“Just being disarming darling.” James Bond (Roger Moore) gets an unexpected visitor to his train carriage in the shape of claw-handed henchman Tee Hee (Julius W. Harris) in Live And Let Die (1973). Harris said: “When we had the fight on the train, Roger and I rehearsed that whole thing together. We didn’t want any stuntmen because it was impossible for someone to double for me.”
Spectre’s Secret Rome Meeting
007 (or should that be Mickey Mouse) infiltrates the secret Rome meeting in Spectre (2015). The scene was filmed at Pinewood, production designer Dennis Gassner said: “When designing that scene, it was all about power; that was what we were looking for. The original location that we modelled our interior on was the Royal Palace of Caserta in Naples.”
A View To A Kill’s Ski Chase
Bond (Roger Moore) is chased by the Russians in the pre-credit sequence for A View To A Kill which was filmed on this day in 1984. 007’s co-pilot in the submarine, Kimberley Jones, was played by Mary Stavin who was crowned Miss World 1977 and also appeared in Octopussy (1983).
Moneypenny’s Close Shave
“Sometimes the old ways are the best…” Bond (Daniel Craig) has a close shave with Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) in Skyfall (2012). Harris said: “I was nervous, it was one of my first days of shooting on the film. I had never used a cut-throat razor before so I practiced on balloons and graduated to members of the crew.”
Bond’s Escape From Carver HQ
“They’ll print anything these days…” Bond (Pierce Brosnan) tries to escape from Carver’s Hamburg HQ in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). The printing press fight sequence was actually filmed at Harmsworth Quays Printing in Rotherhithe, South London.
The Living Daylights Plane Escape
On this day in 1986, Timothy Dalton signed his contract to play James Bond for the first time in The Living Daylights. In this scene Bond and Kara (Maryam d’Abo) make their escape from the Hercules plane (which was lent to production by the Royal Moroccan Air Force).
Bond and Amasova Versus Jaws
“Let’s try reverse… that’s backwards.” Bond (Roger Moore) and Amasova (Barbara Bach) try and escape in Jaws’ van in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Director Lewis Gilbert remembers getting a crick in his neck on the first day of filming with Richard Kiel, because the actor was so tall. “He was a remarkable size, but like all giants, he was sweet and charming and a real pussycat.”
Bond’s Introduction In Dr. No
“Bond, James Bond.” 007 (Sean Connery) delivers the iconic line for the first time to Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson) in Dr. No (1962) at Le Cercle, Les Ambassadeurs Club, London. Producer Cubby Broccoli said: “Those words against the insistent rhythm of the ‘James Bond Theme’ was not just good cinema, it became the signature which has run through all of the Bond films.”
Bond And Q Meet In Skyfall
Bond (Daniel Craig) meets his new quartermaster (Ben Whishaw) in Skyfall (2012). Filmed at The National Portrait Gallery in London, the painting they are admiring is J.M.W. Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire.
Bond Spies Jinx For The First Time
“Magnificent view.” Bond (Pierce Brosnan) meets Jinx (Halle Berry) for the first time in Die Another Day (2002). The scene wasn’t actually filmed in Cuba but in Cadiz, Spain. Costume designer Lindy Hemming said: “We wanted to pay homage to the Ursula Andress bikini and we came up with this electric orange, sexy bikini and a beautifully crafted diving belt.”
Casino Royale Torture Scene
“I’ve got a little itch down there, would you mind?” Bond is tortured by Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) in Casino Royale (2006). The wooden chair Daniel Craig is sitting on was actually fitted with a fibreglass screen underneath to prevent any unwanted injuries to the leading man.
Rosa Klebb’s Hidden Blade Shoe Attack
On this day in 1963, the scene in From Russia With Love where Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) attacks Bond (Sean Connery) with the poisoned hidden blade in her shoe was filmed.
