20 Things You Didn't Know About From Russia With Love (1963)

20. A Very British Affair

Whereas Dr. No (1962) had focused on Jamaica as a primary setting, the filmmakers had hoped that From Russia With Love would be a showcase for Europe.

However, alongside the political tensions of the Cold War, which prevented filming behind the Iron Curtain, the film also needed to qualify for the British film funding available at the time to ensure that the production expenses could be met. In order to qualify, at least 70% of the film needed to be shot either in the UK or in the Commonwealth. Therefore, key overseas locations were filmed in the UK instead.

One prominent example is the gypsy camp. Whilst an actual gypsy encampment had been found in Topkapi in Turkey, the funding requirements led to it being recreated by production designer, Syd Cain on the backlot at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.

Other key sequences were also shot in the British Isles, making it remarkable to think that only 30% of the scenes in the finished film were actually shot in Istanbul, The Balkans, and Venice.