On Friday I get to visit the grand, and let’s face it, bloody luxurious place that is Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire to join in the fun of the 007 days of Bond, an event to celebrate the 50 years of Bond movies , which all arrive Blu-Ray on 24th September (that’s next Monday).
On Monday, James Bond legend, and arguably the best 007, Sir Roger Moore set the digital timer on a golden briefcase containing the first copy of the Bond 50 Blu-ray collection which will travel the length of Great Britain from Monday 17th to Monday 24th September.
After sending the briefcase off on its 900 mile journey, Moore said: “I’m delighted to launch this Aston Martin on its tour of Great Britain with its special golden cased cargo, marking 50 years of 007 movies and the release of all 22 films on Blu-ray.”
Eunice Gayson (below), who played Sylvia Trench, in DR. NO (1962) and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963), said: “I am so proud to have worked on the first two Bond films and to be part of the continuing James Bond legacy, launching this relay, is an absolute honour. No-one could have predicted back in 1962 that five decades later it would be a huge global phenomenon.”
Eunice Gayson will be taking the case south from Eilean Donan Castle, which doubled as the British Secret Service HQ in THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999) and in a helicopter over the scenic hills of Argyll that featured in the thrilling chase in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963).
It will then travel the length of the country in the Aston Martin, by helicopter, train and
on foot, stopping off at the most memorable British locations, including Stoke Park, the scene of 1964’s classic golfing encounter between Bond and Auric Goldfinger, and the Eden Project in Cornwall, which doubled as villain Gustav Graves’ diamond mine in DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002).
Each location will be presented with a commemorative gold disc celebrating their part in 007’s 50-year history, Nene Valley Railway in Peterborough, where Bond stunt performers will run with the golden briefcase along a moving train celebrating the classic Bond action scene in OCTOPUSSY (1983), introduced by John Glen, who directed five classic Bond films.
After seven days of adventure the golden briefcase will arrive in Central London at 10.07am on September 24th, as Britt Ekland and Richard Kiel hand-deliver it to the HMV store on Oxford Street with the Aston Martin stopping in front of the store.
Eunice Gayson, Aston Martin, Blu-Rays…
We have the full schedule and route of the journey below….
- Day 001 (17 Sept): North Scotland – From Russia With Love, The World Is Not Enough
- Day 003 (19 Sept): Penbryn Beach, Ceredigion, Wales – Die Another Day
- Day 004 (20 Sept): Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough– Octopussy, GoldenEye
- Day 005 (21 Sept): Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire– Goldfinger, Tomorrow Never Dies
- Day 006 (22 Sept): The Eden Project, Cornwall – Die Another Day
- Day 007 (23 Sept): London
- FINALE (24 Sept): HMV Oxford Street, London
Pre-order the 22 Bond movies on Blu-Ray here.
Bond 50 Blu-ray Collection – out 24 September (or out now for features running 24 Sept onwards)(c) 2012 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. TM Danjaq, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
