343 replies to this topic

[MkB]

Thanks Vauxhall!

I don't have time tonight to translate it unfortunately, but in the meanwhile I found a very interesting article in a Tuscan press review:
http://www.mediateca...icembre2007.pdf
(p. 16 of te PDF document, "Sparatorie e inseguimenti etc.", Dec. 7th 2007)

The first column and the beginning of the second give a detailed account of the car chase. We learn Bond's complete itinerary, that it's the the Villains who call the police to chase Bond, and even what happens to some police cars and when. No mention of a chopper there, and it seems that, with the geography of the places mentioned, Bond escapes with a car and drives to Siena (maybe the helicopter will be there only for filming, not as an active "prop" in the scenes?).
I'll do my best to provide you with a translation as soon as possible, but if someone else can do it, don't hesitate to contribute

The chase from Lago di Garda to the Palio in Siena seems to be "one piece" according to these sources, which seems to me quite odd. Those places are really distant, it can't be a real-time pursuit.

Anyway, it looks like we're going to be treated with an action-packed PTS... Viva Italia!

[MkB]

Here we go with the translation!

The beginning of the chase is on the shores of the Lago di Garda. Then, abandonning the lake, James Bond heads to the mountains. He enters a tunnel (the Passo del Vestito tunnel), and from there goes to Altagnana, where the pursuers of the world's most famous spy call the police that, with sirens blazing, engages in a breathtaking chase that, we can bet, will become a landmark of film history. And with it, our city will have a nice publicity! These are the first scenes, all Apuans, of the next 007 film with Daniel Craig, that will start filming in April in the basins of Fantiscritti and Canalgrande. The detail of operations, which consists for the city in the arrival of 200 people (staff, actos, stuntmen...), have been transmitted to the lord mayor Angelo Zubbani by Guido Cersauolo from Mestiere Cinema, the Venitian production firm that has already made possible the last Casino Royale, of which the 22nd episode is a sequel.
Thus, in a very detailed photographic file is explained, take after take, what will happen in our quarries. From Altagnana, Bond gets out of a tunnel and follows a dirt road; from there, the entrance of the quarry 75 will be seen on all the silver screens in the world. With gunfight and chases, 007 joins the descent at Canalgrande. It's in this quarry that the police car crashes in an old house. "Bond continues to lead," one can read in the production file, "a police car gets out of the road and falls. The location schedules then chases over Fantiscritti and from there at Ravaccione, the entrance in the tunnel, and exit at the Tarnone station. Getting out of the Miseglia tunnel, Bond arrives straight in Siena, where scenes have already been filmed at the Palio dell'Assunta".

[Vauxhall]

Top stuff again, MkB! This chase sounds fairly lengthy to me - taking in several varied locations. It could certainly be brilliant.

[pieffra]

Ottimo lavoro di ricerca MkB...

Fantastiche notizie!!!

[Shrublands]

I just hope that this chase isn

[MkB]

Ti ringrazio molto, pieffra

[MkB]

Vauxhall and Shrublands, I too am baffled with the amount of action that is described in these various articles...

- Interrogation of Mr White at Lago di Garda, then some breathtaking scenes with lots of stuntmen ad a speedboat chase there
- A car chase in the Apuan Alps (Carrara), gunfight in the marble quarries ans tunnel, blasts and crashed police cars (with possibly a helicopter involved)
- A car chase then a foot chase in the streets of Siena, then on the rooftops, and then in the underground cisterns (bottini), not to mention the explosion of an Art Gallery in siena, as seen in the footage during the Press Conference.

Not to mention also the fact that Lago di Garda is at least 180 miles far from Siena (as the crow flies), I can't see how all this could possibly fit into a single PTS!? At least, I suppose some of the action in Siena will be post-PTS. As Bond finds shelter in a safehouse there, one can guess he'll stay there for some time.

