Editing James Bond (section)

==Censorship and alterations==
===Bans and censorship by country===
Several James Bond novels, films, and video games have been banned, censored, or altered in several countries. 

{|width=75% class="wikitable sortable""
! Release year
! Title
! Country
! Notes
|-
!colspan="4"| Novels
|-
| 1954
| ''[[Live and Let Die (novel)|Live and Let Die]]''
| [[Republic of Ireland]]
| Banned in 1954.<ref>{{cite news|last=Simpson|first=Craig|title=James Bond books edited to remove racist references|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/25/james-bond-books-edited-remove-racist-references/|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=25 February 2023|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227084310/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/25/james-bond-books-edited-remove-racist-references/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Dr. No (novel)|Dr. No]]''
| [[Francoist Spain]]
| Under Francoist Spain, the final pages of ''Dr. No'' were cut entirely, due to sexual references. The censored editions are still sometimes reproduced in Spain today, often unknowingly.<ref>{{cite news|title=Spain fails to turn page on Franco's legacy of censorship|url=https://www.ft.com/content/dbb4f3d6-80e6-11e6-8e50-8ec15fb462f4|work=[[Financial Times]]|date=23 September 2016|access-date=3 March 2023|archive-date=3 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303000719/https://www.ft.com/content/dbb4f3d6-80e6-11e6-8e50-8ec15fb462f4|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Various
| All titles
| [[Soviet Union]]
| All Bond novels were banned during the existence of the Soviet Union. Russian newspaper the ''[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]]'' condemned the series, describing it as being set in a "nightmarish world where laws are written at the point of a gun, where coercion and rape is considered valour and murder is a funny trick".<ref name="Soviet">{{cite news|last=Connik|first=Michael|url=https://literary007.com/2017/09/14/james-bond-vs-the-ussr/|title=James Bond vs. the USSR|date=14 September 2007|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227192659/https://literary007.com/2017/09/14/james-bond-vs-the-ussr/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!colspan="4" | Films
|-
| Various
| All titles
| [[Soviet Union]]
| All Bond films were banned during the existence of the Soviet Union.<ref name="Soviet"/>
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Goldfinger (film)|Goldfinger]]''
| [[Israel]]
| In December 1965, shortly after its release in the country, Israel banned the film ''Goldfinger'', after discovering actor [[Gert Fröbe|Gert Fröbe's]] past association with the [[Nazi Party]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Feron|first=James|title=Israel Bans 'Goldfinger' Movie Because of Frobe's Nazi Past|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/12/15/archives/israel-bans-goldfinger-movie-because-of-frobes-nazi-past.html|work=[[New York Times]]|date=15 December 1995|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227192243/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/12/15/archives/israel-bans-goldfinger-movie-because-of-frobes-nazi-past.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ban was lifted two months later, in February 1966, after the [[Censorship in Israel|Israel Film Censorship Board]] found evidence that Fröbe had quit the Nazi Party in 1937. Additionally, the film's producers were believed to have made appeals to Israel to lift the ban, and because Israeli public demand to see the popular film was high, the reversal on the ban was made.<ref>{{cite news|title='Goldfinger' Allowed To Play in Israel; Ban on Actor Lifted|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/02/13/archives/goldfinger-allowed-to-play-in-israel-ban-on-actor-lifted.html|work=[[New York Times]]|date=13 February 1966|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227192244/https://www.nytimes.com/1966/02/13/archives/goldfinger-allowed-to-play-in-israel-ban-on-actor-lifted.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Skyfall]]''
| [[China|People's Republic of China]]
| In 2007, China gave permission for the 2006 film ''Casino Royale'' to play uncensored in the nation. It was the first Bond film to gain a release unaltered in the country,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=James Bond ban lifted in China|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/james-bond-ban-lifted-in-china/|magazine=Games Radar|date=22 January 2007|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227194025/https://www.gamesradar.com/james-bond-ban-lifted-in-china/|url-status=live}}</ref> followed by ''Quantum of Solace''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chinese censors give 007 a 'Quantum of Solace' and no cuts though|url=https://www.mi6-hq.com/news/index.php?itemid=6930|work=MI6-HQ|date=28 October 2008|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227194026/https://www.mi6-hq.com/news/index.php?itemid=6930|url-status=live}}</ref> 
However, ''Skyfall'' was released in an edited version, after cutting a torture scene, altering subtitles, and removing references to prostitution in the film.<ref>{{cite news|title=Censored Bond film Skyfall opens in China|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-21115987|work=[[BBC]]|date=21 January 2013|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=26 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626175834/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-21115987|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Spectre (2015 film)|Spectre]]''
| [[India]]
| In 2015, ''Spectre'' was released censored in India, after the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] ordered kissing scenes in the film be trimmed by 50%.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Li|first=Shirley|title=India censors James Bond's kisses in 'Spectre'|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/11/19/spectre-kisses-censored-india/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=19 November 2015|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227232238/https://ew.com/article/2015/11/19/spectre-kisses-censored-india/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!colspan="4" | Video games
|-
| 1997
| ''[[GoldenEye 007 (1997 video game)|GoldenEye 007]]''
| [[Germany]]
| In 1997, Germany banned the video game ''GoldenEye 007'', with the German Federal Review Board placing it on their ''List of Media Harmful to Minors''. The ban was lifted in 2021.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bankhurst|first=Adam|title=Goldeneye 007 German Ban Removal Raises Some Interesting Questions About Its Future On Switch Online|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/goldeneye-007-german-ban-removal-raises-some-interesting-questions-about-its-future-on-switch-online|work=[[IGN]]|date=30 October 2021|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227193114/https://www.ign.com/articles/goldeneye-007-german-ban-removal-raises-some-interesting-questions-about-its-future-on-switch-online|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

