Casino Royale (2006)

A brooding black & white start for Daniel Craig's James Bond. As the scene caption states this is Prague in the Czech Republic. To be specific it is Danube House, Karlín, Prague.

Nick Knight captured this shot at the weekend as found that in daylight the building is brown! (RL)

Malcolm Sinclair (Dryden) gets out of his car outside Danube House, Karlín, Prague and, as it will turn out, is not quite in control of every situation as he thinks he is.

Nick Knight fully in control of this shot. (RL)

Nick Knight does a great job in identifying the 'Ugandan Rebel Camp' that was actually shot in Black Park, which is a Country Park in Wexham, Buckinghamshire. It is to the north of the A412 road between Slough and Iver Heath.

Nick also sent in a 'now' shot that was identifiable because of the tree line. And although otherwise not that interesting, it does show how a bit of set dressing can change a location and save a crew a 6000 mile trip to film in the real country!

Ian Johnson points out that filming for this sequence took place in the garden/empty swimming pool of a derelict property along Coral Harbour Boulevard, close to the filming area of the scene that follows. Here a crowd has gathered to watch a fight between a cobra and a mongoose. Bond aided by Carter are covertly observing Mollaka. Carelessness on the part of Carter results in Mollaka becoming aware of his surveillance. Pursued by Bond, Mollaka hastily runs away…

Sebastien Foucan (Mollaka) runs through a construction site supposedly in Madagascar, but it was actually shot in the Coral Harbour beach area in New Providence Island in The Bahamas. Sebastien is co-creator of the sport of free-running. The location is now part of a military base. Some scenes for the earlier Bond film ‘Thunderball’ were shot nearby at a hotel which is also now part of the RBDF Coral Harbour military base. Website visitor Ian Johnson provided the more specific location info.

Mollaka runs up an unidentified road in Madagascar (really The Bahamas).

In order to keep up with his fast moving target, Daniel Craig leaps onto a van travelling up an unidentified road in The Bahamas.

Mollaka runs towards the Nambutu embassy which in reality used to be the Buena Vista Hotel and Restaurant on Delaney Street, Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas. The hotel closed not long after Casino Royale used it as a location and the Buena Vista estate was redeveloped. In 2013 the property was reopened as part of 'John Watling’s Distillery', which was named for a 17th century buccaneer who landed on San Salvador Island and re-named it after himself. Thanks to Ian Johnson for the addition of the road identification.

Following some crane jumping and explosive embassy action in Madagascar (The Bahamas!) we are now back in the UK looking at the Houses of Parliament with Westminster Bridge, London SE1.

Tracking the mobile phone communication, Bond arrives in The Bahamas with Royal Tower Atlantis on Paradise Island in the background. In reality there is no aircraft facilities at this location. In 2002 the 'Bridge Suite' at the Royal Tower was listed as the most expensive hotel room in the world. In 2012 it was still at no.10 and cost just over £17,000 a night.

Daniel is both relaxed and alert in The Bahamas with the buildings along Paradise Beach Drive in the background.

Bond notices the nice Sunseeker yacht owned by Mads Mikkelsen (Le Chiffre) in the harbour near Atlantis Marina in The Bahamas.

007 drives a prototype Ford Mondeo 2.5 Litre ST (presumably rented for him by MI6) along an unidentified road in The Bahamas. When filming this model of Ford Mondeo was not available commercially anywhere in the world and so was shipped especially to the set under a veil of secrecy.

Bond arrives at the Ocean Club and is about to teach a rude Range Rover owner a lesson. The real full name of the location is the 'One and Only Ocean Club' in The Bahamas. Thanks to Ian Johnson for correcting the vehicle name.

A more overcast day for RJ's visit. (SJ)

His session as an unofficial valet at an end, Bond strides towards the building of the One and Only Ocean Club.

A similar angle shot from Gary Miller. (RL)

Caterina Murino (Solange) gallops along the South Ocean Beach on New Providence in The Bahamas.

The luxury Villa on the beach is the lair of Simon Abkarian (as Alex Dimitrios). The location is Albany House, now part of the Albany luxury resort community on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas. Golfer Tiger Woods is part owner of the resort.

Bond climbs the steps of the Versailles-inspired gardens in the grounds of the One and Only Club in The Bahamas.