[Vauxhall]

My prediction for how the opening portion of the movie is going to pan out is as follows:

The gunbarrel opens out to Bond driving around Lake Garda with Mr White secured in the back of the car, taking him away for interrogation. Presumably the location scouts have decided that Lake Garda is better suited for shooting cars racing around its shores than Lake Como. Around the edge of the lake, some of Mr White's associates show up attempting to attack Bond and rescue White. Bond despatches them, but this triggers the interest of the local Italian police who intervene to try and make Bond give himself up. This then leads to the chase expanding to the quarries and mountains of Tuscany (particulary the region around Carrara). It sounds like the pursuit takes place through several Alpine tunnels. Along the course of this journey, the police cars gradually drop out of the chase as they crash failing to keep up with Bond's expert driving. Finally (having suspended geographical accuracy for the sake of good cinema) Bond's escape leads him into the town of Siena, with White still secure in the back of the car, where we go into the main titles.

I would then expect the main portion of the movie to commence with M and Bond interrogating White in the underground cistern MI6 safehouse in Siena. After they manage to force some information out of him about the scale of his organisation, he is killed by the MI6 traitor. Bond then pursues him in a footchase across Siena, firstly through the underground passages (bottini) and then across the rooftops while the Palio horserace takes place in the streets below, perhaps culminating in the fight in the renovated art gallery.

[Shrublands]

Vauxhall, I was about to post the below when I saw your post

[Vauxhall]

Yes, certainly some ideas in common here Shrublands. It will be interesting to see how close our guesses turn out to be.

I'd be very happy with a shorter pre-title sequence, but I'm not sure where we stand on the original rumours of there being a boat sequence on the lake. I haven't heard anything concrete for a while. Perhaps that bit has been cut in favour of a longer car chase.

I agree with the basic ideas of what transpires once in Siena, although I'm slightly confused by a couple of aspects. One is that it has been said that the fight in the art gallery is between Bond and Taubman's character. Like you, I always assumed that Slate would be the MI6 traitor. Secondly, that would fail to explain the apparent surprise shown by M when Tanner tells her that Bond has killed Slate. It's not of huge significance, but I'd also note that the art gallery fight presumably takes place on a different day to the capture of Mr White as Bond is wearing a different suit.

It all seems a bit cloudy, but I think we have the basic outline of what will happen towards the start of the movie. Like you said, I think the matter for debate is how many sequences all this action in Italy will comprise. I'm tempted to say two, but it could conceivably be one (although that would surely produce about a 20 minute sequence) or three.

[Shrublands]

I'd be very happy with a shorter pre-title sequence, but I'm not sure where we stand on the original rumours of there being a boat sequence on the lake. I haven't heard anything concrete for a while. Perhaps that bit has been cut in favour of a longer car chase.

I actually still believe that the Jet Boat stuff will be in Panama, I think the mention of speedboats here will be incidental to the main action on the road or a very small "get away" moment from the house, nothing big.

I agree with the basic ideas of what transpires once in Siena, although I'm slightly confused by a couple of aspects. One is that it has been said that the fight in the art gallery is between Bond and Taubman's character. Like you, I always assumed that Slate would be the MI6 traitor.

I don

[Royal Dalton]

I agree with the basic ideas of what transpires once in Siena, although I'm slightly confused by a couple of aspects. One is that it has been said that the fight in the art gallery is between Bond and Taubman's character. Like you, I always assumed that Slate would be the MI6 traitor.

I'm sure Slate is the traitor. I'm pretty certain he's the man Bond's fighting with on the roof, and the one who crashes to the floor and points the PPK, in behind the scenes footage.

That does look a lot like Taubman in the art gallery scene, though.

[Shrublands]

That does look a lot like Taubman in the art gallery scene, though.

I can see I

[Vauxhall]

[quote name='Shrublands' post='838088' date='14 February 2008 - 13:32'][quote name='Royal Dalton' post='838081' date='14 February 2008 - 13:12']That does look a lot like Taubman in the art gallery scene, though.[/quote]
I can see I

[Shrublands]

Yep, that does look like Anatole Taubman in the art gallery fight, the man in the first big fall has dark (black) hair that is in the same receding hairline pattern as Mr Taubman and not a full head of blond hair, like Neil Jackson (Mr. Slate)

[HildebrandRarity]

I hope such intense disection and yer focus on the minutia doesn't diminish your enjoyment in early November.

