Today I Learned: James Bond Edition

Seven_Point_Six_Five

Did you learn something new about the Bond franchise today? Share with us what you have just learned! All is fair game: films, books, actors, directors, etc.

And for those who don't know; TIL= "Today I learned".


Today I learned that Richard Branson had a small cameo in Casino Royale:

http://www.virgin.com/news/richard-branson-casino-royale

PropertyOfALady

Today I learned 3 things:

The DB5 used in Goldfinger for road shots broke down in Switzerland

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufacturers/aston-martin/8075321/James-Bond-Aston-Martin-DB5-history.html

"As a high-speed film car, FMP 7B proved useless. Its German ZF gearbox failed during filming in Switzerland, which meant it was actually the precious gadgets car, driven with considerable verve by stunt driver Bill Baskerville, that we see chasing Tilly Masterson’s Ford Mustang through the Alps."

That the gunfire from the front headlights was simulated, and the ejector seat was an aircraft model used in only a single scene.

http://www.007.info/aston-martin-db5/

Seven_Point_Six_Five

Well I just had my mind blown.

Today I learned the gun used in Skyfall was not actually a Walther PPK/S after all.

For those who do not know, Walther actually produces a real gun called the PPK/S. It is essentially the same gun as the PPK except the PPK/S has a longer grip:

PPK/S on left - PPK on right


In the film, the /S tacked onto the end of it was actually the writers way of designating it as Q Branch's "Signature" model or micro dermal sensor model. Apparently they were completely unaware that Walther actually produces a real PPK/S. So suppose in Skyfall Bond was issued a micro dermal sensored P99 by Q in the museum, he would have likely called it a P99/S. It was all just a coincidence.

All this time I was wondering why Bond would switch from his beloved PPK to the PPK/S. I guess he didn't.

Sark

very interesting fact!

this

Apparently they were completely unaware that Walther actually produces a real PPK/S.

seems almost impossible.

NickTwentyTwo

Seven_Point_Six_Five wrote: »

Well I just had my mind blown.

Today I learned the gun used in Skyfall was not actually a Walther PPK/S after all.

For those who do not know, Walther actually produces a real gun called the PPK/S. It is essentially the same gun as the PPK except the PPK/S has a longer grip:

PPK/S on left - PPK on right


In the film, the /S tacked onto the end of it was actually the writers way of designating it as Q Branch's "Signature" model or micro dermal sensor model. Apparently they were completely unaware that Walther actually produces a real PPK/S. So suppose in Skyfall Bond was issued a micro dermal sensored P99 by Q in the museum, he would have likely called it a P99/S. It was all just a coincidence.

All this time I was wondering why Bond would switch from his beloved PPK to the PPK/S. I guess he didn't.

I remember being a bit confused when I heard he was using PPK/S in Skyfall as well. As far as I remember from my research, they made the PPK/S to sell in the United States, as the PPK didn't meet dimensions requirements for a legal firearm stateside, hence the longer grip. I thought, why would Bond need to use this particular type of PPK as a British agent, but maybe using a more "internationally friendly" variation of the weapon means less red tape as MI6 operates internationally?

Do you have any evidence that the bold is true?

Seven_Point_Six_Five

NickTwentyTwo wrote: »

Seven_Point_Six_Five wrote: »

Well I just had my mind blown.

Today I learned the gun used in Skyfall was not actually a Walther PPK/S after all.

For those who do not know, Walther actually produces a real gun called the PPK/S. It is essentially the same gun as the PPK except the PPK/S has a longer grip:

PPK/S on left - PPK on right


In the film, the /S tacked onto the end of it was actually the writers way of designating it as Q Branch's "Signature" model or micro dermal sensor model. Apparently they were completely unaware that Walther actually produces a real PPK/S. So suppose in Skyfall Bond was issued a micro dermal sensored P99 by Q in the museum, he would have likely called it a P99/S. It was all just a coincidence.

All this time I was wondering why Bond would switch from his beloved PPK to the PPK/S. I guess he didn't.

I remember being a bit confused when I heard he was using PPK/S in Skyfall as well. As far as I remember from my research, they made the PPK/S to sell in the United States, as the PPK didn't meet dimensions requirements for a legal firearm stateside, hence the longer grip. I thought, why would Bond need to use this particular type of PPK as a British agent, but maybe using a more "internationally friendly" variation of the weapon means less red tape as MI6 operates internationally?

Do you have any evidence that the bold is true?

You're correct about the importation issues that spurred the creation of the PPK/S. The PPK/S only exists to get around The Gun Control Act of 1968. So I question whether they are even available outside the US. I simply don't know.

Regarding evidence. All this info comes from a popular member on waltherforums.com. From what I gathered from this member, the Q Branch designation was in the script. He told me his information also "comes direct from the armourers, armourer suppliers, costume, pre-production art dept and first hand experience". He seems to be heavily involved or at least well connected. He also provided me a number of images of the firearms/props, majority of which he took himself recently.

As for the firearm itself. Here are some early concept images the Skyfall "PPK/S". Notice it was designed around a PPK:



He went on to tell me "These concept designs show that the two switches allowed the software chip containing the users preferences to be removed. Originally the pistol had more functions like double-tap one trigger pull etc."


Here is a 3D printed pistol, seen in museum scene with Q, with modified gips. It was modeled from a ULM PPK :




All the "PPK/S"s you see in Skyfall are 3D printed, non functioning models with radio operated LED's. The only time we see a real "PPK/S" is when Bond activates the "Signature" gun in the car after tailing Patrice in Shanghai. In that scene, it is a real PPK with a custom grip sleeve slipped in place of normal grips:

PropertyOfALady

Christoph Waltz starred in GoldenEye with Charles Dance.

Seven_Point_Six_Five

Today I learned that John Barry makes a brief cameo appearance as the conductor of the orchestra at the end of TLD