If you are a fan or not of the 007 – James Bond franchise, you’ve probably seen an image or a clip from the movie Moonraker (or 007 Contra o Foguete da Morte in Portuguese), which remains the only Bond movie set in Brazil, specifically in Rio de Janeiro. The film is well-known for the iconic scene at Sugarloaf Mountain where the secret agent confronts Jaws, one of the franchise’s most memorable villains.
In 1979, the world’s most famous secret agent, played by Roger Moore, arrived in Rio de Janeiro to film Moonraker, the 11th film in the series. His arrival was delayed by five days due to a kidney crisis. Moore’s presence, along with the production team, attracted significant media and fan attention, bringing the glamour of espionage to Brazilian soil.
Around 4 p.m. on January 7, 1979, the 52-year-old English actor landed at Galeão Airport and went straight into character. Once the flight’s passengers disembarked, extras boarded the plane, and the star, fully made up and dressed in a light suit, filmed the scene where Bond arrives in the city.
Moonraker presents one of James Bond’s most daring missions, involving global destruction plots and space adventure. In the story, Bond is called to investigate the disappearance of a space shuttle named “Moonraker,” manufactured by aerospace mogul Hugo Drax, a billionaire with sinister goals. The shuttle mysteriously disappears during transportation, and Bond soon discovers a major conspiracy behind its disappearance.
During his investigation, 007 travels through various countries, including the U.S., Italy, Brazil, and eventually into space. He meets Dr. Holly Goodhead, a CIA secret agent who is also investigating Drax. Together, they discover Drax’s genocidal plan: to wipe out Earth’s population using a deadly gas derived from a rare Brazilian orchid. After the attack, he plans to repopulate the planet with a “perfect” new human race, selected to become the new elite.
The investigation leads Bond to Brazil, where he uncovers Drax’s secret facility in Brazil, witnessing the production of the lethal gas. Bond and Holly are captured but manage to escape and pursue Drax to a space station. In Earth’s orbit, Drax has already begun his plan, and Bond, with Dr. Goodhead’s help, must prevent him from releasing the gas into the atmosphere and decimating humanity.
In the final confrontation, Bond defeats Drax, destroying the space station and saving the world from annihilation. Moonraker was one of the franchise’s most ambitious films in terms of special effects and grand sets. Although the plot is more extravagant than usual for a Bond movie—reflecting the influence of popular sci-fi films of the time like Star Wars — the adventure is packed with action, humor, and exotic locations that have become Bond trademarks.
Roger Moore’s arrival in Brazil was met with great curiosity and a warm welcome. Known as one of the most charismatic portrayals of James Bond, Moore was friendly and approachable, which won over the local audience even more. He enjoyed his stay, exploring Rio de Janeiro’s culture and nightlife. Stories say Moore was often spotted at some of the city’s bars and restaurants, always attentive and smiling with fans who approached him.
Over 11 days in Rio, scenes were filmed in Copacabana, Largo do Boticário, and at Sugarloaf Mountain. Work at the famous Urca landmark started the day after Moore’s arrival. Nineteen trucks were used to transport filming equipment to the location. By 8 a.m., everything was set on top of the mountain, and Moore arrived with Lois Chiles, ready to play “scientist” Holly Goodhead, who would later reveal her identity as a CIA agent.
The cable car scene at Sugarloaf Mountain is likely the film’s most memorable moment; however, many main shots of this confrontation were filmed in a studio. Some scenes, though, were real and without effects, such as when Roger Moore’s English stunt double, Richard Graydon, dangled by one hand from the cable car during fight scenes, frightening everyone on set at Sugarloaf Mountain. Additionally, United Artists, the production company, invited 40 foreign journalists to watch the filming and tried to prevent Brazilian press from accessing the mountain. It wasn’t until noon that local reporters could get close to the set. After watching some uneventful shots, a team from O GLOBO interviewed some young Brazilian women in bikinis serving as extras. They were enjoying the work and described Roger Moore as a “dapper gentleman,” though they noted he used too much hairspray.
The film grossed $210.3 million, with a budget of around $30 million—an impressive figure for the time. At the end of filming in Rio, before the crew moved to Foz do Iguaçu for additional scenes, the team hosted a reception at the Intercontinental Hotel in São Conrado, complete with the main cast, an ice sculpture buffet, authorities, and some Brazilian stars, including Glória Menezes and Tarcísio Meira, José Lewgoy, and Ruth de Souza.
Brazil’s appearance in a James Bond film not only boosted tourism but also showcased the country’s scenery to the world, helping bridge Brazilian culture with international cinema. The scenes filmed in Brazil remain one of the most memorable and extravagant moments in spy cinema, symbolizing 007’s global journey to dismantle the most absurd and dangerous threats—all with Roger Moore’s unique charm and the stunning backdrop of Brazil’s landscapes.
Reference: O Globo – James Bond no Brasil: As gravações de um dos piores filmes da série ‘007’, no Rio. Brazil, September 30, 2021. Website: blogs.oglobo.globo.com. Available in: James Bond no Brasil: As gravações de um dos piores filmes da série ‘007’, no Rio | Blog do Acervo – O Globo. Accessed on: November 11, 2024.
Estadão – Roger Moore, o James Bond que veio ao Brasil. Brazil, May 23, 2017. Website: estadao.com.br. Available in: Roger Moore, o James Bond que veio ao Brasil – Estadão. Accessed on: November 11, 2024.
Bafafá – Roger Moore filmou cenas de 007 no Rio de Janeiro com antológica luta no bondinho do Pão de Açúcar. Brazil, September 05, 2023. Website: bafafa.com.br. Available in: Roger Moore filmou cenas de 007 no Rio de Janeiro com antológica luta no bondinho do Pão de Açúcar. Accessed on: November 11, 2024.
Matheus Araújo
Matheus is an entrepreneur at Araujo Media, where he serves as CEO and Creative Director. He shares analyses on his personal blog "blog.matheusaraujo.me" and is currently pursuing a degree in Advertising and Propaganda. Moreover, he has a passion for history, particularly that of Brazil, which led him to become the founder and editor of the Brazilian History portal.
