Research in progress
The mission continues:
A new series of books are planned following a complete rescan of the Archive using a new Océ TC4 large format scanner and an assemblage of new pieces.
"Book of the Year. And what a book!"
Dave Worrell, Cinema Retro
"Nothing short of a treasure trove. A great gift for anyone with an interest in spy films."
Anthony Horowitz
"The most beautifully produced and fascinating compendium that I have encountered."
Henry Porter
"Wonderful. A labour of love written by someone who knows the genre inside-out."
Charles Cumming
"THE book of the decade. Be prepared to be blown away."
Paul Goodhead, Talking Pictures TV
EUROSPY▪MEXISPY▪BOLLYSPYBLAXSPY▪BOSSASPY▪ASIASPYARABSPY▪SOVIETSPY
by Richard Rhys Davies
2,240 Spy Films from 65 Countries—Reviewed, Rated and Illustrated.
The International Spy Film Guide 1945 - 1989 is the
ultimate celebration of espionage cinema of the Cold War era. It is a colossus of a book with over 1100 pages in full colour across two hardback volumes.
Twelve years in the making, the encyclopedia rediscovers and celebrates films
previously hidden by the geography and politics of the Cold War. Featuring spy films from every continent and of all political persuasions, The ISFG demonstrates that the peoples of
all nations are not so different after all. From Syria to Argentina, Indonesia to Canada, Lithuania to New Zealand—the cinema of sixty five countries is brought together for the first time in a
globetrot worthy of a superspy mission.
Drawing on the vast collection of The Kiss Kiss Kill Kill Archive, The International Spy Film Guide is a box of visual fireworks with stunning poster artwork, unseen production stills and rare publicity materials illuminating an unprecedented voyage through late twentieth century spy cinema.
Each film entry is complemented by an image from the archive, a brief synopsis and review, a list of international release titles plus a score out of ten. Films with 8 and above are awarded a KKKKA stamp of approval. Films with 2 or less get the damning toxic stamp.
Useful extras include a glossary, an index of co-production titles, alternative English titles, a film series appendix and a list of 200 missing films.
Weighing in at over 3KG, this beautifully produced two volume edition is presented in luxurious non-scuff lamination covers and is printed on 100gsm bond uncoated art paper.
An essential reference book for spy film fans, James Bond aficionados, genre enthusiasts, film academics, cult film specialists, cinema historians and lovers of Eurospy, Mexispy, Bollyspy, Blaxspy, Bossaspy, Asiaspy, Arabspy and Sovietspy.
Also produced as a deluxe large format slipcase edition in a limited run of 30 copies.
210mm x 210mm
ISBN 978-0-9569435-2-1
Limited to 150 copies. Last copy available in bookshop. No digital edition.
by Richard Rhys Davies
Deluxe Large Format Hardback Limited Edition
A deluxe large format limited edition of The International Spy Film Guide 1945 - 1989 is also available. As a celebration of the artwork used to illustrate the guide a larger format of 250mm x 250mm has been published. The two volume book is housed in a black wibalin buckram slipcase bearing the ISFG globe logo in silver foil blocking. Each copy is signed by the author and hand numbered. The deluxe edition weighs in at a hefty 6kg.
Limited to 30 copies.
ISBN 978-0-9569435-1-4
RRP £250
NOW SOLD OUT
Also available:
Kiss Kiss Kill Kill:
The Graphic Art and Forgotten Spy Films of Cold War Europe
by Richard Rhys Davies
THE EXHIBITION CATALOGUE
Kiss Kiss Kill Kill:
The Graphic Art and Forgotten Spy Films of Cold War Europe
The Catalogue
The book is a large format A4 all colour art book on 100g paper stock with over 100 stunning restored posters. All artwork from the KKKK exhibition is featured as well as an introductory essay by the curator Richard Rhys Davies.
You can buy here in our shop.
A Year in Spy Films
Commencing 007 October 2016
The 365 highest scoring films from The International Spy Film Guide 1945 - 1989 are to be celebrated by the posting of an image from each film—one a day—for a year. Posting commences on the ISFG publication date of 007 October 2016 on Kiss Kiss Kill Kill Archive, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
The Kiss Kiss Kill Kill archive is dedicated to preserving spy cinema artifacts from the Cold War. This includes a collection of poster, stills, pressbooks and other publicity materials numbering 30,000+ pieces plus an extensive Blu Ray, DVD, VHS, 16mm film print, Vinyl and CD library.
This website is designed to be a resource for overlooked spy films offering reviews and images of little known films.
A key ambition of the archive is to conserve important cultural artefacts that reflect the zeitgeist of their time. The focus is on films and graphic art that fall outside the accepted cannon of “good art”- everyone is welcome.
The time span covered by the archive is 1945 to 1985; from Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech to Gorbachev's glasnost.
Films may be set anytime from 1900 onwards, including the future.
Included are international feature films released theatrically, on video or as standalone television features (this also includes compilation films made from TV series).
Original materials for images on the website are owned by the archive.
The Curator
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