Show spills Bond's secrets

Called Bond, James Bond, it explores the Bond films through an collection of original 007 objects, images, concept drawings, storyboards and costume designs.

Sara Milne of the Science Museum, said it was exploring a "major cultural force".

She added: "The aim of the exhibition is to show how the Bond films are constructed and how they have endured over four decades."

The interactive exhibition includes props such as Rosa Klebb's flick-knife shoe and Oddjob's killer bowler hat.

Barbara Broccoli, producer of the 007 films, said: "For 40 years the James Bond films have brought excitement and glamour from exotic locations to audiences around the world, making 007 one of the best-recognised and most popular characters ever created."

On display
Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger
Goldfinger's 1937 Phantom III Rolls Royce
Q boat which leapt out of the MI6 building in The World Is Not Enough
BMW Z8 sawn in half at the finale of The World Is Not Enough

A 20th Bond movie, Die Another Day, starring Pierce Brosnan as 007 opens later this year.

The exhibition is constructed around a typical Bond narrative.

It begins in the Cold War era that gave rise to Ian Fleming's character. Visitors will then travel through the gun barrel tunnel from the film's opening titles.

They will receive a briefing, in M's office, then discover the ingenuity of Q's gadget workshop, as well as encounter Bond's deadliest adversaries.

The exhibition organisers say it promises to show how an "extraordinary blend of science, art and action" keeps Bond coming back.

Martin Lenton, curator of the show, said there was legitimate science behind some parts of the exhibition.

"Essentially a lot of it is fantasy technology to inspire the viewer but there are a few notable exceptions.

"In 1963's From Russia With Love one of the early scenes featured a car phone. At the time that was a radical departure.

"In Goldfinger Bond seemed to have an in-car radar, which seemed fantastically impressive for the day. Now we have GPS and in-car navigation as standard."