Singer/Songwriter Sam Smith has won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ at last night’s Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles. The theme song from Spectre was co-written by Smith and Jimmy Napes and follows their Golden Globe win in January. This is the second Bond film in a row that has achieved the Academy Award for Best Original Song after Adele’s win in 2013 with ‘Skyfall’.

The 24th film in the James Bond series, Spectre, is to be released on Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD on 9 February in the US and on 22 February in the UK. To mark the occasion, Christie’s is to present a unique opportunity to acquire memorabilia from the film — with 24 lots straight from the archives of EON Productions, as well as donations from Daniel Craig, director Sam Mendes, actor Jesper Christensen (Mr White in Spectre, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace), Bond producers Michael G.Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, and artist Sam Smith, who co-wrote the official award-winning Spectre theme song. All proceeds will benefit Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), other charitable organisations, and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

The live auction on 18 February is led by an Aston Martin DB10, one of the series of DB10s designed and engineered by Aston Martin exclusively for James Bond, Spectre, illustrated above. Most of the DB10s were modified for use in the filming of Spectre, but two of those produced were kept back as show cars, for display purposes only, and this is one of them. The car is expected to realise between £1,000,000 and £1,500,000 and is to date the only DB10 to be released for public sale by Aston Martin and EON Productions. This is the only car that includes a special plaque signed by Daniel Craig and was displayed at the world premiere of Spectre at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Aston Martin has been associated with the James Bond franchise for over 50 years, with the DB10 model featuring in the latest Bond film, Spectre.

Additional highlights of the live sale include the OMEGA Seamaster 300 watch that was worn by Daniel Craig as James Bond, estimated at £15,000-20,000, while our online-only sale is to feature the laptop used by actor Ben Whishshaw as Q, estimated at £4,000-6,000, and a pair of Tom Ford ‘Snowdon’ sunglasses, worn by Daniel Craig as James Bond, estimated at £4,000-6,000.

UPDATE - sale highlights:
Aston Martin DB10 sold for £2,434,500
James Bond’s Day of the Dead Costume worn by Daniel Craig sold for £98,500
Prototype OMEGA Seamaster 300 wristwatch worn by Daniel Craig sold for £92,500
Oberhauser's Spectre gold ring worn by Christoph Waltz sold for £32,500
Two-piece Tom Ford white dinner suit worn by Daniel Craig sold for £27,500

http://www.christies.com/features/James-Bond-Spectre-the-auction-6986-1.aspx

007's watch in Spectre has a very cool extra function. Watch the film to see the story behind the making of this very special OMEGA Seamaster 300. Spectre's cast and crew, including Daniel Craig, reveal the blueprint behind the watch made for a mission.

The New School: The Auditorium at West 12th Street. 66 West 12th St., New York City 10011
Spectre is coming: don’t miss the celebrated creative collaborators behind the James Bond hit film Skyfall and the highly anticipated new Bond film Spectre, opening November 6, starring Daniel Craig as Bond and directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes. Hear about their work together in the movie, in which Bond springs into action when a cryptic message from his past provides a gateway to the powerful, deceptive, and sinister organization known as SPECTRE, while M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive. Interviewed by New York Times contributor Logan Hill.

The latest behind-the-scenes vlog from the set of Spectre focuses on singer/songwriter Sam Smith’s theme song, ‘Writing’s On The Wall’.

“For me, the most timeless thing you can do, outside of making your own records… is Bond. It’s the most timeless, classiest thing to me there is to do,” says Sam Smith.

In anticipation of the upcoming release of Spectre, IMAX released an exclusive poster featuring 007 himself. Centered on Spectre’s dramatic opening scene which takes place in Mexico City during the hauntingly beautiful Dia de los Muertes celebrations - the Day of the Dead holiday – James Bond is decked out in a customary skull mask radiating the mystery that 007 fans know and love.

James Bond has overcome villains, been in high speed pursuits, and jumped out of helicopters, but Spectre will test your favorite agent and drop him into a brand new environment. Bond is not there to celebrate among the floats and celebrations, but to take on members of an evil organization.

