10 Saturday Oct 2020
Tags
Italy, James Bond, James Bond filming location, james Bond locations, James Bond movie locations, James Bond travel, Moonraker, Venice
Real filming locations together with screens of scenes filmed in these places. Film scene on top and my location photo at the bottom.
13 Friday Dec 2019
Posted in Casino Royale, Casino Royale
Tags
Casino Royale, Czech Republic, filming location, gallery, Italy, James Bond location, james Bond locations, James Bond movie locations, Loket, movie location, Prague, Venice
Real filming locations together with screens of scenes filmed in these places. Film scene on top and my location photo at the bottom.
12 Tuesday Nov 2019
Posted in Casino Royale, Moonraker, Venice
Tags
007, 007 location, Casino Royale, filming location, Italy, James Bond, James Bond location, james Bond locations, James Bond movie locations, Moonraker, movie location, Saint Mark's Square, St Mark's Basilica, St. Mark's Square, Venice
Both ‘Moonraker’ and ‘Casino Royale’ were filmed in Venice (“Moonraker” in Venice & ‘Casino Royale’ in Venice). The most spectacular location common to both films is the St Mark’s Square.
‘Moonraker’ was filmed mostly in northeastern part of the square. Bond (Roger Moore) entered the Venini shop located at Piazzetta dei Leoncini, next to St Mark’s Basilica and the corner of St Mark’s Square. Real Venini shop was there until 2020. Unfortunately it was closed because of lack of customers during lockdown. It was replaced with Giobagnara shop.
There is a clock tower called Torre dell’Orologio next to the shop . Bond finished the fight with the villain Chang (Toshiro Suga) by throwing him through the clock face and onto the piano standing under the tower.
Later in the film, at the end of the chase through the canals in Venice, Bond returned to the square in a gondola. Below is a video showing the behind-the-scenes of this scene.
Walking along the north side of the square you will get to the passage called Sotoportego del Cavalletto. It was filming location of the scene with James Bond (Daniel Craig) noticing Vesper (Eva Green) walking away with suitcase full of money in ‘Casino Royale’.
A few steps away in the eastern corner of the square you will get to Longchamp shop. It was Basel Bank in ‘Casino Royale’.
Through the window you can see interior of the shop that was designed as a bank lobby just for the film.
Standing there you would notice that James Bond didn’t take the shortest route from the hotel to the bank. He ran into the square from its southern corner (right side of the photo below). Later the camera was directed towards St Mark’s Basilica as in the photo below. 007 was running from left (eastern corner) to the right (southern corner).
Finally he came to the Basel Bank located in the corner on the left (eastern corner).
Go to LOCATIONS GALLERY – ‘MOONRAKER’ and LOCATIONS GALLERY – ‘CASINO ROYALE’ to see locations photos compared with movie scenes.
03 Friday Mar 2017
Posted in Casino Royale, Venice
Tags
007, Casino Royale, filming location, Italy, James Bond, James Bond location, movie location, travel, Venice
James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) sailed to Venice in Italy. While Vesper was standing at the helm of a yacht, Bond was writing a resignation letter on his laptop. As they were sailing along the Grand Canal, Vesper noticed Adolph Gettler (Richard Sammel), who was the Quantum agent. 007 and the girl stayed in a hotel located at Saint Mark’s Square.
Seen in the film 54 foot yacht named ‘Spirit’, was built by Spirit Yachts Ltd in Suffolk, UK. It was the first sailing yacht to go up the Grand Canal in Venice in 300 years.
When Bond and Vesper were approaching Venice, most famous buildings in the city were seen in background. There was tower of San Giorgio Maggiore on the left, Saint Mark’s campanile on the right and Santa Maria della Salute in the middle (all of them in photos below).
It is not necessary to buy a boat to see the view that was in front of Bond and Vesper. One of the possibilities it to take a Vaporetto to Sant’Elena. Not many tourists go that far, therefore it is a very peacefull an quiet place. As you can see in photos below, while watching the view you can relax on a bench in a park or use outdoor gym.
When James Bond was writing the resignation letter, there was Santa Maria della Salute Basilica visible in background (photo below). On his laptop monitor you could see his e-mail inbox with fictitious email addresses of film crew members: Anne Bennet (Publicity and Marketing) – anne.bennett@thenet.com, Chris McBride (Computer & Video Supervisor) – chris.mcbride@thenet.com, Neil Pinkawa (lead screen graphics artist) and David Hicks (lead motion graphics designer).
