In the final sequence of ‘Casino Royal’, Mr White (Jesper Christensen) drove through the gate into his estate. He got out of his Jaguar and stood at the edge of the lake. When his phone rang, he answered it. Immediately after asking the question “Who is this?”, he was shot in the leg. He crawled to the stone steps, where James Bond (Daniel Craig) was already waiting for him. He introduced himself by saying, “My name is Bond, James Bond.”
The sequence was filmed on the grounds of the estate, at the center of which stands Villa La Gaeta. at Como Lake, Italy. It is located in San Siro, halfway along Italy’s Lake Como, on its western shore.
Villa La Gaeta at Lake Como.
Daniel Craig saying ‘My name is Bond, James Bond’ for the first time was filmed there on June 1st in 2006.
Villa La Gaeta at Lake Como.Villa La Gaeta at Lake Como.The entrance gate to the estate. The Villa La Gaeta is visible in the background.
Opposite the entrance gate to the estate stands an information board stating that scenes for ‘Casino Royale’ were filmed there.
Information board in front of the entrance to the Villa La Gaeta.The path leading to the villa from the main entrance.View of Lake Como from the garden.Garden by the Villa La Gaeta.
After a night spent with Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) in Matera (‘No Time to Die’ in Matera, Italy. Part 1: Arrival), James Bond (Daniel Craig) set out at dawn for the cemetery. He crossed the stone viaduct and headed towards a small stone building to ask about the location of Vesper’s tomb. He was taken there by cemetery attendant (Pio Amato).
In the film it is supposed to be in Sassi do Matera, but in reality there is no such viaduct there. This film sequence was shot at the Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia, about 25 km northeast of Matera. This bridge connects the town Gravina in Puglia with the archaeological park of Botromagno in Gravina (Parco Archeologico di Botromagno).
The Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia.The Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia.The Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia.
To give the viewer the impression that it was the same location, the Gravina in Puglia viaduct was computer-added to the shots from Matera, and a digitally added panorama of Sassi di Matera appeared in the background of the shots with the viaduct.
On the other side of the bridge there is the archaeological park of Botromagno in Gravina. On the rocky ground, several tombs and the small stone house were built for the film.
The archaeological park of Botromagno in Gravina and Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella.
Daniel Craig was seen on a film set in the archaeological park of Botromagno in Gravina on September 20th 2019.
The archaeological park of Botromagno in Gravina.
The scene at the Vesper’s tomb was filmed a few days later on a plateau separated from the Sassi di Matera by a rocky ravine at the bottom of which flows the Torrente Gravina river. The plateau is located within the Chiese Rupestri del Materano (della Murgia Materana) Archaeological Park. The meadow where the Vesper’s tomb and several others in its immediate vicinity were built for the film is located near Madonna delle Vergini church (see in the gallery below the article).
Now there are no traces of the film set there, only grass. It is worth going there because of the beautiful view of the ravine and Sassi di Matera, and above all to visit the prehistoric caves.
Plateau in the Chiese Rupestri del Materano Archaeological Park overlooking Sassi di Matera – exact location of the cemetery with Vesper’s tomb.View of the Torrente Gravina river into the rocky ravine and Sassi di Matera on the other side. View of the Torrente Gravina river into the rocky ravine and Sassi di Matera on the other side.
After the explosions, James Bond ran towards the hotel. He passed a stone house abandoned by a cemetery assistant and ran onto a viaduct. The entire sequence after the explosion, just like the one before, was filmed in Gravina in Puglia.
The archaeological park of Botromagno in Gravina and Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella.
Halfway across the viaduct, he stopped and glared at the cemetery attendant. At the same moment, bandits in a Maserati Quattroporte drove onto the viaduct from the opposite side and shot at him. A moment later, Primo (Dali Benssalah) joined them on the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE.
Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE at ‘Bond in Motion’ exhibition in Prague, Czech Republic in 2023.The Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia. View from halfway along the viaduct towards the town.Eastern side of the viaduct – from the town side. Here the cemetery attendant was filmed turning towards Bond.
Bond avoided being run over by a car by hiding behind a stone wall. There are stone pillars on the viaduct (see the photo below), but they are too small for a person to fit behind them. They had to be added for the film production, just like the ropes along the barrier that 007 used to jump from the viaduct.
The Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia.
Bond jumped off the viaduct and then ran through the narrow, dark corridors.
The Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia.The Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia.
While filming in Gravina in Puglia, Daniel Craig stayed at the B&B Sul Ponte, which is located a few steps from the Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella.
