FRANCE – Paris, Centre George Pompidou // Moonraker (1979)
Paris is the city of the Belle Époque – with a futuristic space hub right in its heart, the Centre Pompidou. Good for “Moonraker”!
Why Bond was here
Billionaire Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale) is up to kill all mankind and then re-populate a “master race” in space. James Bond (Roger Moore) is on his tails and visits Drax at his California estate, a castle imported brick-by-brick from France. Also at the compound is the Drax Industries shuttle-manufacturing complex – where Bond meets Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles), an undercover CIA agent.
The facility is – in sharp contrast to the old estate – a high tech office with glass walls and modern laboratories. The interior of futuristic Centre Pompidou had been used to film the complex.
Bond and Goodhead at the Centre Pompidou
How you gonna get there
Centre Pompidou is a famous museum in the Beaubourg area of Paris, pretty much in the heart of the city. The train station “Châtelet – Les Halles” is nearby, same as metro stations “Rambuteau” and “Hôtel de Ville”. You could also easily take a walk up north from famous Notre Dame on Les Iles or eastwards from the Louvre through the lush Jardin Nelson Mandela. From the park you already have a perfect view on the strangely beautiful façade of Centre Pompidou.
The filming location is at the upper level: the long glass tube that runs from the elevators to the museum entry.
Good to know
The Centre Pompidou was designed by architects Richard Rogers, Su Rogers, Renzo Piano in the 1970s. It houses the Musée National d’Art Moderne – which is Europes largest museum for modern and contemporary art. You’ll find such masters as Rothko and Pollock, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Picasso or Frida Kahlo.
The building itself is a pop art attack! While many houses in Paris give the city an out of time look, Centre Pompidou feels like a spaceship from the future nestled in between. The architects idea was to design an ‘inside-out’ building with its plumping tubes and electrical wires laying bare on the outer front – leaving room inside for the art.
We are both art enthusiasts with Julia loving the work of Pollock and Chagall and Marc adoring photos by Man Ray and the tantalising blues of Yves Klein. Lucky us, we found them all at the museum – and even an Otto Dix from Marc’s hometown! When you are around, not only look for the big names but also head for the contemporary part with always surprising new finds, like refreshing artists from the Middle East or funny video installations to boost your childrens interest in art!
© 2021 Huntingbond (1,3), © 1979 Danjaq S.A.