Controversy Surrounding John Barry and James Bond Scores at the British Film Institute

In a cycle dedicated to John Barry, its main composer

Sean Connery/James Bond incredulous on the phone listening to the news

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The British Film Institute (in Spanish: Instituto de Cine Británico) is a non-profit organization whose objective is encourage the development of the cinema artstelevision and any other medium that reproduces moving images throughout the United Kingdom, and this year, on the occasion of the celebrations commemorating the work of English composer John Barry, it will play several James Bond films, although with a warning.

“It will cause offense today.” It is not the first time we read it, but it sounds more and more surreal, especially if we talk about one of the great British icons since its creation back in 1953 by Ian Fleming. He did not take long to make the leap to cinema, which he achieved in 1962 with Agent 007 vs. Dr. Noand until not long ago we were able to watch his films, whatever year they were, knowing how to contextualize them in the time.

Not nowand that is why the BFI warns that some of the films that make up the cycle John Barry: Soundtracking Bond and Beyond “contain language, images or other content that reflects views prevalent in their time, but that would cause offense today.” You have to laugh.

And it continues, lest it be: “The titles are included here for historical, cultural or aesthetic reasons and these opinions are in no way supported by the BFI or its collaborators.” In addition, an additional warning has been added for the film We only live Twice of 1967, stating that it “contains racial stereotypes obsolete”, alluding to when Bond (tries) to pass himself off as Japanese. Following that logic, we understand that since they have not spoken out against the use of violence and murders, it is because they support themTRUE?.

And it starts with warning and ends censoringand above all distorting the author’s workas happened precisely to the novels of the famous spy at the beginning of last year 2023 (thankfully I guard my collection like gold), or to the innocent Agatha Christie, or to the paternalistic and educational Roald Dahl (although in Spain we have freed thanks to the sensible head of Santillana), or to… Write here the name of any author, at the rate we are going, it will not take long for it to appear.

John Barry y James Bond

Although initially uncredited, John Barry (1933-2011) was united with Bond since its beginningssince he composed the main theme of Agent 007 vs. Dr. No. She continued her contributions to the saga just a year later in From Russia with love (1963) and a few months later in James Bond contra Goldfinger (1964), where he created iconic musical themes what they defined the spirit of Bond.

Barry continued his collaboration in films such as Operation Thunder (1965), We only live Twice (1967), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), Diamonds for eternity (1971), The man with the golden gun (1974), Moonraker (1979), Octopussy (1983), A view to kill (1985) y 007: High Voltage (1987). His ability to merge sophistication and intrigue in his music became an integral part of James Bond’s sonic identity, thus defining the unique atmosphere of each movie.