Christmas that year, my Mum bought me two VHS tapes and these were ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘The Man With The Golden Gun’. I have a distinct and fond memory of watching dear Roger in his second outing as the suave super spy. It was early morning and it was the scene when Bond is escaping Chula and his villains! Sheriff J. W. Pepper has just been propelled into the water and 007 is cruising off down the river. The music crescendos and it was at that precise point that my dad instructed me to turn off the TV, as I had to be “taken to school” as it were! It’s safe to say that the film was swiftly resumed as soon as possible thereafter. Having watched these two titles, the damage had been well and truly done, and I remember making the pilgrimage with my Mum to ASDA to purchase the rest of the collection. Thankfully, the offer of ‘buy one, get one free’ was on and this was the beginning of a love affair that has lasted a lifetime!
As a result of my childhood, ‘The Man With The Golden Gun’ ranks as one of my personal favourite James Bond instalments. I love it and do struggle to understand why it receives such negative attention from certain critics and fans. For me, it contains so many of the elements that we associate with the franchise. Roger is brilliant in this film, and we do see a much grittier version of his interpretation of the character. It has been said that this is the film where he really does ‘become’ 007, as it were. Britt Ekland and Maud Adams are beautiful, Christopher Lee is cold and calculated as Scaramanga, and Nick Nack is contrastingly (in size at least) creative as the film’s henchman, offering a certain degree of comic relief in the process. The locations are lush and the soundtrack sensational! And it still staggers me that John Barry completed the score in a matter of weeks, even though he didn’t favourably view the finished article. That is testament to his genius! Put simply, I adore this film – it’s audacious, bombastic and kaleidoscopically colourful!
To attend this event and revel in all things ‘Golden Gun’ was a great thrill, and it was a joy to again meet Britt and Maud after so many years! I took along some substantial items for signing, including one of the jewels in my collection’s crown: my Christopher Lee Sideshow model, signed by the late, great horror icon and numbered #007/50. This was an item that I procured very early in my collecting years and it was even featured (as a part of my wider collection) on the ‘Antiques Roadshow: The Next Generation’ when I was 13. To add Britt and Maud’s signatures must make this a true collector’s item – 100% unique!
All in all, I would describe ‘Operation: Solex’ as an unadulterated success! The company was esteemed, the food and drink delectable and I enjoyed every moment! With thanks to everyone that made it possible. Until the next time…
Last modified: 13 January 2026
