No Time To Die, the 25th James Bond adventure, has completed filming today at Pinewood Studios. The film will be in cinemas around the world in April 2020.
Focus Of The Week: Spectre’s Jaguar C-X75
The streets of Rome provide the setting for the first showdown between James Bond (Daniel Craig) and SPECTRE henchman Hinx (Dave Bautista). Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz) spots Bond has infiltrated the secret meeting and dispatches Hinx, to go after him. Bond evades his captors and speeds off in an Aston Martin DB10 with Hinx in hot pursuit in his Jaguar C-X75. What follows is a high-speed race through the streets of Ancient Rome in the most modern of supercars.
Jaguar have a long relationship with the James Bond series —Jaguar XKR duelled with the Aston Martin Vanquish on the ice in Die Another Day (2002) — but Spectre’s car chase posed different challenges. As Special Effects Supervisor Chris Corbould said, “Both vehicles were kit cars so unlike the previous Vanquish or XKR we couldn’t just go down to the factory and pull five gear boxes off the shelf. Everything was bespoke which made it much more challenging.”
On February 19 2015, the Spectre crew began shooting the exciting car chase through the cobbled streets and alongside the river Tiber in Rome. Jaguar supplied seven cars to the filmmakers. “Three staggered crews working 24 hours doing the repairs,” recalled Corbould. “Every night the cars would be jumping and landing at 70mph so we had to have them all turned around ready to go the next day.”
“It’s one of those scenes that’s going to be very iconic,” observed Dave Bautista. “Just with the two cars racing through the streets of Rome – I mean, how often do you see that? It’s one of those things you only see in a James Bond film.”
Daniel Craig Designs Aston Martin DBS
Luxury department store Neiman Marcus has unveiled their 2019 Fantasy Gift guide, the 93rd edition of the Christmas book. This year’s guide will include an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera designed by Daniel Craig. Available in a run of seven each limited-edition car comes in inky blue and features a powerful twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 engine. Each customer will also receive one of only seven limited-edition, all-platinum Seamaster Diver 300M OMEGA timepieces – featuring a unique hand-engraved case back – plus tickets to the world premiere of No Time To Die, the 25th installment in the James Bond series.
With the purchase of each 007 Fantasy Gift, a donation will be made to support the work of the Opportunity Network – an organisation that works with students from historically and systematically underrepresented communities to harness their skills and passions to reach their college and career goals.
Secret Cinema Presents Casino Royale
Since June 2019, London has played host to Secret Cinema’s immersive production of Casino Royale. The four-month show entertained over 120,000 people, placing the film back in the UK Top Ten Box Office during the entirety of its run.
The show transformed a 70,000 square foot warehouse in East London into a multi-layered set where audience members embarked on a mission. High octane stunts and set pieces were brought-to-life by actors, including parkour and freerunning choreographed by Sebastien Foucan, who played Mollaka in the film.
During the London show Secret Cinema announced its first international expansion into China. Together with SMG Live they will launch with the current UK show, SMG Live presents Secret Cinema’s production of Casino Royale, in Shanghai later this year.
Focus Of The Week: Solange
The wife of terrorist go-between Alex Dimitrios (Simon Abkarian), in Casino Royale (2006), Solange (Caterina Murino) has an interesting link to James Bond history. In Ian Fleming’s short story 007 In New York, Bond plans to meet a girlfriend named Solange who works in the old Abercrombie & Fitch. Her name may have been the inspiration for Bond’s first love interest in Casino Royale.
Solange lives a life of luxury but is trapped in a desperately sad life married to a cold, evil man, even if she doesn’t know the details or extent of his nefarious activities. She plays a vital part in helping Bond stop a terrorist attack on a Skyfleet prototype aircraft in Miami, which her husband is organising on behalf of terrorist Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen).
Solange first sees Bond as he emerges from the surf in Nassau and is instantly attracted to him. The pair actually meet at a poker game where 007 is taking on her husband. When Bond roundly beats Dimitrios — even taking his Aston Martin DB5 — the latter responds coldly to Solange, which catches the secret agent’s attention.
After Solange inadvertently climbs into the Aston Martin, Bond invites her for a drink back at his place (which turns out to be a drive around the hotel courtyard). Enjoying both the attention and a rare spark of humanity in her life, she accepts, unaware that Bond may be only interested in gleaning knowledge about her husband.
