**YOU ARE NOW ENTERING SPOILERTOWN**
Plot: Build a master race in space, poison the Earth with orchid juice nerve gas and then return as modern day Adam.
Foiled by: Bond and Goodhead escape yet another overly elaborate death plan, hop on a pre-programmed rocket, infiltrate the ship and, of course, hit the master kill switch right in front of him. Then they just have to re-launch into space, gun down the 3 released orchid pods before they hit earth and, ya know, safely land a spaceship.
Intriguing Setting(s): Space baby! | California | Venice | Rio
Bond: Roger Moore
Villain(s):
- Hugo Drax
- Jaws… kind of. Until the end when he realizes Drax wouldn’t have him (or his new girlfriend) in his master race.
- Chang
Bond Girl(s):
- Dr. Holly Goodhead – researcher and undercover CIA agent
- Corinne Dufour – innocent Drax employee and, alas, another tragic victim of Bond’s seductive charms
- Manuela – British Secret Service operative in Rio
HL’s Hot Take: One of the most outrageous Bonds, but entertaining as hell if taken with a large grain of salt.
Head Librarian Rank: 12/24
Critical Rank: 18/24
TRIVIA SECTION!
Odds & Ends:
- There’s a climactic space-henchmen laser fight! And a skydive fight to open the movie!
- Last movie to feature Bernard Lee as M, who died of cancer in 1981.
- Lois Chiles (Holly Goodhead) was initially approached about playing Agent XXX in The Spy Who Loved Me but turned it down and briefly retired from acting.
- Equally great final pun/double entendre:
- M: “What does Bond think he’s doing?”
- Q: “I think he’s attempting re-entry, sir.”
6 Degrees Cameos:
- Michael Lonsdale, who plays Drax, is the Papa in Munich.
- Goodhead has a cameo in the first Austin Powers
Gadgets: dart shooter off the cuff; ballpoint pen with hypodermic needle; cigarette case safecracker; tricky Seiko watch
Cars: 1953 Bentley Mark VI
Awards: Oscar nod – Visual Effects (lost to Alien)
Release Order: 11/25 (1979)