‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ in Oxford

30 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in Oxford, Tomorrow Never Dies

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007, England, filming location, James Bond location, movie location, New College, Oxford, Tomorrow Never Dies, UK

In ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) visited Professor Inga Bergstrom (Cecilie Thomsen) at Oxford University. While they were together Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 was parked in the courtyard.

The car was filmed at the courtyard at the entrance to the New College Oxford from Holywell Street.

Oxford, UK — *The entrance to the New College Oxford and its courtyard where Aston Martin db5 was filmed.*

Source:
– Tomorrow Never Dies Audio Commentary, Tomorrow Never Dies Special Edition, Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation, 2006

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‘Casino Royale’ in Barrandov Studio in Prague

19 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in Casino Royale, Czech Republic, Prague - Barrandov Studio

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007, Barrandov Studio, Casino Royale, Czech Republic, film set, film studio, James Bond location, movie location, Prague

Most of ‘Casino Royale’ was shot in the Czech Republic, mainly in Prague. In 2006 James Bond film crew was working in different locations in the city and at the Barrandov Studio. 10 years later I have visited the studio to see stages where interior sets were built. Barrandov Studio in Prague, Czech Republic In Barrandov Studio logo (photo above) you can see the studio main building (photo below) that is located at Krizeneckeho namesti.Inside the building, in front of the reception desk, there are film posters, with “Casino Royale’ in the middle, hanging on the wall. It is worth mentioning that there were also other international films shot at Barrandov Studio such as ‘Mission: Impossible’, ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’, ‘The Bourne Identity’ etc. Barrandov Studio in Prague, Czech Republic Streets inside the Barrandov Studio are named after famous Czech film directors. Below you can see a photo of Otakar Vavra street sign. Next photos show the building where ‘Casino Royale’ was shot. It was built in 1940’s. There is a hudge Barrandov Studios logo on the roof of the building that can be seen i.e. on Google maps. Barrandov Studio in Prague, Czech Republic There is an entrance to the offices in the building at Otakar Vavra street.On the other side of the building, at Frantisek Vlacil street, there are large entry gates to three stages.‘Casino Royale’ was shot in Stage Number 6, where main decoration was built. Total area of the stage is 40 meters x 50 meters with construction area 36 meters x 46 meters and a height of 12 meters. Barrandov Studio in Prague, Czech Republic ‘Casino Royale’ was also shot in Stage Number 7, where main decoration was built. Total area of the stage is 29 meters x 40 meters with construction area 25 meters x 36 meters and a height of 12 meters. Photo below shows film decorations in that stage.It is worth to visit empty stage to see how big that is. Below you can see part of the Stage MAX that is the largest stage in Europe at 4,000 square metres at height of 13,75 meters. It was oficially opened on December 2006, a few months after ‘Casino Royale’ was shot. Barrandov Studio in Prague, Czech Republic I have also visited furniture warehouse looking for some props from ‘Casino Royale’. I was shown a set of furniture that you can see in photos below. They were supposed to be used on James Bond film. I did some research and after a long time I discovered that they belonged to another agent. They were furnishings for the apartment of Ethan Hawke (Tom Cruise) in ‘Mission: Impossible’ that was also filmed in Prague. Barrandov Studio in Prague, Czech Republic I would like to thank Jakub Zika and Lubomir Konecny from Barrandov Studio.

Sources:
– „James Bond. Szpieg którego kochamy” Michał Grzesiek, Wydawnictwo Bukowy Las 2011
– www.barrandov.cz

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‘Spectre’ at Blenheim Palace

07 Sunday Aug 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in Blenheim Palace, Spectre

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007, Blenheim Palace, filming location, Great Britain, James Bond, James Bond location, movie location, Spectre, UK

James Bond (Daniel Craig) traveled to Rome to attend funeral of Marco Sciarra – the criminal he killed in Mexico at the beginning of ‘Spectre’. After the ceremony he visited and seduced Sciarra’s widow Lucia (Monica Belucci). She told him about the meeting of criminal organisation called Spectre in Palazzo Cardenza. 007 joined the meeting by pretending to be one of the organisation members. Bond had been recognized and had to escape the meeting. Car chase with 007 in Aston Martin DB10 and Mr. Hinx in Jaguar C-X75 began.

