Matthew Field & Ajay Chowdhury on James Bond and their book Darker Than the Sun - SpyMaster Interview #114

Matthew Field & Ajay Chowdhury on James Bond and their book Darker Than the Sun - SpyMaster Interview #114

Author: Scott Hardy & Cam Smith December 5, 2025 Duration: 1:27:02

Agent Scott welcomes authors Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury to the show to discuss their new book Darker Than the Sun: An Atlas of James Bond Movie Locations. They also reveal top secret intel about their earlier books Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films and Spy Octane: The Vehicles of James Bond Vol. 1.


You can purchase Darker Than the Sun and Some Kind of Hero on Amazon. Spy Octane can be bought at Porter Press.


You can also follow Matthew and Ajay on Instagram.


Become a SpyHards Patron and gain access to top secret "Agents in the Field" bonus episodes, movie commentaries and more!


Purchase the latest exclusive SpyHards merch at Redbubble.


Social media: @spyhards


View the NOC List and the Disavowed List at Letterboxd.com/spyhards


Podcast artwork by Hannah Hughes.


Theme music by Doug Astley.


SpyHards presents: Spies on Screen at Riverside Studios, LondonCam and Scott welcome actor Martine Beswick to discuss her role in the iconic 007 franchise, following an anniversary screening of the Sean Connery-starring Bond adventure THUNDERBALL. Saturday, December 13th 2025. Book tickets here: https://bit.ly/spiesonscreen



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Every week, Scott Hardy and Cam Smith-operating under the aliases Agent Scott and Cam the Provocateur-dive deep into the shadowy world of espionage cinema on their show, SpyHards-A Spy Movie Podcast. This isn't just a surface-level review; they decode the tradecraft, the tropes, and the timeless appeal of classic spy films. You'll hear them analyze everything from the gritty realism of George Smiley and Jason Bourne to the over-the-top gadgetry of Derek Flint and the comedic antics of Austin Powers and Johnny English. The conversation spans legendary franchises like James Bond and Mission: Impossible to cult favorites such as Kingsman, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and even Spy Kids. A running thread through this podcast is the quest to determine which films earn a spot on their prestigious N.O.C. List, essentially cementing their legacy within the spy genre canon. Blending film criticism with historical context and a genuine fan's enthusiasm, each episode feels like a debriefing with two friends who know far too much about secret agents. It’s a weekly mission for anyone who’s ever wondered about the cultural impact of a perfectly shaken martini or the mechanics of a hidden tape recorder.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

SpyHards - A Spy Movie Podcast
Podcast Episodes
171. Betrayed (1954) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:16
Agents Scott and Cam tie on yellow scarves and hang out in a windmill with Clark Gable, Lana Turner and Victor Mature while decoding the 1954 WWII romantic espionage thriller Betrayed.Directed by Gottfried Reinhardt. Sta…
Vijay Amritraj on Octopussy - SpyMaster Interview #76 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:55
Agents Scott and Cam welcome actor and retired professional tennis player Vijay Amritraj to the show to reveal the secrets behind his iconic work as Vijay in the 1983 Bond adventure Octopussy. He also discusses his work…
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Duration: 1:33:53
Agents Scott and Cam, along with guest operative Tom Pickup of the Really, 007! podcast, get caught in a Moroccan sandstorm with Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard while tackling the 2016 Robert Zemeckis romantic spy thrille…
168. Scorpio (1973) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:49
Agents Scott and Cam dodge a CIA hit squad and flee to Vienna with Burt Lancaster while decoding the gritty 1973 spy thriller Scorpio.Directed by Michael Winner. Starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Paul Scofield, John…
Dominic Cooke on The Courier - SpyMaster Interview #75 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:53
Agents Scott and Cam welcome director Dominic Cooke to the show to discuss the making of the 2020 Benedict Cumberbatch spy drama The Courier.Become a SpyHards Patron and gain access to top secret "Agents in the Field" bo…
Tom O'Connor on The Courier - SpyMaster Interview #74 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:20
Agents Scott and Cam welcome screenwriter Tom O'Connor to the show to reveal the secrets behind writing the 2020 espionage drama The Courier. He also shares his favourite spy films of all time.Become a SpyHards Patron an…