You Only Live Twice

An American spacecraft is swallowed in orbit by an unknown ship, and the U.S. blames the Soviets. MI6 suspects something in Japan. Bond fakes his death in Hong Kong, is buried at sea and travels to Tokyo, where he works with agent Aki and Tiger Tanaka, head of the Japanese secret service. The trail leads to an island with a volcano. Aki is poisoned in Bond's place. He trains with ninjas, poses as a Japanese fisherman and enters a cover marriage with diver Kissy Suzuki. Inside the volcano sits SPECTRE's base, run by Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who finally shows his face. Bond frees the captured astronauts, destroys the rocket before war breaks out, and the base blows up. Blofeld gets away.

1. Behind the scenesWritten by Roald Dahl

   The author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory wrote the script. He thought Fleming's novel was weak, kept only four or five elements and created characters like Aki and Helga Brandt.

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2. Behind the scenesThe flight the crew skipped

   In March 1966, part of the crew canceled BOAC Flight 911 back to London to watch a ninja demonstration. The plane crashed 25 minutes after takeoff, killing everyone aboard.

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3. Behind the scenesThe Blofeld who wasn't scary

   Czech actor Jan Werich was cast first but came across as a kindly Father Christmas. Donald Pleasence took over and came up with the eye scar that became the villain's trademark.

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