B&B Sul Ponte in Gravina in Puglia.
The exit from the corridor was filmed in Sassi do Matera. Daniel Craig ran out through the wooden door, which can be seen in the two photos below.
He stopped, looked around and ran up the stone steps.
The Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia.The archaeological park of Botromagno in Gravina in Puglia.The archaeological park of Botromagno in Gravina in Puglia.Gravina in PugliaThe Ponte Acquedotto Madonna della Stella in Gravina in Puglia (on the left).The archaeological park of Botromagno in Gravina in Puglia.Gravina in PugliaEastern side of the viaduct – from the town side.Participants of the Milan-Taranto 2022 motorcycle race in Piazza Benedetto XIII in Gravina in Puglia.Sassi di Matera. A view from the Plateau in the Chiese Rupestri del Materano Archaeological Park.The church of Our Lady of the Virgin’s (Madonna delle Vergini) in the Chiese Rupestri del Materano Archaeological Park. The Chiese Rupestri del Materano Archaeological Park.
In ‘Live and Let Die’ James Bond (Roger Moore) arrived to New York, USA. After landing, he left the airport and got into the car waiting for him. While driving, he received a call from Felix Leiter from the CIA. On a multi-lane road in Manhattan, a white Cadillac approached the car carrying agent 007 and fired a fatal shot. Bond’s chauffeur died, and 007 had difficulty controlling the driverless car.
New York scenes were the last shot for the film. It was March 1973, less than 3 months before the premiere, when the film crew arrived to NYC.
The car chase was filmed on East River Drive on Sunday, when street closures caused the least disruption. The day they were filming the car chase, the management from United Artists came to the film set to see how the film was made. Director Guy Hamilton told them: ‘You won’t really see anything. Why don’t you ride in one of the cars?’. He made sure they were in the car that would be bashed and they didn’t know about it. He later recalled with laughter that they were pale when they got out of the car.
East River Drive at East River in New York.East River Drive at East River in New York.
The location of Leiter’s headquarters was shown in a short establishing shot filmed from South Street looking into Wall Street.
The Wall Street pictured from South Street.
The car crashed at East River Drive near the Manhattan bridge.
East River Drive at East River in New York.
James Bond took a taxi to the ‘Oh Cult Voodoo Shop’. Through its back room he entered the underground garage, where he found the white Cadillac in which the killer had previously driven. Suddenly, a group of people entered the garage, including Solitaire (Jane Seymour) and Tee Hee Johnson (Julius Harris). Bond secretly watched them get into the car and drive to the elevator. A moment later, he ran out into the street and hailed a taxi, which he followed after the departing car. The route led through Central Park to the ‘Fillet of Soul’ restaurant in Harlem.
The shop was filmed at 33 East 65th Street in New York. For 50 years this film location has not changed much.
33 East 65th Street in New York.33 East 65th Street in New York.
The villains car drove out of the gate next to the store at 33 East 65th Street. Behind the gate there is actually a garage where the movie scenes were filmed.
Exit gate from the underground car park.
Bond entered the garage through the door which now reads: ELEVATOR MOTOR ROOM”. As you can see in the photos below, the interior of the garages looks almost identical to what it looked like 50 years ago. To enter the garage you still have to use the elevator.
Interior of the underground parking lot.Interior of the underground parking lot.An elevator that carries cars into and out of the underground car park.Exit gate from the underground car park.A street through the middle of Central Park.
The ‘Fillet of Soul’ restaurant that Bond went to in the film, was located at Lenox Avenue in Harlem. In reality the fake facade of the restaurant was built for filming at the corner of 2nd Avenue and 94th Street. The fight scene in Harlem was shot at 118th Street.
Thank you James H. for showing me the film location.
Wollman Rink in Central Park.Madison Street, Lower Manhattan.Lower ManhattanManhattan BridgeRockefeller CenterTimes SquareFinancial DistrictManhattan by night1 World Trade CenterTimes SquareTimes SquareLower ManhattanTimes Square1 World Trade Center between buildings.
After visiting M’s house (John Barry’s apartment in London as M’s home in ‘Skyfall’), James Bond (Daniel Craig) decided to return to active duty. Accompanied by Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear) he headed for an MI6 underground safe house in Range Rover Vogue SE. To return to duty, Bond had to undergo physical, medical and psychological test.
The entrance to the underground facility was filmed on a winding road down to Smithfield Car Park. It is located next to the Smithfield Meat Market.
