Shooting SPECTRE in the heart of London

Well, just in case; there might be a hint of the spoileresque here. 'Might' being the word...

As anyone could tell you, SPECTRE production has moved to Pinewood and the river Thames; several days of weekend night-shoots and a boat-and-helicopter chase unravels between Vauxhall and Westminster bridges. The long-suffering Mrs.S agreed to a road trip...

We rocked up in London for 23:30hrs and parked just along from the Palace of Westminster - that's Parliament to you colonials and a very helpful copper pointed us to the large crowd just across by the entrance to Westminster bridge. Now, if you're expecting close-ups of Daniel and Lea you may have to settle for a tad less...

There was no way we were getting any nearer from this side of the river... the bus and cars are all lined up ready for a shoot, the copper is not; he's real.

If you have magni-vision you can see a bright flare in the middle at the base of the smoke; that's a vehicle burning away. OK I warned you; on-set with 007 this ain't, but how often do you see Westminster bridge on fire?

Now, you don't need to be Columbo here; the previous days shoots included a boat whizzing along and a helicopter flying a bit close for comfort to Big Ben (If I say the Elizabeth clock tower you'll wonder what I meant and think I'm a pedant...) (Won't you!). I'm going with terrorist attack on ye olde cradel of civilization...

A quick dash to the car - and a teeth-grinding twenty minutes to go a few hundred yards - and we're South of the River; Guess where?. Half the river was lit up; apparently if they lit the bridge and not the rest of the river it'd seem too dark; even St.Thomas' Hospital was sporting high-power floods near the roof. 

Going to the Eye and hanging a left on foot took us to these steps by Westminster bridge; this is as far as they'd let us get. At the top of the stairs a technician is waving a smoke generator and theres lots of blue flashing lights and cop cars up there. The Security Marshalls were approachable and friendly - but clearly had been briefed not to break the Secrets Act. A passer-by told us Daniel Craig was running up the steps on the other side in a frantic race to get to the bridge...

large barge acting as support for yet more lights; the action seemed to be at both ends of the bridge at once - possibly leaving room for all the cars etc we saw earlier to be filmed separately in the middle?.

It was while I was stood there with Mrs.S considering swimming under the bridge (maybe not) that my little eye fell on this... look closely dear friend, for 'neath the lions bum is the very door that Pierce Brosnan used to get to the abandoned underground station in Die Another Day... it's a storage cupboard. Sorry.

Finally, at 01:00 hrs o'clock, the barriers opened for a few minutes to let pedestrians up the steps and past the filming. Is that James Bond in the background?. Probably not. We had another pop, this time back over the river, getting into the park right by the Palace and a few not-so good long range hopeless shots before a very nice man told us we'd have to go. Our night was a mixture of frustration and curiosity - but we had fun and that was worth the diesel...

For the record; my guess is SPECTRE plans to wipe out Parliament and HM The Queen during the State Opening (of Parliament). This actually takes place Wednesday - 27-05-2015 - and the whole of the Palace of Westminster is already, conveniently, barricaded off for this. Clever Producers might have timed the whole deal to mesh in and the night shoots are just a prelude to a big climactic scene. I literally cannot wait for the film to open...

Evel Knievel - An American Hero

I grew up in England in the 1970's. That's not strictly true; I never grew up, but England in the Seventies was a dreary place compared to today. The adults worried about three-day weeks, power cuts, strikes - even the gravediggers went on strike, leaving bodies un-buried. Us kids played outdoors and didn't have a care - we had some cool toys and TV shows like the Banana Splits, Six Million-Dollar Man and Starksy & Hutch to keep us entertained.

 ABOVE: Posters - Viva Knievel was one of two feature films. 

BELOW: A Topps card series was produced. A complete set is highly collectable and hard to find.

Toys varied from spacehoppers to chopper bikes to 'force wands' - a lightsaber rip-off that was basically a torch with a plastic tube attached. Often these toys weren't always as cool as the adverts hinted - one such toy being the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle.

 ABOVE & BELOW: A small selection of the massive marketing and promotional tie-ins; somehow my Stunt Cycle never went this well!

This was a gyro-powered motorbike toy with a bendy rubber rider that you sat on a small 'Energizer' platform which had to be frantically wound up to release the bike. On the tv advert the bike zoomed off to perform various tricks and stunts. On our carpet it tangled up and slid sideways into the skirting board. But, young and gauche readers may ask... who - or what was Evel Knievel?.

Robert Craig Knievel entered the World on October 17th 1938, in Butte, Montana. Of German descent, he was raised by his Grandparents. Aged eight, he saw an Auto Daredevil Show, which may have been the inspiration for what was to come. He worked as a mine-driller, and drove an earth-mover, but was fired for doing 'wheelies' in it.

