The Da Vinci Code

Louvre curator Jacques Saunière is killed by Silas, an albino monk working for a mysterious Teacher. Captain Fache suspects Robert Langdon, who is in Paris for a lecture. Cryptologist Sophie Neveu, Saunière's granddaughter, helps Langdon escape. The two pull a cryptex from a Swiss bank and turn to historian Leigh Teabing, who argues that the Grail is Mary Magdalene, Jesus's wife. In London, Teabing is revealed as the Teacher and gets arrested. At Rosslyn, Sophie learns that Saunière was her protector and that she descends from Jesus. In the end, Langdon kneels above the Louvre's inverted pyramid, over Magdalene's tomb.

1. CameoDan Brown at the book signing

   The novel's author and his wife show up in Langdon's book-signing scene in Paris.

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2. Behind the scenesLincoln stands in for Westminster

   Westminster Abbey refused permission. The scenes at Isaac Newton's tomb were shot at Lincoln and Winchester cathedrals instead.

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3. CameoThe theory's authors ride the bus

   Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince, authors of The Templar Revelation, one of the Mary Magdalene books behind the plot, cameo as bus passengers.

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4. Behind the scenesThe Mona Lisa is a copy

   The Louvre allowed filming inside, but the crew couldn't light the real Mona Lisa. They used a replica.

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