Moonraker - Iguazu Falls - Misiones, Argentina
Posted by: 
The Snowdog
S 25° 41.725 W 054° 26.190
21J E 757260 N 7155549
A sequence from Moonraker was filmed at Iguazu Falls - in Misiones, Argentina.
Waymark Code: WM16RE8
Location: Argentina
Date Posted: 09/24/2022
Views: 3
Bond producer Albert Broccoli set several sequences for
Moonraker in Brazil in part because he desired to incorporate the magnificent Iguazu Falls into the movie. A film unit spent about a month in this area, filming "beauty shots" of the falls (which would be used in rear projection special effects) and the flight of the hang glider. This turned out to be more difficult than expected and only a few seconds of footage of the hang glider over the jungles and Iguazu Falls made it into the film. "I would take off in Brazil and crash in Argentina," recalls stunt pilot John Long. An interesting video interview about his contributions to
Moonraker can be viewed
here. Note that while Long (as James Bond) also did the hang glider launch from the boat, that sequence (and the entire boat chase) was filmed in the Florida Everglades; clever editing and the aforementioned rear-projection effects give the illusion that all takes place at the falls.
Today, Iguazu Falls are a well-developed tourist attraction. You can access the falls from either Brazil or Argentina. On the Brazil side, a long paved trail takes you along the river to a walkway that leads out to the north side of the falls. If you go all the way out you will get wet! This gives you a splendid view from below the falls. From the parking area on the Argentina side you can ride a light-rail tram to a trailhead and then take a long catwalk across the river to the southwest side of the falls. Depending on the wind, you'll probably get wet there as well!