HYDE PARK — James Bond is such an iconic cultural figure at this point that we know a ton about him: his archenemies, his coworkers, his favored car, his best outfit, even his signature drink.
But one mystery that remains about Bond is just how he is able to pull off everything he does: like jumping from a motorcycle onto an airplane (“Goldeneye”), utilizing a jetpack to make a quick airborne gataway (“Thunderball”) or using his Aston Martin to shoot out a group of assassins (“No Time to Die”).
Until now, that is. This week Chicago’s own Museum of Science and Industry opens “007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond,” a two-gallery temporary exhibit that is a feast of fun for Bond fans.
Developed by the MSI team in conjunction with Eon Productions, the British film production company that primarily produces the James Bond film series, as well as the Ian Fleming Foundation in Kankakee, Illinois, the exhibit features footage, props, interactives and a veritable fleet of Bond vehicles. The 90+ artifacts include at least one from every Bond film.
It also dives deep into the world-making of James Bond tech, like Q’s gadgets and various weaponry that were way ahead of their time.
“There were some earlier Bond exhibitions of a few of the vehicles and gadgets. But we wanted to put it all together into a bigger, overall story that connects to science and ingenuity,” explained John Llewellyn, MSI senior exhibit strategist and creative lead. “We had the opportunity to work with Eon Productions and the Ian Fleming Foundation, who are the creators and owners of all things Bond.”
Meg Simmonds, Eon archive director, stressed the new exhibit offers a fun way to display the concepts of science to young people. “It’s the first time we focused on the technical advancements that were introduced through the Bond films, the science behind the stunts, and the special effects.”
But that science was always a part of Bond filmmaking, Simmonds said. “From the very beginning, the producers wanted to base any of their fantastic ideas on science fact. And things that they introduced, like technology, is now common-place.”
“One of the great things about a lot of the Bond films is most of the effects are practical effects,” Llewellyn said. “You actually see physical things or miniatures at least on the screen, so the scenes age pretty well, compared to some of the early CGI.”
So when it comes to figuring out that “Goldeneye” leap from motorcycle to plane: “We have some interactive exhibits about how some of the car stunts are engineered because there’s all kinds of physics that goes into that,” Llewellyn said. “When Bond jumps off a cliff on a motorcycle and catches up with a Cessna-type airplane that’s in a dive because the pilot has passed out … and spoiler alert, he rescues the plane and gets out of there. Really, that whole thing completely violates all the laws of physics. So we’re showing how they made it work for a cinematic angle, learning that it took a lot of iteration and fiddling to get it to work.”
The exhibit also displays the real-life spy technology that inspired 007 world-building. “We also have a few real spy artifacts from the International Spy Museum, World War II snooping and concealing devices that are mixed in,” Llewellyn said. “So we bring that connection of the Bond fictional world together with the real world of espionage.”
Amazingly, Llewellyn said the exhibit came together in just over a year. “It was a little bit of a quick turnaround on this one. But we were so excited with the subject matter and everything and everybody was just really happy to push on it.”
Not that it was all smooth sailing, said Erik Andersen, MSI project manager of featured experiences and special programs. “We had some issues, like we were bringing cars in. And we realized, for example, the [Aston Martin] DB10, it’s so low, we weren’t able to get things [like casters] underneath it. So moving it around was a little bit of a challenge, but we were able to come up with a solution and get it in. But there were moments where you’re like, ‘I don’t know if this is gonna go on display.'”
There are so many fascinating things to view in the exhibit that even if you’re not the biggest Bond fan walking into the galleries, you likely will be by the time you walk out.
“We really want it to be for all ages, and everyone,” enthused Llewellyn. “Not just people who remember the first series of Bonds from you know, going back 60 years almost, but it is really an all-ages type scenario.”
And if you are a fan, you’ll have a blast spying props from your favorite action films, like the cello case Bond commandeered as a sled (“The Living Daylights”), a now vintage-appearing safe-cracking device (“On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”) or shoes sporting blades that one villain used as a weapon (“From Russia with Love”).
But every Bond aficionado is bound to have their preferred item in “007 Science.” Andersen enthused, “My favorite artifact is Jaws’ teeth [from “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “Moonraker”]. Being a kid, I didn’t understand that those weren’t real. I thought this man had metal teeth, and he’s a monster. So seeing that brought the illusion and the movie-making together for me.”
“007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond” opens Thursday at the Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The exhibit requires an additional admission ticket. Special evening hours for “007 Science” are available on March 23, 24, 28 and April 5. More information is available on the Museum of Science and Industry website.
Support Local News!
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Already subscribe? Click here to gift a subscription, or you can support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:
