London, Jul 6 (IANS/RIA Novosti): A new exhibition exploring the famous James Bond theme opens in London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the most influential silver screen franchises of all times.

The exhibition Designing 007 - Fifty Years of Bond Style tells the inside story of the design and style of the 23 iconic films, featuring over 400 costumes, props, photos, set pieces and design drawings.

"The sets, costumes and gadgets are today considered equally as iconic as the man himself, and that's what we hope to illuminate," Barbican center co-curator Bronwyn Cosgrave told reporters on the eve of the Friday opening.

Highlights include costumes created by Armani, Gucci, Prada, Versace and other famous fashion designers for the six actors who have played Agent 007 as well as clothes designed for his adversaries and, of course, the 'Bond girls'.

The exhibition also showcases Scaramanga's "Golden Gun", Oddjob's deadly bowler hat and flick-knife shoes worn by Rosa Klebb's in "From Russia With Love".

"It is a vast array of different things. They are all themed in a world that gives you the feel of being in a Bond film," another Barbican co-curator, Lindy Hemming, said.

The show, which is a joint project of the Barbican Center and EON Productions, will run in London until Sep 5. It will then go on a three-year international tour starting in Toronto in October.

Another exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the famous spy saga has been running at the National Motor Museum in southern England since January. The Bond In Motion showcases 50 vehicles featured in James Bond action movies, including cars, boats, motorbikes, sleds, jets and more.

The James Bond movies are the longest continually-running film series in history, having been in ongoing production from 1962 to the present. The series has grossed over $5 billion to date.

The long-awaited new installment in the James Bond movie series, "Skyfall", is slated for release Oct 26 in Britain and Nov 9 in the US.