BOX OFFICE RESULT: $24.8 million (USA)
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $78.9 million
BUDGET: $2 million (USA)
- The footage of the exploding SPECTRE helicopter has since been recycled for a number of British TV shows as stock footage. It can be seen in the "Doctor Who" episode "The Daemons."
- The budget was $2 million (double that of Dr. No).
- Chosen as the second 007 film after President Kennedy listed the book among his top ten favorite novels of all time.
- "Q" played by Desmond Llewelyn appears for the first time.
- Pedro Armendariz was terminally ill during filming. Towards the end of shooting, Terence Young had to double for the actor. Shortly after the film wrapped Armendariz committed suicide.
- During the helicopter sequence towards the end of the film, the inexperienced pilot flew too close to Sean Connery, almost killing him.
- All female voices heard in the film, with the exception of Lois Maxwell as Moneypenny, are dubbed by the same, uncredited, English actress.
- Krilenko tries to escape through a secret window in a billboard advertising Call Me Bwana, also produced by Broccoli and Harry Saltzman.
- Ian Fleming, author and James Bond creator, cameos in the train scene, standing outside on the right of the train. He is wearing grey trousers and a white sweater.
- The wife of producer Harry Salzman is leaning out the window of the Orient Express, next to the window containing Robert Shaw, as it leaves the station.
- According to the book "Death of a President" by William Manchester, this was the last motion picture John F. Kennedy ever saw, on November 20th, 1963, in the White House.
- In this film, James Bond does not say "Bond, James Bond."
- For the first time, we see the message "James Bond will return in..." at the end of the film.
- The helicopter carrying director Terrence Young during filming crashed over water, trapping the director below the surface for a considerable time in an air bubble inside the copter's canopy. He was rescued and then immediately went back behind the camera with his arm in a sling.
- Second and final appearance of Sylvia Trench. The plan was for Sylvia to be a recurring character like Moneypenny, but the idea was dropped after this film.
- One of the only Bond films to make direct reference to a previous film. Dr. No is mentioned by name, and Sylvia establishes the film takes plafe six months after that film.
- Bond's truck attache case is the first true Bond film gimmick. It is also one of the only gimmicks to actually appear in Fleming's novels.
- In the books, Bond often drives his beloved Bentley. The car appears in this film for the only time in the regular series.
- Walter Gotell, who plays Morzeny, would later become a regular in the Bond films as General Gogol.
- Two actresses with bit parts would reappear in later films: Nadia Regin would play the dancer at the start of Goldfinger, and Martine Beswick returned as Paula in Thunderball.
WRITERS: Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood (adaptation), and based on the story by Ian Fleming.
PRODUCERS: Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman.
ORIGINAL MUSIC: John Barry and Lionel Bart (title song).
DISTRIBUTOR: United Artists.
Rosa Klebb: Kronsteen's plan should be as successful as his chess.
Kronsteen: It will be. I've anticipated every possible variation of countermove.
Blofeld: Let his death be a particularly unpleasant and humiliating one.
Tatiana: You look surprised. I thought you expected me.
Tatiana: The mechanism is...Oh James, James...Will you make love to me all the time in England?
Bond: Day and night. Go on about the mechanism.
Bond: Red wine with fish. Well, that should have told me something.
Grant: I might not know my wines, but you are the one on your knees.
Agent: I use a lighter.
James Bond: Better still.
Agent: Until they go wrong.
James Bond: Exactly.
Blofeld: Twelve seconds. One day we must invent a faster-working venom.
Donald "Red" Grant: The first one won't kill you; not the second, not even the third...not till you crawl over here and you kiss my foot.