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

19. The Production Manager

From Russia With Love
MGM/UA

When the Orient Express reaches Zagreb in Croatia, which was then behind the Iron Curtain, SPECTRE killing machine, Donald “Red” Grant (Robert Shaw) intercepts James Bond’s contact, Captain Nash, who has been sent by M to assist Double-0 Seven following the untimely demise of the Head of Station T, Turkey, Ali Kerim Bey (Pedro Armendáriz).

A professional actor had been hired for the role of Nash, but declined to participate as he was not keen on the size of the production, so director, Terence Young gave the role to production manager, William Hill (credited as Bill Hill). The dialogue exchanged between Hill and Shaw is entirely masked by the sounds of the train and the surrounding station.

Ominously, Grant takes Nash into a cloakroom whilst donning the leather gloves that the audience has come to recognise as a sign that the killer is about to strike. He emerges alone mere seconds later, dressed as Nash and carrying his standard issue attaché case, leaving the audience to wonder just how the British agent met his untimely end.

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