007 Event: Report: London Film Fair November 2017 (11 November 2017)

What: London Film Fair November 2017
Where: Central Hall Westminster, Storey's Gate, London, England
When: 11 November 2017
Tickets: £5



When we were about to leave Finland, Pirita noticed at the last minute in the airport that there is London Film Fair in London on same weekend when we are there.

On Saturday morning we took a taxi and drove to Central Hall Westminster, where is a Methodist church, but also a conference center where the London Film Fair was already ongoing.

We bought tickets worth of  £5 per person and soon we were in. We walked around the area and quickly spotted our first target! Caroline Munro, best known as Naomi in "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977). Even though 007 (Roger Moore) shoots her down with her helicopter in the films, luckily she seemed to be very much alive :) We went to say hello and gave her #Suomi100 chocolates, which are made in honour of Finland's 100 years of independence (2017), that we brought from Finland. She autographed her photo from the film and we took pics with her.

Caroline Munro and Pirita / 007 Travelers

Mika / 007 Travelers and Caroline Munro

Then we moved ahead and we had also a present to Martine Beswick, who has been in two 007 films. She was Paula Caplan in "Thunderball" (1965) and a gypsy dancer Zora in "From Russia with Love" (1963). Martine told us that she had visited Helsinki, Finland once and she would love to come back one day. We also bought her picture with autograph and took photos with her too.

Martine Beswick and Pirita / 007 Travelers

Mika / 007 Travelers and Martine Beswick

There was still one Bond girl to see... little more unknown to the Bond world... Caron Gardner had just a minor role in one of Pussy Galore's Flying Circus pilots in "Goldfinger" (1964), but she had also appeared in four episodes of "The Saint" series with Roger Moore and starred also in many other movies. Caron said to Pirita that she has a lovely hair. We also got her autograph with photos.

Caron Gardner and Pirita / 007 Travelers

Mika / 007 Travelers and Caron Gardner

There was plenty of people selling different kind of items, like posters, books, albums etc. and there were many other film stars as guests selling their autographs and saying hello to their fans.

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007 Item: Photo of Caroline Munro (Naomi) with autograph and dedication

007 Item: Photo of Caroline Munro (Naomi) with autograph and dedication

Caroline Munro's autograph, dedicated to 007 Travelers.

She plays Bond girl Naomi in "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977).

Caroline Munro (Naomi) and Roger Moore (James Bond) in
"The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977)

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Bond girl: Naomi

Photo © EON, United Artists, Danjaq LLC

Bond girl: Naomi

007 Film: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Actress: Caroline Munro

Bond connection: Naomi is the personal helicopter pilot/assistant to shipping magnate Karl Stromberg. 

Naomi is Karl Stromberg's helicopter pilot, personal assistant and trusted subordinate, based at Atlantis, working to suit his every command. The young brunette is first introduced escorting Professor Beckman and Dr. Markovitz into the Atlantis dining room to meet Stromberg, before exiting, leaving the three men to discuss business.

Later, when Bond and KGB agent Anya Amasova are dispatched to Sardinia, posing as marine biologists, Naomi arrives by boat at their hotel wearing nothing more than a bikini, high heels, a transparent coat and a pair of sunglasses, raising eyebrows from both Bond and his accomplice for very different reasons. Greeting the pair in a friendly manner, Naomi introduces herself, telling both Bond and Anya (under aliases) that she is to collect them and take them to Atlantis to meet Stromberg personally. When Bond offers Naomi a drink she politely declines informing the him that Stromberg is a very busy man and that they should make tracks. Upon watching Naomi head over towards the boat, Bond comments on Naomi's figure, making Anya jealous and bitter of their host.

During the boat journey to Atlantis, Bond and Naomi playfully flirt with one another, enraging Anya even more. Arriving at the base, Bond decides to meet Stromberg alone, asking Naomi to stay with his "wife", showing her around the base which she agrees too. Before he departs, Naomi manages to tell Bond a little more about Stromberg.

After his uncomfortable meeting with Stromberg, Bond finds Naomi and Anya beside a model of the Liparus: the latest edition to the Stromberg fleet. Naomi continues to demonstrate her vast knowledge, trying to impress Bond, but Anya proves her wrong on her fact about the ship being the largest carrier in the world, much to Naomi's frustration. Meanwhile, Stromberg, knowing the true identities of Bond and Anya orders Jaws to kill them once ashore.

While driving along Sardinia's coastal roads several attempts are made to kill Bond and Anya. There is a failed attempt by the motorcycle assassin, followed by Jaws and his henchmen trying to machine gun then from another car. After Jaws' car runs off the road, a helicopter appears, chasing the car. As the helicopter comes from behind the cliff, it tries to gun down Bond's Lotus Esprit. After a short while, it flies alongside the car, where to Bond's surprise, he sees Naomi piloting it; much to a look of resentment from Anya. Bond nods at her, and Naomi responds with a sultry wink, a wave and begins shooting once again.

In a game of cat and mouse, Naomi chases Bond across the highways of Sardinia until he comes to a port which he immediately drives off into the water. Naomi hovers overhead and smiles, believing she's won. Unbeknownst to her, however, the Lotus is a submersible, meaning she's unable to see it when she's trying to look into the sea. Taking aim, Bond assures Anya it's time to "say goodbye to an uninvited guest" before firing a surface-to-air missile that blows Naomi out of the sky.

See more BOND GIRLS AND OTHER LADIES IN 007 FILMS here