FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981, UK, 127m, PG) ***½
Action, Adventure, Thriller
dist. United Artists; pr co. Eon Productions; d. John Glen; w. Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson (based on the short stories “For Your Eyes Only” and “Risico” by Ian Fleming); pr. Albert R. Broccoli; ph. Alan Hume (Technicolor | 2.39:1); m. Bill Conti; ed. John Grover; pd. Peter Lamont; ad. John Fenner.
cast: Roger Moore (James Bond), Carole Bouquet (Melina Havelock), Topol (Milos Columbo), Lynn-Holly Johnson (Bibi Dahl), Julian Glover (Kristatos), Cassandra Harris (Lisl), Jill Bennett (Jacoba Brink), Michael Gothard (Locque), John Wyman (Erich Kriegler), Jack Hedley (Sir Timothy Havelock), Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny), Desmond Llewelyn (Q), Geoffrey Keen (Minister of Defence), Walter Gotell (General Gogol), James Villiers (Tanner), John Moreno (Ferrara), Charles Dance (Claus), Paul Angelis (Karageorge), Toby Robins (Iona Havelock), Jack Klaff (Apostis).
When a British ship is sunk in foreign waters, the world’s superpowers begin a feverish race to find its cargo: a nuclear submarine control system. And James Bond (Moore) is thrust into one of his most riveting adventures as he rushes to join the search … and prevent global devastation! This is the straightest and most grounded Bond for quite some time, eschewing the outlandish humour and gadgets of MOONRAKER – and all the better for it. There are occasional lapses in pace and, despite giving one of his best performances, as 007, Moore is beginning to look a little old for the part, but the breathless action sequences deliver plenty of thrills. Topol brings charisma to his character and Glover some class to his. Conti’s jazzy synth-laden score, however, is the weakest of the series. Followed by OCTOPUSSY (1983).
AAN: Best Music, Original Song (Bill Conti (music), Mick Leeson (lyrics)) for the song “For Your Eyes Only”