Aston Martin DB10 from 'Spectre' — *Aston Martin DB10 from ‘Spectre’.*

Jaguar C-X75 from 'Spectre' — *Jaguar C-X75 from ‘Spectre’.*

An Aston Martin DB10 en route to a Spectre meeting was filmed on Rome’s Passeggiata del Gianicolo. An aerial view of the Italian capital was added by the visual effects team, which included Blenheim Palace. The film crew worked on scenes in the courtyard of Blenheim Palace in February 2015. Interior scenes were filmed at Pinewood Studios.

*Blenheim Palace in Woodstock (Oxfordshire), UK*

Bond’s car pulled into the Blenheim Palace Great Court through the narrow gate in the east wing (see photo below). The Great Court was filled with super-expensive cars. To light them the film crew used two 40-by-40 feet soft boxes.

James Bond parked the Aston Martin, got out of the car and walked to the Colonnades.When he was recognized at the Spectre meeting he jumped out of the window and ran to the Colonnades. He jumped out from between the columns and got into the Aston Martin DB10. Mr. Hinx got into the Jaguar C-X75.

Both cars left the Palace Great Court through the narrow gate in the east wing and they pulled into small East Courtyard (photo below). They left the Blenheim Palace through east gate (photos below). Both cars jumped when they were driving through the gate and continued the high-speed car chase that was filmed in Rome.

Visit LOCATIONS GALLERY on top of the page to see locations photos compared with movie scenes.

Sources:
– www.awn.com
– blog.moviemaps.org
– www.theasc.com

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‘A View to a Kill’ in San Francisco

31 Sunday Jul 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in A View to a Kill, San Francisco, USA

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007, A View to a Kill, California, filming location, James Bond, James Bond location, movie location, San Francisco, USA

Among many interesting filming locations of ‘A View to a Kill’ there are two that belong to the most recognizable in the world: the Eiffel Tower in Paris (‘A View to a Kill’ in Paris) and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Maks Zorin (Christopher Walken) and May Day (Grace Jones) arrived to San Francisco in the airship. They were looking down at the city and they saw the Golden Gate Bridge in the foreground.

In the next scene James Bond arrived to Fisherman’s Wharf in famous San Francisco Cable Car. In two photos below you can see the car number 22, the same number as the one on the car seen in the film.

Actress Maud Adams, who played Andrea Anders in “The Man with the Golden Gun” and Octopussy in “Octopussy”, visited the crew while they were filming at Fisherman’s Wharf. She was offered to appear in third Bond film as one of extras.

At one of Fisherman’s Wharf stands James Bond met CIA agent Chuck Lee (David Yip). In photo below you can see the stand similar to the one in the film.

James Bond met Stacey Sutton (Tanya Roberts) who was also against Max Zorin. They went together to the San Francisco City Hall to find some information that would help to discover Zorin’s plan.

While they were reading documents, Max Zorin and May Day entered the room. The villain shut Bond and Sutton down in an elevator and set fire to the building.

Diane Fennstein who was mayor of San Francisco at the time of filming allowed to set fire to the real City Hall building (photo below). She also gave an instruction that everybody in the City Hall should close their windows. However there was one clerk who had very wet desk the next morning.

The fire scene was filmed by the first unit directed by John Glen. They had giant ground flares and tanks of propane on the roof of the building. Dick Ziker and Karen Price were Roger Moore’s and Tanya Roberts’ stunt doubles.

James Bond and Stacey Sutton escaped from the fire. Immediately after that car chase with 007 and Sutton in a fire truck began.

While first unit was working on scenes in the City Hall, the second unit with director Arthur Wooster was filming car chase with fire truck and police cars. They were filming for three weeks from the beginning of October 1984.

James Bond and Stacey Sutton arrived at the mine, which Zorin planned to sink to destroy Silicon Valley. Agent 007 prevented the explosion. Zorin tried to escape in his airship. Bond grabbed the airship’s mooring line. While flying at the end of the rope above the city he nearly crashed at the Transamerica Pyramid.

Close-ups with Roger Moore holding the mooring rope were filmed at Pinewood Studios in UK. Shots with the city in background were filmed in San Francisco with stuntman John Arnett.

Filmmakers came to the idea of using an airship in the film while they were visiting San Francisco and saw the airship with Fuji logo above the city. They contacted the company to get a permission to film the airship near the Golden Gate Bridge.

