TEXT EXTRACTS

After Mexico, Florida, England and Kentucky, Andermatt was the last stop on the Goldfinger production tour. The Bond team were filming in the middle of highly sensitive military terrain, the Réduit National (National Redoubt) with Sean Connery starring in the leading role.

…The sequence shot in the Urseren Valley lasts for barely six minutes. It is a kind of “short road movie” whose dramaturgical function is to show off the secret star of the film – the Aston Martin DB5. Bond’s ‘company car’ is driven fearlessly over the Swiss pass to the key scene: the fight in Goldfinger’s plant. …

…In coming to Andermatt the Bond team had marched straight into highly sensitive military terrain. They were filming in the middle of the Réduit National (National Redoubt). The Swiss system of defensive facilities extends over the Gotthard, Oberalp, Furka and Grimsel passes. Eon had been granted permission to film under the sole proviso that officers of the garrison force would monitor the filming.

The soldiers proved to be to be unexpectedly cooperative, however. While the crew were filming, an artillery unit stationed in Andermatt was conducting military exercises involving the firing of thundering 7.5 cm howitzers. Hamilton’s sound engineers were delighted. For the closing scene of Goldfinger, in which soldiers retake the occupied Fort Knox, the battle noises were yet to be added. The sound engineers eventually obtained permission to record the reports of the Swiss howitzers up close. Months later, when the film was premiered, the sound of the Réduit National went all around the world. …

Extract from the chapter «007 in the Urseren Valley» Authors: Michael Marti and Peter Wälty

At the end of October, a band of figures dressed in sacking emerge from Gurschen Forest and make their way into the village. They are reminiscent of the Woldmanndli (men of the woods) who, according to lore, took to the Bannwald (protected forest) in order to «make good».

… In addition to the churches, many town houses also demonstrate the prosperity of individual Urschner families. Transportation over the Gotthard, livestock trading, Alpine farming and serving with foreign armies brought money into the valley. And with them came new ideas and ways of thinking: even today the Urschners continue to be thought of as open-minded and interested in many different things. It will come as no surprise to learn that Canton Uri’s best-known artists, including the portrait painter Adolf Müller-Ury (1862–1947), who was highly respected in his day, the painter and writer Heinrich Danioth (1896–1953) and the folklorist Eduard Renner (1891–1952), best-known for his work Goldener Ring über Uri (Golden Ring above Uri), all had Urschner roots. Also testifying to the typical zest for life of the local people are the many humorous Urner Liätli (Songs of Uri) by Ady Regli (1903–1981), which are still sung with great enjoyment today.

On the subject of money: it could not be said that anyone ever wallowed in luxury hereabouts, but some people got by pretty well nevertheless. This is demonstrated in impressive fashion by the Talmuseum Ursern, housed in the former residence of onetime mayor of Urseren Franz Dominik Nager. Its colourful façade alone makes it clear that this was not the house of a man wont to deny himself the pleasures in life. And then there’s the interior! Richly carved doors, a magnificent dresser in the parlour and expensive panelling reveal the vibrant aesthetic sense of the former occupant. Here in the museum one also gains an excellent insight into the history, economy and culture of this high valley in the Gotthard Massif. …

Extract from the chapter «Vibrant traditions 1,400 metres above sea level»
Author: Stefan Fryberg