20 Things You Didn't Know About From Russia With Love (1963)
12. A Hotbed Of Spies
The Orient Express has long fascinated both artists and art lovers alike, no doubt partly due to the work of writers like Dame Agatha Christie and Ian Fleming. As a result, the luxury train has gained a romantic reputation, not least as a vehicle of mystery, danger, and intrigue.
By the time that James Bond and Tania board the Orient Express with Kerim Bey, the tension in the film has become palpable.
Whilst the train featured in the Istanbul sequences was the Orient Express, the production moved far closer to home to film the train’s journey through The Balkans. The British Railways Board granted permission for the filmmakers to shoot some of the exterior train sequences in Argyll, Scotland, whilst Switzerland also played host to filming, due to the inability to film behind the Iron Curtain.
Regardless, the sequences set aboard the lavish train are one of the jewels in the film’s crown. Sadly, the Orient Express ceased operating in 2009, but Belmond Limited has kept the spirit of the experience alive by continuing to run the Venice-Simplon leg of the journey using authentic carriages from the original train.