Rev. Moon and his 007 connection

Terence Young

Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church, has died at age 92. His obituaries make for interesting reading for a number of reasons, but we’re noting it because of his James Bond connection.

That connection? Well, as the Deadline entertainment Web site notes, the Unification Church financed 1981’s Inchon, which was a big critical and financial bomb. The film told the story behind one of the key battles of the Korean War and was directed by Terence Young, who helmed three of the first four James Bond movies.

Paul Scrabo’s “Bond Memories” video series noted a number of 007 connections in the cast, including Gabriele Ferzetti and (probably) Rik Van Nutter. The video also has some behind-the-scenes footage:

Also, in “Bond Vivant,” a John Cork-directed documentary that’s an extra on 007 DVDs, actress Luciana Paluzzi describes how Young took a quick break from filming Inchon to give her away at her wedding. Paluzzi, of course, was the femme fatale in Thunderball, Young’s last 007 movie.