Nice bit of detective work, though...Hopefully i'll have forgotten about this thread in eight-odd months.

[Shrublands]

I hope such intense disection and yer focus on the minutia doesn't diminish your enjoyment in early November.

It hasn

[Gernot]

[quote name='Shrublands' post='838093' date='14 February 2008 - 14:56']Yep, that does look like Anatole Taubman in the art gallery fight, the man in the first big fall has dark (black) hair that is in the same receding hairline pattern as Mr Taubman and not a full head of blond hair, like Neil Jackson (Mr. Slate)

[Shrublands]

Yep, that does look like Anatole Taubman in the art gallery fight, the man in the first big fall has dark (black) hair that is in the same receding hairline pattern as Mr Taubman and not a full head of blond hair, like Neil Jackson (Mr. Slate)… umm… this rather throws my theory.

It also lends credibility to the Al Pacino story (in a roundabout sort of way)… No. I will not believe that one.

recently, a swiss magazine reported, that Taubman has already shot some action sequences with daniel craig in the art gallery set in pinewood...!

Well that confirms it, I was wrong about Slate and the chase from the MI6 safe house to the art gallery.

I now think that the whole Italian sequence at the beginning is much longer and more involved than we had previously thought, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were still following a trail in Italy half an hour or more into the film.

Edited by Shrublands, 14 February 2008 - 03:38 PM.

[HildebrandRarity]

[quote name='Shrublands' post='838130' date='14 February 2008 - 15:17'][quote name='HildebrandRarity' post='838102' date='14 February 2008 - 14:19']I hope such intense disection and yer focus on the minutia doesn't diminish your enjoyment in early November. [/quote]

It hasn

[Shrublands]

Back to TWINE. I remember following the 3 days of the Bilbao shoot as well as following the lengthy Thames filming religiously on Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang...

Fond memories. Yes, I was there too.

[HildebrandRarity]

Fond memories. Yes, I was there too.

All my Bond memories have been fond...dating back to the pre-DAF re-release of YOLT at the drive-in to which my parents took me during childhood.

Cheers, Shrublands.

[Shrublands]

Fond memories. Yes, I was there too.

All my Bond memories have been fond...dating back to the pre-DAF re-release of YOLT at the drive-in to which my parents took me during childhood.

Cheers, Shrublands.

My Bond memories are also pre-DAF and date back to a corgi Aston Martin and a rainy night at a now long closed cinema, in a small Welsh town, and a re-issue of Thunderball.

But things didn

[MkB]

I hope such intense disection and yer focus on the minutia doesn't diminish your enjoyment in early November.

Nice bit of detective work, though...Hopefully i'll have forgotten about this thread in eight-odd months.

In fact I'm interested specifically in the Italian locations, and I hope it will on the contrary increase my enjoyment in November to know exactly the minute details about the places where these scenes were shot. At least, I expect it to be so
But I don't want to know anything about the other locations, the plot, the characters, etc. Frankly, I'm mainly excited by the "detective work", as you put it: if I was given a complete file with all production details, I'm pretty sure I'd energically refuse to read through it. But trying to find out some hidden intel, that is exciting. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

[HildebrandRarity]

Indeed MkB. I am planning my summer vacation and northern Italy has become my target location as of the Palio di Siena shoot last August. As a result, i'm especially keen on following this thread for 'ideas'.

One thing from past productions: No matter how deeply I followed the proceeding, the end result always deviated from my original imagination.

Some stuff even ended up on the cutting floor: Ice golfing from DAD, Bond & Vesper in the sea from CR, Thames chase being very different from the actual Thames and Renard cut from Bilbao PTS in TWINE, ect.

