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Being the James Bond fan that I am, here is some of my favourite trivia from the series:
Dr. No
- Sir Noel Coward was initially approached by author Ian Fleming (his friend and neighbour) about portraying the film's principal villain. Coward promptly replied with a cable stating, "Dear Ian, the response to Dr. No is 'No! No! No!'.
- Uncredited screenwriter Wolf Mankowicz perceived of Dr. No as actually being the pet monkey of the film's villain. Upon hearing the idea, producer Cubby Broccoli fired Mankowicz on the spot. (Source: 'Inside Dr. No' documentary)
From Russia With Love
- Pedro Armendariz, who portrayed Kerim Bey, was terminally ill, but did not inform the producers until well after filming had commenced. Unfortunately his illness got so bad at one point that he collapsed on the set, and the truth was revealed. He insisted on completing the film, in order to leave some money for his family - and did just that! He committed suicide shortly afterwards.(Source: 'Inside From Russia With Love' documentary)
- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Island is actually the gardens outside the restaurant at Pinewood Studios.
- During the editing phase of the film, editor Peter Hunt called director Terence Young into the editing room one day to view the 'completed' version of 'Q's weapons briefing. The scene played as it appears in the final film, but upon the attache case being opened the climactic explosion from the end of Dr. No came across the screen. Once he recovered his chair, Young complimented Hunt on his sense of humour - but instructed him to leave out the big bang in the final cut!
Goldfinger
- Gert Frobe, who portrayed Auric Goldfinger, didn't speak a word of English. Unfortunately the actor's agent had assured the director, Guy Hamilton, that he DID speak English, which helped him get cast. When Frobe turned up on set for the first day of filming, he kept repeating the phrase, "Mr. Hamilton, I am very pleased to meet you", over and over again. Realising that a few lies had been told, Hamilton was not happy, but fortunately it was possible to dub Frobe's voice in post-production.(Source: 'The Making of Goldfinger' documentary)
Thunderball
- The explosion of the Disco Volante shattered every window within a 30-mile radius. Special effects supervisor had not had time to adequately test the explosives before filming the scene, and was a bit generous with the mixture.(Source: 'The Men Behind the Mayhem: The Special Effects of James Bond' documentary)
You Only Live Twice
- When it was discovered that Mie Hama couldn't speak English, she was set to be fired, but threatened to take a flying leap from her hotel room balcony if this happened. Thinking quickly, director Lewis Gilbert decided that he would simply employ someone to teach her English.(Source: 'Inside You Only Live Twice documentary)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
- During the filming of Bond's escape from Piz Gloria, a safety device (employed because of the slipperiness of the ice on the wire) that allowed the stunt person who was rapelling along the cable car wire to control the speed of his movement failed, sending the stunt person on his way to Murren - 10,000 feet south! Fortunately another stunt person further along caught him.(Source: 'Double-0 Stuntmen' documentary)
Diamonds Are Forever
- The character of Willard Whyte is based on reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, who was a friend of producer Cubby Broccoli. Hughes gave permission for the crew to film in any of his hotels, with the only payment he wanted being a 16mm print of the film.
Live and Let Die
- The first sequence Roger Moore filmed as the new James Bond was the Louisiana bayou speedboat chase. Unfortunately during rehearsals he crashed his boat, and received a compound knee fracture. Luckily most of the filming he needed to do involved sitting down, because he had a rather bad limp for a while.
The Man With the Golden Gun
- One day producer Cubby Broccoli turned up on set to be presented with a bill for 200 pairs of Gucci elephant shoes. His co-producer, Harry Saltzman (who by this stage was being a nuisance), had ordered them on account of having dreamed up an elephant stampede sequence (which was NEVER in the script). Broccoli was pissed off, and refused to pay for the shoes.(Source: 'Inside The Man With the Golden Gun' documentary)
- The 360-degree spin that the car does over the creek was completed in one take. Relieved at not having to set the stunt up again, producer Cubby Broccoli pulled $10,000 cash out of pocket and handed it to the driver.
The Spy Who Loved Me
- Stanley Kubrick designed the lighting of the supertanker set, as a favour for production designer Ken Adam (who had just won an Oscar for Kubrick's Barry Lyndon).(Source: 'Ken Adam: Designing Bond' documentary)
Moonraker
- The budget of the movie, as well as the tax climate of the time, meant that producer Cubby Broccoli decided to abandon Pinewood Studios, and do the studio work for the film in France. Unfortunately the French construction people were not too keen on overtime, and refused to work to the schedule required to complete the set construction on time. That is until they saw the extraordinary drawings done by Ken Adam. After that, they not only worked weekends, but they brought their families along as well!(Source: 'Ken Adam: Designing Bond' documentary)
For Your Eyes Only
- Although the bald-headed villain at the beginning of the movie is so blatantly supposed to be Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the legal rights to the character were by this time in the hands of Kevin McClory. As such, the character remains anonymous. However, the fact that he is killed after Bond visits the grave of his late wife (whom Blofeld killed in On Her Majesty's Secret Service) says more than any film credit ever could).