When the airship was flying over the Golden Gate Bridge, 007 tied the mooring rope to the framework of the bridge. The airships stopped and the fight between Bond and Zorin began.

About 5 percent of the shots of a fight sequence atop the Golden Gate Bridge was filmed on a real object, while the rest was filmed using replicas of the upper parts of the bridge and the airship built in the Pinewood Studios in UK.

The world premiere of the film took place on May 22, 1985 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco (photos posted below).

Sources:
– A View to a Kill Audio Commentary, A View to a Kill Special Edition, Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation, 2006
– Inside „A View to a Kill”. An Original Documentary, reż. John Cork, Danjaq, LCC and United Artists Corporation, 2000
– „James Bond. Szpieg którego kochamy” Michał Grzesiek, Wydawnictwo Bukowy Las 2011
– www.mi6-hq.com

More photos from San Francisco:

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‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ in Lisbon

14 Tuesday Jun 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in Lisbon, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Portugal

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007, 25 de Abril bridge, filming location, James Bond location, Lisbon, movie location, OHMSS, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Portugal

Filming of ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ began in October 1968 in Switzerland. The production moved to England in March 1969. Next month the filmmakers went to Portugal to continue filming until May 1969.

At the beginning of the film James Bond (George Lazenby) met Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg) at the beach where he saved her from commiting suicide by drowning. Later they met in casino. Next day 007 was kidnapped by four men who took him to Marc Ange Draco (Gabrielle Ferzetti), Teresa’s father.

The scene with James Bond with four men in Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was filmed on a bridge connecting Lisbon to the municipality of Almada. The Christ the King statue is visible in background.

Lisbon, Portugal — *The 25 de Abril Bridge*

The bridge inaugurated in 1966 was named at the beginning Salazar Bridge. In 1974 (after “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was filmed) the bridge was renamed the 25 de Abril Bridge – the day the Carnation Revolution had occurred.

James Bond visited twice the jewelry store – at the beginning of the film he spotted the ring and later he bought the wedding ring for Teresa di Vicenzo. The store is located at the Rossio square. There is a Column of Pedro IV located in the center of the square (photo below).

The jewelry store is located in south end of the square. The facade of the store is visible on the left side of the photo below.

James Bond and Tracy de Vicenzo started their honeymoon in Aston Martin DBS. The car with the couple was filmed on Salazar Bridge (currently the 25 de Abril Bridge). In the last photo you can see the 25 de Abril Bridge behind the Monument to the Discoveries.

Sources:
– lisbon-portugal-guide.com
– www.lisbonshopping.pt
– mitteleuropa.x10.mx/filmlocations_ohmss.html

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More photos from Lisbon:

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‘Skyfall’ at Embankment Station in London

01 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in London, Skyfall

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Tags

007, Embankment Place, James Bond location, London, movie location, Skyfall, Whitehall Place

In ‘Skyfall’ James Bond (Daniel Craig) was chasing Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) in the tunnels of the London Underground. Silva came out of the Embankment Underground Station and got into a police car.

The scene in which Raoul Silva came out of the tube station was filmed on March 11th 2012 at the intersection of Northumberland Avenue and Whitehall Place in London. In fact Javier Bardem who played Raoul Silva came out of a staff entrance to the Farmes Club (3 photos below). There was a fake “UNDERGROUND” sign attached to the metal frame above the entrance.

Staff entrance to The Farmers Club - Whitehall Place in London

When Silva got into a police car parked at Whitehall Place, there was another fake “UNDERGROUND” sign visible in background. It was placed above a disused Charing Cross exit, between the Playhouse Theatre and Embankment Place (photo below). Real entrance to the Embankment Underground Station is located at the end of Embankment Place.

The Playhouse Theatre and Embankment Place in London

There is a poster with the title of the play above the entrance to the Playhouse Theatre. In March 2012 it was ‘Dreamboats and Petticoats‘, however for the purposes of ‘Skyfall‘ it was replaced with fictional production of ‘Assassins’.

When I was taking pictures for this post at the beginning of 2016, the Playhouse Theatre was performing ‘The End of Longing’ with Matthew Perry, very well known as Chandler Bing from ‘Friends’ TV series. At the theatre I saw enthusiastic group of people. There was Matthew Perry between them signing autographs.

