IMAX screenings of the James Bond Films in London

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2009-04-10

Bond All-Nighter (Digital Cinema Presentation) Sat 25 Apr 23:30 BFI IMAX. See Bond as he should be seen: on the biggest screen in Britain.

Spend a whole night in James Bond heaven with four 007 favourites screening back-to-back on the biggest screen in Britain.

PROGRAMME DETAILS
• Dr. No (1962)
After a pending legal case scuppered plans to make Thunderball the first Bond film, Broccoli and Saltzman decided on 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. A fast-paced, colourful romp, the film became an enormous hit worldwide.

Directed by Terence Young
Cast: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman
Country: UK
Running time: 105 min
Certificate: PG

• Goldfinger (1964) (1964) - Digital Cinema Presentation, Fri 1 May 21:00 BFI IMAX

"A near-perfect cocktail and, to many, the quintessential Bond film."

A brilliant third entry in the series, here Bond gets his Aston Martin, spars with two statuesque British beauties and pits his wits against a memorable villain, Auric Goldfinger.

To many, the quintessential Bond film and a brilliant third entry in the series following the terrific From Russia With Love. 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 a near-perfect cocktail.

Directed by Guy Hamilton
Cast: Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, Gert Fröbe
Country: UK
Running time: 109 min
Certificate: PG

• On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) - Digital Cinema Presentation, Mon 4 May 21:00 BFI IMAX

"Action-packed Bond film with George Lazenby and Diana Rigg."

George Lazenby took over the tuxedo from Sean Connery, joined by Avengers superstar Diana Rigg for an action-packed film which ensured that the franchise would continue.

Connery's decision to quit as Bond left Broccoli and 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. Avengers superstar Diana Rigg was brought in as an added lure and the resulting action-packed film ensured that the franchise would continue.

Directed by Peter Hunt
Cast: George Lazenby, Telly Savalas, Diana Rigg
Country: UK
Running time: 140 min
Certificate: PG

• The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) - Digital Cinema Presentation, Tue 5 May 21:00 BFI IMAX

"James Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads."

James Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads with the help of a KGB agent whose lover he killed. The pre-credit sequence features arguably the most daring stunt of all Bond films...

Broccoli had been having problems with his business partner and, after Golden Gun, UA bought out Saltzman's share: this is the first Bond film where Broccoli has sole producer credit. The pre-credit sequence features arguably the most daring stunt in all Bondage, when ski-jumper Rick Sylvester (doubling for Moore) skis off the edge of a cliff and seems to fall endlessly before triggering a Union Jack parachute. On initial release the stunt drew spontaneous rounds of applause from disbelieving audiences.

Directed by Lewis Gilbert
Cast: Roger Moore, Kurt Jurgens, Barbara Bach
Country: UK
Running time: 125 min
Certificate: PG

Note: This is a Digital Cinema Presentation and not an IMAX® presentation.

• Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - Digital Cinema Presentation, Wed 6 May 21:00 BFI IMAX

"Sean Connery's final official outing as Bond, James Bond."

The plot starts with diamond smuggling and ends with an attempt at world domination. All in a days work for 007.

Connery was back, and in fine form, in a story that ostensibly revolved around diamond smuggling but inevitably turned out to be about a megalomaniac's desire for world domination. Jill St John shines as Tiffany Case, who changes sides in a heartbeat but always keeps her eye on the main prize. One of the key plot devices in the film was inspired by a dream Broccoli had in which his friend Howard Hughes was replaced by an impostor.

Directed by Guy Hamilton
Cast: Sean Connery, Jill St John, Charles Grey
Country: UK
Running time: 120 min
Certificate: PG

• Thunderball (1965) (1965) - Digital Cinema Presentation, Sat 2 May 21:00 BFI IMAX

"James Bond travels to the Bahamas to recover nuclear bombs."

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.

Kevin McClory's involvement as co-producer finally allowed EON to bring Thunderball to the screen. 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.

Directed by Terence Young
Cast: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi
Country: UK
Running time: 130 min
Certificate: PG

• You Only Live Twice (1967) - Digital Cinema Presentation, Sun 3 May 21:00 BFI IMAX

"The Bond franchise looked to the stars with this fifth instalment."

SPECTRE hijack 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.

The films were getting bigger and the sets, action sequences and locations ever more extravagant. As the space race heated up in real life, so the Bond franchise looked to the stars with SPECTRE (working for the Chinese government) 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.

Directed by Lewis Gilbert
Cast: Sean Connery, Donald Pleasence, Mie Hama
Country: UK
Running time: 116 min
Certificate: PG

Editor's note:
For more James Bond film screenings preented on From Sweden with Love, click here.

For tickets and other information, visit the official website below:
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/

Tags:

#film_screenings

#imax

Tag Cloud

IMAX screenings of the James Bond Films in London

Tag Cloud