2. Action Films are usually high energy big budgeted
films, because of the stunts, chases, battles etc. They
are usually fast paced and normally for around one
main character usually male who has assistants or
followers for example inception has one main
character ‘Mr Cobs' but a series of assistants male and
female. These main characters are usually in some sort
of conflict with ‘Bad guys.’
3. The early action films were usually based around the
western/pirate adventure action films. A example of a
early action film was ‘The Black Pirate.’ Released in
1926. Directed by Albert Parker. This was one of the
first pirated based action movies which showed the
violent nature on board a pirate ship. This movie
supports the stereotypical action movie as it is about
one main character (Lone wolf) seeking the revenge of
his father who was killed by a pirate.
4. ‘The man who new to much’ Was directed by Alfred
Hitchcock and was released in 1934. this movie was
one of the first crime based/ spy/ detective movies of
its time. It is about a man whose daughter gets
kidnapped to keep them silent as they receive a clue of
a immanent assassination. Alfred Hitchcock was one
of the first directors to make spy/Lone wolf action
movies.
5. ‘Sabotage’ 1936 was also directed by Alfred Hitchcock
but was probably the first action movie to be based
solely on a detective/ spy character as this movie
follows a character who is a undercover detective on
the trail of a saboteur who is part of a plot were a
explosive is being planted. This movie gave other
directors the idea to make detective and spy movies
such as Gordon Douglas who made The Detective in
1968. Alfred Hitchcock was known for making brilliant
action movies
6. ‘Comrade X.’ released in 1940 Is a light hearted spy
movie directed by King Vidor. It is about a American
who is smuggling news out of soviet Moscow but is
bribed into helping a communist to leave the country.
This was one of the first spy action movies to feature
aspects of comedy and romance.
7. ‘Enemy Agent’ although its original title was ‘British
Intelligence.’ was released in 1940.British intelligence
was directed by Terry O Morse. Although this movie
was a spy movie it also had aspects of romance and
thriller. Here is a description of the film: Home of
cabinet minister Arthur Bennett is a hot spot of
spies, no one knows the true identity of notorious
German spy Strendler. This movie is like the James
bond franchise as there is one main character who is a
spy but nobody really knows his true identity.
8. ‘North by Northwest’ is spy, action, romance,
adventure movie, made in 1959 this movie was also
directed by Alfred Hitchcock who is a famous director
of spy and action movies. ‘North by Northwest.’ Is
about a man who is mistaken for a government agent
by a group of spies and is pursued across the country
while he looks for a way to escape the pursuers and
survive
9. ‘King Solomon’s Mines.’ is not necessarily a spy movie
but it is a movie that revolves around one main
character. ‘King Solomon's Mines’ was released in 1950
and was directed by Compton Bennett and Andrew
Matron. This movie is about a man who leads a
expedition into African territory in a attempt to locate
a explorer who was lost.
10. ‘Funeral in Berlin.’ Was released in 1966 and was
directed by Guy Hamilton and was released in 1966 it
starred a very famous actor Michael Caine. This movie
is about a British agent sent to Berlin Germany to
receive a defector.This is possibly one of the most
famous spy movies of all time. This spy movie is also
action, drama and thriller.
11. Michael Caine has been in a few other Action, spy
Movies such as the ‘The Ipcress file.’ which was
released in 1965 and was directed by Sidney J Furie this
was a crime, thriller and mystery action film but holds
elements of a typical spy action movie. Description of
movie: A counter espionage agent deals with a
bureaucracy while investigating the kidnapping of a
British scientists.
12. In 1962 the first movie of the James bond Franchise
was released, it was called ‘DR. No’ this was the first
movie in the franchise and there is a total of 23 movies
in the franchise. James Bond was the Making of spy
movies is was the first movie to focus around a secret
agent, who is constantly under attack from different
bad people around the world. This movie shows the
typical bad guy and good guy in a action movie.
13. ‘Dr . No’ Was the first movie of the James Bond
franchise to be released. It was released in 1962, it was
directed by Terence young. Dr. No was the first movie
based totally on a government spy.
The James Bond Franchise has lead to other directors
on later dates to make similar spy movies such as
‘Stormbreaker’ in 2006 were a young boy becomes a
spy for a secret government group.
14. 1962: Dr No.
1963: From Russia with love.