A similar shot from Gary Miller to make us all envious. (RL)

007 enters the clubhouse of the One and Only Club in The Bahamas to attempt to get close to his target during the first card game of the film.

Gary Miller provides this daylight shot of the back entrance to the Club. (RL)

Alex Dimitrios gets patted down by Le Chiffre's security before boarding Mr Mikkelsen's yacht in the harbour near Atlantis Marina in The Bahamas.

Having won his car, Craig trails his target, Dimitrios, to the Bodyworlds exhibition in Miami, Florida. But the building is actually back in Europe! Prague to be exact. It is the Ministry of Transportation of the Czech Republic located at Nabrezi Ludvíka Svobody 12/1222, 110 15 Prague 1 (New Town).

Nick provides a clearer picture of the building in daylight. (RL)

Bond's new target, Claudio Santamaria (Carlos) arrives by taxi at Miami Airport (but again it's actually outside of Terminal 2 of Prague airport in the Czech Republic). Site visitor Ian Johnson notes that it was renamed Vaclav Havel Airport in 2012.

Whilst at the airport Nick captured this shot for us, on the flyover above the ground floor entrance to Terminal 2. (RL)

Bond chases Carlos through the working outside area of ‘Miami Airport’. In real life this sequence was partly filmed at Ruzyne Airport in Prague and also at Dunsfold Aerodome in Cranleigh, United Kingdom. As pointed out by Ian Johnson, the building shots were filmed at the then new (and unopened) Schengen terminal. The Skyfleet aircraft seen in the film was a full size prop of a 747 (and model) created by the SFX team. Richard Branson had a brand new Virgin Airlines A340 Airbus flown in to Prague. It is clearly seen in the early part of the chase. In return he had a cameo appearance - being frisked by a customs officer.

After an explosive chase on the airport tarmac, Bond arrives back at the beach resort at New Providence in The Bahamas.

007's earlier lover has had a fatal dip in the ocean and is drying off in the hammock on South Ocean Beach, New Providence in The Bahamas.

James and Tobias Menzies (Villiers) observe the unfortunate victim in front of Albany House, New Providence in The Bahamas.

Judi Dench (M) oversees Daniel Craigs electronic tagging and then around the nice pool, drops the detail on the high stakes poker game in Montenegro that is key to getting their main target. The location is still the luxury Albany resort community on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas.

Manuel Gurtner provides this additional screen capture with the comment "Montenegro – not really, because the Czech Republic stands in for the establishing shot, Capture 1. The train is travelling over the Prague – Ostrava main line and can be seen on the curvy stretch trough the Tichá Orlice River valley west of Ústí nad Orlicí in Eastern Bohemia. (RL)

Bond is introduced to fellow government colleage Eva Green (Vesper) on the train journey to Montenegro. The actual train seen in the movie is the Pendolino tilting train of Czech Railways. The station they pass through called 'Chur Ost' does not really exist. Whether it is another station with a sign change or just a digital element for the shot is currently unclear. Manuel is of the opinion that it is probably an inside joke of the visual effects crew. At that time between Prague and Ostrava there were only two stations with this appearance and the same landscape, so either Hoštejn or Lupené were used for this obvious CGI ensemble of a fictional station. (RL) Site visitor Ian Johnson has suggested that this station is Úholičy, Prague-West District, Central Bohemian Region in the Czech Republic. Looking at images of said station, it does look like a good match.

A change of scene as they arrive in Montenegro. Except it isn't! The exteriors portrayed as Montenegro Railway Station isn't a railway station (or in Montengero!) It is The Mill Colonnade, a large colonnade (a row of columns supporting a roof, an entablature, or arcade) containing several hot springs in the spa town of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The structure is one of the traditional symbols of the town.

Nick Knight has been there and captured a quieter scene. (RL)

The pair are picked up in Montenegro (but really Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic) in a black Daimler taxi. The street of Lazenska is behind them.

Has it been pedestrianised? Nick Knight. (RL)

They are driven to their hotel along Trziste in Karlovy Vary. Geographically they are actually driving away from the hotel!

10 years on with an added lamp standard, Nick Knight. (RL)

Their car arrives along Goethova stezka in Karlovy Vary...

Website visitor Holger Braune has submitted an update for this shot. It seems that apart from the road paving replacing the tarmac, not much has changed.

