On this day in 1964, shooting began on the pre-credits sequence for Goldfinger where Bond destroys the hidden heroin lab. The immaculate white dinner jacket worn by 007 (revealed from beneath his dry suit) was rented from Sean Connery’s earlier film Woman Of Straw.
The World Is Not Enough Bank Visit
Bond makes an explosive visit to La Banque Suisse de L’industrie in Bilbao, Spain in The World Is Not Enough (1999). The first draft of the script for the film was simply entitled “Elektra”, the final title was taken from the Bond family motto which in Latin is ‘Orbis non sufficit’.
Bond Meets Silva in Skyfall
Bond meets Silva for the first time in Skyfall (2012). In the first draft of the script for Bond 23, the villain was simply called “Javier Bardem” in anticipation of casting the actor in the role.
Licence To Kill’s Sea Escape
In this scene from Licence To Kill (1989) Bond makes a quick getaway from the Wavekrest. Second unit director Arthur Wooster said: “We had barefoot-skiing world champion Dave Reinhardt doing the stunt for us. There was so much water flying around, which meant that we could get big close-ups of his feet. Later we added shots of Tim.”
Octopussy’s Tuk Tuk Chase In India
Bond (Roger Moore) and Vijay (Vijay Amritraj) try to lose Gobinda and his men in Octopussy (1983). Filmed in Udaipur, India, Roger Moore said: “Working on such locations was always very difficult because Bond is not supposed to sweat. Bond’s hair doesn’t get untidy. He’s always in a dinner jacket. I became exhausted changing shirts so I didn’t look as though I was perspiring.”
Bond Fights Largo In Thunderball
Bond and Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi) battle for control of the Disco Volante in Thunderball (1965). Largo’s boat was designed by Sir Ken Adam from an old hydrofoil and catamaran and took four months to build. Adam said: “It had to be 160ft long and it had to travel at 50 knots and no such yacht existed at that time. It was very experimental as the two hulls had to work independently.”
Bond And Onatopp’s Sauna Meet
“No more foreplay.” Bond (Pierce Brosnan) gets to grips with Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) in GoldenEye (1995). Famke Janssen said: “There’s a little of me in Xenia and a lot in her that I would love to do, although I haven’t killed anybody with my thighs… yet.”
The Spy Who Loved Me Train Fight
On this day in 1977 The Spy Who Loved Me had its Royal World Premiere in London. In today’s clip Bond gets to grips with Jaws on the train. For the moment where Jaws is thrown out of the window, Stuntman Bob Simmons chose to use real plate-glass instead of prop glass. Director John Glen said: “He just launched himself and took it on the forehead. Stuntmen never admit they’re hurt, but he did have a few cuts. I was amazed he was still alive.”
First New DB5 Rolls Off The Line
The first customer car in the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation programme has left the production line. The ‘Job 1’ DB5 becomes the first new DB5 to be built by Aston Martin in more than half a century and is the first in a strictly limited run of 25 customer cars. The new cars include an array of functioning devices created by Bond film special effects supervisor Chris Corbould OBE.
Marek Reichman, Chief Creative Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “The DB5 is, without question, the most famous car in the world by virtue of its 50-plus year association with James Bond. To see, the first customer car finished, and realise that this is the first new DB5 we have built in more than half a century, really is quite a moment.
“It is a genuine privilege, and significant responsibility, to have been involved in the shaping of this new DB5 and to be helping to lead the creation of new versions of this automotive icon. I’m absolutely certain that the 25 lucky owners who are beginning to take delivery of these cars will be thrilled with them.”
First deliveries of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation car to customers will commence in the second half of 2020.
Meeting Solitaire And Mr Big
“Names is for tombstones baby!” Bond meets Solitaire (Jane Seymour) and Mr Big (Yaphet Kotto) for the first time in Live And Let Die which had its Royal World Premiere in London on this day in 1973. Kotto’s Mr Big disguise was designed by special effects make-up artist supremo Rick Baker.
Bond V Patrice From Skyfall
Bond interrupts Patrice’s assassination of a target in Shanghai in Skyfall (2012). Stunt coordinator Gary Powell said: “The set was made of panes of glass that were sometimes invisible and at other times threw reflections, so the most difficult part of the stunt was actually getting through the set without banging into the glass.”
Bond Meets Onatopp in GoldenEye
Pierce Brosnan delivers the iconic “Bond, James Bond” line for the very first time in GoldenEye (1995). Brosnan was originally offered the role of 007 in 1986 but his commitments to TV show Remington Steele meant he couldn’t take up the Walter PPK until 1994 when he started filming the 17th Bond film.
