Setting the scene
-
Filming at the Gotthard Pass for the international production On the Trail of Hannibal (2005). (Keystone/Karl Mathis) Keystone -
James Bond, in the form of Sean Connery, negotiates the Furka Pass in his Aston Martin in Goldfinger (1964). Five other Bond films have been filmed in Switzerland. (Keystone/courtesy Everett Collection) Keystone -
Between takes on Espion, lève-toi (Spy, wake up) outside Zurich University in 1981. From left to right: director Yves Boisset, actors Michel Piccoli and Lino Ventura. (Keystone/Niklaus Stauss) Keystone -
When Steven Spielberg needed unspoilt villages to recreate post-war Germany for Band of Brothers (2001), he chose Switzerland. Episode 10 of the television mini-series was almost entirely shot in the Interlaken-Brienz area. (Alpine Films/filmlocation.ch) Alpine Films/filmlocation.ch -
Bollywood stars Mohan Babu and Rani Mukerji blend in by Lake Thun in 2001. (RDB) RDB -
German actors Florian Lukas and Benno Fürmann prepare to hang around on the north face of the Eiger in Nordwand (2008). (RDB) RDB -
Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy befriend a local on the set of The Eiger Sanction (1974). (cinetext) cinetext -
James Bond (George Lazenby) surrounded by beautiful scenery - and the Swiss Alps - at the top of the Schilthorn in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). (RDB) RDB -
Matt Damon and Amanda Peet discuss geopolitics on a Geneva bench in Syriana (2005). Damon also travelled to Switzerland for The Bourne Identity (2002) and The Informant! (2009). (cinetext) cinetext -
Alain Delon leathers up in Geneva in Girl on a Motorcycle (1967). (RDB) RDB -
Sophia Loren gets her bearings at Basel station during The Cassandra Crossing (1976). (RDB) RDB -
Filming a scene from the James Bond film GoldenEye (1995) in the Bernese Oberland. GoldenEye also featured the famous bungee jump from the Verzasca Dam in Ticino. (RDB) RDB -
In Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), images of the snowy alpine scenery of Grindelwald were used for the planet of Alderaan. (filmlocation.ch) filmlocation.ch
Switzerland has been the backdrop for a wide range of films.
This content was published on February 9, 2012 - 10:41
The chances are that your favourite actor has at some time appeared in front of the camera somewhere in Switzerland.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.