License to Thrill: 22 Captivating Facts About James Bond

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1SIS building

SIS building

At the special screening of the James Bond movie 'Spectre' at the MI6 building in Vauxhall Cross, the real MI6 staff cheered when the building was blown up in the movie.


2. The real James Bond was actually an Ornithologist. When asked by Ian Fleming if it was okay to use his name he replied simply: "Fine With It."


3. The British Secret Service (James Bond's employer) really can issue a "license to kill". It's called a Class Seven authorization and must be approved by the MI6 agent's superiors all the way up to the Foreign Minister.


4. George Lazenby wasn't an actual actor. He got himself a suit, a Rolex, and a new haircut then met with the producer and made up movies he had been in. He later landed the role of James Bond.


5. President John F. Kennedy was a huge James Bond fan. He viewed an early print of 'From Russia with Love' at the White House on November 21st, 1963. It was the last film he ever saw. He was killed the next day in Dallas.


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6Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig

For his time as James Bond, Daniel Craig has the privilege of taking any Aston Martin from the factory for the rest of his life.


7. Daniel Craig finished writing the Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" because of the 2008 Writers Strike. Also, it has absolutely nothing at all in common with the short story it gets its name from.


8. Quentin Tarantino was offered to direct 'Casino Royale' with the film set in the 50's, make it in black and white and retain Pierce Brosnan as Bond.


9. Adam West, Clint Eastwood, and Burt Reynolds were all offered the role of James Bond, and all declined, believing James Bond should always be played by a British actor.


10. Christian Bale turned down the role of James Bond, saying "I've already played a serial killer."


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11Skyfall shaving scene

Skyfall shaving scene

The scene in Skyfall where Daniel Craig is shaved with a straight razor led to a 400% increase in straight edge razor sales.


12. James Bond villain American actor Yaphet Kotto has expressed that the spy should not be played by a black man, saying “Political correctness be damned, we have to stay with what is literally correct. These roles are not written for black men" and "We have pens to create roles that no one else has established.”


13. Liam Neeson turned down playing James Bond in 1995 because "he has never been interested in starring in action movies."


14. The fight scene on top of a train in Skyfall was actually filmed on top of a real moving train, and Daniel Craig did not use a stunt double.


15. When questioned about his terminal cancer and impending death, musician, Warren Zevon stated, "I just want to live long enough to see the next James Bond movie." He achieved this goal and lived long enough to see the ironically named "Die Another Day".


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16Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl, author of "James and the Giant Peach" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", wrote the screenplay for the James Bond movie, "You Only Live Twice".


17. The literary character James Bond (whom the movies are based off) has an average intake of 60 custom-made cigarettes a day.


18. The infamous crocodile jump by James Bond in 'Live and Let Die' was performed with real crocodiles. The only person willing to attempt the stunt was the owner (Ross Kananga) of the croc farm. Writers named the film's villain after the owner, Kanaga.


19. You can't make a true James Bond Vesper martini anymore. Kina Lillet was discontinued and reformulated in 1986, making the scene in the Casino Royale movie anachronistic (unless the bar had an old bottle lying around).


20. Sean Connery was considered to portray Kincade, the gamekeeper of Skyfall Lodge, in Skyfall.


21Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill, star of the Man of Steel, was next in line to be cast as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter, Edward Cullen in Twilight, and James Bond in Casino Royale, but lost the roles all three times.


22. James Bond originally used a Beretta 418 until a fan of the novels (and small arms expert) told Ian Flemming that it was a lady's gun. Flemming wrote a scene in Dr. No to detail the exchange and give Bond his now famous Walther PPK.

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