Top 10 stunts from the James Bond 007 film series

By: Jon Auty

Published:
2012-02-06

Exclusive article from FSWL contributing stunt expert Jon Auty.

James Bond leaping from crane to crane in Casino Royale (2006) topped a poll of the greatest James Bond action sequences for the Radio Times, beating classic stunts involving previous 007s Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. The scene was devised by stunt co-ordinator Gary Powell and was performed by stuntman Adam Kirley who not only doubled Bond, but also doubled parkour free runner Sébastien Foucan.

Second place going to the downhill ski chase in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), which ends with Moore floating to safety under a Union Jack parachute. Rick Sylvester takes the plunge as Bond under instruction from 2nd Unit Director John Glen. Sylvester had always suggested that gravity should take a credit for the stunt and it’s no wonder that audiences were on their feet during this breath-taking pre-title sequence.

James Bond stunt

Roger Moore’s car jump over a canal in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) was third, and is a prime example of why the Bond films are so special to so many people. Worked out by computer by the JW Milligan stunt team, it’s a beautiful slow-motion leap which was nailed on the first take.

James Bond stunt

This is followed by the speedboat leap from Live and Let Die (1973) which up until fairly recently was still a world record jump.

James Bond stunt

Pierce Brosnan entered the list in fourth place for his speedboat chase along the Thames in The World Is Not Enough (1999) for which he did a great deal of the action himself. Simon Crane and Vic Armstrong at the helm with brilliant stunt performances by Sarah Donohue, Mark Mottram, Gary Powell and Wade Eastwood.

James Bond stunt

The earliest stunt is the Aston Martin ejector seat in Goldfinger (1964) (1964). An odd insertion into the list as it doesn’t employ a stunt double. The car is driven by George Leech, but the man fired out by the ejector seat is a dummy.

James Bond stunt

Other entries in the top 10 are Brosnan's spectacular dive off the Verzasca Dam in GoldenEye (1995) (1995), which was performed by Wayne Michaels.

James Bond stunt

The ski chase from On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) devised by Willy Bogner and some doubling duties falling into the hands of Vic Armstrong.

James Bond stunt

Hopping across the backs of crocodiles in Live and Let Die (1973) (1973) was next on the list and of course was performed by crocodile owner Ross Kananga who very nearly lost a foot during one leap.

Jumping a helicopter with a motorbike in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) (1997) was next and was a sensational result for stunt co-ordinator Vic Armstrong and performer Jean Pierre Goy.

The Top-10 James Bond Stunts according to the Radio Times poll:
1 Crane jump in Casino Royale
2 Ski chase and Union Jack parachute jump in The Spy Who Loved Me
3 Car 'barrel roll' in The Man with the Golden Gun
4 Speedboat leap in Live and Let Die
5 Thames speedboat chase in The World Is Not Enough
6 Aston Martin ejector seat in Goldfinger
7 Dive from the Verzasca Dam in GoldenEye
8 Ski chase in On Her Majesty's Secret Service
9 Jumping over crocodiles in Live and Let Die
10 Motorbike jump over a helicopter in Tomorrow Never Dies

Other Stuntmen and Stuntwomen in the Bond films that are featured on FSWL:
>Belle Williams (stuntwoman)
>Bill Weston (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Bob Anderson (stuntman/sword master)
>Doug Robinson (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Eunice Huthart (stuntwoman)
>Greg Powell (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Jim Dowdall (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Lars Lundgren (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Malcolm Weaver (stuntman)
>Martin Grace (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Mickey Baker (stuntman)
>Nick Gillard (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Nick Wilkinson (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Nosher Powell (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Paul Weston (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Remy Julienne (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Richard Graydon (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Rocky Taylor (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Roy Alon (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Terry Cade (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Terry Richards (stuntman)
>Trevor Steedman (stuntman/stunt coordinator)
>Wendy Leech (stuntwoman)

Check out FSWL's section of stunt links for official websites of the talented stunt people from the James Bond film series.

Written by Jon Auty © 2012 From Sweden With Love

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Top 10 stunts from the James Bond 007 film series

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