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.................

As a documentary, EVERYTHING OR NOTHING: THE UNTOLD STORY OF 007 attempts to shed new light on the much-loved film and book franchise as well as being a celebration of the topic. It succeeds in the latter part but is noticeably light in offering up anything new in way of material; Bond fans will find this all very familiar stuff indeed.

Still, I enjoyed this as a straightforward retrospective, exploring Ian Fleming's life and his original stories before working its way chronologically through the Bond films and their actors. This was made to tie in with SKYFALL and the 50th anniversary of Bond, so it's pretty comprehensive, with lots of clips and interesting reveals about the behind-the-scenes production wrangling with rights issues and the like.

The most fun part of all this is the talking head footage of pretty much every important Bond participant, including Barbara Broccoli. The only one missing is the ever-grumpy Sean Connery, but he isn't missed too much. Roger Moore is a delight as ever, and it's nice to see Christopher Lee in what would be one of his last screen appearances. I'm not sure what Bill Clinton is doing here, but he's here nonetheless. EVERYTHING OR NOTHING will do nothing to change your opinion or outlook about the Bond franchise but it whiles away the time readily enough and certainly puts you in the mood for a Bond film or two.

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.