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  5th May 2012

Skyfall cast and filmmakers arrive on location in Istanbul

Production in Istanbul marks the 3rd time in the 50-Year history of the James Bond franchise that the city has served as a backdrop.

Istanbul, April 29 2012 - Daniel Craig and cast and filmmakers of Skyfall, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time, have arrived in Istanbul, Turkey. Their arrival marks the third time a James Bond adventure has filmed in the historic city. Previously, Istanbul served as a backdrop for scenes in From Russia With Love and The World Is Not Enough. Skyfall locations in Turkey include Adana, Fethiye and Istanbul. At a photo call and press conference to mark the occasion were producers Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli, director Sam Mendes, and cast members Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, and Ola Rapace.

(L-R) Director Sam Mendes, Naomie Harris, Daniel Craig, Bérénice Marlohe, Ola Rapace, Producer Barbara Broccoli and Producer Michael G. Wilson attend a photo call to mark the filming of Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond adventure, in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the 3rd time in the 50 year history of the film franchise that the city has served as a backdrop. The photo call took place at the Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel on Sunday, April 29, 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.

ABOVE: (L-R) Director Sam Mendes, Naomie Harris, Daniel Craig, Bérénice Marlohe, Ola Rapace, Producer Barbara Broccoli and Producer Michael G. Wilson attend a photo call to mark the filming of Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond adventure, in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the 3rd time in the 50 year history of the film franchise that the city has served as a backdrop. The photo call took place at the Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel on Sunday, April 29, 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.                     

PHOTOGRAPH/ONUR ONAT

Sean Connery and Daniela Bianchi  posing in front of the Hagia Sophia in 1963.

Sean Connery and Daniela Bianchi  posing in front of the Hagia Sophia in 1963.

Pedro Armendariz and Sean Connery in a scene deleted from the final cut of From Russia With Love.

Pedro Armendariz and Sean Connery in a scene deleted from the final cut of From Russia With Love.

James Bond in Istanbul

From Russia With Love (1963)
The film was shot on location in Istanbul in 1963 and includes lots of sweeping scenes of the City. James Bond visits the airport, the railway station, the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia and sails down the Bosphorus.
• During production in 1963 Ian Fleming took Dana Broccoli sightseeing on a boat on the Bosphorus. Ian Fleming had a great knowledge of the city as he had been on an assignment as a journalist the year before. He based the character Kerim Bey on his friend, Oxford-educated, Nazim Kalkaren.
• In Cubby Broccoli’s autobiography (The Man Who Brought James Bond 007 to the Screen), he says that in Istanbul, Ian was in his element. “He loved the sounds, the spicy smells, the bazaars, the street merchants and the belly dancers…”.
• The crew were shooting in Turkey for 22 days 22nd April - 13th May 1963.
• On the 29th and 30th April the crew were shooting the exterior of a narrow alley and outside the Sehzade Mosque, at night.
• Other Turkish locations include Halkali region in Istanbul, kabatas ferry, Pendik (Istanbul province), Adriatic Coast.
• In Cubby’s autobiography he writes that From Russia With Love gave him the opportunity to shoot in one of the world's most exotic places, Istanbul.

The World Is Not Enough (1999)
The crew were shooting in Istanbul for 8 days and locations included the Galata Tower, Karakoy Customs Port, Kasimpasa / Kasimpasa Ferry Terminal, apartment and embankment by Kiz Kulesi, Vogue Restaurant, Scaffold Tower (by Salacak Fisherman’s Harbour), Kucuksu Kasri (Electra’s Villa), Maiden’s Tower, shots of the Istanbul rooftops.
• M was held captive in the Maiden’s Tower
• James Bond has returned to shoot at Eminonu Spice Market for Skyfall.


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