Jamaica has long been a sought-after location for filmmakers and producers from around the world because of its unique and captivating environment, friendly local people and exotic settings. Every year, about 150 films are shot in the West Indies, and organizations like JAMPRO work to help film producers bring their projects to the screen.
Many James Bond films were shot on location in Jamaica.
“Dr. No” starring Sean Connery and Ursula Andress was filmed at Crab Key, Ocho Rios. The opening scenes were filmed in Kingston, near downtown Harbor Street. The shooting scene occurred at Queens Club, also known as Liguinea Club, in Kingston. The private sports club and resort is home to the Jamaican Squash Association. Another killing scene was shot in North Kingston at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Some of the other Jamaican locations in “Dr. No” included Norman Manley International Airport near Palisadoes Road, the Governor General’s Mansion at King’s House on Hope Road in Central Kingston, the waterfront at Morgan’s harbor in Port Royal, Couples San Souci in Ocho Rios, Laughing Waters/Roaring River, the bauxite mine on Crab Key and the mangrove swamp in Falmouth where Bond and Honey were captured in the Dragon tank.
“Live and Let Die” starring Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto and Jane Seymour, was filmed at Couples San Souci in Ocho Rios, and a cemetery set was built on Falmouth road north of Montego Bay for the shoot. A bus chase was filmed on the Montego Bay-Lucea Highway. The wharf where Bond and Rosie tried to board a yacht is located in Montego Bay, and the restaurant scene was filmed at a bungalow in the Half Moon Bay Resort. The crocodile farm in the film is actually “Swaby’s Swamp Safari” on Forshore Road in Falmouth, a four- acre mangrove swamp that offers daily guided tours to view the wetland’s wildlife.
“Cocktail” starring Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown and Elizabeth Shue was filmed partly at Sangster’s International Airport in Montego Bay, while the beach bar scene was staged at Dragon Bay Beach in Port Antonio. The waterfall featured in the film is Reach Falls on the Drivers River, inland from Manchoneal on the North Coast.
“Legends of The Fall” starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Aidan Quinn was filmed in St. Ann, Ocho Rios.
Both “Papillon” starring Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman and Victor Jory, and ”20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason and Paul Lukas, filmed cave and cliff scenes at the Xtabi Hotel in Negril.
Jamaica was also the location of other film shoots, including “Cool Runnings,” “One Love,” “Shottas,” ”Dance Hall Queen” and “Island in The Sun“. The movie “Knight and Day” starring Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise and Peter Sarsgaard was filmed partly on Frenchman’s Cove in Portland.
The famous “Rent-a-Rasta” Jamaican documentary, which describes sex tourism and the hedonistic behavior of white women on vacation was filmed at many of the major resorts on the North and South Coasts.