The police car with Raoul Silva drove off down the Whitehall Place and turned left in front of the entrance to the Corinthia Hotel. In pictures below you can see the Whitehall Place with the illuminated facade of the Corinthia Hotel on the right side. In that hotel the official announcement of ‘Skyfall’ movie was made at press conference held on November 3rd 2011, 50 years to the day after Sean Connery was revealed as James Bond in ‘Dr. No’. At the end of the street there is a Department of Energy and Climate Change. James Bond was looking at London panorama at the end of ‘Skyfall’ from the roof of that building.

Go to LOCATIONS GALLERY – ‘SKYFALL’ to see locations photos compared with movie scenes.

Sources:
– www.bbc.com
– www.mi6-hq.com

“Thunderball” at Silverstone Circuit

13 Friday May 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in Silverstone Circuit, Thunderball

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007, filming location, formula 1, Great Britain, James Bond location, movie location, Silverstone, Thunderball, UK

“Thunderball” is the fourth film in the James Bond official series (EON-produced films). It is an adaptation of the eighth James Bond novel by Ian Fleming, also entitled “Thunderball”. It is worth mentioning that “Never Say Never Again” is an adaptation of the same novel, however as non EON-produced is not on the list of official James Bond films.

007 must again face the SPECTRE organization (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extorsion). The organization created by Ernst Stavro Blofeld returned in the latest James Bond film.

James Bond (Sean Connery) was sent to to a clinic in Shrublands, where he met Count Lippe (Guy Doleman). When 007 left the clinic in Aston Martin DB5, Lippe followed him in his Ford Fairlane with the intention of killing. Suddenly a motorcycle joined the car chase. It was Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi) sent by SPECTRE organization to kill Count Lippe for failling his job.

The chase scene was filmed at Silverstone Circuit on June 21st 1965.
The Silverstone Circuit is located in England next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. It was built on the site of the RAF Silverstone. There are still airfield’s runways within the outline of the track. It is the host of different racing series including Formula 1. There are headquarters of several Formula 1 teams not far from the circuit with Sahara Force India Formula One Team headquarters in the very Silverstone village. Silverstone Circuit In the chase scene Bob Simmons replaced Guy Doleman, who played Count Lippe. The film crew did not notice as a stuntman left the car before the explosion, which caused for a moment very nervous atmosphere. Director Terence Young ran in panic toward the wreck, luckily nothing happened to Bob Simmons. Silverstone Circuit Formula 1 car from Force India team

Force India Formula One car (2008).

Sources:
– “Bond. Leksykon” Kamil M. Śmiałkowski, Wydawnictwo Pascal 2009
– “James Bond. Szpieg którego kochamy” Michał Grzesiek, Wydawnictwo Bukowy Las 2011
– www.mi6-hq.com
– www.silverstone.co.uk

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“Skyfall” in National Gallery in London

22 Friday Apr 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in London, Skyfall

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Tags

007, filming location, James Bond location, London, movie location, National Gallery, Skyfall, Trafalgar Square

In ‘Skyfall’ James Bond met new Quatermaster in the National Gallery in London.

London, UK — *The National Gallery at Trafalgar Square.*

James Bond passed through the Trafalgar Square and climbed the stairs on the right side of the building. In the next scene he was sitting on a bench inside the National Gallery, looking at the painting hanging on a wall. The man sitting next to him turned out to be Q.

James Bond entered the gallery via the stairs on the right side when looking from the Trafalgar Square (see photos below).

The film crew was working on Trafalgar Square on November 19th 2011. They were working inside the gallery during closing hours at night. Daniel Craig and Ben Whishaw (who played James Bond and Q) were sitting in front of the famous oil painting called ‘The Fighting Temeraire’ painted by Joseph Mallord William Turner in 1839. It can be found on Level 2 in Room 34 in the National Gallery in London.