The IMAX release of Spectre will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Léa Seydoux on Spectre:
"I don’t mind the cliché of the Bond girl. But Madeleine, she is very different. And to choose me as a Bond girl, it’s a choice. A statement. I’m not the typical James Bond girl.”

On being an actress:
“I don’t like modernity. I don’t have television or the internet at home. The internet scares me. I can’t drive a car. That is why I do this job. This is why I became an actress. So that people will take care of me. To be an actress is a refuge. You are taken everywhere, stay in wonderful hotels, everyone looks after you.”

Mexico City will host the Premiere of the Americas for Spectre on Monday 2 November. It’s the first time that Mexico has hosted an international James Bond premiere, the date coinciding with the Day of the Dead festivities which feature in the film’s opening sequence.

Producers Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli commented, “We owe our magnificent Day of the Dead opening sequence, shot in Mexico City, to the expert craftsmanship of our wonderful British and Mexican crews. With 2015 being the Year of Culture between the UK and Mexico, it is fitting that the Premiere of the Americas will take place in Mexico City, on the actual Day of the Dead Festival.”

In October 2015 VisitBritain launched a global ‘Bond is GREAT Britain’ film tourism campaign in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. Spectre is the third Bond film which they have partnered with from the Bond franchise. The ‘Bond is GREAT’ campaign will kick off across more than 60 countries to encourage 007 fans to choose Britain – the home of Bond – for their next holiday.

The campaign will be using a mix of outdoor billboards, print, digital, social media, and a global competition; as well as exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ footage from Spectre.
www.visitbritain.com/spectre

Sam Smith's ‘Writing's On The Wall’ has made history by becoming the first Bond theme to reach number one in the UK.

The track achieved combined chart sales and streams of 70,000 copies - 13,000 ahead of its closest competitor. The previous highest-charting Bond themes were Adele's ‘Skyfall’ and Duran Duran's ‘A View To A Kill’, which both reached number two.

Smith said he was “so proud” of the song and being number one was “crazy”. He told BBC Radio 1: “Out of all the songs I've brought out in my life, I was not expecting this to even chart in the top 10, let alone number one. It's unbelievable.”

Smith is the first solo male British act to perform the opening number for a James Bond film since 1965, when Tom Jones was heard over the credits for Thunderball. Smith's song, a mournful ballad, divided opinion when it was unveiled last week, with critics labelling it both “bland” and “beautiful”.

“When the song came out I was so nervous,” the singer said. “It's impossible to bring out a Bond song that pleases everyone. Everyone's had mixed reviews when they bring one out, but the charts don't lie and people seem to love it and enjoy it and that's just the most magical thing.”

‘Writing's On The Wall’ follows the success of Adele's ‘Skyfall’, which won a Grammy, an Oscar, a Brit Award and a Golden Globe.

Duran Duran's ‘A View To A Kill” reached number two on both sides of the Atlantic in 1985, while Paul McCartney and Wings’ ‘Live And Let Die’ only reached number seven. Shirley Bassey's ‘Goldfinger’, possibly the most famous Bond song, was the singer's biggest hit in the US, peaking at number eight - but it only reached 21 in the UK. 

Purchase CD      Download "Writing's On The Wall"

Watch the final trailer for Spectre. A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE.

The latest behind-the-scenes vlog from Spectre focuses on the action sequences. Director Sam Mendes says: “The tradition for Bond is always real stunts, real action, real explosions…”. While Special Effects Supervisor Chris Corbould adds, “It’s going to be a real rollercoaster ride.”

Spectre has been selected for The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund’s (CTBF) Royal Film Performance 2015. The World Premiere will be attended by Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and will take place on 26 October at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The World Premiere will also be attended by the film’s leading actors Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, David Bautista, Monica Bellucci, and Ralph Fiennes. The cast will also be joined on the red carpet by director Sam Mendes and producers Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli, vice patrons of the CTBF.

Producers Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli commented, “We are honoured that Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will attend the Royal Film Performance of Spectre and delighted the CTBF will be the beneficiary of the event.”

More details about the World Premiere will be announced in due course, but at this stage it is expected that tickets will not be available for general sale.

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