Smithfield Market in front of the entrance to the Smithfield Car Park.
In the film, the entrance gate was guarded by a guard with a gun. In fact, it is a public parking lot with a barrier.
Entrance to the Smithfield Car Park.
The scene at the Smithfield Market was filmed on January 28th 2012. A specially prepared Range Rover Vogue SE was used for this purpose. The stunt driver drove the car from the roof of the vehicle and Daniel Craig looking through the window was filmed with a camera attached to a special rig mounted outside the car.
The cobblestone paved road from the entrance to the Smithfield Car Park to the entrance to the underground car park forms an almost complete circle around the Smithfield Rotunda Garden with the Peace Memorial Fountain in the middle.
Smithfield Rotunda Garden with Peace Memorial Fountain in the middle surrounded by the road down to the underground parking lot.Smithfield Rotunda Garden with Peace Memorial Fountain in the middle surrounded by the road down to the underground parking lot.Smithfield Rotunda Garden.Entrance to the underground garage.
The tunnel ride was filmed in a different location. When you enter the underground parking lot, the tunnel that appears before your eyes is not like the one shown in the movie.
Interior of the underground car park.
The underground MI6 facility was filmed at Pinewood Studios and the Old Vic Tunnels in London. The House of Vans London located in the Old Vic Tunnels was the place where Bond’s physical skills evaluation was filmed.
Unfortunately the House of Vans London closed its doors in December 2022, so you can no longer see the interiors known from the film. I got there in February 2023, so I was just too late to see this place.
Real filming locations together with screens of scenes filmed in these places. Film scene on top and my location photo at the bottom.
– 33 East 65th Street in New York, USA. Read the story behind the scene: ‘Live and Let Die’ in New York. (location photo: 2025)– East 65th Street in New York, USA. Read the story behind the scene: ‘Live and Let Die’ in New York. (location photo: 2025)– 33 East 65th Street in New York, USA. Read the story behind the scene: ‘Live and Let Die’ in New York. (location photo: 2025)– Parking at 65th Street in New York, USA. Read the story behind the scene: ‘Live and Let Die’ in New York. (location photo: 2025)– 33 East 65th Street in New York, USA. Read the story behind the scene: ‘Live and Let Die’ in New York. (location photo: 2025)– 33 East 65th Street in New York, USA. Read the story behind the scene: ‘Live and Let Die’ in New York. (location photo: 2025)– East 65th Street in New York, USA. Read the story behind the scene: ‘Live and Let Die’ in New York. (location photo: 2025)
At the end of opening sequence in ‘Skyfall’ James Bond (Daniel Craig) was shot. He fell into the river and disappeared. He was presumed dead, but suddenly appeared in London and surprised M (Judi Dench) in her apartment.
M returned home late in the evening. It was raining heavily. She entered the apartment and saw Bond waiting for her in the dark.
The scene with M returning home was filmed at Cadogan Square in London in February 2012. Special rain-maker rig was used to create an artificial torrential downpour.
Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge, London SW1
The exterior of M’s apartment was filmed at 82 Cadogan Square. This address was actually the home of famous composer John Barry.
82 Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge, London SW1
John Barry is very well known to all James Bond fans. He provided the musical scores for the following 11 Bond films: ‘From Russia with Love‘, ‘Goldfinger‘, ‘Thunderball‘, ‘You Only Live Twice‘, ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service‘, ‘Diamonds are Forever‘, ‘The Man with the Golden Gun‘, ‘Moonraker‘, ‘Octopussy‘, ‘A View to a Kill‘ and ‘The Living Daylights‘. In addition Barry is known for his jazz arrangement of famous ‘James Bond Theme’ from ‘Dr. No’.
82 Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge, London SW1Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge, London SW1
After an evening swim in the sea James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux) in Aston Martin DB5 took the scenic road at the seaside. They drove out of the tunnel straight onto Sassi di Matera that is a historic part of the city of Matera.
Sassi di Matera by night. View from Via D’Addozio at Convent of Saint Agostino.
The end of the tunnel was built just for filming on the street Via D’Addozio next to Convent of Saint Agostino.
Exact location of the fake tunnel. Via D’Addozio next to Convent of Saint Agostino Sassi di Matera. The tunnel was built above that part of the street.
Aston Martin db5 drove out of the tunnel straight onto a viewpoint overlooking the city. You can notice in the film that the barrier at the viewpoint was covered so it looked like a stone wall.
Viewpoint at Via D’Addozio next to the Convent of Saint Agostino Sassi di Matera.
