THAILAND – Bangkok, Giant Swing, Rommaniat Park, Chokchai Building & Democracy Monument // The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Gold-spangled archways sparkle in a soft sunset at the famous Wat Pho and bonsai trees cast their shadows: There are definitely worse ways then ending a day of hunting for the Bangkok car chase locations!
Why Bond was here
James Bond (Roger Moore) follows the traces of one of the world’s most dangerous assassins, the talented gunman Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee). Before he trails him down on his private island in Phang-Nga Bay, both ensure in a car chase throughout Bangkok. The race starts at Ratchadamnoen Thai Boxing Stadium and then wildly mixes up several landmarks throughout the city.
The AMC Hornet rushing along the Democracy Monument
How you gonna get there
Parts of the Bangkok car chase had been filmed along Sukhumvit Road in the eastern part of the town, other scenes took place in the city center called Phra Nakhon. These are the main points:
- Bond “gets” his AMC Hornet at a rental booth in the Chokchai Building at Sukhumvit Road. The location is close to the metro station Phrom Phong – but gone. The building was demolished in recent years, so you won’t actually find there anything left.
- As the race goes on, both pass the Democracy Monument, a well-known Bangkok landmark at a roundabout close to the infamous Khaosan Road.
- Some meters south is Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing, another landmark. The Bangkok car chase runs along both, the high swing barely visible in the fast edit.
- Scaramanga then hides his car in an alley – before Bond finds him again and turns his car in 180 degree slide. The scene was filmed at Siri Phong Road close to Rommaniat Park.
- Both finally race out of town at Route 1 Bridge and Khlong 3 Bridge in Rangsit north of Bangkok. During filming in the seventies this was still a rural area – nowadays Rangsit is filled with McDonald’s, arcade game centers and highways.
The famous astro spiral jump over the Khlong river also had been filmed here. It is some meters of the highway and still sparsely populated. You can read all about our visit to the famous location here:
We’ve been to the real location of the Astro Spiral Jump from “The Man With The Golden Gun”
Good to know
It is not really a treat to visit both the locations on Sukhumvit Road or along the Rangsit highways – but it is definitely worth coming to Phra Nakhon, the heart of Bangkok.
Pay a visit to the Democracy Monument and the Giant Swing, then take your time to explore the beautiful Wat Suthat temple and chill for a bit at the lush Rommaniat Park. Then head further south to the famous Wat Pho temple complex. A tuk-tuk ride from Rommaniat Park should not cost more then 50 Baht, depending on your bargaining skills. The entry to Wat Pho is 200 Baht per person and well worth the money.
The temple complex hosts the grand Reclining Buddha, a huge golden statue of a resting Buddha figure, and several other breath-taking Buddha statues and images. Come past 7 pm to avoid the crowds and see the sun slowly setting between the temple roofs. The temples gold-spangled archways sparkle in a soft orange, the bonsai and bamboo trees cast long shadows.
After a day of location hunting and seeing the beautiful Wat Pho, we wandered some meters towards Chao Phraya river and sat down at relaxed Eagle Nest’s Café for sundowners and some Pad Thai. Come early to get one of the treasured terrace seats – but not to late to miss the sunset over the majestic Wat Arun on the other riverside.
© 2019 Huntingbond (1,3), © 1974 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. and Danjaq, LLC. The Spy Who Loved Me (2)