BFI celebrates Broccoli centenary

Institute marks birth of Bond man

By ALI JAAFAR

LONDON -- The British Film Institute is marking the centenary of the birth of Albert "Cubby" Broccoli with a season of his pre-James Bond films and a series of Bond-related masterclasses.

Broccoli is most famous as the man who, together with Canadian producer Harry Saltzman through their shingle Eon Prods., brought Britain's most famous spy to the bigscreen.

The BFI will celebrate the legacy of the Bond films as well as offer auds a rare chance to see some of Broccoli's earlier films, including Alan Ladd-starrer "The Red Beret."

The season runs from April 8 until the end of May.

Broccoli died age 87 in 1996.