During their night together, Solange confesses that she is not happy in her one-sided marriage and life, feeling she has wasted her shot at happiness by getting involved with the wrong men. Their intimate evening is interrupted when Solange receives a call from her husband. Bond learns Dimitrios will be taking the last flight to Miami. He makes a quick exit to stay on Dimitrios’ tail but not before ordering Bollinger and caviar as a parting gift.
After Bond foils the bomb plot, Le Chiffre deduces it was Solange that tipped Bond off about Miami. Bond returns to the Bahamas to find she has been tortured, killed and wrapped in a hammock on the beach by Le Chiffre’s henchman. As Solange’s body is being carried away, M (Judi Dench) suggests to Bond, “I would ask you if you could remain emotionally detached but that’s not your problem, is it, Bond?”. Bond replies with a curt: “No.”
Sir Roger Moore Remembered
A worldwide star before even being cast as Bond, Roger Moore’s easy sense of grace and natural suaveness made the cinematic 007 an unparalleled success in the 1970s and 1980s.
Born in Stockwell, South London, Moore took a number of small acting roles before joining the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where one of his classmates was Lois Maxwell, the future Miss Moneypenny. RADA’s elocution lessons turning him into the perfectly sophisticated leading man.
After a short stint in military service, Moore took on roles in various television and stage productions in New York and London. He went on to sign a three year contract with MGM, which saw him in his first significant role in The Last Time I Saw Paris opposite Elizabeth Taylor.
Moore starred in numerous films and television productions throughout the 50s and was one of the names considered for the role of James Bond in 1961 when Connery was up for the role. When Connery announced he was leaving the franchise in 1966, Moore was again considered for the role. However political unrest in Cambodia, which was to be a key shooting location, coupled with Moore’s commitment to The Saint, prevented him from taking on the role.
Finally in 1972 the schedules matched and Moore took on the role of James Bond. His first outing as Bond in Live And Let Die outgrossed the previous film and confirmed Moore’s casting a success. It was Moore’s decision to leave after A View To A Kill, having been with the franchise for 12 years and starring in seven movies. Moore was famously quoted as saying, “When they start running out of actors old enough to look as though they could be knocked down by Bond, and leading ladies are your mother’s age when you started making Bond, then it’s time you move on.”
By the time he had finished his last 007 movie in 1985, Moore had redefined the character of Bond and bought in over one billion dollars in the box office.
Moore passed away in 2017. He is sorely missed.
N.Peal Cashmere 007 Collection
Luxury British brand N.Peal is launching an exclusive 007 Cashmere Collection inspired by more than 50 years of Bond. The collection offers 13 looks inspired by scenes from Goldfinger, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Live And Let Die, For Your Eyes Only, The Living Daylights and GoldenEye plus three pieces worn by 007 in Skyfall and Spectre. Available to buy from 18 October the collection includes 24 items in total.
N.Peal began its relationship with the 007 franchise in 2012 for Skyfall with a blue wave round neck knit worn by James Bond. Subsequently N.Peal were asked to create two knits which were worn by Bond in Spectre – a cable knit roll neck, and a superfine mock neck in charcoal which also featured on the Spectre teaser poster worldwide.
The range will be available to buy on the 18th October with exclusive pre-order from the 17th October on www.007store.com
Focus Of The Week: Mollaka
A freelance bomb-maker, Mollaka (Sébastien Foucan) proves a formidable opponent for James Bond (Daniel Craig) in Casino Royale (2006). Marked by burn scars on his body, his prowess in the art of free-running which, allied with his quick brain and martial arts skill, make him almost impossible to catch. With such a skill-set, Mollaka pushes Bond to his physical limits.
Mollaka is hired by Alex Dimitrios (Simon Abkarian), a middle man working in league with QUANTUM terrorist Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), to destroy the prototype of the world’s largest airliner built by Skyfleet.
In Madagascar, Mollaka spots he is being shadowed by MI6 operative Carter (Joseph Millson) who makes the error of fiddling with his ear-piece. Knowing the bomb and phone in his back pack will incriminate him, Mollaka flees. He eludes Carter by bounding through an empty swimming pool where a mongoose-cobra fight is in full flow. Carter falls victim to the snake but Mollaka soon realises there is another more tenacious MI6 agent on his tail — James Bond.
Speeding for the sanctuary of the Nambutu Embassy, Mollaka sprints into a construction site. Deploying stunning agility, Mollaka zips up a girder forming the skeleton of a building believing this will leave Bond in his wake. However, Bond doggedly pursues Mollaka onto a huge construction crane where a bruising fight ensues.
