By Dave Worrall
Last night at the Royal Institute of British Architects in
London, BAFTA
paid tribute to the production designer Sir Ken Adam, who turned 90 last year.
Sponsored by the Albert R. Broccoli and Dana Broccoli Foundation, guests enjoyed a champagne reception followed
by the event which was hosted by Matthew
Sweet who introduced the many guests who took to the stage and honoured the
great designer. Among them; Christiane Kubrick, Michael G. Wilson, Nicholas
Meyer, Anouk Aimee, Peter Lamont, Sir Christopher Frayling, and Lewis Gilbert
to name but a few. Actress Eunice Gayson read out a very funny letter on behalf
of Sir Roger Moore, who was unable to attend, and current-day production designers
praised Sir Ken Adam for inspiring them to enter the film business. Supplemented
by on-screen film clips and visuals, BAFTA produced a first class event worthy
of such an iconic and respected technician, and also presented Sir Ken with a
special BAFTA award for his services to the film industry.
It was an honour to
have been there, and for me, a wonderful occasion to meet up and chat with
Barbara Broccoli, David Arnold, Michael G. Wilson and other people from the
Bond world who Lee Pfeiffer and I have befriended since writing our book 'The
Essential James Bond' many years back. It was also fun to catch up and gossip
with 'Bond Girls' Lana Wood, Caroline Munro, Martine Beswicke, Valerie Leon and
Shirley Eaton, who had been invited to the event too. The auditorium was packed
with architects, designers and professionals from the arts and film industry,
and I even noticed Monty Norman lurking in the background! However, it was
delightful to see Barbara Broccoli deep in conversation with production
designer Syd Cain, himself now in his nineties and wheelchair-bound, who, along
with Peter Lamont, played such an integral part in the history of the Bond
franchise as the man who was being honoured on the night.