He drifted into rodeo and ski-jumping before joining the US Army (Rather than go to jail). In and out of trouble with the law for poaching, he settled down into the motocross circuit and sold insurance for awhile before turning to the profession for which he became a legend, the name 'Evel' chosen as it rhymed with his surname.

 ABOVE: Evel Knievel in the late sixties.

BELOW: And in 1971. The Jumps were getting bigger.

Jumping a twenty-foot crate filled with rattlesnakes and mountain lions, Knievel just made it. Expanding the show, he started performing bigger and better jumps and switched to jumping cars. One thing Evel Knievel is remembered for is crashing. Man, did that guy wipe out. During his career he suffered nearly four hundred and fifty bone fractures. (Theres only 206 bones in a human skeleton.)

After a few minor accidents - including one where a speeding motorbike hit him in the 'family department' he shattered his arm and ribs in a 1966 jump over twelve cars. The following year he was badly hurt attempting to jump the fountains at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.

 BELOW: The Caesar's Palace jump goes terribly wrong.

 ABOVE: If it had wheels, Knievel jumped it.


The 1970's saw Knievel come to Worldwide fame; in 1974 he attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon in a rocket-bike (more rocket than bike). His drogue 'chute opened prematurely and he drifted to the canyon floor, narrowly missing drowning in the process.

 ABOVE & BELOW: The notorious Snake River Canyon jump.

Knievel tried repeatedly to get US Government permission to jump the Grand Canyon and even considered a jump between skyscrapers in New York. As if that wasn't enough, he planned to jump a tank filled with sharks as a tribute to the film Jaws. A cameraman lost an eye in a rehearsal accident.

ABOVE: There was even an Evel Knievel pinball machine.

In 1975 England thrilled to the sight of his Wembley Stadium jump over 13 single-decker buses. He broke his pelvis, thanked the crowd, announced his retirement... and walked off to a waiting ambulance... (He then changed his mind and continued his career).

 ABOVE: The Wembley crash. 

BELOW: Houston Astrodome, 1970.

Later in life it all caught up with him. He continued to jump, mainly shorter distances taking less risks. After an assault on a promoter who had written a book containing allegations of abusive behaviour and drug use, Knievel was sentenced to six months and lost his sponsorship deals. His remaining public appearances were mainly to help promote his son's own career as a daredevil.

 BELOW: Warming up the Astrodome crowd.

 As his career progressed, Knievel's trademark Jumpsuits became more flamboyant. They were designed by Bill Belew, who designed Elvis Presley's famous stage suit.

Robbie Knievel has since gone on to break twenty World records, mainly because he used specially adapted Honda 500cc bikes rather than the heavier Harley Davidson's his Father used.

 ABOVE: It's in the blood; Robbie Knievel pops a wheelie for the fans. 

BELOW: An American legend in his iconic jumpsuit. Knievel campaigned for children's road safety and advocated Helmet use.

Evel Knievel battled his fear, injuries, strokes and diabetes. He died aged 69 on November 30, 2007 from pulmonary disease. Perhaps more so to an English kid from the seventies, he is a hero. An American Hero.

REVIEWED: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BLOFELD'S CAT

The World According To Blofeld's Cat - Unofficial Musings From The Volcano Lair

 Who knew that Blofeld's cat was taking it all in?. Even as he sat stroking his fluffy white kitty, menacing the World the cat had evil ambitions of his own...

Offering his thoughts on such diverse areas as Astrology, Tabloids and even Reality TV – Blofeld's Cat (What is his name?) takes us on a tour of his world with charm, wit... and pirhanas. But, should you buy it?.

Yep. This book's a scream – and not just for Bond nuts. Attractively priced, it's clear the team behind the book were aiming at the Christmas & Birthday markets; its perfect as a gift for 007 fans with a sense of humour (And, I'm guessing, cat lovers.) £7.99 gets you a modestly sized, beautifully produced hardback with an expensive feel to it. The chapters are all bite-sized and undemanding time-wise, with a giggle in some, belly laughs in most. The real joy for me are the wonderful cartoons – real gems that perfectly compliment the work and give it real character. (If there isn't an animated series in this I'm badly mistaken). First rate stocking-filler material that you can't go wrong with – or as Blofeld's Cat himself might put it; buy a copy for yourself and bah! Humbug! To Christmas!.

 

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BLOFELD'S CAT is available from all good bookshops – some crappy ones too - for the miserly sum of £7.99. You want the ISBN number?; oh, wait a minute... here it is... ISBN 978-0-7509-5961-2

Buy it now from:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-World-According-Blofelds-Cat/dp/0750959614

http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/

@realblofeldscat

#bewareofthecat

All artwork on this page courtesy of and is the copyright of Mark Beynon, Alistair Beynon and Chris Pauli. Any attempt at reproduction will result in the cat's revenge; Claude Balls.