- Tula Cossey, who portrayed one of the girls at Hector Gonzalez's retreat, was later revealed to have been a bloke.
Octopussy
- During the jungle chase, Bond orders the tiger to sit. This was not in the script. Roger Moore improvised the instruction when the animal got a bit too close. The fact that it obliged was just a bonus!
A View to a Kill
- The famed 007 Stage was burned to the ground prior to filming. It was rebuilt just in time for filming to begin.(Source: 'Inside A View to a Kill' documentary)
- The Rolls-Royce driven by Sir Godfrey Tibbett actually belonged to producer Cubby Broccoli. He watched with tremendous nervousness as actor Patrick Macnee drove it through the gates of the Chantilly estate (which were barely wide enough for the priceless car to fit through)..(Source: 'Inside A View to a Kill' documentary)
The Living Daylights
- The first Bond film to include intentional nudity (the toilet block at the Afghan airbase is obliterated, 'revealing' the occupants).
- The parrot at Blaydon House is the same one featured in For Your Eyes Only.
- During a test for the sequence in which the jeep goes over the cliff at the beginning of the movie, the vehicle was being carried underneath a helicopter. Unfortunately the ropes broke, sending the vehicle plummeting to the ground (fortunately they were in a desert, so no one got hurt). When it landed the force of the impact flattened it to no more than two-feet in height.
Licence to Kill
- The son of From Russia With Love actor Pedro Armendariz portrayes Hector Lopez in this film.(Source: the film's cast list)
- The shark attack on Felix Leiter was actually an element of the novel, 'Live and Let Die'.
GoldenEye
- The bank to which Janus is transferring the money at the end of the film is called Pevsner Commerce Bank, a reference to executive producer Tom Pevsner.(on screen reference)
Tomorrow Never Dies
- The film was the subject of constant script revisions. One night director Roger Spottiswoode presented some revisions to Judi Dench (who played 'M' in the film) relating to a scene that was to be filmed the next day. She reportedly told him to go f*ck himself.
The World is Not Enough
- The wheel clampers who get drenched at the beginning of the film were the 'stars' of a show about wheel clampers. However, they weren't told just how drenched they would get, hence their reaction.(Source: The World is Not Enough DVD audio commentary)
- There is a portrait of original 'M', Bernard Lee, in the current 'M's office in the Castle Thane.(on screen reference)
Die Another Day
- Pierce Brosnan's young son was present on the set during the scene in Bond escapes in the hovercraft at the beginning of the film. After the high-performance cars were blown up, Brosnan asked the kid whether he thought it looked impressive. The poor kid was inconsolable at seeing the beautiful cars destroyed.
Casino Royale
- Dimitrios' key ring has the number '53' on it. 1953 is the year in which the novel on which this film is based was published.(Source: 'Casino Royale' novel)
- The film was not released until 2007 in some countries. This provided the marketing people with the opportunity to use '007' (Bond's number) in the marketing for the film.(Source: marketing material)
- Vesper is established as being untrustworthy well before the audience realises she is revealed to have been working against Bond. Her face is seen in the main titles on a card featuring the Queen of Spades.(on screen reference)
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That is legitimately weird. I never realized before I read that bit of trivia that I had never seen it rain in 40+ years of Bond films. 
Yeah, I know, it's nuts. I didn't believe it, but after eventually rewatching all the other films I realised that it was true.
At least they've avoided the cliche of having a thunderstorm outside whenever there's something bad happening in a scene. I always cringe when that happens in a movie, because it's as if the audience is being beaten over the head with the obviousness of the situation.
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I heard that it also had its own trailer and was fed on Jersey gold top milk. That's as in the Channel Isles, not Noo Joisey 
It could also manage a better Russian accent but due to ego Connery won
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Posted: |
Aug 19, 2007 - 10:09 AM
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By: |
MusicMad
(Member)
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Hi Michael,
There is a folk-lore industry built up around the 007 movies ... after 40+ years it would be surprising if there wasn't.
I read your list and each and all brought smiles to my face. Some though didn't equate to the stories I've read over the years - maybe yours have more truth, we'll probably never know.
For example, in YOLT, the story I've read is that the two Japanese actresses swopped roles so that Mie Hama, whose use of the English language was rather limited, could have the role with less dialogue.
In LALD, Roger Moore did have an accident on his first day of rehearsals - he fractured a front tooth, hurt his leg (knee) and numbed his shoulder (according to his published diary) - "compound knee fracture" sounds a little excessive. Maybe that story was used to explain why he never runs properly, but then he never could.
