Tags
007, Acrostar, Behind the Scenes, Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie, Cold War, filming location, Germany, James Bond, James Bond location, Kurfürstendamm, movie location, Octopussy
James Bond visited Berlin in “Octopussy”. The filming began in 1982 during Cold War, when the city was divided with the Berlin Wall. The film crew didn’t get a permission to enter East Berlin therefore they were working in West Berlin only. They left „007 WAS HERE OCTOPUSSY” sign on the wall.
James Bond arriveed to Berlin from India. He was sitting with M in a Mercedes driving on Kurfürstendamm street. He got from M new ID in order to get into East Germany. There was Kaiser Wilhelm Church seen in background (see photos below).
In the next picture I managed to capture double-decker bus parked on the Kurfürstendamm street almost in the same place as similar bus in the film scene.
In the next scene (that was filmed as the first one, on August 10th 1982) they arrived at Checkpoint Charlie, best known crossing point between West Berlin and East Berlin during Cold War. Currently the building at Checkpoint Charlie is a tourist attraction.
M got out of the car. James Bond entered East Berlin. The camera showed close the sign warning that you were about to leave the American Sector of Berlin written in four languages. Currently there is a replica of the sign (see photo below).
The film crew didn’t get a permission to go through the Checkpoint Charlie so the car with Roger Moore had to turn around in no man’s land and return to West Berlin. Nowadays everybody can freely walk around that place.
Very close to Checkpoint Charlie there is a BACK-FACTORY CAFE with “Octopussy” memorabilia. A model of Acrostar BD-5J Micro Jet known from pre-credits is hanging from the ceiling.
There are also many film posters and photos from “Octopussy” on the wall.
Sources:
– Inside „Octopussy”. An Original Documentary. Directed by John Cork, United Artists Corporation and Danjaq, LLC, 2000
– Octopussy Audio Commentary, Octopussy Special Edition, Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation, 2006