Tag: Barbara Broccoli

My “Bond 25” Viewing Project

Since I’ve got some extra time at home these days (like most of us do) courtesy of COVID-19, I’ve added another movie watching project to my calendar. I’m going to watch in order all 24 of the James Bond 007 films in preparation for the 25th Bond film (aka “Bond 25”), No Time to Die, which is now scheduled to open in theaters in November 2020. (It was scheduled to open in theaters this month, but was moved, again courtesy of COVID-19.)

Here’s the latest trailer for No Time to Die.

The character of British secret agent James Bond was created by British author Ian Fleming. Fleming’s first Bond book was Casino Royale, published in 1953.

In 1961, film producers Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman put plans in motion to turn Ian Fleming’s Bond books into movies, casting Scottish actor Sean Connery as Agent 007.

L-R: Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, Sean Connery, Ian Fleming, and Harry Saltzman, ca. 1961 (courtesy of IanFleming.com)

The first of Ian Fleming’s books that was adapted for the screen was actually his sixth Bond book, Dr. No, published in 1958. The film version of Dr. No was released in 1962. I had a blast watching it again last week. I put a mini-review on the Movies Past and Present Instagram feed.

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, is now scheduled to open in theaters this November.) First up is an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s DR. NO (1962). Directed by Terence Young and starring Sean Connery as British secret agent James Bond, this film sets the standard for all of the films to follow. Exotic locations, exotic women (Ursula Andress is the main “Bond girl” in this film), beautiful cars, big action, and a megalomaniac villain with multiple minions and an elaborate lair all are part of this supremely entertaining first entry in the James Bond cinematic series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented it on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #drno #socialdistancing (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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I also enjoyed watching the second Bond film this week, From Russia with Love (1963).

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, is scheduled to open in theaters this November.) The second Bond film is an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963). Bond is in pursuit a special cryptography device from the Soviets. Meanwhile, the shifty SPECTRE consortium of villains wants to avenge Dr. No’s death. Sean Connery is back as Agent 007. He is joined by Daniela Bianchi (pictured) as the Russian cryptographer Tatiana Romanova. Also stars Robert Shaw as the imposing “Red” Grant and Lotte Lentz as the treacherous Rosa Klebb (the mean lady with the venomous spike in her shoe) as the SPECTRE agents trying to take out Bond. Directed by Terence Young. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 out of 5 stars. Rented it on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #fromrussiawithlove #socialdistancing (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions, @imdb/Getty Images)

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More reviews to follow! Follow my Movies Past and Present Instagram feed for the latest.

Albert R. Broccoli went on to produce Bond films up until his death in 1996 (his last credited film as consulting producer was 1995’s GoldenEye). His daughter Barbara Broccoli, who began as an associate producer of the Bond film The Living Daylights (1987), carries the torch as producer for the Bond movies up to this day.

Here’s a complete list of the films I’ll be watching (I’m hoping to watch one a week). I’m not including Casino Royale (1967) or Never Say Never Again (1983) since neither of them are official films of the James Bond 007 canon produced by the Broccoli family.

  1. Dr. No (1962)
  2. From Russia with Love (1963)
  3. Goldfinger (1964) 
  4. Thunderball (1965)
  5. You Only Live Twice (1967)
  6. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
  7. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
  8. Live and Let Die (1973)
  9. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
  10. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
  11. Moonraker (1979)
  12. For Your Eyes Only (1981)
  13. Octopussy (1983)
  14. A View to a Kill (1985)
  15. The Living Daylights (1987)
  16. License to Kill (1989)
  17. Goldeneye (1995)
  18. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
  19. The World Is Not Enough (1999)
  20. Die Another Day (2002)
  21. Casino Royale (2006)
  22. Quantum of Solace (2008)
  23. Skyfall (2012)
  24. Spectre (2015)
  25. No Time to Die (2020)

All Images ©️ Eon Productions