John Barry: Soundtracking Bond and Beyond

‘John Barry was not just an innovator in film music, but one of the all time greats.’
– David Arnold

It’s 50 years since soundtrack writer John Barry left London, the city where he made his name, and headed for Spain and then America, where his fame and success reached new heights. While his American sound is much loved by fans, it was his London years – spy films, swinging comedies, social realism – that created the distinctive, darkly beautiful John Barry sound, which lies at the heart of this season. Highlights include timeless movie classics alongside rarely screened titles whose soundtracks are arguably better known than the films they accompany. John Barry’s scores were among the first to sell in numbers on record, often irrespective of whether the purchaser had seen the movie. He was a new breed of film composer, whose recordings were designed to have a life of its own on vinyl. ‘In the shadowy world of the movie house,’ said Time magazine of Barry’s music, ‘it works a magic all of its own’.

Bob Stanley, season curator

Please note that many of these films contain language, images or other content that reflect views prevalent in its time, but will cause offence today (as they did then). The titles are included here for historical, cultural or aesthetic reasons and these views are in no way endorsed by the BFI or its partners.