20 Things You Didn't Know About From Russia With Love (1963)
15. The Making Of Another Career In Espionage Films
Polish actor, Vladek Sheybal is well-known for appearing in numerous spy movies, having featured in such films as Casino Royale (1967), Billion Dollar Brain (1967), Puppet on a Chain (1971), and The Jigsaw Man (1984). However, his illustrious Peter Lorre-style career in spy films may never have happened had he not starred in From Russia With Love first.
Sheybal was initially hesitant when he was offered the role of SPECTRE Number Five, Kronsteen who, like his namesake in Ian Fleming’s novel, was responsible for devising the scheme against Bond and MI6. From his perspective, even though this was only the second Double-0 Seven film, it was clearly becoming a popular film franchise and he was afraid of being typecast; he was likely right, as he often appears in sinister roles in spy films of the era.
However, Vladek Sheybal was also friends with Sean Connery, who had originally recommended him for the role and who persuaded him to portray Kronsteen, thus making the Polish actor’s film career!
Moreover, whilst Kronsteen did not get his comeuppance in the novel, in the film, Ernst Stavro Blofeld memorably ensured that Sheybal would not be signed up to a multi-film deal as Kronsteen...