11 things you might not know about the James Bond films

• In "Dr No" Ursula Andress's voice was dubbed by Monica Vander Zyl because her Swiss accent was unacceptable. The casting director said she sounded like "a Dutch comedian".
• Noel Coward (Ian Fleming's Jamaican neighbour) was offered the role of Dr No. Coward's telegram read: "Dr No. No, no, no."
• In "Goldfinger" Gert Frobe's voice was dubbed by Michael Collins. Frobe knew little English. 
• Both he and Sean Connery were golf novices. Connery developed the love for the game during filming.
• In 1962, Ian Fleming's wife, Ann was having an affair with the then leader of the U.K. Labour Party, Hugh Gaitskell.
• Pussy Galore was nearly changed to Kitty Galore for the U.S. censors.
• "Diamonds are Forever" owes its plot about a kidnapped Las Vegas billionaire (Willard Whyte) to a dream producer Cubby Broccoli had about his friend, recluse Howard Hughes.
• Christopher Lee (Scaramanga in "The Man with the Golden Gun") was a cousin of Ian Fleming.
• Aston Martin was saved from near bankruptcy in 1964. Sales nearly doubled after the release of "Goldfinger". Thanks goes to Sir Ken Adam (the brilliant production designer) who plugged for Aston Martin instead of Lotus.
• The "Moonraker" title song was offered to Frank Sinatra, then Kate Bush before Shirley Bassey.
• "A View to a Kill" villain Max Zoran - David Bowie, then Sting were considered before Christopher Walken was cast.

I'm reading a great book about the James Bond franchise. The above trivia is from this book. With thanks:

"The Man with the Golden Touch" (2008) by Sinclair McKay