01. Future Cave
Ken Adam was responsible for the Blofeld volcanic cave. The British production designer, who died in 2016, was born in Berlin. His family fled with him from the Nazis in 1934. Klaus Hugo, as Ken was born, was 13 at the time. Adam was a Bond specialist and worked on various film sets up to and including “Moonraker” from 1979. In addition to the Bond volcano, his best-known work is the “War Room” from Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove” (1964).
02. Comic character
With Donald Pleasence’s portrayal of Blofeld, the first villain caricature from the Bond universe was created. Eye patch, monotonous communist suit and cat on his arm, a model for Mike Myers’ clownish “Dr. Evil”.
03. Macho deluxe
“Twice” was Sean Connery’s fifth Bond, and he hadn’t actually had any interest in the secret agent since the fourth, “Fireball” in 1965. What his fans interpret as cynicism or harshness in the portrayal may actually be a lack of commitment. In any case, Bond as a macho man comes into his own in this film. Bond is massaged by several Japanese women and is told: “In Japan, men come first, then women” – 007: “I could retire here.”
04. Eternal hit
Nancy Sinatra sings the beautiful title track “You Only Live Twice” composed by John Barry. She was only second choice – the producers actually wanted her father, Frank Sinatra. The song made its comeback in 1998 as the melody quote in Robbie Williams’ single “Millenium”. The song also features prominently in the season finale of the fifth season of “Mad Men”. “You only live twice” sounds, and the viewer suspects that Don Draper is about to commit adultery.
05. German star in Hollywood
With Karin Dor, real name Kätherose Derr, who died on November 6, 2017, Germany had its first female star in a Bond film. A bad Bond girl. She has the role name “Helga Brandt”, which seems typically Germanic at the time. Helga is supposed to kill 007, but ends up dying herself. As a failure, she ends up in a pool full of piranhas.
06. Big In Japan
“You Only Live Twice” is considered the first major production to be set in Japan and the first Bond production to be set in just one country. The film team spent weeks on the road finding the locations. The director, the producer, the set designer and the cameraman jumped the gun: Because Lewis Gilbert, Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman, Ken Adam and Freddie Young took the opportunity to watch another ninja fight, They rebooked their return flight.
The Boeing they were originally supposed to be in hit turbulence 25 minutes after takeoff and crashed into Mount Fuji. All 124 people on board were killed. So the “You Only Live Twice” crew escaped with horror.
07. Roald Dahl
It is said that the British writer (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “The BFG”) wanted to make fun of the spy series with his script. What is certain is that a coup was achieved with Dahl as screenwriter – and he was given a lot of freedom in the implementation of Ian Fleming’s weak literary original. He brought color and exoticism to “You Only Live Twice”: the volcano came from him, Blofeld the cat. Bond went pop.
Another requirement from the producers, effortlessly implemented by the author: “Three women as love interest “You only live twice.”
08. Masquerade ball
During his investigation, Bond disguises himself as a Japanese man. It doesn’t seem quite as racist as Christopher Lee in the role of Fu Manchu, but Connery looks embarrassing with a wig and eyebrows that obscure his eyes.
09. Up In The Air
The secret star of the film is Little Nellie. The one-man portable helicopter is actually flyable as a single-engine machine. But can the thing actually carry all the weapons – rocket launchers, flamethrowers, mines, machine guns?
10. Royal Assistance
1967’s You Only Live Twice was to be the first Bond film in which the Queen would attend the premiere in London’s Leicester Square. Since then, a British royal has been in the audience at every 007 premiere. The secret agent has become a national treasure.
11. The poem
The film title comes from a poem by the poet Matsuo Basho, which is read to Bond in the novel: “You only live twice. Once you are born. And once you look death in the face.”