Is The Living Daylights' cello case sled scene possible?

Leading scientists and engineers have studied stunts in James Bond films.

Photo © EON, United Artists, Danjaq LLC

James Bond, played by Timothy Dalton in "The Living Daylights", turns a cello case into a skeleton sled so he and Kara Milovy (played by Maryam d'Abo) can escape gun-wielding assailants pursuing them on skis and in a snow-adapted armoured car.

Of course, 007 and his love interest make it to the Austrian border just in time.

However, according to former world champion skeleton sled racer Kristian Bromley, they would have trouble staying on the case, let alone escaping their pursuers.
 

Bromley, who now designs high-tech sleds for Olympic racers, says that if a cello case had any square edges, it is doubtful that it would slide on snow at all.

He explains that the case would at least need a leading edge to lift itself slightly off the ground to create enough pressure for both sled and riders to move across the snow.

He adds, though, that even if the cello case was the right shape, there would be no way that Bond and his companion could steer it the right direction.

'They would need some kind of steering mechanism, or to use their hands outside the case. If they tried this, they would most likely spin around uncontrollably and end up falling out.'

Bromley adds that even if Bond could control the case, he still wouldn't be able to outpace the skiers.

Source: James Bond 007: 7 Bond stunts - E & T Magazine


The Living Daylights' cello case sled scene: IMPOSSIBLE

Bond girl: Kara Milovy

Photo © EON, United Artists, Danjaq LLC

Bond girl: Kara Milovy

007 Film: The Living Daylights (1987)

Actress: Maryam d'Abo

Bond connection: Kara Milovy is General Georgi Koskov's girlfriend and later Bond's love interest.

James Bond has been informed that General Koskov is willing to defect from the Soviet Union. As Koskov runs across the road to meet Bond, he spots a sniper, whom he recognizes as the cellist he spotted during a concert earlier. Defying his orders to kill her, Bond shoots the rifle out of her hands, only marginally injuring her. This prompts the line for which the film is named, "I must have scared the living daylights out of her."

Convinced that Kara (who actually is Koskov's girlfriend) is more of a victim than a proper assassin, Bond helps Kara escape from the KGB in Bratislava, gaining her trust by claiming to be sent by Koskov, and then he takes her to Austria; when Bond's Aston Martin is destroyed during the escape, the two of them resort to sledding to the Austrian border in Kara's cello case. Eventually Kara contacts Koskov directly, and he leads his girlfriend to believe that Bond is actually a KGB agent. On Koskov's instructions, she drugs Bond to allow Koskov to capture him, but she soon realizes that Koskov has been deceiving her and switches back to Bond's side.

Kara and Bond are taken to Afghanistan, where they team up with a Mujahideen group headed by Kamran Shah. Kara convinces Shah to help Bond by attacking a Soviet airbase. After boarding a C-130 plane that Bond had hijacked, Kara helps him to pilot the plane carrying drugs while he battles the villainous Necros at the back. The film ends with Kara's world tour (as a prize for her bravery, she's been given a special visa which allows her to play around the world), where she is disappointed that Bond did not attend. Much to her surprise, she discovers him in her dressing room.

See more BOND GIRLS AND OTHER LADIES IN 007 FILMS here