The Best of James Bond at the Aero Theatre

This weekend, the American Cinematheque presents a three-day festival of classic James Bond films, introduced by 007 expert Steven Jay Rubin. The first two days feature the first four Bond films, starring Sean Connery, in chronological order; Sunday offers a pair of Roger Moore’s outings.

• *Friday, May 1: DR. NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (both starring Sean Connery)
• *Saturday, May 2: GOLDFINGER and THUNDERBALL (both starring Sean Connery)
• *Sunday, May 3: THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and LIVE AND LET DIE (both starring Roger Moore)

We really would not include LIVE AND LET DIE in our list of Best James Bond movies; Moore’s first outing in the role of 007 is a weak one, filled with lots of car chases and action to cover up seeing a new actor as Bond. Fortunately, the other films are all first-class. DR. NO is a bit less lavish than the ones that would follow but it has a certain fresheness, being the first. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE comes closest to being a traditional spy story. GOLDFINGER is usually regarded as the best. Some people have trouble with THUNDERBALL but we find it consistently amusing; it is also the first Bond in widescreen – everything is bigger and better than before. And SPY WHO LOVED ME is one of Moore’s best outings – fun, exciting, lavish, and action-packed, with a script that suits the actor’s tongue-in-cheek approach to the superspy.

Location: Aero Theatre – 1328 Montana Avenue at 14th Street in Santa Monica
Website: Click here
Dates: Friday May1 through Sunday, May 3
Start Time: 7:30pm for each double bill