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The Albert R. Broccoli Era

DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
edited December 2011 in Bond Movies Posts: 1,778
From The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) to Licence to Kill (1989) "Cubby" Broccoli was the sole producer of the Bond films and fully responsible for the fate of the series. Before that he shared credits with Harry Saltzman and after Licence to Kill Michael G. Wilson and Barbera Broccoli took over those duties.

What are your opinions on that 12 year/7 film time period during the series? Was it a highlight for the films or a lowpoint? The films included TSWLM, MR, FYEO, OP, AVTAK, TLD, and LTK. Feel free to rank them.

I personally loved it despite the financial difficulties and uneven film quality. My favorite films from this era were LTK, OP, and FYEO.

Comments

  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,150
    I've moved this to 'Bond movies' @DoubleOhhSeven as it's clearly not 'News'
    Please be careful when creating a topic, that you try and place it in the most suitable catergory.

    This is however a rather interesting idea for discussion, and one that untill now I don't think has been looked at.
    Cubby, I feel steered the ship well for his sole producer role in the series. TSWLM was a huge success, and imo proved that he knew what he was doing with the series. Films like FYEO, OP and TLD only help cement his understanding of Bond, giving us some of the best films of the series. LTK, whilst a slightly controversial film in the Bond canon, was a brave move in an attempt to try a different direction, long before the 'reboot' of CR. It certainly does seem to be a film that has fans divided. I for one have always enjoyed its darker tone, and memorable villains. Dalton was fantastic, giving one of the most Fleming like portrayals of the series. Imo.
  • timmertimmer
    edited December 2011 Posts: 4,622
    Great era. Especially the first two films TSWLM and MR. LTK is a great film, but it does somewhat lack the Bond vibe, much like the most recent film, which stands up OK on it's own, but IMO is not really much of a Bond film.
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    edited December 2011 Posts: 1,778
    Benny wrote:
    I've moved this to 'Bond movies' @DoubleOhhSeven as it's clearly not 'News'
    Please be careful when creating a topic, that you try and place it in the most suitable catergory.

    This is however a rather interesting idea for discussion, and one that untill now I don't think has been looked at.
    Cubby, I feel steered the ship well for his sole producer role in the series. TSWLM was a huge success, and imo proved that he knew what he was doing with the series. Films like FYEO, OP and TLD only help cement his understanding of Bond, giving us some of the best films of the series. LTK, whilst a slightly controversial film in the Bond canon, was a brave move in an attempt to try a different direction, long before the 'reboot' of CR. It certainly does seem to be a film that has fans divided. I for one have always enjoyed its darker tone, and memorable villains. Dalton was fantastic, giving one of the most Fleming like portrayals of the series. Imo.

    Sorry @Benny. I honestly forgot to categorize it and I guess it got sent to news.

    I understand most people probably prefer the Broccoli/Saltzman era from 1962 to 1974 as it featured the classic Bond films of the 60s but I thought the Broccoli era gave us alot of classic Bond moments. And although 2 of my 3 favorite Bond films came from the 60s, more films on my top 10 list appear from the Broccoli era tha any other.
  • OHMSS69OHMSS69
    Posts: 2,341
    TSWLM was a good start. I always liked the darker ones too which is why I am so taken with Dalton's films. Even though he is listed as "Consulting Producer" on GE I can't help but feel that it has Cubby's prints all over it.
    The movies took a downward turn with TND and the rest of the Brosnan Age. Maybe Babs and Mikey were feeling their way without the great man's shadow looking over their shoulders. Babs may have come into her own with CR. I just hope she can keep the spirit and make films that her father would be proud of.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited December 2011 Posts: 13,356
    Wilson co-produced with Broccoli from A View A To A Kill. So those last three films do differ from the first four in some ways. Good topic about a strong era for Bond.
  • licensetoforumlicensetoforum
    Posts: 371
    I think the era was extremely intersting for the fact that it contains the funny, outlandish styles of Moore's Bond and the serious side of Dalton's Bond. To me it is the second best era after the Broccolo/Saltzman era.
  • PrinceKamalKhanPrinceKamalKhan Monsoon Palace, Udaipur
    Posts: 3,262
    licensetoforum wrote:
    I think the era was extremely intersting for the fact that it contains the funny, outlandish styles of Moore's Bond and the serious side of Dalton's Bond. To me it is the second best era after the Broccolo/Saltzman era.

    Seconded. Broccoli proved he could succeed without both Saltzman and Connery which I'm sure was very gratifying for him. This era could be also called the John Glen era since he not only directed all 5 1980s EON Bond films, he also served as editor and 2nd unit director on MR and TSWLM. My biggest criticism of this period would be the fact that Broccoli held on to Moore for one picture too many.

    My rankings of the 7 films of this era:

    001) TLD
    002) MR
    003) OP
    004) TSWLM
    005) LTK
    006) FYEO
    007) AVTAK
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    Posts: 1,778
    Yeah I didn't even realise those were all the movies John Glenn worked on in any capacity. I guess Cubby really liked him.

