Film Independent and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art have joined forces to present a special tribute to cinema’s legendary secret agent known as Bond, James Bond. In celebration of the film icon’s 50th year upon the silver screen the retrospective includes the films of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
The special program will conclude with a fiftieth-anniversary presentation of the film that started it all, Dr. No. Screenings begin at 7:30PM every Thursday in September at the LACMA’s Bing Theater. At just $5 - $7 for members and $10 for non-members Film Independent at LACMA is an event that shouldn’t be missed.
In case you don’t already know the “Film Independent at LACMA” is a year-round weekly series designed to offer a variety of unique cinematic experiences. To quote, “the series brings together Film Independent’s creative community of filmmakers and a wide spectrum of audiences, with LACMA’s commitment to presenting cinema in an artistic and historical context”. Which means that there’s a whole lot of minds thinking up new ways to show old movies (and new ones), often with special guest-curated programs and conversations with the artists. It’s the kind of program worth keeping an eye on for your old favorites as well as the favorites you’ve yet to discover.
Upcoming screenings include Live and Let Die and The Spy Who Loved Me on September 13. Live is the one that gave Roger Moore his first license to kill in 1973, beginning a run that (so far) makes him the actor to portray Bond the longest. It also stars Yaphet Kotto as the villain and a very young and perpetually sexy Jane Seymour. Spy features an Oscar-nominated theme song and score by Marvin Hamlisch and the mammoth Richard Kiel as Jaws beside series regulars Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny and Bernard Lee as M. Then, September 20 brings Die Another Day to the screen. This was the fourth and final turn with Pierce Brosnan’s as the international man of mystery. This time Bond works with NSA operative Jinx Johnson (Halle Berry). The film also has new series regulars Judi Dench as M and John Cleese as the gadget man Q.
Then finally on September 27 you’ll get the long and the short of Bond in one night. The man himself, Sean Connery in Dr. No paired with the series’ latest star Daniel Craig in his first effort, Casino Royale. Dr. No is the action-adventure spy thriller that changed cinema by presenting a hero who took aim at his target without hesitation or remorse. It made Connery an overnight phenomenon and ushered in a whole new world of sexual acceptance in film culture. Whereas Casino Royale introduced the latest star who propelled the franchise into a new, and more popular direction, making Royale the biggest box office success in the series.
Honestly, it doesn’t matter which Thursday you go. Regardless of which Bond is your favorite, the character never disappoints, and neither does the LACMA. So, consider becoming a member today and start receiving priority notification, admission, discounted tickets, and access to all the exclusive preview screenings. To purchase for this and or events, visit the LACMA website, or email the ticket office, or call them at (323) 857-6010.