Everything or Nothing

"Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007" (2012 release; 98 min.) is a documentary about the James Bond movie franchise (which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012). After a 'classic' Bond opening, we quickly delve into Ian Fleming's background, and in particular how deeply affected he was by WWII (in which he served) and later the Cold War. It eventually leads him to create the James Bond character, and the first Bond novel "Casino Royal", which some refers to as Fleming's "autobiography of a dream", ha! After this promising start to the documentary, we quickly evolve into the complicated relationship between Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman.

Couple of comments: this documentary is directed by British film maker Steven Riley. Riley tries to walk a fine line between on the one hand all of the legal issues that have confronted the James Bond franchise over the years (and believe me, there are PLENTY), and giving an overview of how the Bond movies have evolved over the years. There are some tidbits here and there that I found interesting (such as: the budget for the first Bond Movie "Mr. NO" being $1 million--or about $8 million in today's dollars, can you imagine making a Bond movie for just $8 million?; and the interview with one-time Bond actor George Lazenby, on how he talked Broccoli and Saltzman into becoming the new Bond, only then to be kicked out of the Bond franchise after just one movie).

I recently stumbled on this while browsing the EPIX on Demand documentary section. When a 50th anniversary celebration movie like this one is put together, you can be assured that it stays on the lighter side when all is said and done, and that's fine. I'm sure one day someone (independent from the Bond film makers) will produce the definitive James Bond documentary.

This is the Eon sanctioned documentary on 50 years of James Bond films.

The documentary Everything Or Nothing: The Untold Story Of 007 could had been a fluffy celebratory piece like many other documentaries but it is rather warts and all approach.

Although I reckon some of the unedifying stuff has been left out. You still get a lot more behind the scenes information and footage than previous similar documentaries.

Five of the six actors who have played James Bond take part. Sean Connery who seems to have had a big falling out with the Bond producers in the past does not take part but instead archive interviews are used.

As Roger Moore implies here, the Scots can certainly hold a grudge.

There have been several spiky moments for the Bond producers over the last five decades that get a good airing here. The first being getting the rights and bringing the films into fruition.

Then Fleming collaborating with Kevin McClory which meant McClory was a thorn for years resulting in the rival film Never say Never again in 1983 with Connery.

Then there was the problem when Connery wanted to leave the role and being replaced by George Lazenby who himself left under acrimonious circumstances after one movie.

We then have Roger Moore who took over Bond and then the parting of the ways between Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, the two producers who started the series. Saltzman's sold his rights to United Artist.

Moore who found the right blend with The Spy who loved me, maybe stayed in the role for too long as the producers were unwilling to replace him in the early 1980s.

Moore certainly looked creaky in his last Bond film. He was older than the actual mother of the Bond Girl, Tanya Roberts.

When there was dispute over the availability Pierce Brosnan, Albert Broccoli had to go for Timothy Dalton before there was the 6 years hiatus in new Bond films because of litigation.

There was a relaunch with Brosnan finally in the role and up to the present day with Daniel Craig and the partial reboot of Bond.

It is a great primer for those new to Bond and want some juicy behind the scenes gossip and hard information as to what it takes keeping such a successful franchise going for 50 years.

There is plenty of archive footage (as many of the main movers and shakers have passed on) and scenes from the movies and some humour as well.

Pitty they forgot Mr Lee, Cristopher Lee..the only person who met Ian and Tolkien...in real live...played good guys and bad guys in movies.................

Produced as part of the celebrations of the James Bond film series reaching its fiftieth anniversary and sanctioned by those behind them, the documentary Everything Or Nothing: The Untold Story Of 007 might appear on the surface to be just another piece of celebratory fluff. After all, there have been countless documentaries produced on the series both for television and, more recently, on the various DVD releases of the films. So what could possibly be left to say about the history of the franchise? The answer, as revealed over a bit more than ninety minutes, is quite a bit.

What perhaps makes the documentary most notable are those being interviewed. Five of the six actors who've played the part are featured (the sole exception being Sean Connery whose love/hate relationship with 007 is illustrated throughout). Each of them is nothing short of interesting ranging from George Lazenby's candidness about letting the part go to his head to Timothy Dalton reflecting on how his take on Bond was received to Pierce Brosnan on the pain of losing out the chance to play Bond in 1986 and how he handled the phone call telling him he wasn't getting to do another film after Die Another Day. Representing those either unwilling to be interviewed (such as Connery) to those no longer with us (such as Bond creator Ian Fleming, producer Cubby Broccoli, producer Harry Saltzman and surprisingly even Kevin McClory) is a wealth of mainly audio archival clips. Last but not least are a wealth of others interviewed such as the usual suspects including various Bond girls to current producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Somewhat more intriguing are the less usual suspects including Fleming's friend/biographer John Pearson to McClory's friend Judy Geeson and former United Artists executive David Picker. The results help to make this far more than your usual making of documentary.

Everything Or Nothing is also well produced and stylishly done. Yes, there are the expected clips from all of the films, but they are put to surprisingly effective use not just as samples from the respective films but also to illustrate, often metaphorically, events taking place behind the scenes. There's also a wealth of archival material as well that give it a larger scope than many of its predecessors as well. There's also a stylishly done opening black and white teaser sequence that sets the stage for it is to follow that is excellently done. If I would fault the documentary, it would be that it perhaps paced too rapidly and jumps around quite a bit, rarely stopping long enough to focus on any one film in particular.

The result of all of these materials being brought together is that this is less a making of documentary and more of a look at the history of the series overall and how it has survived across five decades. It charts the course through the series by telling a story about strong individuals, egos, money and perseverance as much as anything else. Despite being officially sanctioned, the documentary does point out the flaws of various films and when the series went astray. Perhaps most surprisingly, it even goes into some depth about the controversy surrounding McClory, Thunderball and Never Say Never Again in a manner that is as even handedly as one can expect in light of what is still a controversial subject in Bond circles.

From its interviews and archival materials to a stylish production, Everything Or Nothing: The Untold Story Of 007 is far more than just another documentary on the history of a long running franchise. It is a journey through its history, its ups and downs and even some of its points of contention. It is the story behind the spy (and the films) that have, and will hopefully, continue tom thrill us.

Though this feels like a better than average DVD extra that's been buffed up and polished so that it can attempt to stand on its own two feet as a tv special/film, this actually isn't too bad.

It covers (briefly) how Bond came to be, but mostly focusses on how the film franchise came to be the massive deal that we know it to be.

It doesn't shy away from covering some of the lower moments along the way, not to mention that awkward six year gap between the reign of Dalton and Brosnan, but it's perfectly accessible for those who've heard all of the stories many times before, and equally those who don't.

A good effort.