Among the French filming locations of MoonrakerThe circus sequence had long been among the most mysterious. It appears at the very end of the pregeneric, when Jaws, after tearing the handle from his parachute, starts a dizzying fall before being miraculously saved by sifting on the roof of a capital. If the exterior plane of this scene is known to have been made in the form of a model Pinewood studios (with only two masts visible) the part taking place inside the circus was shot in France. We now know the exact date: Saturday 25 November 19782:00 p.m.
Hippodrome of Paris – Pantin Gate(Paris 19th)
Loyalty: Disappeared – Access: Impossible
For many years, this filming was localized by wrong way, most often at Longchamp racetrack. This hypothesis, never supported by solid sources, was gradually imposed by simple repetition. It was only after extensive research and exchanges with circus specialists that it was possible to identify the real place. The scene was actually shot under the capital of the New Hippodrome in Paris – Jean Richard, installed door of Pantin, in the immediate vicinity of the location that Zenith of Paris. The very name of this racetrack probably explains the origin of the confusion with Longchamp.
The filming was not carried out by the main team of the film, but by the second team, under the direction of John Glen, while the first one worked simultaneously at the studios of Épinay on the scenery of Hugo Drax's space base. The choice of this capital is not random. Between 1975 and 1981, the building was built on a six-pole structure and had a 50-metre-long track for 15 metres wide. Depending on the configuration, it could accommodate between 5,000 and 8,000 spectators, making it a spectacular place, perfectly suited to the requirements of a James Bond shooting.
The press of the time sheds valuable light on the day. In its edition of November 10, 1978, France Evening indicates that readers could attend the shooting, presented as a gala « Jean Richard – James Bond »on Simple sending of a coupon glued to a postcard. Another article, published on November 28, 1978, reviews the conditions of the filming and reveals that the unbalanced troupe « Traber » — and not « Crossing », as mentioned in the article — had achieved a spectacular drop on the safety net. The audience had also been called upon to act as a panicked crowd by the collapse of a capital. These sequences, however filmed, do not will eventually not be kept at assembly.
Permanently mounted at the end of the yearyear 1975 by society « Chapters Shows Jean Richard »The new Hippodrome in Paris hosted until the end of 1982 mainly circus shows for the public in Ile-de-France, particularly in the framework of works councils. The site also served as a concert hall before being permanently dismantled at the beginning of the1983, when the decision is made to build a large modern show hall. The Zenith of Paris will be inaugurated in 1984.
From the Jean Richard racetrack, no material traces remain today, only the memory of an emblematic place where, in the afternoon of November 1978, James Bond crossed the universe of the Parisian circus.
Thanks to Vincent Bouderlique for his enlightened knowledge and archives, as well as to Philip Latchford.
This blog shares my travel experiences, from unavoidable destinations to the most original and exclusive places. Each article is the result of careful work and a real time investment. If you use this information elsewhere or for your own adventures, consider citing your sources and thanking – that's what I do myself, and it's always fun.
Julien Abauzit (JaBoz)
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