Servus dear Steemians!
After I told you about the eternal ice in my first article, today i continue with the second part about Sölden in Ötztal. In this article you can expect some action, because Sölden was the spectacular location of the current James Bond movie "Spectre" in 2015. In the Ötztal Alps the glacier peaks reach over 3,000 metres above sea level, this is why director Sam Mendes chose the breathtaking panorama Söldens as the film location.
In order to make you familiar with the story, I'll explain briefly why James Bond (Daniel Craig) travels to Sölden at all. 007 visits Mr. White (Jesper Christensen), a former member of Quantum, whose trail is lost in Altaussee in Austria. Bond finds there Mr. White in a remote hut by the lake. Mr. White declares that he will die in the near future as a result of thallium poisoning.
Bond can convince White to tell him the whereabouts of his daughter Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux), who is supposed to lead the agent to a certain L'Américain, where again the clue to a secret organization is hidden. In return, White demands that he protect his daughter and shoots himself. Bond visits Swann at a mountain clinic in Sölden, where she works as a psychologist. Mrs. Swann is kidnapped by Mr. Hinx (Dave Bautista). Bond follows the hijackers in an airplane, involving the hijackers' three cars in an accident before escaping with Swann.
The noble gourmet restaurant Ice Q is located directly above Sölden at the 3,058m high Gaislachkogl. The Glaspalast is surrounded by 250 magnificent three thousand meter peaks and looks like a huge ice cube, hence the name Ice Q. In the film this location is depicted as a mountain clinic where James Bond visits Mrs. Swann. Directly next to the Ice Q is the mountain station of the Gaislachbahn, which is also briefly staged in the film as "Q " (BenWhishaw) flees from a villain in the gondola. The modern Gaislach cable car was reopened just a few years ago and brings winter sports enthusiasts and restaurant visitors to Sölden's beautiful local mountain.
Inside the summit of the Gaislachkogl, a unique James Bond Museum was opened a few months ago under the name "Elements ". This is where true James Bond fans get their money's worth. At the original location of "Spectre" you can admire an exhibition of original film objects and animations worth seeing. Who has the necessary small change thereby, can book also a 20 minute helicopter round flight over the James Bond´s location in Sölden.
Here you can find more informations about the mountain-restaurant Ice Q
Here you can find some interesting making of videos and also any informations about the James Bond museum „Elements“
After Bond was tracked down by his enemies in the mountain clinic, he fled the mountain with Madeleine Swann in an action-packed chase. This scene took place on the Söldner Glacierstreet, which leads to the foot of the Rettenbachferner at 2,684 m above sea level.
The toll road is generally closed in the winter months, but for Hollywood the road was specially cleared of meter-high snow and made available for filming the action scenes. Because a few Range Rovers were killed in the chase, a total of more than 40 cars were brought up the mountain. Some of the original rovers are on display on the runway at Gaislachkogl and can be admired there with their descriptions.
It's hard to imagine what an organizational effort a few seconds of action film can mean. The Söldner Bergbahnen helped diligently with staff and all resources. A total of 600! film crew members were present in Sölden at peak times. But the effort was more than worth it. An enormous number of worldwide media mentions of and about Sölden in the context of "James Bond " and "Spectre " represent an incredible image gain for Sölden and Ötztal.
During the presentation at the start of the shooting, director Sam Mendes announced to the assembled world press: "We are taking Bond back to the Alps, to the Snow again, in Sölden in Austria " An invaluable publicity for the whole place.
FACTS
What equipment was used on the set?
- 80 trucks with technology and equipment
- 80 minivans, 50 pick-ups, 45 range rovers
- Two Britten-Norman Islander aircraft
- For trucks, trailers and equipment, an area of several thousand square metres was set up near the Gaislachkogl valley station.
How big was the film crew?
At peak times, a film team of up to 600 people worked on the recordings in Sölden. The production was very large even for Sölden, which is familiar with major events.
Where was it shot in Sölden?
- Gaislachkogl middle station: 3S-Bahn station
- Gaislachkogl: ice Q Restaurant and summit (3,048 m)
- Glacier: road tunnel between Rettenbach- and Tiefenbachferner as well as the adjacent glacier road
- The work of the First and Second Unit lasted 15 days.
Here you can see an interesting short film about the location:
I hope you guys I was able to give you a certain "James Bond Feeling " home with my contribution. The location with its breathtaking panorama is hard to beat. I can understand very well why director Sam Mendes chose the Ötztaler Alps as "winter scene" for the movie.
Should you ever have the opportunity, then I can only recommend you a visit of Sölden. A dreamlike winter sports destination with a noticeable hint of James Bond!
Greetings, Lukas!
The photos were taken by myself and are displayed in large format by clicking on them.
In den Ötztaler Alpen, zwischen Ober -und Hochgurgeln war ich vor vielen Jahren mal zum Skilaufen. Aus dem Flachland, als Anfänger kommend, hat es doch viel Spaß gemacht, obwohl wir uns keinen Skikurs und nur wenig Skiliftfahrten leisten konnten. Unten angekommen, Ski abschnallen, auf die Schulter und wieder hoch. Da war man am späten Nachmittag total geschafft. Die Hohe Muth, konnten wir natürlich nicht runter fahren, wie unsere Vermieterbuben. Die konnten kaum laufen, aber auf den Brettern waren das andere Menschen. Die schafften die Hohe Muthabfahrt in 4-5 Minuten, damals die besten aus dem Sauerland benötigten 15 Minuten, wobei einer am letzten Tag einen kapitalen Sturz, glücklicherweise ohne Verletzung hingelegt hatte. Unvergeßlich.
Das scheint ja schon eine Zeit lang her zu sein! Auf alle Fälle eine lustige Geschichte! 😄
Ich war auch im Zuge meines Sölden Aufenthaltes einen Tag in Obergurgl/Hochgurgl. Dort hinten ist es traumhaft schön! :)
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