Albert R. Broccoli
Albert R. Broccoli | |
---|---|
James Bond film series | |
Spouses | Nedra Clark
(m. 1951; died 1958) |
Children | 3, including Barbara |
Relatives |
|
Albert Romolo Broccoli (
Early life and career
Broccoli was born in the borough of Queens, New York City, the younger of two children of immigrants from the Calabria region of Italy, Giovanni Broccoli and Kristina Vence.[2] He had an older brother.[3] He acquired his nickname after his cousin, mobster Pat DiCicco, began calling him "Kabibble", after a similarly named cartoon character. This was eventually shortened to "Kubbie" and adopted by Broccoli as "Cubby".[2] The family later bought a farm in Smithtown, New York, on Long Island,[4] near their relatives the DiCiccos.[5]
The family moved to
In 1951, he and Irving Allen created Warwick Films in order to take advantage of tax incentives available to them by producing films in the United Kingdom with British crews, while often using American stars. Among the films they produced are The Red Beret (1953), Hell Below Zero (1954), The Black Knight (1954), The Gamma People (1956), Safari (1956), Fire Down Below (1957), and The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960), among others. The Allen-Broccoli partnership ended in part due to a disagreement over acquiring film rights to the James Bond novels as Allen felt they were of poor quality.[6] Broccoli partnered instead with Harry Saltzman in 1961 to form Eon Productions, which would produce the Bond series.[7] (See Production of the James Bond films)
Ted Healy incident
Broccoli is alleged to have been involved in an altercation with comedian and
There is disagreement over whether Healy died as a result of the brawl or due to his well-known alcoholism.[12] Because of the authorities' lack of interest in investigating Healy's death, an autopsy was not performed until after Healy's body had been embalmed, rendering the examiner's note that Healy's organs were "soaked in alcohol" useless in determining a cause of death.[12]
Following the autopsy, the Los Angeles county coroner reported that Healy died of acute toxic nephritis secondary to acute and chronic alcoholism. Police closed their investigation, as there was no indication in the report that his death was caused by physical assault.[11]
Personal life
Broccoli married three times. In 1940, at the age of 31, he married actress Gloria Blondell, the younger sister of Joan Blondell. They later divorced amicably in 1945[13] without having had children. In 1951, he married Nedra Clark, widow of the singer Buddy Clark. They adopted a son, Tony Broccoli, after which Nedra became pregnant. She died in 1958, soon after giving birth to their daughter, Tina. In 1959, Broccoli married actress and novelist Dana Natol. They had a daughter, Barbara Broccoli, and Natol adopted his other two children. Albert Broccoli became a mentor to Dana's teenage son, Michael G. Wilson. The children grew up around the Bond film sets, and his wife's influence on various production decisions is alluded to in many informal accounts.[14]
In 1966, Broccoli was in Japan with other producers scouting locations to film the next James Bond film You Only Live Twice. He had a ticket booked on BOAC Flight 911 and cancelled his ticket on that day so he could see a ninja demonstration. Flight 911 crashed due to clear-air turbulence, killing everyone on board.[15][16]
Michael Wilson worked his way up through the production company to co-write and co-produce. Barbara Broccoli, in her turn, served in several capacities under her father's tutelage from the 1980s on. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have co-produced the films since Albert Broccoli's death.
Later life and honors
- In 1981 he was honored with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for his work in film. The award was presented at the 1982 Academy Awards ceremony by the current James Bond at that time, Roger Moore. In 1990, Broccoli also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (as Cubby Broccoli).
- A thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast, Albert Broccoli owned Brocco, who won the 1993 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park at Arcadia, California.
- An autobiography was published posthumously in 1999, titled When the Snow Melts: The Autobiography of Cubby Broccoli (ISBN 978-0-7522-1162-6).
- The end of Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) displays the dedication "In loving memory of Albert R. (Cubby) Broccoli".
- The Albert and Dana Broccoli Theatre is one of three situated in the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts Complex, completed in 2010.
Death
Broccoli died at his home in
Filmography
Producer with Irving Allen
- The Red Beret (1953)
- Hell Below Zero (1954)
- The Black Knight (1954)
- Safari (1956)
- Odongo (1956)
- Zarak (1957)
- Interpol (1957)
- Fire Down Below (1957)
- How to Murder a Rich Uncle (1957)
- High Flight (1957)
- No Time to Die (1958)
- The Man Inside (1958)
- Idol on Parade (1959)
- The Bandit of Zhobe (1959)
- The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960)
Executive producer with Irving Allen
- A Prize of Gold (1955)
- Killers of Kilimanjaro (1959)
Producer with Phil C. Samuel
- The Cockleshell Heroes (1955)
Producer with Howard Huth
- Jazz Boat (1960)
Producer with Harry Saltzman
- Dr. No (1962)
- From Russia with Love (1963)
- Goldfinger (1964)
- You Only Live Twice (1967)
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- Diamonds are Forever (1971)
- Live and Let Die (1973)
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Executive producer with Harry Saltzman
- Thunderball (1965) (produced by Kevin McClory)
Producer (solo)
- Call Me Bwana (1963)
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
- Moonraker (1979)
- For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- Octopussy (1983)
Producer with Michael G. Wilson
- A View to a Kill (1985)
- The Living Daylights (1987)
- Licence to Kill (1989)
Consulting producer
- GoldenEye (1995) (credited as presenter)
Cameos
- Fire Down Below (1957) – Drug smuggler
- Moonraker (1979) – Tourist in Venice with wife Dana Broccoli
See also
- Ian Fleming
- James Bond (character)
References
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2012) |
- ^ Say How? A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures: B. The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled website. Library of Congress. November 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-684-80644-0. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- ^ "Broccoli, Albert Romolo ("Cubby") | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-7522-1162-6.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-6518-7. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- ^ Broccoli, Albert R., Zec Donald. When the Snow Melts, P 104. Boxtree. 1998
- ^ "ABOUT EON/DANJAQ". Eon Productions. Eon Productions. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-2027-8.
- ^ "Wealthy Sportsman Confesses Fight with Ted Healy". The Oxnard Daily Courier. December 23, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
- ISBN 978-1593937683.
- ^ a b "Ted Healy Died of Toxic Nephritis". Lewiston Evening Journal. December 23, 1937. p. 8. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
- ^ a b Braund, Simon (June 2010). "The Tragic And Twisted Tale Of The Three Stooges". Empire Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ "Gloria Blondell Granted Divorce". Kingsport News. Kingsport News. August 8, 1945. p. 3. Retrieved May 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 978-0-7522-1162-6
- ^ Hendrix, Grady (June 26, 2007). "The state of the ninja". Slate Magazine.
- ^ 'Inside You Only Live Twice: An Original Documentary,' 2000, MGM Home Entertainment Inc.
- ^ "James Bond movie producer Broccoli dies – UPI Archives". Upi.com. June 28, 1996. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
External links
- Albert R. Broccoli at IMDb
- Albert R. Broccoli at the BFI's Screenonline
- Albert R. Broccoli at Find a Grave