Bond Never Dies: Festival examines a cultural icon

By nicholas slayton · Daily Trojan

Posted November 5, 2009 at 11:19 pm in Lifestyle

“The name’s Bond, James Bond.”

Everyone knows those iconic words of the martini-slugging, woman-chasing 007, but if not for Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, Ian Fleming’s super-spy might not have uttered them on the silver screen.

Broccoli was the longtime producer of the James Bond films, and one of the key reasons the franchise flourished. A man who initially struggled to find a career, Broccoli became involved in film production, and, in the late 1950s, took an interest in adapting Fleming’s James Bond novels into films. Partnering with Harry Saltzman, who owned the rights, Broccoli oversaw the production of all the Bond films until his death in 1996.

In celebration of what would be his 100th birthday, the USC School of Cinematic Arts is presenting “James Bond: Behind the Scenes with the World’s Favorite Secret Agent,” a three-day festival running from Nov. 6 through Nov. 8, celebrating Bond, Broccoli and the lasting legacy of each of them. Hosted by film professor Rick Jewell, the festival features a movie marathon, an exhibit of Bond props and two panels.

“I read somewhere that at least half the people on this planet have seen at least one Bond film, so the pictures have certainly affected people’s lives,” Jewell said. “I became [a Bond fan] when I saw Goldfinger in 1964; it’s still my favorite Bond film … I am teaching this semester, for the third time, a class on the James Bond films.”

Moderated by Jewell, the panels on Nov. 7 and 8 will examine both Bond and Broccoli in their current context. The first, “James Bond Today,” features Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, the screenwriters behind the last four Bond films, and Marc Forster, the director of the latest film, Quantum of Solace.

“I want to explore the new directions the series has taken since Daniel Craig became 007,” Jewell said. “I believe the last two films are fascinating when placed in the context of the 20 Bond pictures that preceded them, and who better to talk about that subject than the two producers plus the two writers of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace and the director of the latter picture.”

The second panel, “Cubby Broccoli, Producer,” looks back on the longtime producer and his work. Panelists include Broccoli’s family members and current Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, as well as screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz (Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun) and actors Richard Kiel (the steel-crushing Jaws) and Maud Adams (the title character of Octopussy).

“All of the panelists knew and worked with Cubby and will talk about his approach to producing and the special qualities that made him one of the greatest producers in motion picture history,” Jewell said.

The film festival, located at the Norris Cinema Theatre, features nine films, showcasing all six actors that have played Bond. The festival starts off with the first film of the series, Dr. No — Sean Connery’s Bond debut.

The screenings also include George Lazenby’s brilliant, if underrated, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Sir Roger Moore’s iconic The Spy Who Loved Me and Pierce Brosnan’s franchise-revitalizing GoldenEye.

Capping off the event on Sunday night is a screening of Daniel Craig’s modern classic Casino Royale.

Alongside the film festival, there will be an exhibit of Bond props and memorabilia in the George Lucas Building on campus. Though the film festival only runs through Nov. 8, the exhibit continues through February.

“Like many James Bond fans, we had a list of ‘iconic’ props and photos that resonated with us,” said Sandra Garcia-Myers, curator of the exhibit. “We couldn’t get the larger pieces like the rocket pack and the Aston Martin but EON Productions, the producer of the James Bond films, worked with us to provide the most bang for our Visions and Voices budget.”

Although without the Aston Martin, the exhibit still features many classic Bond props.

“Among the iconic Bond items in the exhibit are Oddjob’s steel rimmed killing hat from Goldfinger, Rosa Kreb’s knife-toed shoes from From Russia with Love, and Daniel Craig’s blood soaked tux from Casino Royale,” Garcia-Myers said.

For a film franchise that is 47 years old, and a character that has existed since 1953, James Bond has constantly evolved and adapted to the times, constantly staying relevant.

“James Bond has certainly been a reflection of it’s times,” Garcia-Myers said. “The character is, at once, a reflection of old fashioned British colonialism and chauvinism, 1960’s sexual liberation and a certain end of the century nihilism.”

Jewell sees Bond’s character as constantly modern and engaging.

“Bond is a magical creature who lives in the moment and yet never really changes,” Jewell said. “He is always tough, smart, youthful, witty, professional, sexy, but also able to mobilize the most cutting-edge gadgets, adjust to the most daunting social and geopolitical changes.”

When it comes to the enduring legacy of the franchise, Jewell only sees more possibilities ahead.

“I suppose eventually James Bond will run out of gas and they will stop making films about his adventures. But I don’t think this will happen any time soon. This is already the longest-running, most financially successful series in motion picture history,” he said.

Comments are closed.

