2. Action Films are usually high energy big budgeted
films, because of the stunts, chases, battles etc. They
are usually fast pasted 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 and a women whose
daughter gets kidnapped to keep them quiet 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 Scotland yard undercover
detective on the trail of a saboteur who is part of a plot
were a bomb is being planted in London. 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
reporter who is smuggling news out of soviet Moscow
but is blackmailed 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: Although the
home of cabinet minister Arthur Bennett is a hotbed
of spies, moles, and double agents, no one knows the
true identity of notorious German spymaster
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 foreign spies and is
pursued across the country while he looks for a way to
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 uncharted African territory in a
attempt to locate a explorer who went missing.
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 to receive a
communist defector but it doesn’t go the way he
planned! 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 his own
bureaucracy while investigating the kidnapping and
brainwashing of 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 diamond investigation
leads James Bond to Vegas, where he uncovers an
extortion plot headed by his nemesis, 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 becomes a fascist flunky who goes abroad to
arrange the assassination of his old teacher, who is
now a political dissident.
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 parody of WWII Spies, were a American
Rock n Roll singer gets involved in a resistant 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 and 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 cryptographic communications. As a
result of debts, he sold secrets to the Soviets in 1967, a
practice that he continued thereafter. He further
sought to involve his four children into the espionage
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 naval
officer is recruited by the government to impersonate
the most vicious and cold-blooded 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 a defector accuses her of being a spy, the
question is, is she?
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 CIA spy Bob Ho
takes on his toughest assignment to date: looking after
his girlfriend's three kids.