...and parks outside the hotel. In the film is it 'Hotel Splendide' but in fact it is Grandhotel Pupp, Mirove namesti 2, 360 01 Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The 2006 comedy 'Last Holiday' featuring Queen Latifah also used the location.

Nick advises that the forecourt has been cobbled with brass plaques of famous guests embedded, including, inevitably, Daniel Craig. (RL)

Craig walks over to his nice complimentary vehicle that is parked next to the hotel opposite the Pupp Casino Club.

The same angle captured by Nick during his visit. (RL)

He checks out the car and investigates the envelope left for him at the hotel. Still in the parking lot outside the Pupp Casino Club in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

Bond takes Vesper and his Aston Martin DBS over to a small town in Montenegro to meet with the local contact. We are really still in the Czech Republic and this is the town of Loket. 'Loket' means "elbow" in English. The town is named this due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohre River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow.

Chris Lee provided a fine match on the right hand side of this shot. (SJ)

Bond drives up T.G. Masaryka in Loket and parks the Aston Martin across from the cafe (that was installed just for the film).

Not quite the correct angle from Chris but the best effort so far. (SJ)

Giancarlo Giannini (Rene Mathis) greets Bond and Vesper outside a hotel in the centre of Loket. In reality the building is still a hotel but it is called Hotel Goethe (but for the film the name seems to be displayed in Montenegrin letters).

Local police (acting on a false tip off from Mathis) come to arrest the local chief of police. The suspect (sat in the middle of the shot with two women either side) is actually played by Bond producer Michael G. Wilson.

Mathis explains the reasoning behind the decision to remove the police chief, as they couldn't afford to just bribe him for more than Mads Mikkelsen (Le Chiffre) would be able to pay. Again this is set in Montenegro but actually in the town centre of Loket in the Czech Republic.

Daniel Craig walks to the poker game at Casino Royale. The building is actually Kaiserbad Spa in Karlovy Vary and is situated right across the road from the hotel location.

Nick Knight says that the building was derelict at the time of shooting and is now being restored, two rooms having been finished allowing access. As it is not lit up at night he captured the Spa during daylight. (RL)

A poisoned Bond struggles towards his car outside Casino Royale in Montenergo. But of course in reality he is staggering around in front of Kaiserbad Spa in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic.

Nick stands in for Bond. (RL)

After beating the poison and the poker table, Bond realises Vesper is in trouble. He sees her getting bundled into a car outside the 'Hotel Splendide' but of course it is really Grandhotel Pupp, Mirove namesti 2, 360 01 Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

Bond gives a brief foot-chase with 'Hotel Splendide' in the background.

The car with Vesper captive inside moves at high speed down Goethova Stezka, which runs alongside the Pupp Casino Club, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

Daniel Craig needs his Aston Martin DBS, parked outside Pupp Casino Club in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

The Aston speeds after the car containing Vesper. But now the action has switched back to the UK. This is part of Millbrook Test Track, Bedford MK45.

Ross Forbes has captured a fantastic daylight shot (possibly early morning) of the Millbrook Proving Ground.

Bond suddenly sees Vesper in the middle of the road and swirves violently. Again it is not Montenegro or the Czech Republic, but Millbrook Test Track, Bedford MK45. The car barrel-roll stunt broke the world record for the most barrel rolls (assisted by an air-cannon). The car was rolled seven times in a single shot with stuntman Adam Kirley inside the car and was officially entered into the Guinness Book of World Records on 5th November 2006.

The captured pair are brought aboard Mads Mikkelsen's (Le Chiffre) rusty barge. Ian Johnson pointed out that his was filmed alongside a shipyard on the site of the main sewage treatment plant, adjacent to the Plavebni Canal, next to the Vlatava river in Prague. Bond is about to be offered a very special seat.

With Le Chiffre dealt with, Bond is recuperating in the beautiful surroundings of the hospital. In fact he is in the gardens of Villa Balbianello, Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy. The location features in 'The Love Lottery' and 'Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones'.

Nicholas Knight has submitted the first of a fantastic set of updated location shots, with the framing almost perfect to the image from the film.

007's decision making is not encouraged when Mathis asks some probing questions and offers him a cloudy drink in the Villa Balbianello, Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy. Built in 1787 for Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini at the end of the 18th century, on the site of an ancient monastery. The villa is now part of the Italian National Trust and can be visited by the public.