1964: Goldfinger.
1965: Thunderball.
1967: You only live twice.
1969: On her majesty’s secret service.
1971: Diamonds are forever.
1973: Live and Let die.
1974: The man with the golden gun.
1977: The spy who loved me.
15. 1979: Moonraker.
1981: For your eyes only.
1983: Octopussy.
1985: A view to a kill.
1987: The living daylights.
1989: Licence to kill.
1995: Goldeneye.
1997: Tomorrow never dies.
1999: The world is not enough.
2002: Die another day.
17. James Bond ‘Diamonds are Forever’ was released in
1971 and was directed by Guy Hamilton. This movie
shows the typical spy, because James Bond is seen as
very cool, Rich has loads of gadgets and gets all the
girls! Description of movie: A investigation leads
James Bond to Las Vegas, where he finds a plot
headed by his enemy, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
18. ‘The Conformist’ released in 1970 and was directed by
Bernardo Bertolucci. This was one of the first movies
to be released in the 70s to rival the highly sort after
James Bond movies. It is similar because they have a
middle aged man as the main character who wears
suits all the time, this shows his important, he is also
very cool just like James Bond. Description of movie:
A man who goes abroad to arrange a killing of his old
teacher, who is now a political member.
19. ‘Top Secret’ was released in 1984, and was directed by
Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker. It was
one of the first spy movies to also be a comedy. This
movie was a mash up of WWII Spies, were a American
Rock n Roll singer gets involved in a plot.
20. One of the James Bond movie to be released in the 80s
was ‘Licence to Kill.’ The James Bond Movies all were
about Bond facing another Enemy . Which is what the
typical stereotype of a action movie is today. ‘Licence
to Kill’ was released in 1989 and was directed by John
Glen. This was the first Bond movie were James
actually left his secret service job to go “Lone wolf.” On
a mission to avenge his best friend Felix.
21. ‘Family of Spies.’ was released in 1990 and was directed
by Stephan Gyllenhaal. It was one of the first fact
based spy movies of its time. A Navy officer with access
to top secret files, sells these to soviets in 1967, a. He
then sought to involve his children into the plan until
his wife caught onto his activities. This spy movie was
different to the typical spy movie as it not a glamorous
and cool like the James Bond movies.
22. ‘The assignment.’ was released in 1997 and was rated a
18 it was directed by Christian Duguay. It was a thriller
spy movie. Description of movie: An American officer
is recruited by the government to pretend to be the
most evil terrorist there is in order to catch him (So he
is a spy.).
23. ‘GoldenEye.’ is the 17 movie in the James Bond
Franchise. Goldeneye was released in 1995 and was
directed by Martin Campbell. This still follows the
typical stereotype of spy movies as there is one main
character fighting his arch enemy.
24. ‘The Bourne Identity.’ Was released in 2002 and was
the first of 3 movies in the franchise it was a new
movie based on a ex spy/ Government assassin Matt
Damon. Who try’s to find out his past as he becomes a
“Lone Wolf.” assassin and Spy. This is a faced paced
action spy movie.
25. ‘The Bourne Supremacy.’ was the sequel to the ‘Bourne
Identity.’ it was released in 2004 and was directed by
Paul Greengrass. This movie still follows the storyline
of the first movie as we still follow Matt Damon’s
character as he is trying to uncover his past.
26. ‘The Bourne Ultimatum.’ the third movie of the
Bourne franchise. It was released in 2007 and was also
directed by Paul Greengrass. The Bourne franchise was
probably the only franchise of spy movies to seriously
contend the James Bond Franchise. There is going to
be a fourth Bourne film released in 2012.
27. ‘Salt’ Was released in 2010 and was directed by Phillip
Noyce. And was rated a 12A, it was a change from the
typical spy movie as the main character was played by
a women. Angelina Jolie. Who plays a CIA undercover
agent. Description of Movie: A CIA agent goes on the
run after someone accuses her of being a spy.
28. ‘The Spy Next Door.’ was released in 2010 and was a
comedy, family spy movie. And was directed by Brian
Levant. Although it does not contend with the big spy
movies such as James Bond or the Bourne Franchise. It
shows how spy movies can be made into funny family
movies. Description of Movie: Former spy Bob Ho
takes on his toughest assignment looking after three
kids.