With only six such scenes in the James Bond franchise, it’s interesting to note exactly how the beloved Bond ski chases differ from one another. A James Bond ski chase, though seldom encountered, is a treat for audiences since they always feature high speeds, skill, and trepidation for 007. Some are better than others, however, with certain elements taking some entries over others in terms of quality.
As mentioned, a Bond ski chase is rarely found, with the latest one taking place in The World is Not Enough. This means audiences haven’t yet seen a Bond ski chase in the 21st Century (with the possible exception of Spectre‘s snow-covered plane chase – which doesn’t actually involve any skiing), which is extraordinary considering how enjoyable and quintessential they are within the 007 franchise. Here are all the skiing sequences in the James Bond series ranked.
6 Bond Rides Down A Mountain On A Cello (The Living Daylights)
Technically, Bond’s use of a cello case may not qualify as a typical skiing scene. However, Bond’s car, the V8 Volante, does produce huge skis to help Bond navigate the vehicle over the slippery ice. The escape itself, however, comes as Bond and Kara slide down the mountain in Kara’s open cello case, using it as a two-seated sled, and the cello itself as a kind of ski pole to help control the downhill journey. It’s a classic fun Bond moment, one that’s memorable, but as it’s not technically a skiing scene, it features at the bottom of this list as merely an honorable mention.
5 Bond Evades Enemies In Siberia (A View To A Kill)
A View To A Kill often fails to reach the top half of many Bond fan ranking lists, and it’s easy to see why. This opening sequence can certainly be included as a possible offender, with the beach boys incongruently playing over the top of one particular snowboarding moment. The scene does offer layers, though, with the aforementioned snowboard, as well as a snowmobile appearing as Bond tries fleeing the area. The skiing itself, though rather short, is not a bad moment, with a decent score to capture the adrenaline and enjoyability of the scene. It just lacks the substance to feature any higher on this list.
4 Bond Misleads Elektra’s Men In The Mountains (The World Is Not Enough)
Though a fine sequence in its own right, this ski chase is more fun than it is impressive. There is a fair bit of back projection during the Brosnan close-ups, naturally, and, although it’s fairly seamless, there are perhaps too many close-ups at the expense of comprehensive stunt work and choreography. The parahawks appear clunky and incompetent at moments, and it never feels like Pierce Brosnan’s Bond is in any real jeopardy. It is, however, a generally entertaining scene, with explosions aplenty, as well as fun quippy moments, but the sequence does pale in comparison to the earlier, more impressive skiing scenes which demonstrate more finesse in the art of film-making.
3 Bond Answers M’s Recall (The Spy Who Loved Me)
One of the very best pre-title sequences in the entire franchise is the opening to this film. The score by Marvin Hamlisch was the most techno, funky composition yet for a Bond film, and the disco feel really brought this sequence to life. The scene doesn’t last long, but watching Bond ski down a massive snowy mountain, with the classic 007 theme interwoven with the modern score in moments, before Bond flies off the mountain and releases his Union Jack parachute, is one of the most classic, jubilant moments in all of Bond.
The sequence is also responsible for solidifying the creative invention of having Bond films traditionally begin with an action-orientated sequence before the main song plays during the titles. Goldfinger, Thunderball, and a few others toyed with the idea, but The Spy Who Loved Me was the first film to really go for it shamelessly and full throttle, to ultimately create a no-holds-barred, bombastic action sequence that will never be forgotten. Ever since this scene, audiences have been enjoying action-packed openings to Bond films, a characteristic that now partly defines the 007 formula. It’s a reason why Roger Moore’s The Spy Who Loved Meis one of his best Bond movies.
2 Bond Escapes Piz Gloria (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service)
In a much more gritty tale compared to most, if not all, other Bond outings, George Lazenby’s 007 escapes Piz Gloria in a blaze of glory, as ample gunfire encapsulates how dangerous a sequence this is for James Bond, capturing his essence like few other 007 adventures do. There is tension and real jeopardy in this scene. With no trusty gadgets to speak of, apart from his spy camera, 007 has only his wits, skill, and sheer determination, as he escapes several enemies, including Blofeld himself. Witnessing Blofeld be so actively involved in this chase is unique and interesting for the character of Blofeld, who, at the hand of Bond, appears to meet his demise later during an awesome Bobsleigh sequence.
1 Bond Escapes Locque’s Men In Cortina d’Ampezzo (For Your Eyes Only)
When it comes to real stunt work, there are not many other action scenes in Bond that manage to capture the imagination and crank up the adrenaline in quite the way this ski chase does. Very little back projection is used, but the stunt work by the professional skiers is convincing enough that at no point do audiences wonder where James Bond is. The stunt work is highly impressive, with precise choreography, and the chase itself boasts a fast pace, long runtime, and a score by American composer William Conti that perfectly suits the scene. Additionally, the location used for filming this ski and bobsleigh chase consisted of five of the venues used for the 1956 Olympic Winter Games.
The entire sequence is layered, too, with different sections interwoven. It begins with Bond being stalked by Kriegler as a sniper in a forest, to Bond being practically forced into a ski fly off a ramp, from which the main ski chase then develops. The final chapter of the spectacular, exciting ski chase sees Bond on a bobsleigh course still on skis and now without ski poles, making for a dramatic and thrilling scene that concludes with his flying off the track and onto a barn roof, to escape his enemies.
This ski chase has to take the top spot on this list, for its dynamism if not for its sheer adrenaline-fueled pace and composition. The fact the sequence was filmed at the real-life Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort, with skiers in and around the sequence during the film, makes it extra special for audiences. James Bond’s talent as a skier is showcased here in the best ski chase sequence of the 007 franchise, in one of Roger Moore’s best Bond movies.