SILVER

With the opening chords of Quincy Jones’ Swinging Sixties masterpiece “Soul Bossa Nova,” the character of Austin Powers burst onto the screen and solidified Mike Myers as a comedy icon. A shagadelic spy and sex symbol in ‘60s London, Powers is put on ice when his archnemesis Dr. Evil (also played by Myers) flees into space. 30 years later, when Dr. Evil returns to hold the world hostage, Austin is unfrozen to stop him — but finds his unflappable mojo is out of step with the more progressive ‘90s. Co-starring Elizabeth Hurley, Mimi Rogers, Robert Wagner, Michael York and Seth Green, this spy spoof was a moderate success at the box office but became a sensation on home video, launching two hit sequels (one which even featured Jones in a cameo as himself) and becoming a cult classic. While “Soul Bossa Nova” is now inextricably linked to Austin Powers, its first film appearance came in Jones’ very first film score for THE PAWNBROKER in 1964. DIR Jay Roach; SCR/PROD Mike Myers; PROD Demi Moore, Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd. U.S., 1997, color, 89 min. RATED PG-13

In Memoriam: Quincy Jones (1933–2024)