A Flying Boat in Tobacco Dock
Monday May 24, 1999
LONDON - Monday 24th May 1999, was the final day of filming of what promises to be one of the most exciting boat chases in cinema history. And here at 007 NEWS we saved the best for last. Complete with an action video, here's a stunt reminiscent of Louisiana Sheriffs and crocodiles!
David Williams reports from London
A
small crowd had started to form around the site. Curious
onlookers craned their necks towards the boathouse. One of the
crew used an angle-grinder on a set of railings, as the film
crews set up their positions. Tape was pulled across the road
to stop pedestrians from entering the restricted area. The bus
was positioned at one end of the road bridge, and the action
camera-car at the opposite end. I stood to one side of the
road, and watched as Vic Armstrong took his seat in front of a
bank of video monitors.
Half an hour passed as light readings were taken, distances measured and the crew positioned. The engine of the bus was started, and over the radio was heard the camera crews announce 'speed on 1', 'speed on 2' 3,4,5 and 6. On a count of '3, 2, (a small pause),1 FIRE!' a small explosion from the boathouse launched the 'Q' boat, out of the roof of the building, crashing through the railings, in front of the bus and onto the road, sliding to a sudden halt against a pile of old tyres and large water barrels. Silence, then a ripple of applause (and a big sigh of relief from the crew!) The crew massed around the monitors as the crowd surged forward to get a view of the damage, and to shake hands with the fearless stuntman who had performed this spectacular feat. Only to be met with the blank features of the Bond Dummy!
'OK everyone, back to your previous positions' shouted
Terry Madden, the Assistant Director. Anyone who has had their
car (probably deservedly) wheel-clamped will applaud the next
sequence in the chase. As Bond steers the 'Q' boat around a
bend in the canal, he manages to throw up a large wave which
drenches two unfortunate wheel-clampers who are working on a
parked car. Those of you in the UK who saw last years TV
series about a group of Traffic Wardens will no doubt remember
one of them who seemed to enjoy his job far too much. Ray
Brown
became a minor celebrity and now has a minor role in a Bond
film as one of the clampers.
Once this shot was in the can, the words 'It's a wrap, see
you all tomorrow morning back at Pinewood' informed all of us
that this was the end of our little adventure. Since 30th
March I, then joined by a few others, had followed the 2nd
unit all across London, from Vauxhall in the west, to Victoria
Docks in the east, in bright hot sunshine, through rain
showers to thunderstorms and freezing gale-force winds. And
thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!
In closing I would like to thank a few people (takes a long
list from his inside pocket!). Firstly, all the fans I have
meet over the last eight weeks, both in person and via e-mail,
your support has helped make this the pleasure it has been.
Next I would like to thank all the cast and crew at EON who
have endured my presence, and the many who have spoken kindly
to me and my colleagues. Last but by no means least, I would
like to thank the editor, Panos Sambrakos who has worked
tirelessly into the early hours of the morning to put my words
and pictures into order and bring them to the attention of
Bond fans world wide. You run a very professional site and
deserve many more awards.
Here's to November 1999 and 'The World Is Not
Enough'
David Williams
EDITOR'S NOTE:
On behalf of Bond
fans the world over, we'd like to thank David Williams for his
enthusiasm, dedication and resourcefulness in tracking the
Bond crew on their every move and bringing this thrilling
experience in front of us. We're convinced this sequence will
be a true highlight in "The World Is Not Enough", and thanks
to David, we'll all feel like we were there watching it happen
in front of our own eyes.