Broccoli, Producer of Bond Films, Has His Day in L.A.

Well, at last. Monday was Albert (Cubby) Broccoli Day in Los Angeles. The producer of the James Bond films was feted at the premiere of the latest, “Licence to Kill,” through an evening that began at about 6 p.m. at the Directors Guild of America building and ended long after midnight at the Bel Age Hotel.

Everyone was there, including Mayor Bradley, complete with a Broccoli Day proclamation. Broccoli, whose career spans more than half a century and 27 films, has a great many friends in The Biz, and nearly all of them showed up (except two of the Bonds--Sean Connery and Roger Moore). When all the celebrants crushed into the Directors Guild cocktail arena (which doubles as a theater lobby at less festive times), conversation can get heated. And so can the celebrants. Add in most of the press corps of the Western world, with flashbulbs and minicams, for an extra-hot event.

Wary of Questions

Mayor Bradley was cooking. He deflected deftly all requests to name his favorite Bond film. “I’m smart enough as a politician not to identify any one of them,” he said.

As this was also a premiere of Broccoli’s latest Bond film, starring Timothy Dalton, everyone was wary of questions regarding their favorite Bond, although Broccoli was brave enough to remark that the golden-throated Dalton is “the best actor of the lot.”

(A random furtive sample taken on the scene demonstrated, however, that Sean Connery is still the favorite.)

Broccoli found himself a bit puzzled by all the festivities. “I don’t know what it’s all about. And I’m getting nervous.”

Dalton, chatting in a corner, suggested that the women should be asked to determine why he is “so attractive.” And modest.

More Like a Roast

Dalton said that the Bond films endure because “Mr. Broccoli has never cheaply exploited any of his previous films.” And this, once again, was the case with “Licence to Kill,” applauded over and over again by the audience, which included “Licence” beauties Talisa Soto and Carey Lowell and former Bond heroes, heroines, villains and villainesses including Richard (“Jaws”) Kiel, Maud Adams, John Rhys-Davies, Lois Chiles, Patrick Macnee, Martine Beswick and Grace Jones. And there was Miss Moneypenny herself, Lois Maxwell, plus celebrities galore, not to mention Ringo Starr.

After the screening, the more than 400 guests squeezed into the banquet facilities at the Bel Age Hotel to pay tribute to Broccoli. It was more like a roast. Macnee emceed. Wayne Newton, whose first major motion picture this was (he plays Professor Joe Butcher), was just beside himself. “Gosh, this is great!” he said as Macnee took to the podium to introduce David Picker, the former head of United Artists, who gave the go ahead to “Dr. No” back in 1962.