ITALY – Venice, Murano Glass Museum & Venini Furnace // Moonraker (1979)

In “Moonraker” James Bond shatters a lot of glass all over Venice. Many locations are real, some are a set. Now HuntingBond rediscovered, what was long thought to be filmed at a studio: the glass furnace!

Why Bond was here
After some shenanigans with French megalomaniac Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale) in the US, Bond (Roger Moore) moves to Venice in Italy – following up a lead, that uncovers a sinister plan by Drax to kill all mankind and repopulate a “master race” in space. For this, Drax needs glass. A lot of glass.

Bond visits famous glass manufacturer Venini at their flagshipstore at Piazza San Marco, before checking out their furnace and then a glass museum. He later reenters the museum at night – and sets the record for the most sugar glass broken in one scene together with Drax’ henchman. The fight concluded in a recreation of the Torre dell’Orologio, with Bond pushing his enemy through the huge clock-face. More broken glass.

How you gonna get there
The Venini setting is a wild ride through a lot of locations in Venice – spread out from San Marco to Murano Island. The shop entry is at Piazza San Marco, while the backdoors are at Palazzetto Pisano. The museum and the clock tower are studios sets, but have their counterparts in the real Murano Glass Museum and Torre dell’Orologio.
Absolutely real, but lost to Bond knowledge for some decades: the glass furnace. Untill we rediscovered the real place.
Both the furnace and the glass museum are situated on Murano, a small island north of Venice main hub. It is famous for its many glass makers and souvenirs. A boat ride is only some minutes, ferry lines 3 and 4 run regularly from the northern outskirts of Venice over to Murano. Either hop off at “Faro” and walk some minutes to the museum or directly exit at the stop “Museo”. The museums main hall looks exactly like the studio set.
A much more hidden location is the glass furnace. It is the manufacturing kiln from famous glass makers Venini at Fondamenta dei Vetrai 50, also on Murano. 

Good to know
The furnace is not open to public and many Bond blogs claimed, filming either took place in a studio set or at other furnaces on Murano. In autumn 2022 we were able to visit the real place – and Venini art director Michela Cattai confirmed to us, that filming took place right here back in 1979. Signora Cattai allowed us in and showed us the right spot. 
Venini has a shop in the basement and a small museum in the first floor. A small section even is dedicated to the filming of “Moonraker” – pictures show Roger Moore marveling at Venini glass art. From the museum a way leads to the non-public furnace. It is a huge factory like area, heat is filling up the air from the many fire kilns. Professional glassblowers fuse high-purity silica sand with quartz crystals at 2200° celsius, then forming and sculpting the glasses into colorful and avant-garde vases, plates, lamps. Established in 1921, Venini is one of the oldest and best-known glass makers in Venice. Politely ask for a tour to see the museum with the Bond pictures – and the real furnace, if you are lucky.

A much more easy visit is the Murano Glass Museum. The Museo del Vetro was founded in 1861 and hosts some fine glass works. The masterpiece is probably the blue cup by Angelo Barovier. Bond tries to safe the fake counterpart in “Moonraker” during the fight – but it gets smashed by henchman Chang (Toshiro Suga) with his Aikido sword. You are lucky: The original is still safe and sound at the museum. 

We really enjoyed our trip to Murano. Since we stayed in Venice for a whole week, the city can become exhausting – especially in the tourist-crowded areas around Piazza San Marco and Rialto. Murano is much more gentle, revolving on nothing more than glass and glass only. Wander from shop to shop, visit the museum and maybe sip a caffè in between. And if you have more spare time: Stay at the ferry to move further north for the even more quiet, color-bursting and enjoyable neighbor island Burano!

© 2022 Huntingbond (1,3,4,5,6), © 1979 Danjaq S.A. & United Artists Corporation (2)