James Bond legend Sir Roger Moore set the digital timer on a golden briefcase containing the first copy of the Bond 50 Blu-ray collection available on Blu-ray from September 24th 2012 (pre-order now: http://amzn.to/xrm4js), which will travel the length of Great Britain from Monday 17th to Monday 24th September.
To mark the Golden Anniversary of James Bond on film, the golden briefcase will set off in an Aston Martin DBS featured in QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008) from Eilean Donan Castle in the Scottish Highlands at 10.07am on Monday 17th September, embarking on a seven-day journey.
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”
Alongside the seven-time James Bond legend, the case will also be carried by other 007 icons including Bond actresses Britt Ekland, Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet and Eunice Gayson, classic villain Richard Kiel (Jaws), Oscar®-winning Costume Designer Lindy Hemming, Stunt Coordinator Paul Weston and legendary director John Glen.
Eunice Gayson, 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.
The relay will feature in blogs and videos on the official home of James Bond, 007.com, and will also stop by key locations and media houses across the UK, giving local journalists, celebrities and fans the chance to have their photographs taken with the Aston Martin.
The relay will take the following route from North to South:
- Day 001 (17 Sept): North Scotland – From Russia With Love, The World Is Not Enough (featuring Eunice Gayson and Bond expert Brian Pendreigh)
- Day 002 (18 Sept): Travel, Photo Opportunities and Media Visits (Eunice Gayson)
- Day 003 (19 Sept): Penbryn Beach, Ceredigion, Wales – Die Another Day (Costume Designer Lindy Hemming)
- Day 004 (20 Sept): Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough- Octopussy, GoldenEye (Director John Glen, Stunt Coordinator Paul Weston)
- Day 005 (21 Sept): Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire- Goldfinger, Tomorrow Never Dies (Richard Kiel, Britt Ekland, Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet, Eunice Gayson and mixologist Erik Lorincz)
- Day 006 (22 Sept): The Eden Project, Cornwall – Die Another Day
- Day 007 (23 Sept): London – Media visits with Britt Ekland
- FINALE (24 Sept): HMV Oxford Street, London (featuring Britt Ekland and Richard Kiel)