    And in regards from going from Moore's light humor to Dalton's gritty touch, Cubby should be given credit for not being afraid to take chances and truly understanding Bond.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,218
    I respect TSWLM because this film demonstrated that Cubby could shoulder the responsibility all by himself. I also respect the fact that he recruited Dalton, recognized John Glen's talent as a Bond director and had MGW involved.

    Here's my ranking:

    1) TLD
    2) FYEO
    3) LTK
    4) OP
    5) MR
    6) TSWLM


    7) AVTAK
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    My current ranking:

    1). TSWLM
    2). OP
    3). TLD
    4). FYEO
    5). LTK
    6). AVTAK
    7). MR
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    1. TLD
    2. LTK
    3. TSWLM
    4. OP
    5. FYEO
    6. MR



    7. AVTAK
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    edited December 2011 Posts: 1,778
    I noticed both @DarthDimi and @MajorDSmythe both took spaces before ranked AVTAK last. Honestly I don't think it deserves all the hate it's gotten. As a kid I adored it. Now as an adult I can see it's flaws and that it's a lesser Bond movie but still pretty solid. Moore's age, that stupid firetruck chase, and Grace Jones naked are my only qualms with the film. It still features a kickass John Barry score, Christopher Walken giving one of the best performances as a villan in the entire series, and one of my favorite climaxs with the fight on The Golden Gate Bridge. Maybe Im patial because Im an American haha.
  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    Posts: 1,699
    I love Spy and MR, but appreciate they're not to every (Bond) film fan's taste - especially MR. Following those two, the era in question arguably suffered from competitors rather raining on its parade (the likes of Star Wars-inspired fantasy adventure, Indy, Arnie, Lethal Weapon etc).

    That's not to say that the '80s were utterly a lean time for Bond, there's much to enjoy in most of the five films made that decade, but, for the most part, they did feel a little behind the groove compared to those of the '60s and '70s. Was that because the Bond actor himself was ageing (Moore) and/ or the new Bond actor didn't really connect with the public (Dalton)? Or was it because the director (John Glen) wasn't the most inspired and imaginative the series had enjoyed? Or was it because times had changed and Bond for the first time had serious competition? Probably a mix of all three...
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    Posts: 1,778
    Just thought I'd bump this thread seeing as how the first and last film of that era are currently on the Bond movie A vs. Bond movie B thread.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,272
    I think all films bring something to the franchise, though I personally don't care for a couple of the: LTK,MR,OP and TSWLM are all on the bottom of my list, whereas I love AVTAK and TLD. These are very Bondian to me, with FYEO lagging not too far behind. I think Cubby did very well, considering he on his own was responsible for those films. He kept Bond alive and kicking, eventually handing the series over to his children.

    Funnily enough I think it's Saltzman's grandeur that first took Bond in the right direction, and then over the top in the seventies. When he left there allready was a very mixed legacy. Again, Broccoli managed to serve something for everyone. I say, well done!
    (allthough his pick in directors i think asn't that good).
  • SirHenryLeeChaChingSirHenryLeeChaChing
    Posts: 3,494
    My ranking-

    1. LTK
    2. TLD
    3. FYEO
    4. TSWLM
    5. AVTAK
    6. OP
















    7. MR
  • connerybondconnerybond
    Posts: 163
    "Funnily enough I think it's Saltzman's grandeur that first took Bond in the right direction, and then over the top in the seventies. When he left there already was a very mixed legacy"
    Agree. After Saltzman left, the films took a direction that I did not like, and I stopped watching them-having watched the first Bond film DN , when it was released.
  • Goldeneye95Goldeneye95
    edited January 2013 Posts: 546
    Let me say that Cubby did an amazing job taking over the Bond franchise after Saltzman left.

    1.The Spy Who Loved Me
    2.For Your Eyes Only
    3.The Living Daylights
    4.Moonraker
    5.Octopussy
    6.License to Kill
    7.A View to a Kill
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited January 2013 Posts: 12,837
    Probably my favourite era overall because it has Spy, Octopussy, and of course the Dalton flicks (my top two Bond movies). 4 of my all time favourites and all 4 are in my top 10 (none of the other eras have that many in my top 10).

    FYEO isn't bad either imo, and MR was pretty good until Jaws met Dolly. AVTAK was pretty naff overall but Moore was good outside of the action scenes, there were some good lines and Walken was brilliant.
  • wildboonjivewildboonjive
    Posts: 299
    I don't think this was a weak era at all. I can see why it's not necessarily the strongest in the franchise's history because of its inconsistencies, however, a large chunk of it trumps the '71-'74 Guy Hamilton era. And it's a testament to Cubby's vision and overall perserverance. This was his defining moment as a producer.

    As for the rankings:

    1. Licence To Kill
    2. The Spy Who Loved Me
    3. For Your Eyes Only
    4. The Living Daylights
    5. Octopussy
    6. Moonraker
    7. A View To A Kill
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