Max Zorin Spars With May Day
On this day in 1986, the scene was filmed from A View To A Kill where Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) spars with May Day (Grace Jones). Producer Michael G. Wilson said: “I think of Grace Jones more as a performance artist than anything else. She’s done a lot of wonderful and edgy types of modelling, and she turned out to be a great character.”
Bond Is Attacked By Obanno
Bond (Daniel Craig) and Vesper (Eva Green) are attacked by a machete-wielding Obanno (Isaach De Bankolé) in the stairwell of the hotel in Casino Royale (2006). The fight took three days to film. Stunt coordinator Gary Powell said: “It’s quite a major scene as it covers such a vast area. Normally you’re in a room, you have a fight, whereas the stairwell covers six flights of stairs all the way down.”
James Bond Is Abandoned Mid-Air
“I’m awfully sorry to leave you…” Pilot Helga Brandt (Karin Dor) abandons a trapped Bond (Sean Connery) mid-air in You Only Live Twice (1967).
Bond Free-Falls After Plane in GoldenEye
A pilotless plane. Bond chasing it on a motorbike. A looming cliff edge. A seemingly inescapable situation… no problem for 007. Bond (Pierce Brosnan) takes extreme measures to escape the Russian base in GoldenEye (1995). The free-fall dive was performed for real by stuntman B.J. Worth. He said: “It was probably one of the most difficult stunts I’ve had to do for a Bond film.”
Bond Undergoes MI6 Testing
“This is going well…” Bond (Daniel Craig) has his shooting skills and his physical and mental condition re-evaluated by MI6 in Skyfall (2012). The set was based on Churchill’s bunker system built during World War II and was filmed at Pinewood and the Old Vic Tunnels in London.
Raid On Kristatos’ Warehouse
007 (Roger Moore) accompanies Milos Columbo (Topol) and his crew on a raid at Kristatos’ opium-processing warehouse in For Your Eyes Only (1981). Director John Glen was pleased Topol joined the cast. He said: “He’s famous for Fiddler On The Roof, and I don’t think he can live it down. It’s rather like being an ex-James Bond, you can never shake it off.”
Bond Kills Carver With A Sea Drill
On this day in 1997, the crew filmed Bond (Pierce Brosnan) killing Carver (Jonathan Pryce) with his own sea drill from Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). The scene aboard the stealth ship was shot at Pinewood Studios in a full-size set designed by production designer Allan Cameron. He said: “The challenge with a Bond film is marrying the reality to the fantasy element. The Americans had built a few stealth ships, but nothing on this scale, so I was inventing a completely new ship.”
No Time To Die Funko Pop! Figures
Introducing the No Time To Die Funko Pop! figures of Bond, Safin, Nomi and Paloma – now available to pre-order at 007Store.com
Day Of The Dead Sequence
Bond (Daniel Craig) makes his way through Mexico City’s Day of the Dead celebrations in the opening scene from Spectre (2015). Director Sam Mendes said: “One of the things that’s said about the Day of the Dead celebrations is that ‘los muertos vivos están’ – ’The dead are alive.’ That has a direct bearing on our story.”
Fabergé Egg Auction At Sotheby’s
On this day in 1982 filming began on the Fabergé egg auction from Octopussy in which 007 shows an impressive sleight of hand. The ornate eggs were made by renowned jewellers Asprey’s of London. Production buyer Ron Quelch said: “Our sketch artist produced something very similar to the Fabergé eggs and they were reproduced by Asprey’s in a very short space of time. They were capable of withstanding very close camera work, as they had been created with such quality.”
Two Aston Martin 007 Special Editions
Aston Martin is celebrating the release of No Time To Die, with two exclusive 007 special editions – the Vantage and DBS Superleggera – inspired by the cars featured in the film.
The two special editions have been carefully designed and crafted by the experts in Aston Martin’s bespoke division: Q by Aston Martin and are being offered in limited numbers to buyers around the world from today.
The first of the two models is the Vantage 007 Edition, inspired by the original Aston Martin V8 which made its 007 debut in The Living Daylights in 1987 and also features in No Time To Die. Building on the formidable sporting style and aggressive performance of the regular Vantage, the new car features unique exterior styling treatments led by a bespoke mesh grille with chrome bezel that references the look of the brand’s classic V8. Further styling details include a dashed yellow diffuser inspired by the hazard stripes on the film car’s rockets. The Vantage 007 Edition can even be delivered with a set of The Living Daylights inspired limited edition skis and ski rack – referencing the ‘winterised’ V8 saloon from the film.
The car will be delivered in authentic Cumberland Grey exterior paint colour, whilst the interior will be presented in obsidian black leather and dark chrome with 007 branding applied on the centre console of cars equipped with a manual gearbox. The sun visors of all the cars will carry another subtle film reference in the shape of an embroidered radio station frequency – 96.60 (FM) – which 007 fans will know was the Russian police frequency Bond used to aid his escape in The Living Daylights.
The seats themselves feature unique heritage fluting reminiscent of that seen in the V8, along with carbon fibre seat backs and, in a particularly detailed nod to the 1980s film, the outline of cello ‘f holes’ inspired by the memorable cello chase scene featuring James Bond (Timothy Dalton) and Kara Milovy (Maryam d’Abo).
The driver can indulge themselves further with a laser-etched gadget plaque that references the various weapons and devices seen on the original film car. These included a rocket motor, missiles, lasers, a targeting display and ski outriggers. Cross hairs etched onto the car’s paddle shift gear levers allude to the missile guidance system seen in the film, too. Available as a manual or automatic, the Vantage 007 Edition also boasts a side strake Vantage badge and is limited to 100 units globally.
Aston Martin Vice-President and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, said: “Creating a 007 Edition is always an exciting challenge as we work to develop and style a car that embodies the legend of James Bond. It is an honour to apply carefully judged 007-inspired styling to our sports cars, which gives our customers the opportunity to own a unique piece of both cinematic and automotive history.”
To celebrate the James Bond debut of the range-topping Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, a second unique 007 Edition has been created.
Strictly limited to just 25 production cars available worldwide and featuring the same specification as the muscular DBS Superleggera featured in the upcoming film, the car has a suitably menacing road presence.
The 715bhp provided by the DBS Superleggera’s 5.2-litre V12 twin-turbocharged engine is befitting of the car’s range-topping status while its torque peak, at 900Nm, is not only substantial in its own right but, as things currently stand, the greatest torque figure for any roadgoing Aston Martin yet produced.
To this potent mix, the DBS Superleggera 007 Edition adds a raft of styling and design enhancements that further elevate its appeal. The car sports special Ceramic Grey exterior paint with the roof, mirror caps, splitter, diffuser and rear Aeroblade IITM featured in black tinted carbon fibre. Also unique to the 007 Edition are visually striking Gloss Black diamond-turned Y-Spoke 21” wheels. This special edition also features a 007 fender badge, finished in chrome with a black enamel infill and Stainless Steel Silver 007 foil applied to the rear spoiler blade.
Inside, the cockpit of this DBS Superleggera is a dark, brooding, leather-clad environment with flashes of red detailing the outline of the seats. Subtle 007 branding can be found on the door cards, armrest buckle badge and on the rear sub-woofer cover. The car is finished with a sill plaque that recognises it is one of just 25 DBS Superleggera 007 Editions.
The DBS Superleggera 007 Edition with a recommended retail price from RRP £279,025 and the Vantage 007 Edition with a recommended retail price from RRP £161,000 are on sale separately now. First deliveries will begin in Q1 2021.