[MkB]

Indeed MkB. I am planning my summer vacation and northern Italy has become my target location as of the Palio di Siena shoot last August. As a result, i'm especially keen on following this thread for 'ideas'.

Nice! Maybe then you would like to have a look at the couple of pics I posted on CBn during my recent trip to Siena:
http://debrief.comma...p...st&p=797624
And of course, PM if you think I can help.

One thing from past productions: No matter how deeply I followed the proceeding, the end result always deviated from my original imagination.

Some stuff even ended up on the cutting floor: Ice golfing from DAD, Bond & Vesper in the sea from CR, Thames chase being very different from the actual Thames and Renard cut from Bilbao PTS in TWINE, ect.

Hopefully it will be so for QoS too As long as they don't cut too much of Italy, I'm always OK for being surprised

[Tuxedo]

I agree with the basic ideas of what transpires once in Siena, although I'm slightly confused by a couple of aspects. One is that it has been said that the fight in the art gallery is between Bond and Taubman's character. Like you, I always assumed that Slate would be the MI6 traitor.

I'm sure Slate is the traitor. I'm pretty certain he's the man Bond's fighting with on the roof, and the one who crashes to the floor and points the PPK, in behind the scenes footage.

That does look a lot like Taubman in the art gallery scene, though.

I watched it again and again. Could it be Felix Leiter he

[Vauxhall]

[quote name='Tuxedo' post='838603' date='15 February 2008 - 14:12'][quote name='Royal Dalton' post='838081' date='14 February 2008 - 14:12'][quote name='Vauxhall' post='838071' date='14 February 2008 - 12:38']I agree with the basic ideas of what transpires once in Siena, although I'm slightly confused by a couple of aspects. One is that it has been said that the fight in the art gallery is between Bond and Taubman's character. Like you, I always assumed that Slate would be the MI6 traitor.[/quote]
I'm sure Slate is the traitor. I'm pretty certain he's the man Bond's fighting with on the roof, and the one who crashes to the floor and points the PPK, in behind the scenes footage.

That does look a lot like Taubman in the art gallery scene, though.
[/quote]
I watched it again and again. Could it be Felix Leiter he

[MkB]

Fresh news, folks!

An article published in Il Tirreno, Feb. 14th 2007, is available here (p. 8 of the pdf document):
http://www.mediateca...ebbraio2008.pdf

Translation:

The school of Miseglia re-opens for an exceptional event: the shooting of 007. The Italian production (Mestiere Cinema), during one of the last operative meetings with the town staff, yesterday in the morning, has requested the possibility to use the former school building as a headquarter. A first rate logistical position, given that the heart of the spectacular and breathtaking scenes of the film of the world's most famous secret agent will be the quarries.
It was then explained that the large staff (about 200 people) will arrive on April 25th: during the first days, they'll be filming between the Passo del Vestito and Altagnana (in cinematographical imagination, we're talking about a single chase that begins on the Lago di Garda, continues to the quarries and ends on the Piazza del Campo); from May 2th to 9th, filming at Fantiscritti; from 10th to 12th the last touches. Here, practically everything will be filmed in the parts of the road that go from Fantiscritti to Canalgrande, and from Fantiscritti to Ponti di Vara; scenes with special effects, fast chases, cars ending up down the ravine. It has been asked to smooth some blocks serving as a parapet, agains which will crash a car driven on two wheels. The next meeting, the final one, is set to March 13th. The production will surely have at disposal two parking lots, in Tarnone and in Fantiscritti, and a helicopter; the town police will be in charge of securing the roads involved, and to lend a hand, together with civil protection. An extraordinary event for the city.

On the original article scanned in pdf, you can also admire a picture of a work of art inspired by James Bond 007, that is apparently part of the Rassegna Internazionale d'Arte of Bologna.

[MkB]

A brand new article, published yesterday Feb. 17th in "Il Giornale della Toscana"
http://www.mediateca...ebbraio2008.pdf
(p. 11-12 of the PDF document)

Nothing really new yet, this articles uses bits of information already mentioned here.