Of Stuntmen and Set Babies

The filming of «On Her Majesty's Secret Service» didn’t just have an economic dimension for the region – it also changed the lives of many people. Hundreds of extras were recruited for crowd scenes and transported by bus to the stock car race or the ice rink scenes. At the time, it was hard to find anyone in the area around Bern who didn’t know at least someone who had been involved in the film in one way or another. Then there were the employees of Mürren’s hotels and restaurants. Some played small roles in the film, while others were in daily contact with the crew and actors. 

At the center of it all were the mountain guides, ski instructors, and local daredevils. They jumped on skis over rooftops and crevasses, crashed into pine trees, were shredded by snowplows, or engaged in wild fistfights. Sons of mountain farmers earned sums that exceeded their wildest dreams – 150 Swiss francs a day, with multiples of that for particularly dangerous stunts. This didn’t include tips or the bottles of Jack Daniel’s provided by EON. Some of these men became so captivated by the film industry that they hoped to pursue a career in it after production ended. 

From the discovery of Piz Gloria as a film location to the final wrap, the crew spent almost a year in the Bernese Oberland. It’s no surprise that some locals owe their very existence to the film. These are the so-called “Filmkinder,” whose numbers are estimated to range between two and four, depending on the source.