Vienna, Austria

   
The fifteenth James Bond film, THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, was made at the end of the Cold War and tells of KGB officer General Georgi Koskov (Jeroen Krabbé) defecting to the West. James Bond (Timothy Dalton) is assigned to aid the general and discovers that the young female cellist Kara Milovy (Maryam d'Abo) acts as a sniper.
   

Maria-Theresien-Platz, Vienna, 12 July 2014

On 5 October 1986 the main players were introduced to the press in Vienna where filming on location was done for the next two weeks. Because it was not possible in 1986 to film a Western spy movie in an Eastern bloc country - especially not a James Bond movie - Vienna was also used to stand in for the city of Bratislava, at that time part of Czechoslovakia and currently the capitol of Slovakia. Not a strange choice considering that Vienna and Bratislava are less than 80 kilometres apart from each other.
    

After the opening credits James Bond and his ally Saunders (Thomas Wheatley) visit a concert also attended by general Koskov. Above the entrance it says ‘Ľudové konzervatorium’ (‘People's Conservatory’), but in real life it is the Volksoper at the Währinger Straße 78. This opera building is easy to visit by means of the nearby metro station Währinger Straße-Volksoper. The building opened its doors in 1898 as Kaiserjubiläums-Stadttheater-Verein to commemorate the 50 year reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I.
The screenshots by night have been brightened for a better view, the Volksoper is also shown during daylight further on in the movie.

The Living Daylights, 0:13:54

Volksoper, Vienna, 13 July 2014

The Living Daylights, 0:13:57

Volksoper, Vienna, 13 July 2014

The Living Daylights, 0:34:10

Volksoper, Vienna, 13 July 2014

During the intermission of the concert the British spies cross the street to what seems to be an office of the communist party KSS, with the hammer and sickle on the balcony and the sign ‘KSS Agitačné Stredisko’ (‘KSS Agitation Centre’) above the door, but turns out to be a MI6 safe house. In reality a candy shop is located on the corner. It was closed when we visited but during opening hours a few photos from the movie are on display in the window. The building itself has been painted bright yellow since filming was done.

The Living Daylights, 0:11:41

Währinger Straße, Vienna, 13 July 2014

The Living Daylights, 0:11:44

Währinger Straße, Vienna, 13 July 2014

The Living Daylights, 0:11:46

Währinger Straße, Vienna, 13 July 2014

When James Bond and Kara finally arrive in Vienna the famous Giant Ferris Wheel can be seen in the background. At night they make a ride in the wheel that is also featured in The Third Man. The line "Ein balloon mein herr?" spoken by Necros (Andreas Wisniewski) is a direct reference to this film classic.

The Living Daylights, 0:52:33

Giant Ferris Wheel, Vienna, 12 July 2014

The Living Daylights, 1:01:13

Giant Ferris Wheel, Vienna, 12 July 2014

Earlier that day James Bond and Kara have made a ride through Vienna in a horse carriage, crossing the Maria-Theresien-Platz. On this square are the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History) and the Naturhistorisches Museum (Museum of Natural History), two almost identical buildings. They pass the monument for Empress Maria Theresa from 1888, but since her statue is on top only the statue of one the four horsemen, the Austrian general Gideon Ernst von Laudon, can be seen. In the background the Hofburg Palace is visible, until 1918 home of the Habsburg dynasty of which Maria Theresa was a member.

The Living Daylights, 0:52:42

Maria-Theresien-Platz, Vienna, 12 July 2014

The horse carriage also goes to the Schönbrunn Palace and passes the back side where an orchestra is playing on top of the steps and a waltz is being danced. In the background the Neptune fountain and, on the hill, the Gloriette pavillion can be seen. During the end credits the front side of the palace is seen by night as well as the fountain dating from 1776 personifying the regions Galicia (Poland), Volhynia (Ukraine) and Transylvania (Romenia).

Both the palace and the gardens of Schönbrunn are open to the public.

The Living Daylights, 0:53:30

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, 10 July 2014

The Living Daylights, 0:54:03

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, 10 July 2014

The Living Daylights, 2:08:15

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, 10 July 2014

Screenshots © EON Productions

Schönbrunn Palace, Austria

   
The romantic comedy A BREATH OF SCANDAL is set in 1917 at the Habsburg court in Austria. Princess Olympia (Sophia Loren - today, 20 September, is her 81st birthday) falls in love with the American mining engineer Charlie Foster (John Gavin), but her family expects her to marry a prince.

A Breath of Scandal, 0:42:46

The movie was almost completely filmed in Austria, amongst others at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, where Prince Philip (Maurice Chevalier) lives. Members of the House of Habsburg did actually stay at this palace which served as a summer residence. The most famous resident was the Empress Sissi and the movies about her life were also filmed here. The palace was built in various stages between 1638 and 1780.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century the palace was given its characteristic yellow colour, the ‘Schönbrunn Gelb’. A large part of Schönbrunn is open to the public and in the garden the Schönbrunn Tiergarten is located. Founded in 1752, it is the oldest zoo in the world.

