| |
8 April 2009 |
|
Bond is Back at BFI Southbank!
|
|
|
The BFI and EON
Productions are excited to announce a very special season of films and
events to mark the centenary of Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli – the man who
brought Bond to the big screen. |
 |
Albert R. Broccoli (1909-1996) also known as ‘Cubby’ was
the driving force behind bringing James Bond to the big screen. Born
into an Italian-American family, Broccoli’s early career in Hollywood
started as an assistant director on a Howard Hughes picture, The
Outlaw, directed by Howard Hawks.
In 1952 Broccoli started his
producing career when he came to England and launched Warwick Films with
Irving Allen. Broccoli’s interest in Ian Fleming's James Bond stories,
led him to Canadian producer, Harry Saltzman. Together they formed EON
Productions and in 1962 produced the first James Bond film, Dr. No
(1962). When Harry Saltzman sold his share to United Artists in 1977,
Broccoli continued as the “man behind Bond” producing a further seven
films before passing the torch on to his stepson Michael G. Wilson and
daughter, Barbara Broccoli.
To celebrate this legacy, and the
impact of the franchise on film culture, BFI Southbank will
present a dazzling retrospective of Broccoli’s work in April and
May
2009. Bond films must be seen as they were originally intended, on the
big screen, and all James Bonds will be represented.
Highlights of the
‘Bond And Beyond’ season include the re-release of From Russia With Love
(1963)
and masterclasses in Bond led by
key film talent. Exclusive exhibitions from EON and BFI archives present the look of
Bond, with ‘Bond school’ during the Easter holidays, when fans can
revisit the style,
music and history of the world’s favourite secret agent.
|
|
|
In
addition, to the BFI Weekender including events, Q&A’s and games
to entice anyone along for a shaken not stirred weekend of merriment.
There will also be exciting events for younger Bond fans and a special
'Family Funday' - did you know that Broccoli also brought us that childhood
classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)? |
|
|
 |
From Russia With
Love – EXTENDED RUN (Digital print)
Friday 24th April – Thursday 7th May [playing exclusively in NFT3]
Broccoli considered From
Russia With Love (1963) as one of the best Fleming stories. Connery
once again excelled and was well supported by a great cast including
Robert Shaw, wonderfully menacing as a brutal killer; and Lotte Lenya as
Russian SPECTRE agent Rosa Klebb, with the famous poison-tipped knife
device in her shoe. The film also features many distinctive Bond motifs
for the first time (a pre-credit sequence; iconic main titles; John
Barry’s first score and a sweeping theme song; Desmond Llewelyn as Q, etc)
and its huge success firmly established the 007 films as a cultural
phenomenon.
UK 1963. Dir Terence Young. With Sean Connery, Robert Shaw, Lotte Lenya
115min. PG.
Courtesy of Park
Circus Films |
 |
Dr. No
Sean Connery was cast in the lead role and the film featured the usual
Broccoli touch of exotic locations: this time Jamaica and surrounding
waters, from which a bikini-clad Andress memorably emerged.
UK 1962. Dir Terence Young. With Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph
Wiseman. 105min. PG.
New digital restoration
Wed 8th April 19:45 NFT1*; Tue 14th April 11:00 NFT2**; Wed 15th April 18:20
NFT2; Thu 16th April 18:30 NFT1; Sun 19th April 20:50 NFT1.
* Introduction by Michael Wilson, ** Parent & Baby screening |
 |
Goldfinger
To many, the quintessential Bond film and a brilliant third entry in the
series. Here Bond gets his Aston Martin, spars with two statuesque British
beauties (Honor Blackman and Shirley Eaton) and pits his wits against a
memorable villain, Auric Goldfinger. Add the first Shirley Bassey theme
song and some exciting action sequences and the result is an explosive
cocktail.
UK 1964. Dir Guy Hamilton. With Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, Gert Fröbe.
109min. PG.
New digital restoration
Sat 18th April 20:45 NFT1; Sat 25 April 18th 18:15 NFT2;
Wed 29th April 14:30 NFT2. |
 |
Thunderball
While recuperating at a health farm, Bond uncovers a SPECTRE plot to steal
nuclear bombs. When the plan succeeds, Bond travels to the Bahamas to face
the sinister Emilio Largo and – in an extended underwater sequence – sets
out to recover the bombs.
UK 1965. Dir Terence Young. With Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi.
130min. PG.
New digital restoration
Sun 19th April 18:00 NFT1; Tue 21st April 18:15 NFT1;
Wed 29th April 18:00 NFT1. |
 |
You Only Live Twice
As the space race heated up in real life, so the Bond franchise looked to
the stars with SPECTRE hijacking US spacecraft with a view to inciting a
war between Russia and the US. Bond travels to Japan to find the SPECTRE
secret base hidden beneath a volcano.
UK 1967. Dir Lewis Gilbert. With Sean Connery, Donald Pleasence, Mie Hama.
116min. PG.
New digital restoration
Wed 22nd April 18:20 NFT1; Sat 25th April 20:40 NFT1;
Tue 28th April 20:40 NFT2. |
 |
On Her Majesty’s
Secret Service
Sean Connery’s decision to quit as Bond left Broccoli & Saltzman with a
headache. The press went into overdrive speculating on Connery’s
successor; while the producers chose good-looking Australian actor George
Lazenby after successful screen tests.
UK 1969. Dir Peter Hunt. With George Lazenby, Telly Savalas, Diana Rigg.
140min. PG.
New digital restoration
Sun 26th April 15:00; 20:20 NFT1; Wed 29th April 20:20 NFT2. |
|
|
The Cubby Broccoli
season continued in May with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Diamonds Are
Forever, The Man With The Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For
Your Eyes Only, A View To A Kill, The Living Daylights, Tomorrow Never
Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and
much more…
See 007 at the UK's biggest cinema screen as
six Bond classics make their debut at BFI IMAX! |
|
*Also shown
in April 2009 as part of the Cubby Broccoli season: The Red Beret
(1953) Dir Terence Young, Hell Below Zero (1953) Dir Mark Robson,
The Cockleshell Heroes (1955) Dir Jose Ferrer, Fire Down Below
(1955) Dir Robert Parrish, How To Murder A Rich Uncle (1957) Dir
Nigel Patrick, and The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960) Dir Ken Hughes. |
