Skiing in the tracks of the silver screen
Have you always wanted to feel like a film star while skiing? Well, now is your chance! You might not have known it, but there is an abundance of famous flicks that were filmed against the picturesque snowy backdrop of the Alps. From films created as early as 1929 to current-day Hollywood blockbusters, it’s not just James Bond who is famous for his alpine capers! We’ve combed ski resorts across Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria to find the best places for skiers and snowboarders to act out their silver screen dreams. Who knows, if you’re lucky you might run across one of your idols!
In the early days of cinema, director Arnold Fanck visited St. Moritz in Switzerland to film the alpine epic, The White Hell of Pitz Palu. Actors and crew carried out the filming in harsh conditions at altitudes up to 3900m. Today, The White Hell of Pitz Palu has gained a cult following, not least for its 100% authentic shots of half-frozen actors!
The first ski film with sound was released in 1931. Filmed in St. Anton am Arlberg, The White Rush featured ski pioneer Hannes Schneider along with star actors Rudi Matt and Leni Riefenstahl. One of the most impressive scenes is the recording of the mass start of the White Rush race at Vallugagrat.
Our beloved Beatles cashed in on the beautiful alpine scenery to produce a film that would become a favourite for years to come. Their antics at Obertauern delighted audiences on both sides of the ocean, and fans still flock there today to trace the footsteps of their heroes at the Hotel Edelweiss.
Featuring George Lazenby as James Bond, IHMSS was filmed in 1969 in the Jungfrau Region in Switzerland, in the ski resorts of Grindelwald, Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, Schilthorn and at the Piz Gloria summit station. Today, 007 fans can relive the glory days with a Bond-themed breakfast buffet and interactive exhibition.
Word of this exclusive ski resort nestled in the Kitzbühel Alps has crossed the pond and it’s no wonder Hollywood decided it would be a spectacular place for filming. This fascination has led to over 70 films and series being produced in Kitzbühel over the past few decades. Best-known among these are Downhill Racer (1969), featuring Robert Redford, and One Hell of a Ride (2015), which showcased the lead-up to the famous Hahnenkamm races on the Streif.
Over in Italy, the Cortina d'Ampezzo ski resort welcomed another incarnation of James Bond in 1981. Roger Moore’s In Deadly Mission featured glimpses of the ski jump, bobsleigh track, skating rink and 1956 Winter Olympic Games facilities. 007 fans might be interested in staying at a certain room #108 at the Miramonti Majestic Grand Hotel! Another film to feature the Italian Alps was Sylvester Stallone’s Cliffhanger – Only the Strong Survive.
Saas-Fee Saastal is the site of the snowball fight in George Michael’s beloved Christmas classic, Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart. This timeless film still exerts a massive influence over the ski resort, as seen for example in the “Last Christmas Torch Hike”.
Once again, James Bond returns to the Alps, this time played by Pierce Brosnan. Bond visits the Caucasus in The World Is Not Enough, filmed at the French ski resort of Chamonix. The adrenaline-filled chase scenes on the gorgeous freeride slopes impressed 007 fans around the world.
James Bond’s latest flick took place against the incredible backdrop of the Ötztal and Obertilliach. Daniel Craig pulled off several truly daring stunts, most notably during a chase which started from the iceQ mountain restaurant (meant to be a private clinic in the film), at an altitude of 3000m. Spectre also features scenes at Sölden-Hochsölden's Gaislachkogelbahn and Gletscherstrasse.
My personal favourite on this list... Eddie the Eagle! This 2016 film tells the story of dogged ski jumper Michael Edwards, who battled his way to the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. The biography of this likeable athlete was recorded in the actual locations at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Oberstdorf and Seefeld.
Skiing in the tracks of the silver screen
Have you always wanted to feel like a film star while skiing? Well, now is your chance! You might not have known it, but there is an abundance of famous flicks that were filmed against the picturesque snowy backdrop of the Alps. From films created as early as 1929 to current-day Hollywood blockbusters, it’s not just James Bond who is famous for his alpine capers! We’ve combed ski resorts across Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria to find the best places for skiers and snowboarders to act out their silver screen dreams. Who knows, if you’re lucky you might run across one of your idols!
In the early days of cinema, director Arnold Fanck visited St. Moritz in Switzerland to film the alpine epic, The White Hell of Pitz Palu. Actors and crew carried out the filming in harsh conditions at altitudes up to 3900m. Today, The White Hell of Pitz Palu has gained a cult following, not least for its 100% authentic shots of half-frozen actors!
The first ski film with sound was released in 1931. Filmed in St. Anton am Arlberg, The White Rush featured ski pioneer Hannes Schneider along with star actors Rudi Matt and Leni Riefenstahl. One of the most impressive scenes is the recording of the mass start of the White Rush race at Vallugagrat.
Our beloved Beatles cashed in on the beautiful alpine scenery to produce a film that would become a favourite for years to come. Their antics at Obertauern delighted audiences on both sides of the ocean, and fans still flock there today to trace the footsteps of their heroes at the Hotel Edelweiss.
Featuring George Lazenby as James Bond, IHMSS was filmed in 1969 in the Jungfrau Region in Switzerland, in the ski resorts of Grindelwald, Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, Schilthorn and at the Piz Gloria summit station. Today, 007 fans can relive the glory days with a Bond-themed breakfast buffet and interactive exhibition.
Word of this exclusive ski resort nestled in the Kitzbühel Alps has crossed the pond and it’s no wonder Hollywood decided it would be a spectacular place for filming. This fascination has led to over 70 films and series being produced in Kitzbühel over the past few decades. Best-known among these are Downhill Racer (1969), featuring Robert Redford, and One Hell of a Ride (2015), which showcased the lead-up to the famous Hahnenkamm races on the Streif.
Over in Italy, the Cortina d'Ampezzo ski resort welcomed another incarnation of James Bond in 1981. Roger Moore’s In Deadly Mission featured glimpses of the ski jump, bobsleigh track, skating rink and 1956 Winter Olympic Games facilities. 007 fans might be interested in staying at a certain room #108 at the Miramonti Majestic Grand Hotel! Another film to feature the Italian Alps was Sylvester Stallone’s Cliffhanger – Only the Strong Survive.
Saas-Fee Saastal is the site of the snowball fight in George Michael’s beloved Christmas classic, Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart. This timeless film still exerts a massive influence over the ski resort, as seen for example in the “Last Christmas Torch Hike”.
Once again, James Bond returns to the Alps, this time played by Pierce Brosnan. Bond visits the Caucasus in The World Is Not Enough, filmed at the French ski resort of Chamonix. The adrenaline-filled chase scenes on the gorgeous freeride slopes impressed 007 fans around the world.
James Bond’s latest flick took place against the incredible backdrop of the Ötztal and Obertilliach. Daniel Craig pulled off several truly daring stunts, most notably during a chase which started from the iceQ mountain restaurant (meant to be a private clinic in the film), at an altitude of 3000m. Spectre also features scenes at Sölden-Hochsölden's Gaislachkogelbahn and Gletscherstrasse.
My personal favourite on this list... Eddie the Eagle! This 2016 film tells the story of dogged ski jumper Michael Edwards, who battled his way to the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. The biography of this likeable athlete was recorded in the actual locations at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Oberstdorf and Seefeld.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