Another great shot from Nicholas Knight!

But fortunately some assistance is at hand to deal with the problem. Mathis is taken away from the gardens of Villa Balbianello, Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy.

Several of these updated location images from Nicholas Knight looks like they were taken just after the crew stopped filming!

Bond is left to properly recuperate with the stunning Lake Como, Lombardia in Italy in front of him.

Hamilton McMurray snapped a great now shot of this location. He also points out that you'd likely need something like a crane to replicate the exact angle from the movie.

Vesper and Bond talk in the grounds next to the Villa Balbianello, Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy.

Nicholas Knight gets another pretty much perfect location angle. It's often interesting to see the visible growth on the same bushes that were present when filming took place.

Ludger Pistor (Mendel) arrives with his urgent need to transfer the winnings of the poker game. Lake Como in Italy is behind him.

Great location pic from Nicholas Knight (one of many excellent images that he took)

The pair break their romantic moment in front of Villa Balbianello, Lake Como in Italy. Other productions to use this location include 'Piccolo Mondo Antico' (literally: Little Ancient World) in 1941 and 'Jackpot' (also known as Cyber Eden), a 1992 Italian sci-fi-adventure film directed by Mario Orfini.

Nicholas Knight again shows precision in replicating the angle used in the original movie.

Ludger Pistor (Mendel) places his money transfer briefcase next to Villa Balbianello, Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy. Bond uses Vespers name as the lucrative password. She is overwhelmed for more than one reason by this gesture.

Another great image from contributor Nick Knight. Seems that someone had the ivy removed from the building on the right.

It seems their love for each other has now really been sealed in front of Villa Balbianello, Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy. Little does 007 know, Vesper is dealing with some serious emotional conflict, because she knows something that Bond doesn't.

Nicholas Knight did a great job in getting as close to the original film shot as possible.

Vesper and Bond taking a break on the beach. Supposed to be in Europe, but is actually back at South Ocean Beach on New Providence in The Bahamas. This is the same beach that the horse galloped down earlier in the film albeit a little further along the same stretch of sand.

Aboard a boat in Venice, Italy, Bond tenders his resignation. Too soon perhaps. To the right of Vespers head you can see the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of St. Mary of Health), commonly known simply as La Salute, is one of the largest churches of Venice.

Dedicated Casino Royale fan Nicholas Knight mentions that for this shot that he couldn’t afford to charter a yacht, but managed to make the best that he could do by taking a photo from the belfry of the San Giorgio Maggiore.

The pair enjoy the watery sights of the Grand Canal in Venice (the San Silvestro ferry terminal is just behind the boat), Vesper spots an unwelcome character in the form of Gettler. The boat sailing into Venice was the first boat to be allowed to sail along the Grand Canal since it was closed to outside traffic 350 years ago.

Nicholas Knight provides an excellent now shot.

Daniel Craig remains oblivious to this development whilst piloting the boat along The Grand Canal in Venice. Just behind Daniel is the Palazzo Grimani di San Luca. It is a Renaissance-style palace and is currently the seat of the Venice' Appeal Court.

Another excellent shot from Nicholas Knight.

From their hotel apartment, Bond enjoys this pretty view of St Marks Square in Venice. Unaware that his bank account is being tampered with...

Ross Forbes submits a slightly closer updated shot, taken whilst on holiday in Venice a few years ago.

Now knowing something is wrong, Bond rushes to the bank along St Marks Square, Venice, Italy. Bond fans will also recall that St Marks Square featured as part of the speed boat chase in the 1979 Bond movie Moonraker with Roger Moore.

Nicholas Knight manages to find a less busy moment in St Marks Square to take this wonderful now shot.

With a mix of extras and tourists, Daniel Craig dodges the crowds in a corner of St Marks Square in Venice with an increasing sense of desperation.

Now on the hunt for the deceiving Vesper, Bond spots her heading away from St Marks Square and down Sotoportego del Cavalletto in Venice, Italy.

Another excellent now shot from Nicholas Knight. Nicely timed so without people the location is clearly visible - not always an easy thing to achieve, especially in a city.

In an amazing switch of Venice geography, naughty Vesper now crosses a bridge (Ponte del Malpaga) that is 1.4km away from St Marks Square and takes her over the Rio del Malpaga waterway. She started crossing from the alleyway that led from the Calle Cerchieri in Dorsoduro. This area of Venice is one of the highest land points. Ian Johnson Provided the bridge specifics.

