Classic James Bond films could offend modern audiences, the BFI has said.
The organisation, which screens films in its Southbank location in London and is tasked with preserving British cinema, has put the warning across a host of movies in the Ian Fleming-created franchise.
The BFI in London’s Southbank is screening a number of classic films in the coming months, including Bond instalments You Only Live Twice and Goldfinger.
But audiences are not only being warned beforehand that they may offend today’s viewers – but that they caused offence when they were first released.
The BFI has warned on its website: “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.”
Sean Connery in Goldfinger
GETTY
The blanket trigger warning isn’t only being applied to Bond, however.
The BFI has also slapped the warning on Sir Michael Caine films Deadfall and The Ipcress File.
1960 crime classic Never Let Go, starring the late Peter Sellers, is also included.
News of the trigger warning provided the basis for a fierce debate on Thursday’s Britain’s Newsroom between guests Mike Parry and Scarlett Mccgwire as well as hosts Bev Turner and Andrew Pierce.
Parry slammed the decision by the BFI as he shook his head before sharing his thoughts: “Honestly, do you know the worst part of this report?
“Part of it says that the warning on the raft of 1960s films being offensive, they were also offensive then in the ’60s.
“No! I lived in the ’60s, I can tell you I was not offended to see James Bond assuming the identity of an oriental person because he was working in Japan.
“I mean it’s ludicrous!” Parry added, but Turner was keen to “play devil’s advocate” to provide a counterargument.
She admitted: “Sometimes when I do watch James Bond, it does slightly take my breath away at how sexually predatory he was with women.”