Standing at the viewpoint you can see the difference between the real view and the one shown in the movie. There was some CGI used to create it. In the film you can see a stone bridge against the background of the hills to the left of the city. The bridge was filmed in Gravina in Puglia and pasted into the view of Sassi di Matera.
View from Via D’Addozio at Sassi di Matera.
James Bond parked the car in the city center. He and Madeleine Swann walked slowly up the stairs to the hotel.
The scene where Bond and Madeleine got out of the car was filmed at Via Bruno Buozzi at the intersection with Rione Pianelle, just a few steps from Piazza San Pietro Caveoso.
Via Bruno Buozzi at the intersection with Rione Pianelle in Sassi di Matera.
The next scene where the couple was walking to the hotel was filmed at via Muro.
Via Muro in Sassi di Matera.Via Muro in Sassi di Matera.
At night Madeleine Swann went out onto the hotel balcony.
For that scene part of the hotel including front wall and the balcony was built at Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli. It is one of the most popular viewpoints in Sassi di Matera. If you stand there, you will see exactly the same view as Madeleine.
View from Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli.View from Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli.View from Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli.
Fake hotel room was built on scaffolding so that it was at the level of the square Piazzetta Pascoli. If you look down from the viewpoint, you will see the place where the scaffolding was set up.
Location of the fake hotel at Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli viewpoint.
In that footage of the Italian TV you can see how the hotel was built:
The film crew was working in Sassi di Matera in September 2019.
‘Bond, James Bond’ – that’s how 007 introduced himself to Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson) at the beginning of ‘Dr. No’. They were playing card game Chemin De Fer (Baccarat) at Le Cercle at the Les Ambassadeurs Club in London.
The Club was established at the beginning of 19th Century. In 1950 Les Ambassadeurs Club was relocated to No. 5 Hamilton Place in the Mayfair area of London. Gaming club Le Cercle was opened to members of Les Ambassadeurs only in May 1961.
– A sign with an inscription ‘Les Ambassadeurs Casino’ on the gate in front of the entrance to the Club.
The sequence was filmed on March 2nd 1962 but not in the Les Ambassadeurs Club. Ken Adams recreated its interior at the Pinewood Studios located in the village of Iver Heath near London.
– Entrance to the Les Ambassadeurs Club at No. 5 Hamilton Place in London.– Les Ambassadeurs Club at No. 5 Hamilton Place in London.– Entrance to the Les Ambassadeurs Club at No. 5 Hamilton Place in London.
In ‘Casino Royale’ James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) sailed to Venice in Italy. They stayed at a hotel overlooking the St. Mark’s Square.
In reality there is no such place. The lobby of the luxury hotel in Venice was filmed inside the Historical Building of the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic.
– Grand hall of the Historical Building of National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic.
The entrance to the Historical Building of the museum is located on the upper part of the Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí 68). It is called Historical in distinction from the New Building that belongs to Museum Complex of the National Museum as well.
– The Historical Building of the National Museum on the upper end of Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) in Prague, Czech Republic.
The scene with Bond and Vesper walking together to the exit door of the hotel was filmed at the main entrance to the museum. You can access this area without buying tickets.
– Entrance hall at the museum. Main entrance door on the left side of the photo, behind columns. Entrance to the grand hall on the right side of the photo. In the film the reception desk was located at the stairs on the opposite side of the hall, in the middle of the photo.– View from the entrance to the museum towards the grand hall.
To enter the grand hall you need to purchase a ticket to the museum. You can find ticket prices and opening hours on the official website of the museum.
You can recognize this location also from other movies such as: ‘Mission Impossible’ (1996), ‘From Hell’ (2001), ‘EuroTrip’ (2004), or ‘The Omen’ (2006).
In “The Living Daylights” James Bond (Timothy Dalton) helped KGB General Georgi Koskov (Jeroen Krabbé) to escape from Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. Koskov was smuggled in pipeline across the border to Austria and then taken to UK by military aircraft. After completing the mission Bond returned to MI6 headquarters in London, UK.
In a short establishing shot the entrance to the laboratory of Q was shown. It was Malaysia House at Trafalgar Square in London, UK. There was a sign above the entrance saying “Universal Exports LTD”.
– Malaysia House at 57 Trafalgar Square in London, UK.
When you visit this place you can see Tourism Malaysia logo instead of “Universal Exports”
– Malaysia House and Uganda House next to it.
Currently in Malaysia House there is a Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board. Prior to that the Malaysian High Commission was located in the building.
