Fanspot
MI6's secret cache
“I heard of this place. Never thought I’d find myself here.”
James Bond (Pierce Brosnan)
Despite having his license to kill revoked, James Bond has managed to attract the attention of his boss M (Judi Dench). She sends him a mysterious key, a kind of invitation card for this place.
James Bond finds the entrance to the secret MI6 hideout under the South Bank Lion without any real trouble and discovers the existence of this place. M briefs him on the situation and takes him back into his ranks to solve the Graves case.
Q (John Cleese) also has a workshop there in which James Bond calls it “relics”. It is also here that he discovers the invisible Aston Martin that somewhat amazes Agent 007.
Among all the old objects present in this scene, many gadgets recall the old films of the saga. For example, there is the jetpack in Thunderball or Rosa Klebb’s (Lotte Lenya) knife-shoe in From Russia with Love.
No secret subway station under the South Bank Lion, just a private service door. This was condemned after numerous attempts to open it by Bond fans.
In his workshop, Q gives 007 a revolutionary car that can make itself invisible. This is the first foray into CGI in the James Bond universe, as the franchise has traditionally relied on more traditional special effects such as real-life stunts and explosions.
South Bank Lion
Just a statue? No, behind the South Bank Lion is a true story of passion and a journey through London.
Carved in 1837 from Coade stone, the South Bank Lion was originally commissioned by James Goding to William Frederick Woodington. The former wished to see a magnificent lion atop his brewery, called the Lion Brewery, located in Lambeth.
Émile Zola, who lived at the Savoy, located opposite the establishment, was fascinated by this lion.
The factory flourished until the 1920s, when a fire broke out in 1931, seriously damaging the building. When it was decided to demolish it in 1949, King George VI decided to remove the statue and place it in front of Waterloo Station. A vast rescue operation began.
From 1951 to 1966, the lion will be painted in red, hence its nickname, still current, of Red Lion.
The statue remained on this site until 1966, when a building was erected next to the station. It was then moved to its current location on the south side of the Westminster Bridge.
A little surprise awaits future generations, a time capsule. At the back of the lion is a glass bottle into which several objects have been inserted such as two William IV coins, a Coade trading card, a 1966 coin, a copy of a letter from the Chairman of the GLC – Greater London Council – and a copy of an article on the Coade Stone by JH Holroyd.
The Fantrippers Buying Board
Full James Bond box set
Find in this James Bond event box set the 24 films of the saga!
Contains:
– Dr No (1962)
– From Russia with Love (1963)
– Goldfinger (1964)
– Thunderball (1965)
– You Only Live Twice (1967)
– On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
– Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
– Live and Let Die (1973)
– The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
– The Spy Who Loved Me (1976)
– Moonraker (1979)
– For Your Eyes Only (1981)
– Octopussy (1983)
– A View to a Kill (1985)
– The Living Daylights (1987)
– Licence to Kill (1989)
– GoldenEye (1995)
– Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
– The World Is Not Enough (1999)
– Die Another Day (2002)
– Casino Royale (2006)
– Quantum of Solace (2008)
– Skyfall (2012)
– Spectre (2015)
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By Damien Duarte
Passionné par la culture pop depuis son enfance, ses références vont de Donald Duck à Batman en passant par Marty McFly. Fantripper dans l'âme, voyager sur les traces de Ghostbusters, James Bond ou des héros de romans comme Cotton Malone fait partie d'un séjour idéal et réussi !