More News

Current Weather

Mostly CloudyLA Downtown, CA
54°F (feels like 54°F)
Weather data provided by weather.com®

Daily Trojan Poll

Do you think student basketball manager Stan Holt should have been fired following his technical foul in last week's game?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Archives

November 2009
S M T W T F S
« Oct   Dec »
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  

Browse Archives

News

Undergraduate applications from China up dramatically

For the past few years, USC has earned the honor of being the university with the largest international student population, but competition — even for ...

Program for local students receives grant

Neighborhood students who dream of one day entering the Trojan family now have a little more support. The USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative, a program aimed at ...

Campaigning begins today for USG hopefuls

Beginning Monday, the campus will be blanketed with colorful fliers, pamphlets and posters as the candidates for Undergraduate Student Government begin vying for students’ votes. Campaign ...

Students voice support for phase two of Expo line

On the same night USC students voiced their opinions at an Expo Line Construction Authority Board meeting about the benefits of the new light rail, ...

Career center holds first Career Fest

Despite the pessimism pervading the job market right now, speakers and panelists at the first ever USC Career Fest have remained optimistic and are encouraging ...

Busted

[caption id="attachment_8104" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Sunil Murali | Daily Trojan"][/caption] President Steven B. Sample presents the new Dr. Norman H. Topping Commemorative Monument, a gift from the ...

Opinion

Fake candy hearts found at USC year round

Fake candy hearts found at USC year round

Despite being married to an attractive older woman, Ashton Kutcher recently voiced a surprising opinion. “I hate Valentine’s Day,” he said. I couldn’t agree more. The rose ...

This little swine flu went all the way home

After months of commotion, it looks like the swine flu epidemic is finally coming to a close. No more mass school shutdowns, no more hurried ...

Shedding light on an overlooked friend

Light is responsible for your visual perception of everything: the blueness of the sky, the glistening morning dewdrops on spider webs and the readability of ...

Taking a look into the Facebook mirror

Attention: doppelgĂ€nger week is over. [caption id="attachment_8201" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Sullivan Brown | Daily Trojan"][/caption] So here’s to the end of seeing a greasy, rippling Zac Efron, three ...

Global warming does not have political ties

On most mornings, I leave my apartment looking forward to the day ahead of me. I swing open the front door and mount my bike, ...

Uncovering the burka debate in France

America has long been considered the world’s melting pot ­— assimilating different cultures, ethnicities and religions under one flag, one country, one identity. Europe, on the ...

Sports

Bush highlights former Trojans at the Super Bowl

Bush highlights former Trojans at the Super Bowl

After the New Orleans Saints’ 31-17 victory in the Super Bowl on Sunday, three former Trojans joined a long list of ex-USC football players with ...

Sills’ recruitment a sign of the times

Less than a week ago, most people were praising Lane Kiffin’s recruiting tactics after, according to Rivals.com, he signed the No. 1 recruiting class in ...

Women of Troy lead after strong first day

Sophomore Jennifer Song and senior Belen Mozo tied a USC record as the No. 9 women’s golf team took the lead after the first day ...

Trojans complete yet another sweep

If there has been a constant for the No. 1 USC men’s tennis team  — other than non-conference home victories — it has been rain ...

Women of Troy looking for a second chance

This time around, they’re going to finish. Eight months after the then-No. 3 women’s golf team lost the lead on the last day of the ...

Women of Troy unable to handle streaking Cardinal

A lot can change in two weeks. The USC women’s basketball team was riding high 10 days ago after a convincing win over Oregon State.  Winners ...

Lifestyle

Super Bowl advertisers step up marketing game

Super Bowl advertisers step up marketing game

So another Super Bowl Sunday has passed, leaving multitudes of football fans scratching their heads as to what to do on weekends. But don’t be ...

An indie-rock mixtape for the post-love song soundscape

When popular music first turned to Tin Pan Alley songs of the 1920s, it was led by songwriting greats such as George and Ira Gershwin ...

Anti-cancer benefit captures DIY spirit

While most L.A. 20-somethings spent this Sunday holed up in their living rooms blazing through cases of beer while watching the New Orleans Saints take ...

Not just butterbeer for college Britons

The day has finally arrived when I can legally buy alcohol. No, I didn’t have a birthday, and I’m still only 20 — I’m in ...

Downtown cafe pleases picky palates

There are two sides to the foodie debate, represented by the opposing factions of sweet and savory. While the sweet camp happily dives right into ...

Award recognizes novelists behind films

Outside Doheny Memorial Library Saturday night, two of us took refuge beneath the building’s grand archway from the clamor of chatter, clinking cocktail glasses and ...