Insider
Focus Of The Week: The Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage
A look at the world famous stage
With a budget higher than any Bond film before it, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) featured some of the most impressive sets seen in the franchise. Renowned Production Designer Ken Adam broke new ground in design with the sets he created. However, no stage or location could be found big enough for the interior of the Liparus, Stromberg’s supertanker, so Adam designed a permanent stage at Pinewood Studios in the UK.
Built in just 13 weeks including the tanker interior, the 007 Stage became the largest film stage in the world. It opened with great fanfare in 1976, attended by former Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
In June 1984, disaster struck when the 007 Stage burned down during filming of Legend (1985). With production due to start on A View To A Kill (1985) and a key set build scheduled for the 007 Stage, EON Productions set about rebuilding the stage. Its reopening on January 7th 1985 was celebrated with a special ceremony. Pinewood renamed it the Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage in honour of the Producer’s contribution to the British film industry.
In 2006, at the end of production for Casino Royale, there was another fire on the Albert R. Broccoli Stage. It was rebuilt once again and remains, to this day, one of the world’s largest stages. Since it was first built, it has been the home to many of the most impressive sets seen in the Bond films including, the Monsoon Palace courtyard in Octopussy (1983), Die Another Day’s (2002) Ice Palace, the interior of the collapsing Venetian villa in Casino Royale (2006), the interior of the Perla De las Dunas Hotel in Quantum Of Solace (2008), the underground tunnels and train crash in Skyfall (2012) and Spectre’s (2015) Westminster Bridge set.
