Seven Mile Bridge scene in the 1989 Bond movie Licence to Kill

This month marks the 50th Anniversary of the filming of large portions of the third 007 movie, Goldfinger in Miami.  While much of the opening of the film featuring Sean Connery as Bond takes place at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, many of the scenes later in the movie that were based in Kentucky were filmed in the Miami area as well. In fact the scene where Oddjob kills an associate of Goldfinger’s and the dumps the body was filmed right by the junction of SR 112 and LeJeune Road. The salvage yard where the car is crushed was not far from Miami International Airport.

Goldfinger was released in September 1964 and it took the Bond franchise to a new level. The next bond film, Thunderball was set in the Bahamas and while no scene took place in Florida, Miami was the target of the bomb Bond had to intercept and disarm in the movie’s climax.

The 1979 Bond film, Moonraker, starring Roger Moore was one of the most controversial films in the series as it had an unconventional plot for the franchise in an era when sci-fi films were all the rage. While none of this film took place in Florida, significant amounts of filming were done in St Lucie County.

It would be ten years until the next Bond foray into Florida, with Licence to Kill. Most of the film which featured Timothy Dalton as 007 (who like myself and the band Oasis supports the English football club Manchester City) was shot in Florida and the plot revolved around Miami and the Keys. The film even featured a cameo from then Governor Bob Martinez serving as a police officer in Key West.

Daniel Craig’s first Bond film, Casino Royale was largely set in Florida although none of the film was shot here. For example, the scene that takes place at Miami International Airport was actually filmed in Surrey.

Through the years 007 has had a unique connection with the state of Florida. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles and British rock invasion, let us remember another British invasion of sorts.