Determined not to let him get away, Bond tracks Mollaka to the Nambutu Embassy. As Embassy troops surround Bond, he shoots Mollaka dead and escapes with the incriminating back pack and phone by shooting a gas cylinder, creating a distraction of flame and smoke. The incident is captured on CCTV and becomes front page news in England. Yet this doesn’t stop Dimitrios hiring a new bomber Carlos (Claudio Santamaria) to destroy the Skyfleet aircraft.
First Poster For No Time To Die
To celebrate James Bond Day, the first poster for No Time To Die has been released. The film will be in cinemas around the world in April 2020.
Happy James Bond Day
Today is James Bond Day – an annual celebration of the 007 franchise held on October 5th – the date of the World Premiere of the first James Bond film Dr. No in 1962. Keep your eyes peeled for exciting James Bond news and watch out for 007 activations running all day on our partners’ social channels.
New OMEGA Watch Celebrates Bond
OMEGA have released a Seamaster Diver 300M to celebrate the 50th anniversary of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) with special 007 detailing.
OMEGA’s new 42mm Seamaster Diver 300M in stainless steel is limited to 7,007 pieces and features a black PVD on black ceramic dial, with a spiral-brushed gun-barrel finish and 9mm bullet head at the centre.
18K yellow gold has been used to create the hands and indexes, including the index at 12 o’clock, which follows the look of the Bond family coat-of-arms. On the 7th day of each month, the number 7 on the date window uses the same font as the 007 logo. There is also a hidden ‘50’ on the 10 o’clock index, which appears by night as a secret signature within the Super-LumiNova.
Presented on a black rubber strap, OMEGA’s new Bond watch is Master Chronometer certified and housed in a stylish black box with gun barrel patterns and bullet-head buttons.
OMEGA has also released an OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond Limited Edition Set, presented in its own Globe-Trotter™ suitcase.
This includes the steel watch described above and a second model in 18K yellow gold, which sports a black rubber strap with an 18K yellow gold buckle. On this watch, the black ceramic bezel features a diving scale in OMEGA Ceragold™.
Focus Of The Week: Fiona Volpe
The head of SPECTRE’s Execution Branch, Thunderball’s (1965) Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi) is a deadly weapon herself. Cunning, strategic and alluring, she seduces her prey, often by playing on their egos, before sending them to their doom. Volpe plays a key role in SPECTRE’s plan to ransom two atomic weapons and is strong enough to stand up to No. 2 Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), rebuking him for trying to kill James Bond (Sean Connery). She (reasonably) points out Bond’s death would lead to the British Secret Service discovering SPECTRE’s plan.
Volpe becomes NATO pilot Francois Derval (Paul Stassino)’s lover in order to steal the Vulcan plane and its cargo of two atomic bombs, a key component in the plot to blackmail NATO for the sum of $100 million. She sets up Derval to be killed by mercenary Angelo Palazzi (also played by Stassino) who demands more money for impersonating the pilot. Count Lippe (Guy Doleman), the second of three conspirators, threatens Palazzi with a pistol but the more pragmatic Volpe tells him to put it away. She agrees to Palazzi’s requests to keep the plan on schedule.
Once the plan has been successful, Volpe is charged with killing Lippe for hiring the avaricious Palazzi. The following day, Volpe destroys Lippe’s car by shooting a missile from her BSA Lightning A65L motorcycle. She subsequently pushes the bike into a lake to hide the evidence.
Volpe meets Bond when he flags down her car in the Bahamas. As she drives him to the Coral Harbour hotel, he notices the SPECTRE insignia on her ring. Fiona holds British Secret Service operative Paula Caplan (Martine Beswicke) hostage but Caplan takes a cyanide pill before she can divulge any information. Bond discovers Fiona is his closest neighbour and sneaks into her apartment where he finds her in the bath.
The next morning, as Bond leaves, he comes face to face with Largo’s henchmen Vargas (Phillip Locke) and Janni (Michael Brennan) and turns to see Volpe holding him at gun-point. Taking him captive, the group sit in traffic at the Junkanoo street parade until Bond knocks a reveller’s alcohol into the car and uses Volpe’s lighter to set the car interior on fire.
Bond flees into the crowd, pursued by Volpe and her men, and attempts to disappear among the dancers in the Kiss Kiss Club. He starts to dance with a woman but Volpe cuts in. A henchman takes aim at Bond behind a curtain but 007 spins Volpe into the trajectory of the bullet. Bond slips Volpe into an empty chair, quipping to the couple at the table, “Mind if my friend sits this one out? She’s just dead.”