If TLD was the first to include intentional nudity, what was the scene in Octopussy when 007 spies said lady emerging from the pool just prior to meeting her? Was Miss Maud Adams (or stand-in) not nude (rear view) in that scene. Similarly, how about "Chew-Me" in The Man With The Golden Gun - or does that not count as she was in the pool. And then what about the numerous young ladies who featured in many of the title credit sequences?
LTK included the shark attack sequence from the novel LALD; FYEO included the keel-hauling sequence from that same novel. I find the fact that author John Gardner had to deal with the shark attack sequence in his novelisation of LTK most amusing: since he was seeking to tie the story in with the on-going novels, he had to explain that poor ole Felix had now been savaged twice by sharks in similar scenarios!
I haven't checked but I'm sure that in the mini-film about the making of TLD, it shows the test of dropping the Land Rover from a helicopter above the desert; there was no indication that the ropes broke.
One of my favourites is that in OHMSS, expert skier Willi Bogner skied backwards to film some of the sequences, including down the bob-sleigh run.
I think there's even a story doing the rounds that the famous signature music, The James Bond Theme is based upon a tune written by Monty Norman, but I've been unable to verify that.
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... and, of course, it wasn't raining in Berne (OHMSS) when 007 is driven to the lawyer's (Gumbold) offices by Draco, accompanied by Tracy in the Rolls.
You're right! However, I suppose the technicality resides in the fact that Bond simply exits a car and walks into a building in the shot in question, whereas in Casino Royale the whole scene takes place in the rain.
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For example, in YOLT, the story I've read is that the two Japanese actresses swopped roles so that Mie Hama, whose use of the English language was rather limited, could have the role with less dialogue.
True. However, she did in fact threaten hari-kiri first.
In LALD, Roger Moore did have an accident on his first day of rehearsals - he fractured a front tooth, hurt his leg (knee) and numbed his shoulder (according to his published diary) - "compound knee fracture" sounds a little excessive.
Yeah, I think there's been a bit if a Chinese Whispers deal on this. It started out as one thing, but over time the story has become somewhat inflated.
If TLD was the first to include intentional nudity, what was the scene in Octopussy when 007 spies said lady emerging from the pool just prior to meeting her? Was Miss Maud Adams (or stand-in) not nude (rear view) in that scene. Similarly, how about "Chew-Me" in The Man With The Golden Gun - or does that not count as she was in the pool. And then what about the numerous young ladies who featured in many of the title credit sequences?
I'm not sure about the shot to which you're referring in Octopussy (I'll check it out and get back to you). As for The Man With the Golden Gun, Chew-Me was underwater, and thus 'hidden'. Lastly, the main titles are extraneous to the main narrative of the story, which is where the technicality resides.
LTK included the shark attack sequence from the novel LALD; FYEO included the keel-hauling sequence from that same novel. I find the fact that author John Gardner had to deal with the shark attack sequence in his novelisation of LTK most amusing: since he was seeking to tie the story in with the on-going novels, he had to explain that poor ole Felix had now been savaged twice by sharks in similar scenarios!
That's hilarious! I haven't read a lot of the novels, so I didn't realise Gardner's predicament.
I haven't checked but I'm sure that in the mini-film about the making of TLD, it shows the test of dropping the Land Rover from a helicopter above the desert; there was no indication that the ropes broke.
Maybe my recollection of the details was incorrect. Something did go wrong though to cause the jeep to fall.
One of my favourites is that in OHMSS, expert skier Willi Bogner skied backwards to film some of the sequences, including down the bob-sleigh run.
Yeah, Bogner is insane. As was Johnny Jordan, who filmed aerial sequences for You Only Live Twice (an accident during filming cost him his foot) and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Tragically, a year after OHMSS he was killed when he fell out of a helicopter while filming an aerial sequence for Catch-22.
I think there's even a story doing the rounds that the famous signature music, The James Bond Theme is based upon a tune written by Monty Norman, but I've been unable to verify that.
It's true. Norman took the melody from a song he had written for an aborted stage production. There's a music featurette on the A View to a Kill DVD in which Norman gleefully sings the song, completely oblivious to the fact that he looks like an idiot. These are the lyrics:
"I was born
with this unlucky sneeze
and what is worse I came
into the world the wrong way round"
Need I say more?
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You're probably right ... though as we English are known for the understatement such visual device would have spoiled the effect ...
And as an Australian I'm too block-headed to comprehend such humour. I take your point though.
... and, more importantly, I've never learnt how to use them! I did try once or twice when I started on this board but they didn't appear so now I never bother trying.
I think the trick with some of them is to ensure that you don't have any text either side of them. Sometimes this messes the formatting up. Incidentally, I assume you realise that there's an emoticon table (labelled as 'Smilies Legend') on the left-hand side when you're typing a post? It gives you the correct codes to make the images appear.
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I find most of those Bond comments very hard to believe.
Fair statement. I'll edit my original post to detail the sources I used to gather the information over the next couple of days (doing so in one go will cause my brain to explode).
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so let's see if this works.