When Vesper left the hotel room, M called and asked 007 about the money that he won in Casino Royale. Bond immediately called the Swiss banker and got information that while they were talking someone was withdrawing the money in a bank located at Saint Mark’s Square in Venice. James Bond guessed that it was Vesper who stole the money and ran after her.
The hotel where Bond and Vesper stayed didn’t exist. Scenes in the hotel lobby were filmed at the Czech National Museum in Prague.
Film crew was working in Venice in June 2006. Because of about 400 extras and big number of tourists around it was very difficult to film the scene with Bond running around the Saint Mark’s Square. The bank was located in Saint Mark’s Square corner, from which the photo presented below was taken. In the film you could see ‘Basel Bank’ sign above the door. In reality there was ‘BANCA COMMERCIALE ITALIANA’ sign instead. Read more in: James Bond at St Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy.
James Bond tried to find Vesper under arcades that you can see in photo below. Finally he saw her walking on the bridge located at Sotoportego del Cavalletton street. The entrance to that street from Saint Mark’s Square is located behind fifth arch from the right in photo below.
In the next scene Eva Green who played Vesper was walking alone on Ponte del Malpaga bridge (see photo below). Daniel Craig was looking at her from the bridge connecting Fondamenta Toletta and Calle Lotto from which the photo was taken.
Bond followed Vesper down the Sotoportego de le Colonne. As she passed over the Ponte de le Colonne bridge she looked back, but she couldn’t see 007 who was hidden in the shadows.
In the photo below you can see Sotoportego de le Colonne and the Ponte de le Colonne bridge in background.
Next photo was taken from the bridge towards the shadows where 007 was hidden.
Finally Vesper came to the courtyard where she met Gettler. The villain saw James Bond hiding behind the column and took Vesper hostage. Gettler’s men tried to shoot 007.
The sequence was filmed in the courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello, that was also ‘Moonraker’ filming location (read more: ‘Moonraker’ in Venice). Main entrance to the building was located at Campiello Pisani, however Vesper entered the side door, which is visible in the photo below.
She turned left and passed through the doors (that are closed in photo below) to the courtyard.
Next photo was taken from the courtyard. Vesper came out from behind the columns. Later James Bond was hiding behind these columns when Gettler’s men tried to shoot him.
On the right in photo below you can see the column where 007 was hiding when Vesper was talking to Gettler. On the left there is a sculpture that was seen behind Daniel Craig’s head.
Next photo of the courtyard was taken from Bond’s hide behind the column. Vesper and Gettler were standing in the middle of the courtyard. Gettler’s men were shooting from windows above the entrance to the courtyard located in the center of the photo.
When they started shooting, James Bond was running behind columns visible in the middle of the photo below.
James Bond pursued Gettler and Vesper into a building under renovation. During the fight the building started to sink.
The sequence with the building collapsing into the Grand Canal was filmed in Pinewood studio, however buildings around were all real and shot on location. Collapsing building was digitally inserted and replaced Lion Morosini Palace (second from right in photo below).
In the studio the 1/3-scale miniature of the building was built for exterior shots. It had more than 100 different parts designed to fall off.
The inside of the sinking house was built on a special rig that measured 45 foot by 40 foot and was 45 foot high.
The scene with people looking at sinking building was filmed at Campo Erberia (photo below).
After Vesper’s death James Bond was sitting on the yacht’s deck and talking on the phone with M. The scene was filmed at Santi Cosma e Damiano church. Behind 007 the dome of Santa Maria della Salute (in photo below) was visible.
Go to LOCATIONS GALLERY – ‘CASINO ROYALE’ to see locations photos compared with movie scenes.
Sources:
– ‘James Bond. Szpieg ktorego kochamy’ Michal Grzesiek, Wydawnictwo Bukowy Las 2011
– www.awn.com
– www.mi6-hq.com
– reelstreets.com
– www.spirityachts.com
26 Saturday Dec 2015
Tags
007, Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello, filming location, Italy, James Bond, James Bond location, Moonraker, movie location, Saint Mark's Square, St. Mark's Square, Venice
James Bond returned to Venice in 1978 in ‘Moonraker’ (15 years after ‘From Russia with Love’). 007 played by Roger Moore arrived by gondola to St. Mark’s Square.
He entered the museum-lobby of the Venini Glass Works that belonged to his main opponent – Hugo Drax. The scene was filmed in real Venini shop located at Piazzetta dei Leoncini next to Saint Mark’s Basilica.
The interior of glass museum was shot at Boulogne Studios in France, in a building that had been a Luftwaffe factory during World War II. The lady at the entrance was played by Irka Bochenko. You can read an interview with her in INTERVIEWS section: Interview with Irka Bochenko, who has played in ‘Moonraker’ with Roger Moore.