Sources:
– www.mi6-hq.com
– www.nationalgallery.org.uk

‘Spectre’ – MI6 Safe House in London

09 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in London, Spectre

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Tags

007, filming location, James Bond, James Bond location, London, movie location, Safe House, Spectre, Trafalgar Square

James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux) escaped from burning headquarters of Franz Oberhauser. (It is worth to notice that the scene filmed on June 28, 2015 in Erfoud, Morocco with supervision of Special Effects and Miniature Effects Supervisor Chris Corbould has been awarded a Guinness World Records™ title for the Largest Film Stunt Explosion. 8418 litres of fuel and 33kg of explosives has been used.) In the next scene, the film moved from the sun-drenched desert to London by night. M (Ralph Fiennes) opened the door with „Hildebrand Prints and Rarities” written on it. Together with Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear) and Q (Ben Whishaw) he climbed external stairs and entered small room on top of the building where James Bond and Madeleine Swann waited for him. After short discussion they left the room. MI6 team drove off and Madeleine Swann walked away alone. After a few steps she stopped and looked back at an empty street.

Admiralty Arch in London — – Admiralty Arch seen from The Mall.

The scene was filmed on May 31, 2015 at Spring Gardens near Trafalgar Square. Going from Buckingham Palace along the Mall after a few minutes walk you can see impressive Admiralty Arch. T-shaped Spring Gardens street is right behind it. Turn right before the Admiralty Arch to see the place where Madeleine Swann was walking alone. If you want to see the entrance to the safe house you have to walk straight ahead.

There is a small square behind the Admiralty Arch, from which you can already see Trafalgar Square with Nelson’s Column (photo below). On the right side of the photo there is a Drummonds Bank building with “Spring Gardens” street name on it.

After a few meters on the left you will see the entrance to the safe house, however you will not find any „Hildebrand Prints and Rarities” sign on the door. The store name was inspired by the title of the Ian Fleming story. The book entitled „For Your Eyes Only” with short stories: „From A View to A Kill”, „For Your Eyes Only”, „Quantum Of Solace”, „Risico” and „The Hildebrand Rarity” was published in 1960. In the next photo you can see similar frame as the one in the film with Madeleine Swann saying good bye to James Bond.

Spring Gardens, London — – Door on the left doubled for the entrance to the MI6 Safe House.

Madeleine Swann looking back at empty street was filmed at Admiralty Pl.

Visit LOCATIONS GALLERY on top of the page to see locations photos compared with movie scenes.

Sources:
– http://www.007.com
– http://www.007.info
– http://www.ianfleming.com

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“Spectre” in Rules restaurant in London

20 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by Piotr Zając in London, Spectre

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007, filming location, James Bond location, London, movie location, Rules restaurant, Spectre

In “Spectre” James Bond was traveling to Mexico, Italy, Austria and Marocco. While he was in a train with Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux) in North Africa, three members of MI6 met in Rules restaurant in London. Miss Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) informed M (Ralph Finnes) that they had found where James Bond was heading to. Their boss didn’t believe it was possible to help 007. He went out from the restaurant in the rain stream. The audience could see dissapointed faces of Miss Moneypenny and Q behind the window with the restaurant logo.

Rules restaurant in London

Rules restaurant in London The sequence was filmed at Rules restaurant at Maiden Lane, Covent Garden. The restaurant established by Thomas Rule in 1798 is the oldest one in London.The scene was filmed on May 22nd 2015. The Rules, which is usually open seven days a week, was closed also the day before shooting. The restaurant published on its website rather mysterious note that it would be closed due to “essential work being carried out in the kitchen”.

For the scene, metal-framed structure with lights was put up above the narrow street. To create heavy rain, water sprinklers were used. Cameraman had to sit under umbrella.

Rules restaurant in London

The discussion between the three characters was filmed at the table located in front of the main entrance to the restaurant (photo below). Rules restaurant in London

It is worth to add that Ralph Finnes has been involved in filming at Rules restaurant over a dozen years before, when he played Maurice Bendrix in “The End of the Affair”. The restaurant has been also filming location of a few scenes in “Downton Abbey” TV series.

Sources:
– http://rules.co.uk/
– http://www.007.info/dine-another-day-spectre-films-at-famous-restaurant/
– http://downtonabbey.wikia.com/wiki/Rules_Restaurant

JAMES BOND

~ Behind the Scenes of James Bond

Tag Archives: movie location

‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ in Oxford

‘Casino Royale’ in Barrandov Studio in Prague

‘Spectre’ at Blenheim Palace

‘A View to a Kill’ in San Francisco

‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ in Lisbon

‘Skyfall’ at Embankment Station in London

“Thunderball” at Silverstone Circuit

“Skyfall” in National Gallery in London

‘Spectre’ – MI6 Safe House in London

“Spectre” in Rules restaurant in London

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