20 Things You Didn’t Know About Moonraker (1979)

9. “...If Double-0 Seven Can Be Trusted To Look After It!”

Glastron supplied even more speedboats for Moonraker than it had for Sir Roger Moore’s debut as Double-0 Seven, Live And Let Die (1973), even though James Bond’s boat chase with Jaws was far shorter than that featured in the earlier film.

Set on the River Tiperapé in the Amazon where James Bond searches for the deadly orchid, Orchidae Nigra, from which Drax develops his deadly nerve gas for exterminating mankind, the explosive boat chase was shot on the St. Lucie River near Palm Beach, Florida.

The climax of the boat chase was captured at Iguazú Falls (also known as Iguaçu Falls) on the Argentinian-Brazilian border. Whilst Derek Meddings shot a miniature of Jaws’s Glastron SSV-189 plunging over the Falls, Bond’s driverless Glastron Carlson CV23HT (of which only 300 were ever made) became trapped atop the towering waterfall on location.

Special effects maestro, John Richardson was suspended from a helicopter in a brave but unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the stricken speedboat from the Iguazú Falls. When the crew returned the next morning, it had mysteriously vanished without trace.

Contributor

I started writing for WhatCulture in July 2020. I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I have contributed to several short story competitions and I have occasionally been fortunate enough to have my work published. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I also started reviewing films on my Facebook page. Numerous friends and contacts suggested that I should start my own website for reviewing films, but I wanted something a bit more diverse - and so here I am! My interests focus on film and television mainly, but I also occasionally produce articles that venture into other areas as well. In particular, I am a fan of the under appreciated sequel (of which there are many), but I also like the classics and the mainstream too.