NEW YORK, NY.- In celebration of the 50 years of the legendary film icon James Bond, and in anticipation of the release of the 23rd James Bond adventure, Skyfall, in U.S. theaters on November 9, The Museum of Modern Art pays tribute with a full retrospective of all 22 Bond films—from Dr. No (1962) to Quantum of Solace (2008)—from October 5 through 31, 2012, in The Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters. 50 Years of James Bond is organized by Anne Morra, Associate Curator, Department of Film.

Coinciding with Global James Bond Day on October 5, the exhibition kicks off that evening at 8:00 p.m. with the screening of Dr. No introducing Sean Connery as the original Bond, and will screen the Bond films in chronological order twice during the month of October.

In 1987, MoMA celebrated the 25th anniversary of the release of the first film in the Bond series with a gallery exhibition and film series on the occasion of accepting a generous donation of the first 14 Bond films by producer Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli. Aligning with MoMA's mission of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting films, Broccoli presented the pristine, 35mm prints to MoMA with the promise to provide new prints of all subsequent Bond releases. To date, the collection has grown to include 22 prints, with the acquisition of Skyfall anticipated later this year.

Anne Morra, Associate Curator, Department of Film remarks, “Since the founding of the MoMA Department of Film in 1935, the Museum has long partnered with the motion picture industry to acquire, exhibit, and preserve commercial films. The celebration of this remarkable and on-going gift by Albert R. Broccoli and now guided by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, illustrates a continuum of industry support for the Museum’s work. There has been no more successful and anticipated movie franchise than James Bond, and we are thrilled to celebrate this singular anniversary.”

Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli added, “It’s a thrill to see MoMA celebrating James Bond’s golden anniversary with this special retrospective commencing on the actual anniversary of the world premiere of Dr. No.”

MoMA’s 50 Years of James Bond gives New York audiences a chance to revisit their favorite Bond, whether it is Sean Connery (Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice , Diamond Are Forever), George Lazenby (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), Roger Moore (Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill), Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill), Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day), or Daniel Craig (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall).

Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in Skyfall, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. The film is from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Directed by Sam Mendes. Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. Written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan.