In Remembrance: George MacDonald Fraser

     George MacDonald Fraser, the novelist who penned a handful of screenplays including the 1983 James Bond adventure Octopussy, has passed away on January 2, 2008 in Strang, Isle of Man, Great Britain. He was 82.

     MacDonald Fraser rose to prominence as a writer on his Flashman series of historical adventures. Taking the bullying character from the 19^th century novel Tom Brown’s Schooldays, MacDonald Fraser thrust the womanizing anti-hero Sir Harry Flashman into some of the most important events of the 19^th century, from the Charge of the Light Brigade to fighting on both side of the American Civil War. Although a coward and a liar, the roguish Flashman would emerge from each adventure covered in further glory and fame. The first book was published in 1969 and the series ran for another 11 installments.

     The second Flashman book, Royal Flash, was adapted for the screen in 1975 with Malcolm McDowell in the role of Flashman. The book and film’s plot was a reworking of The Prisoner of Zenda with the conceit that author Anthony Hope wrote his novel after hearing about the “true story” from Flashman. MacDonald Fraser wrote the screenplay for the film himself, which was directed by Richard Lester.

     Born in Carlisle, England on April 2, 1925, MacDonald Fraser served in the British Army during World War Two, seeing action in Burma and India. After the war, he worked as a journalist in Scotland, eventually becoming deputy editor of the Glasgow Herald newspaper.
 

     The film version of Royal Flash was not the first collaboration between MacDonald Fraser and director Lester as the writer penned the screenplays for the director’s The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers (1974). MacDonald Fraser, Lester and several of the films’ cast members reunited for 1989’s The Return Of The Musketeers.

     Additionally, MacDonald Fraser wrote the screenplays for 1977’s Crossed Swords (aka  The Prince And The Pauper), the James Bond adventures Octopussy (1983) and the fantasy film Red Sonja (1985). He also wrote a draft for 1978’s Force 10 From Navarone, though his work went uncredited.

     MacDonald Fraser wrote about his Hollywood experiences in his 2002 memoir The Light’s On At Signpost. He was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 1999.