Filming took place between May and July of 1959 and little has changed. Schönbrunn is seen twice in the movie, first when Charlie arrives at the palace and hopes to meet the prince. He arrives at the back entrance and accidentally runs into Prince Philip. The main entrance with the almost identical facade cannot be seen in the film.

A Breath of Scandal, 0:25:44

Schönbrunn Palace, 10 July 2014

A Breath of Scandal, 0:30:25

Schönbrunn Palace, 10 July 2014

A Breath of Scandal, 0:31:05

Schönbrunn Palace, 10 July 2014

At the end of the movie Schönbrunn is seen a second time when Charlie and Olympia drive off together. The final shot shows the Neptune Fountain and the Gloriette. This pavilion was built for diners and receptions. The structure dates from 1775 and, being on top of a hill, offers a panoramic view of the palace and the city.

A Breath of Scandal, 1:33:15

Schönbrunn Palace, 10 July 2014

A Breath of Scandal, 1:33:23

Gloriette and Neptune Fountain, 10 July 2014

During our visit I did not know that this movie was filmed here, the photographs of the current situation are lucky shots.

Schönbrunn Palace, 10 July 2014

Screenshots © Titanus/Paramount

Vienna, Austria

   
In the British film noir THE THIRD MAN Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) visits his old school friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles) in Vienna, capital of Austria. Upon arrival he is informed that Lime was killed in a mysterious car accident. Martins tries to find out what really happened.

The Third Man, 1:37:37

Warning: the text may give away details of the plot.
Filming in Vienna was done from 22 October until 11 December 1948, in a city where the destructive traces of World War II were still visible on every street corner. The centre was supervised by the Allied Commission and divided in an American, a British, a French and a Russian zone. This situation would not end until 1955. Unlike The Sound of Music, which was also shot in Austria, The Third Man is a film that the Austrians appreciate.

Just after my stay in Vienna I found out that there are still many locations that can be visited. There are special tours that include a visit down the original staircase from the movie into one of the older parts of Vienna's sewer system. There is even a The Third Man-museum and the movie is still being shown regularly in a cinema. In 2009 a commemorative stamp was releases to mark the sixtieth birthday of the film.

More or less by accident we photographed a few locations that can be seen throughout the movie.
When Holly Martins arrives in Vienna the city is introduced with several images of the postwar-situation, including the Schönbrunn Palace that served as headquarter of the British forces. Today the palace and its gardens are one of Vienna’s most popular attractions.

The Third Man, 0:02:08

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, 10 July 2014

Just after his arrival, Holly Martins meets one of Harry Lime’s friends, Kurtz (Ernst Deutsch). He takes him to the street where the car accident happened, just in front of the house where Lime lived. This scene was filmed at Josefsplatz, a square near the Hofburg Palace. In the centre of the square is a statue of the emperor Josef II but only the base can seen in the movie.

The Third Man, 0:15:22

The Third Man, 0:15:32

Josefsplatz, Vienna, 12 July 2014

The famous Giant Ferris Wheel is part of the Wurstelprater, a large park with fairground attractions, and was erected between 1896 and 1897. It has become the most famous construction of Vienna. The entrance of the ticket sale reminds of the movie with a portrait of Orson Welles as Harry Lime. Judge for yourself if it is convincing.

The Third Man, 1:06:20

Entrance Giant Ferris Wheel, Vienna, 12 July 2014

At the end of World War II the park and its attractions were heavily damaged and most of them burnt down to the ground. However, after three years the Giant Ferris Wheel was already restored and could be used as a filming location. When Holly Martins finds out Harry Lime is still alive he meets him at the park and together they ride the ferris wheel.

The Third Man, 1:15:30

Giant Ferris Wheel, Vienna, 12 July 2014

The Third Man, 1:15:53

Giant Ferris Wheel, Vienna, 12 July 2014

Located next to the Giant Ferris Wheel is the Austrian branch of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Orson Welles is portrayed in wax as Harry Lime, just at the moment as he enters the cafe to meet Holly Martins. Very appropriately, the statue can be seen at the museum’s cafe.

The Third Man, 1:33:50

Madame Tussauds, Vienna, 12 July 2014

A few moments before the scene at the cafe the police are on the lookout at the Michaelerplatz. With the mysterious shadow seen on the building, this is one of the many camera angles so characteristic of this movie. On the right are two sculpted figures. They are part of the fountain “The Power of the Sea”, celebrating Austria as a naval army. The fountain is dated 1895 and was designed by Rudolf Weyr. On busy days it is hard to make a photo without a tourist posing in front of the statues.

The Third Man, 1:31:10

"The Power of the Sea", Michaelerplatz, Vienna, 12 July 2014

"The Power of the Sea", Michaelerplatz, Vienna, 12 July 2014

Many thanks to the website The Third Man locations (archived by Wayback Machine) where almost all locations from the movie are listed.
 
Screenshots © Studio Canal