It's almost like the Bond crew only just left this pretty location. Captured by Nicholas Knight.

Daniel Craig is on the hunt with the buildings of the Fondamenta Toletta behind him.

You'd almost think Daniel Craig had only just stepped out of shot....Another great location grab by Nicholas Knight.

Vesper is now much closer to where she started, passing near an apartment house 'Sotoportego de le Colonne' in the San Marco area of Venice.

Obviously the same angle a little tricky to achieve without a step ladder and/or access to the building! But Nicholas Knight does a fine job of capturing the location as we would normally experience it.

The first part of this confrontation/revelation was shot on location at 'The Conservatorio di Musica Benedetto Marcello di Venezia' which is a conservatory (music school) in Venice, Italy named after composer Benedetto Marcello and established in 1876.

The statue may have been a prop as it certainly wasn't there when Robert Redfern was on the scene. (SJ)

Bond watches as Vesper waits for her masters in 'The Conservatorio di Musica Benedetto Marcello di Venezia' in Venice.

Robert again and i suspect that including the pillar with its peculiar cinematic perspective may have hidden most of the background. (SJ)

The valuable luggage is handed over to Richard Sammel (Adolph Gettler) in the 'The Conservatorio di Musica Benedetto Marcello di Venezia' in Venice. This is still on actual location but when the action switches to the square with the building site, they are on a set at the 007 stage in Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.

And the last of Robert Redfern's trilogy showing the detail of the wall to the right of the original. (SJ)

Onlookers watch as the fragile building starts to collapse on The Grand Canal in Venice. Although the actual building collapsing (along with one on either side) were digital inserts of models filmed in the studio, the buildings around them are all real and shot on location. In reality the building that is in place of the crumbling structure is the Lion Morosini Palace, currently an elegant B&B. The belltower in the background is part of the Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli di Cristo (English: Church of the Holy Apostles of Christ), commonly called San Apostoli, is a 7th-century Roman Catholic church.

Ross Forbes again comes up with a great new view of this scene, albeit from the opposite angle. As noted in the original shot, you can see in roughly the middle of this updated shot, the original building that was digitally replaced for the film.

Now without his late betraying girl, Bond gets some of the mystery filled in by M, whilst aboard the boat moored at on the island of Giudecca, near the Le Zitelle catholic church (on the left). The Church of the Santissimo Redentore (built by Palladio to commemorate the Black Death) is in the background. Thanks to Ian Johnson for additional location specifics.

Photographer Nicholas Knight mentions that 'you can’t get the right angle without getting out onto a pontoon on the water (there isn’t one) or breaking into the military compound that was behind me as I took this shot; I chose not to do that.' - smart choice but still a great effort & image.

Bond listens intensely with Santa Maria della Salute (Saint Mary of Health church), commonly known simply as the Salute in the background. It is a Roman Catholic church located at Punta della Dogana in the Dorsoduro district of Venice, Italy.

Nicholas Knight mentions ideally you need a better lens than the one he presently has, but this shot still shows off the location well.

Jesper Christensen (Mr White) drives into the grounds of Villa Gaeta, on the shore of Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy. It is a little way up the coast and north of the location of the hospital where Bond was recovering earlier in the film.

Contributor Nicholas Knight grabbed a good shot of Villa Gaeta, on the shore of Lake Como, Italy.

The beautiful establishing shot of Villa Gaeta, situated on the prominent Gaeta peninsular. It is still available for guests to stay on holiday.

Without a helicopter to help out, this is as good a shot as was possible for image contributor Nicholas Knight and it was still a very good image that clearly shows the stunning Villa Gaeta on Lake Como.

Mr White gets out of his car with the stunning water of Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy behind.

Not quite as sunny as when the Casino Royale production team were there, but Nicolas Knight still grabbed a decent 'now' location image.

There is an unexpected phone call for Mr White on the shore of Lake Como.

Jesper Christensen takes a bullet to the leg and crawls across the stoney driveway of Villa Gaeta.

Daniel Craig delivers the iconic character introduction in the grounds of Villa Gaeta, Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy.

A great angle for the awesome line delivery at the end of the movie. It looks like Daniel Craig just stepped out of frame as contributor Nicholas Knight took this still shot!