Producing Bond: Barbara Broccoli

Making a Bond film is far from being an easy task. There are so many factors to take into consideration and with a global fan community constantly awaiting nothing less than excellence, you have to be on top of your game. EON Productions Ltd., the James Bond production company, is a well-oiled machine achieving exactly that since 1962. Legendary Bond producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman laid the foundation for the most successful film franchise in history which is now in the hands of Broccoli´s daughter Barbara and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson. But what does it take to be a Bond producer? With the two-part series “Producing Bond”, ‘Eye on Bond‘ profiles the two heads of the James Bond family to explore, how dedication and sensitivity kept the series alive.

GROWING UP WITH 007

I suppose it´s not wrong to say, that James Bond runs in the blood of the Broccoli family. From 1962-1989, Albert R. Broccoli was the man behind Bond. Together with Harry Saltzman, he built up and shaped the Bond films to become a global phenomenon. When Broccoli´s health declined during the 1980s, the need arose to think about who would take care of Bond in the future.

“I cannot even remember a time before being conscious of James Bond.” – Barbara Broccoli

In 1977, a new face showed up for work in the publicity department of EON Productions Ltd., a young woman at the age of 17. Barbara Broccoli. Before that, she had already been exposed to Bond on a daily basis with her parents constantly discussing matters of the franchise. James Bond had seemed like an eccentric uncle to her as a child, a real person. It makes sense, given that the screen hero was born and brought up by her father almost like a real child. When Barbara became assistant director on ‘OCTOPUSSY’ in 1983, she had already internalized the structures and strategies that had kept the series going for 21 years. She had been on set with her father many times, witnessing the incredible effort and devotion by everyone working Behind the Scenes. At the time of Timothy Dalton´s first outing as James Bond in ‘THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS’ (1987), Barbara had climbed up the ladder and become assistant producer. She would again hold that position with 1989´s ‘LICENCE TO KILL’.

TAKING BOND INTO THE NEXT CENTURY

Due to legal disputes, it took six years for the next film ‘GOLDENEYE’ to begin production. Albert R. Broccoli´s health had deteriorated and following his last decision to cast Pierce Brosnan as the new James Bond, he handed over the franchise to Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson – an executive decision that would not only preserve Broccoli´s legacy but also secure the survival of the franchise. When Albert R. Broccoli died in 1996 at the age of 87, he had controlled Bond´s fate for almost three decades.

“One would think that it would be very easy, with an iconic character like James Bond, to keep making the films, but it hasn’t been. But, it sure has been entertaining and rewarding.” – Barbara Broccoli

Together with her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli took over the reins as producer and thereby accepted the challenge to steer Bond into the 21st century. A huge undertaking as the films had evolved into major action blockbusters attracting large audiences and an ever-growing fan community. During Pierce Brosnan´s tenure as agent 007, the Bond films remained incredibly stylish and exciting but lacked seriousness.

Brosnan´s final film, ‘DIE ANOTHER DAY’ (2002), was widely perceived by fans as a failure despite being the most commercially successful one. Too comical with a tendency towards ridiculousness, too unbalanced and some bad CGI on top of that. It was thought by many that the Bond series had finally lost it´s appeal. There was barely anything that hadn´t been done before. It was not the best outlook for producers Broccoli and Wilson at the 40th anniversary of the series. But never underestimate a mother protecting her baby! Barbara Broccoli quickly realized that it was time for a drastic change that only she and her half-brother could bring about. And they did. Bond had to go on, abandoning the series was not an option.

REINVENTING AN ICON

“When men change, maybe Bond will change.” – Barbara Broccoli

Letting Pierce Brosnan go wasn´t an easy decision and certainly not one based on discontent. A more serious approach to the storylines was needed, maybe even a complete reinvention of the character. When the Broccoli family secured the rights to Ian Fleming´s first James Bond novel ‘CASINO ROYALE’ after some legal quarrels, the road was paved to a new chapter in the history of Bond. Actor Daniel Craig was introduced as the new James Bond, proudly backed by Barbara Broccoli. Suddenly there was the hair color issue. A blonde Bond? Imagine how tough it must have been on everyone at EON Productions, not to mention Daniel Craig himself, to be confronted with a very openly demonstrated, despicable campaign against the main actor set to portray 007. For some people on the Internet, etiquette was something they had never heard of.

When ‘CASINO ROYALE’ opened in cinemas, there was that magical moment: Daniel Craig walks towards the camera coming to a halt in a close-up at the end of the Main Title sequence. At the bottom of the screen: “Produced by Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli”. Craig stared right onto everyone present and people in the audience began to applaud. I have witnessed this phenomenon myself. This was the beginning of something new, something entirely different.

Having seen ‘CASINO ROYALE’ you were leaving the cinema with exactly two feelings: Excitement and thoughtfulness. You had just enjoyed one of the longest Bond films with incredible action sequences and brilliant dialogue, while entering previously unexplored territory at the same time: Bond´s past. The film shows him at the beginning of his career as a 00 agent and for the first time, Bond had noticable feelings and suffered pain like never before. Reinvention. Overhaul. The producers had achieved what was deemed as impossible: Making Bond matter again.

Not all fans welcomed the change, especially not the personal back story of Bond that was woven into Craig´s next two films as well as the new film ‘SPECTRE’. The light-heartedness of the Bond films had given place to inner turmoil and emotional pain. A risky gamble and yet inspired by Fleming´s books in which the reader can learn a great deal about Bond´s emotional life. Albert R. Broccoli had given Barbara and Michael a piece of advice to take along: to turn to Fleming´s books should they ever get stuck with Bond. They followed his advice.

NEVER GIVE UP, HAVE THE PASSION. DON´T BE AFRAID.

Barbara Broccoli has been brought up Behind the Scenes of the James Bond franchise, a magical world of its own with incredibly talented people. Presiding over this world, protecting it and ultimately overseeing the fate of 007 is an enormously demanding occupation. Barbara does it from Behind the Scenes. Not because she´s shy, but to give maximum exposure to the films and the stars. Her motivation is passion. If anyone is the Number 1 Bondfan in the world, it´s her! Bond is in her blood, just like it was in her fathers.

Her appearance is that of a resolute businesswoman with a hint of mystery: strict elegance, walking tall and radiating a sense of calm. She´s positively serious when it comes to business and defining the course of the Bond franchise. Over many years, she has continuously worked her way up to become one of the most influential and powerful film producers of our time and although outsiders rarely get to see her at work, you can be certain that she is the most hard-working member of the huge Bond family. This connects Barbara with her father, who selflessly devoted his entire later life to the fictional character we have all locked in our hearts and minds. When you need to put your trust in someone about 007, it´s Barbara Broccoli.

On a personal note, I´d like to add that she´s also a very beautiful woman.

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