FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

UK, 1981, 127 minutes, Colour.
Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet, Topol, Lynn- Holly Johnson, Julian Glover, Cassandra Harris, Jill Bennett, Michael Gothard, Jack Hedley, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn, Geoffrey Keen, Walter Gotell, James Villiers, Charles Dance.
Directed by John Glen.

For Your Eyes Only is the fifth Roger Moore outing as James Bond. It is less extraterrestrial than the previous two films, especially Moonraker, and is a return to the plots from the Ian Fleming books, a focus on action and personality, less reliance on gadgets, and a more credible villain in Julian Glover.

There were copyright difficulties about the use of Blofeldt as villain, so there is an amusing prologue with Blofeldt and his cat, controlling a helicopter with Bond board – but Bond succeeding and Blofeldt finishing up falling down a chimney! There are also some personal touches with Bond visiting his wife’s grave, even though it was George Lazenby as Bond who experienced this death. Bernard Lee has died so Geoffrey Keen steps in as the minister with James Villiers as his assistant. Lois Maxwell is still Miss Moneypenny and Desmond Llewelyn iss Q.

The plot concerns a specialised British tracking system which falls to the bottom of the sea when the ship is sabotaged. Cubans are interested in buying and the Russians are interested as well. Also interested is a suave businessman, actually high-powered smuggler, a Greek played by Julian Glover.

French Carole Bouquet has a strong role and character, her parents killed, her saving Bond at various times, part of his unmasking of the villain – only at the end becoming the standard Bond girl. The main Bond girl is played by Cassandra Harris as the girlfriend of smuggler, Columbo (Topol).

The action is comparatively straightforward, and espionage problem, the British government, some exotic locations in Spain and Greece, action at sea, underwater photography, and a buildup to a climax.

Bill Conte composed the score and the song which is sung during the credits by Sheena Easton, who is seen within the usual titles animation by Maurice Binder.

1. This film considered as the best of Roger Moore as James Bond? The trend of the 70s, over-the-top? Return to more Ian Fleming like stories?

2. The Fleming style, the character of James Bond, suave, more action and fewer gadgets, less sex, credible situations? The Cold War? The villains? The Minister, the officials, Q and the gadgets?

3. The theme song, the credits, Sheena Easton singing the song? The score?

4. The issue of Blofeldt, the copyright, the humour of the controlling the helicopter? Summoning bond as if to a government meeting? The death of the pilot, Bond trying to control, on the outside, the dangers, getting back inside, breaking the connection, landing, Blofeldt and the final confrontation, scooping him up, his falling down the chimney?

5. Bond, the grave of his dead wife? The personal feelings?

6. The fishing ship, the equipment, the torpedo, the blast, Have lock and his wife, going to investigate, the squad and the murders? Their daughter, her visit, greeting? And the touch with the parrot – and the later information given?

7. Cubans, trying to buy the equipment, the scene in Spain, infiltrating the party, the deaths, Bond being chased, Melina and her arrows, saving bond? The car, the chase, going down the hillside? The bus and the blockage?

8. The Russians, the Minister, the phone call, wanting to buy the equipment? His turning up, his helicopter, Bond throwing the machine away? His shrug?

9. Melina and her character, the arrows, help, her research? At the casino with Bond? Her father’s boat? Diving to recover the machine? The attack underwater? The capture? Their being thrown overboard, tied together, keel hauled, getting free, the confrontation on the boat?

10. Kristartos, smooth, his story, supporting the British, his sponsoring Bibi, her coach Russian? The clashes with Columbo, the smuggling, the rivalry? His urbane manner, the meal, the confrontation, his treatment of Bond and Melina? His death? The fight with Columbo?

11. Lisa, with Columbo, her pretending to be a Countess, interrogating Bond, the night together, the conversation, along the beach, her death?

12. Bond, his capture, the escape? Columbo and his men? The help? The information about St Cyril?

13. Climbing the cliff, the tension, the guards, slipping? The fight? The Russians? Bibi, controlled by Kristartos, the coach and her helping Bond?

14. Success, the destruction of the machine, the relief in London? With Melina? The final joke about the conversation with Mrs Thatcher – and the parrot, and Dennis!