Very slim pickings here but in true Tokyo Fox style this post is bulked out by a few bonus locations and other bits and pieces relating to this 1987 film. Roger Moore was long past his best and after seven movies at the helm he made way for a new James Bond. Enter Welshman Timothy Dalton; the man designated with breathing a bit of new life into the 007 role. The raised eyebrow would be no more for Bond as Dalton’s interpretation of the fictional British Secret Service agent was more earnest.

The MI6 Headquarters have never really settled for just one consistent home over the years and for this film (and this film only!) Malaysia House at 57 Trafalgar Square plays the part of MI6 HQ. The nations capital appears on 22 minutes as a brief glimpse of Charing Cross tube station is shown before the “Universal Exports” sign (often used as the cover name for MI6) is shown hanging above the door to the Malaysian Tourism office (below) on the south side of the Square.

Bonus: The combination of 007 and Aston Martin were reunited in ‘The Living Daylights‘ after some dabbling with Lotus cars in previous films. The V8 Volante convertible, as well as the Cello Case Sled and it’s case could be seen at the ‘Bond In Motion‘ exhibition in Covent Garden London in 2014.

On 50 minutes the action moves on to Tangiers in Morocco and the militaristic villa of arms dealer Brad Whitaker appears on screen. This is the old Forbes Museum (below) on the outskirts of the city and one that I found by complete chance really as I had no map when I was there in January 2010. I actually took a few photos of other buildings in the vain hope that one of them was the Bond location and subsequent research on my return proved that I had got lucky in capturing the shot I wanted. The interior scenes were shot back in London at Pinewood Studios.

Back in Austria, Schönbrunn Palace (below) in Vienna appears on 55 minutes. This place was naturally the first one on my itinerary in January 2009 when I visited the Austrian capital on a day trip from Bratislava in Slovakia. Bond and Kara are taken around the grounds of the Summer Palace in a horse-drawn carriage. They attend the opera in the western wing of the Palace Theatre.

The beautiful Gloriette structure (below) can be seen in the background of the Palace as they dance. It offers some great views across the city and of the Palace itself.

The standout sequence in “Afghanistan” sees Bond escape from a Russian air base by aircraft. Whilst trying to diffuse a bomb he is attacked by henchman, Necros and as they scrap away the loading ramp opens and a net containing opium bags tumbles out of the back of the plane taking Bond and Necros with it. The net remains attached to the aircraft as the two men fight to the death clinging on to it as it hangs in the wind. This was actually filmed in the desert of Ouarzazate in Morocco which has been used in many films.

For other London filming locations click on the links below:

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