A view on a viewing

David T Smith on the upcoming UK screenings of all 25 of Eon’s James Bond films celebrating 60 years of cinematic 007.

If the delays to the release of No Time To Die confirmed anything, it was that Bond belongs on the big screen. Unfortunately, many of us have never had the chance to experience our favourite films the way they were meant to be seen – at the cinema – simply because of our age (Tomorrow Never Dies was my first big-screen Bond).

There have been odds and ends of films shown at cinemas. Vue did a two-film-per-actor series about five years ago; that’s fine for fans of Dalton, who could see all of the films that they wanted to see, but less good for people who prefer Connery or Moore. On a more exhaustive front, the independent Prince Charles Cinema in London started showing every Bond film earlier this year, notably including the 1967 Casino Royale (on original 35mm) and 1983’s Never Say Never Again.

But good news for those who may have missed their favourites or can’t get to London: from Saturday 15th April, both Vue and Odeon cinemas will start showing all 25 of the official Eon films, roughly working out at one per week, starting with Dr No.

I have been lucky enough to see Dr No on the big screen before, but I’m really looking forward to seeing it again, uninterrupted and undisturbed by phone calls or the other hustle-and-bustle of the modern home. It’ll be nearly two hours of escapism and, for me, it’s easily worth the entry fee just to see the dancing dots of the opening title sequence – talk about shivers down your spine!

I suspect I won’t be going to see every film, every week, but I am particularly looking forward to From Russia With Love (a favourite) and You Only Live Twice – I’m looking forward to seeing Ken Adam’s volcano set design on a massive scale. As a semi-regular visitor to San Francisco, A View to a Kill is also up there on my watch list, as is my first cinematic experience, Tomorrow Never Dies.

Vue and Odeon cinemas will be screening all 25 James Bond films produced by Eon Productions in order, starting with Dr No on 15th April and ending with No Time to Die on 30th September. Further details below:

Vue | Odeon