Getting factual with Bond

Did you know?: Ursula Andress' (who played Honey Ryder) voice in Dr. No (1962) was not her own, it was dubbed by Monica Van der Syl.

Bondly crash: The helicopter carrying director Terence Young during the shoot of From Russia With Love (1963), crashed over a water body.Young was trapped for quite a while before being rescued. As if nothing major had happened, he went back to shooting, with his arm in a sling.

Diversion: Goldfinger (1964) was based on a novel of the same name, and in the book, the character of Pussy Galore is a lesbian.

Faint notes: Tom Jones fainted after holding a high note at the end of the Thunderball (1965) theme during the recording.

Immobile: You Only Live Twice (1967) is the only official Bond film in which the british spy doesn't drive any car at all through the film.

New Bond: George Lazenby, the Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) had a problematic relationship with the lead actress, Diana Rigg. She later confessed to deliberately eating garlic-heavy food before doing a kissing scene with the Bond actor.

Back with a bang: During the shoot of Diamonds Are Forever (1969) actress Lana Wood (Plenty O'Toole) had her feet tied to a cement block for the fall into the pool scene. The pool had a sloping bottom, and the block slipped in deeper with each take. Just as she was about to drown, crew members pulled her out.

Jump with joy: Bond's speedboat jump in Live and Let Die (1973) entered the Guinness Book of World Records for its jump of 110 feet; the record stood for three years.

Stroke of luck: In The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) Roger Moore's contract demanded that he be provided an unlimited supply of hand-rolled Monte Cristo cigars.

Producer par excellence: While shooting in Egypt, the crew was subject to some really bad food, so Albert Broccoli drove off to buy ingredients to make pasta for everyone. He cooked the pasta himself and along with the current Bond, Roger Moore, served everyone.

Hanging on: During the shooting of a stunt for Moonraker (1979), stuntman Richard Graydon slipped from the cable car was just managed to hold on. As the cameras were still rolling, the entire accident was recorded.

What is to come: It was during the shooting of For Your Eyes Only (1981) that Cassandra Harris (who played Countess Lisl von Schlaf) introduced her husband at the time, Pierce Brosnan, who would take as Bond soon, to producer Albert Broccoli.

At home: Parts of Octopussy (1983) were shot in Udaipur, in India. The Udaipur Lake Palace Hotel was renamed 'The Octopussy Hotel' as it features in the film.

Short-sighted: In the film A View to Kill (1985), singer David Bowie had been approached for the role of the villain, Max Zorin. He turned down the offer, saying, 'I didn't want to spend five months watching my stunt double fall off mountains.'

With many thanks: Aston Martin car company chairman Victor Gauntlett was offered a small role in the film as a KGB agent, as a thank you for loaning cars for the various James Bond films. However, Gauntlett didn't have the time, and had to decline the offer.

Between the lines: In Licence to Kill (1989), the scene where Bond resigns from the MI6, and his licence to kill is revoked, was shot in Ernest Hemingway's house. The line in the film goes, 'I guess this is a farewell to arms.'

Commitment: Pierce Brosnan's contract for GoldenEye (1995) demanded that he would not appear in any other film wearing a tuxedo.

Ladies galore: Teri Hatcher of Desperate Housewives fame played Paris Carver; she said that she agreed to do this role because of her husband's desire to be have a Bond girl as his wife.

Do unto Bond: When the actual M.I.6, (British Foreign Intelligence agency), realised that a scene from The World is Not Enough (1999) would be shot near their headquarters, they disallowed it. However, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, gave them a go-ahead saying, 'After all Bond has done for Britain, it was the least we could do for Bond.'

I guess I'll die...: Singer-actress Madonna, who sang the title song of the film Die Another Day (2002) also had a small cameo in the film. Originally, she was supposed to introduce Brosnan with the phrase, 'Bond, James Bond.' However this idea was scrapped as the makers felt the audience would like the line to remain with Bond himself.

Young gun: Daniel Craig, who started his Bond career with Casino Royale (2006) is the first actor to play James Bond who is younger than the series itself.

A change is gonna come: Daniel Craig is one of the actors who has been on a quest to reinvent Bond. In the upcoming Quantum of Solace, the catch-phrase, 'My name is Bond, James Bond' has been omitted, because it is too outdated.