Venini shop was located at Piazzetta dei Leoncini until 2020. It was closed because of lack of customers during lockdown. It was replaced with Giobagnara shop.
Bond noticed Dr. Goodhead (Lois Chiles), space specialist working for Drax and followed her. They left the museum with rear exit. That scene was filmed in the courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello. Dr. Goodhed appeared in the door on the right side of the photo presented below and walked towards the place from which the picture was taken.
Next picture looks similar to the film shot. James Bond was standing behind the column and looking at Dr. Goodhead walking to the stairwell. The stairwell is clearly visible in next pictures taken from another side. It is worth noticing that the same courtyard was used as location in ‘Casino Royale’.
In the next scene James Bond pretended that he accidentally met Dr. Holly Goodhead. It was filmed at La Scuola nuova della Misericordia. After short conversation with Dr. Goodhead 007 jumped into the gondola. Bond was soon attacked and a chase began through the Venetian canals.
Chase sequence ended when James Bond arrived at St. Mark’s Square and converted the gondola into a land-capable hovercraft. The sequence with gondola leaving the water (see filming location in photos below) had to be repeated six times because the vehicle was not stable and Roger Moore was falling into water.
James Bond in the gondola converted into the hoovercraft was riding next to the Doge’s Palace (photo below) and then on St. Mark’s Square (next photos). Specially designed gondola with Ford chassis had a horn to worn surprised tourists. St. Mark’s Square could not be entirely closed so there was a lot of unaware people among actors and extras.
At night James Bond returned to the glass factory dressed as a gondolier. The scene was filmed at the Ponte dell’Accademia bridge with Santa Maria della Salute basilica in background. The place where 007 arrived in gondola is visible on the left side of the picture below).
He opened a padlock with a skeleton key and entered the courtyard that he visited earlier when he was following Dr. Goodhead. The passage between the Canal Grande and the courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello really exists. In picture below the sunlight brightens the place where Roger Moore was standing with the skeleton key. The passage to the Canal Grande is on the right from that place.
Next picture was taken from James Bond’s perspective. There is an entrance to the staircase visible on the right. He walked there a few seconds later. Dr. Holly Goodhead entered the same entrance after she left the glass museum.
Next two pictures were taken from the other side of the fence. There is an entrance to the staircase mentioned before on the right side of the second photo.
After visiting the laboratory and stealing a sample of deadly fluid, James Bond emerged from the stairwell (on the left in photo below). He was attacked between columns by Chang.
Next picture was taken from courtyard side. James Bond and Chang were fighting and slowly moving behind columns from right to left. 007 throwed his opponent against the wall and they both fell into the room full of glass through the door on the left. In the next scene they used the largest amount of breakaway sugar glass ever.
Meanwhile Dr. Holly Goodhead was relaxing in Hotel Danieli. James Bond joined her soon in her apartment. There was a flood during filming, so the film crew had to stop working several times to move power generators to upper floors.
James Bond will be back in Venice 28 years later in ‘Casino Royale’ with Daniel Craig as 007 – read the story: ‘Casino Royale’ in Venice.
Go to LOCATIONS GALLERY – ‘MOONRAKER’ to see locations photos compared with movie scenes.
Information sources:
– „James Bond. Szpieg którego kochamy” Michał Grzesiek, Wydawnictwo Bukowy Las 2011
– http://www.filmweb.pl
08 Sunday Nov 2015
Posted in From Russia with Love, Venice
Tags
007, filming location, From Russia with Love, Italy, James Bond, James Bond location, movie location, travel, Venice
For the first time Venice made a brief appearance in James Bond film at the end of ‘From Russia with Love’. James Bond (Sean Connery) and Tatiana Romanowa (Daniela Bianchi) kill Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) in a hotel room with a view at San Giorgio Maggiore. In the next scene Bond and Romanova are in a boat under the Bridge of Sighs (photos below).
They turn right. 007 throws the film of him and Romanova into the water. A few seconds later there is only his waving hand visible with the Doge’s Palace in background. Piazzetta San Marco (picture below) leading to Piazza San Marco is a background for end credits.
All scenes in Venice were filmed using rear-projection technique. There was only film director Terence Young in Venice who filmed the city in one day only. Actors were filmed in Pinewood studio.
Venice will return in “Moonraker”.
Source:
– „James Bond. Szpieg którego kochamy” Michał Grzesiek, Wydawnictwo Bukowy Las 2011
JAMES BOND 