20 Things You Didn’t Know About Casino Royale (2006)

The death of Vesper Lynd is a small and sombre affair that closes Ian Fleming’s novel rather than the dramatic event in the film. In both versions, however, it is the key driving force behind Double-0 Seven’s decision to destroy the threat behind spies like Vesper.

Screenwriters, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade devised the sinking Venetian palazzo when they saw a television programme on the re-stabilising of the Leaning Tower of Pisa whilst it was supported by large airbags.

Based on an actual palazzo, the structure that James Bond chases Mr White’s henchman, Adolph Gettler (Richard Sammel) and his thugs into when they abduct Vesper was constructed inside the Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios, complete with an exterior piazza. A miniature that was one-third of the scale of the building was constructed by special and miniature effects supervisor, Chris Corbould in Pinewood’s Paddock Tank.

The full-sized set housed the largest rig that had ever been constructed for a Bond film, which was computer-controlled to simulate the shifting of the palazzo’s foundations as it sinks into the Grand Canal; it weighed 90 pounds. To ensure consistency, the same computer coordinated the sinking of the miniature as well.

The lift in which Vesper tragically drowns was also strictly regulated for health and safety reasons. It was immersed in 19 feet of water with a team of divers present to provide both Daniel Craig and Eva Green with oxygen.