An alternative ending to a classic James Bond film has emerged – and it would have been the end for Sean Connery’s iteration of the character.
From Russia With Love remains a highly regarded entry in the series, and sees Connery continue on in the 007 role.
Connery would go on to make Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice, but it all could’ve ended with From Russia with Love if this other ending was used.
Tom Mason, a postgraduate research student in Film Theory and History at Newcastle University, recently shared recreated footage of the ending on X. It shows Bond, M and Q dying in an explosion.
He also shared an excerpt from The Complete James Bond Movie Encyclopedia, which confirmed From Russia with Love editor Peter Hunt tricked director Terence Young with a frightening edit of the film during a screening.
The excerpt reads: “During the screening, when Bond attempts to properly open the briefcase using Q’s instructions, Hunt cut in a sequence where there is an actual explosion obliterating Bond, M, and Q, all in one blast. According to Hunt, it gave Young quite a start and, of course, kept everyone in stitches for days.”
Following the explosion, the footage shows ending credits. “The end” appears on screen at first, followed by “not quite the end”, before “just kidding he’s dead”.
Though the edit obviously did not make it into the final film, it has since been described as “the jumpscare to end all jumpscares” by one Bond fan on X.
The clip of the explosion came from leftover footage from the first Bond film, Dr No. Mason recreated the ending using a clip from The World is Not Enough, but the original version has unfortunately been lost.
One confused X user asked him: “I can’t believe I’m asking this. Is the story true and this is a reimagining of the special edit? Or is everything I read on this awful platform a lie?” To which he replied: “Haha don’t worry, the story is true – I just used a clip from The World is Not Enough when remaking it.”