===2023 changes===
In February 2023, Ian Fleming Publications (which administers all Fleming's literary works), edited the Bond series as part of a sensitivity review. The April 2023 re-releases of the series are planned to tie into the 70th anniversary of ''Casino Royale''. The new editions remove a number of references to race, including some slurs, along with some disparagements of women and homosexuality.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Simpson |first1=Craig |date=25 February 2023 |title=James Bond books edited to remove racist references |work=[[The Sunday Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/25/james-bond-books-edited-remove-racist-references/ |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227084310/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/25/james-bond-books-edited-remove-racist-references/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They include a disclaimer added at the beginning of each book, reading:

<blockquote>This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace. A number of updates have been made in this edition, while keeping as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it is set.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |title=James Bond Books Edited To Avoid Offense To Modern Audiences – Report |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/james-bond-books-rewritten-to-avoid-offense-to-modern-audiences-1235271892/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |date=26 February 2023 |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228050958/https://deadline.com/2023/02/james-bond-books-rewritten-to-avoid-offense-to-modern-audiences-1235271892/ |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote> 

The decision was met with strong criticism by media outlets and public commentators, who condemned the changes as [[book censorship|literary censorship]].{{refn|<ref>{{cite news|last=Kerridge|first=Jake|title='Sensitivity' be damned – James Bond is a killer|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/james-bond-cold-blooded-killer-should-never-written-sensitivity/|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=27 February 2023|access-date=2 March 2023|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302231553/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/james-bond-cold-blooded-killer-should-never-written-sensitivity/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lowry|first=Rich|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/02/dont-rewrite-books/|title=Don't Rewrite Books|work=[[National Review]]|date=28 February 2023|access-date=1 March 2023|archive-date=1 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301012405/https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/02/dont-rewrite-books/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Crow|first=David|title=Rewriting Ian Fleming's James Bond Books: What Is Even the Point?|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/rewriting-ian-fleming-james-bond-books-what-is-the-point/|work=[[Den of Geek]]|date=28 February 2023|access-date=2 March 2023|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302231554/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/rewriting-ian-fleming-james-bond-books-what-is-the-point/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Chilton|first=Louis|title=Censoring Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming has nothing to do with 'sensitivity'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/james-bond-censored-offensive-roald-dahl-b2290856.html|work=[[The Independent]]|date=27 February 2023|access-date=1 March 2023|archive-date=1 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301012401/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/james-bond-censored-offensive-roald-dahl-b2290856.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ladan|first=Luke|title=I've read all the James Bond books and write for a living. Censoring them is just plain wrong|url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/read-james-bond-books-write-living-censoring-wrong|work=[[Fox News]]|date=2 March 2023|access-date=2 March 2023|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302231553/https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/read-james-bond-books-write-living-censoring-wrong|url-status=live}}</ref>}} ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]'' host [[Whoopi Goldberg]] expressed her opposition, arguing that offensive historical literature should be left unaltered;<ref>{{cite news|last=Nungesser|first=Samantha|title=Whoopi Goldberg Says She's Against Editing Offensive Books on 'The View': "Kids Should Have the Right to Read How People Thought"|url=https://decider.com/2023/02/27/the-view-whoopi-goldberg-sunny-hostin-clash-censorship/|work=[[New York Post#Decider|Decider]]|date=27 February 2023|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227225524/https://decider.com/2023/02/27/the-view-whoopi-goldberg-sunny-hostin-clash-censorship/|url-status=live}}</ref> while ''[[National Review]]'' contributors [[Charles C. W. Cooke]] and [[Douglas Murray (author)|Douglas Murray]] attacked the changes as excessive [[political correctness]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Cooke|first=Charles C. W.|title=Why Not Censor Shakespeare Next?|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/02/why-not-censor-shakespeare-next/|work=[[National Review]]|date=27 February 2023|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227230528/https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/02/why-not-censor-shakespeare-next/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Murray|first=Douglas|title=Sensitivity Readers Are Distorting the Pages of the Past|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2023/05/01/sensitivity-readers-are-distorting-the-pages-of-the-past/|work=[[National Review]]|date=13 April 2023|access-date=19 April 2023|archive-date=19 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419032424/https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2023/05/01/sensitivity-readers-are-distorting-the-pages-of-the-past/|url-status=live}}</ref> Fleming biographer [[Andrew Lycett]] also opposed the changes, writing that "what an author commits to paper is sacrosanct and shouldn't be altered...The only changes to the text should come from the author."<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Andrew Lycett|Lycett, Andrew]]|title=I'm Ian Fleming's biographer – there's no way James Bond can be made 'PC'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/james-bond-ian-fleming-books-edited-b2290563.html|work=[[The Independent]]|date=27 February 2023|access-date=1 March 2023|archive-date=1 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301012405/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/james-bond-ian-fleming-books-edited-b2290563.html|url-status=live}}</ref>