MOONRAKER
UK, 1979, 126 minutes, Colour.
Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale, Richard Kiel, Corinne Clery, Bernard Lee, Geoffrey Keen, Desmond Llewellyn, Lois Maxwell, Toshiro Suga, Emily Bolton, Blanche Ravalec.
Directed by Lewis Gilbert.
This is the fourth James Bond film with Roger Moore as Bond. He was to make three more.
There are the usual conventions of the Bond films with Sean Connery and Moore. Roger Moore is very suave, has clipped British articulation, has all the manner of a gentleman. He also goes into ready action. He also has a way with women – which in later times seems a bit outdated.
In this film, he has a to visit California to see an entrepreneur, Drax, Michael Lonsdale, who is developing a space vehicle – and, in the opening, a prototype has been stolen and disappears in the air. Bond’s pursuit of Drax includes a lavish visit to Rio, a journey to the Amazon, sabotaging Drax’s plan to form a eugenics community in space and to poisoned the Earth.
The leading lady, a scientist, is played by Lois Chiles. Regulars Bernard Lee, Geoffrey Keen, Desmond Llewellyn, Lois Maxwell are all present. And, so popular in The Spy who Loved Me, Richard Kiel as Jaws makes a reappearance, initially sinister, ultimately friendly.
Directed Lewis Gilbert made a number of the James Bond franchise.
1. The continued popularity of the James Bond series? The conventions of the genre, the British hero and his style, 007, his relationship with M, Q and the supplies, the international issues, larger than life villains, the collaboration with women, the Bond girls?
2. The transition from Sean Connery to Roger Moore? His fourth episode? His particular style, sheesh, accent, articulation, perfect taste, action sequences, women? Solving problems in cases?
3. The opening, an action sequence, Bond in action, the plane, without a parachute, gliding towards the man with the parachute, pursued by Jaws? The crash into the marquee?
4. With M, with the Minister, with Q? The bureaucratic tradition? The opening with the plane, carrying the Moonraker, the spires, stealing the Moonraker, the crash of the plane? Bond being sent to meet with Drax? The British government and the embarrassment at losing the moon breaker?
5. The visit to California, Corinne and her accompaniment, the extensive plant, the French château in California, exteriors and interiors? The young people exercising – and the later revealing of the plan? Drax, playing the piano, French manner? Bond and his tour, Drax wanting to get rid of him, his Korean assistant? Bond and his meeting Holly Goodhead? Her manner, showing him around, the machine and the experiment, his getting in, the Korean taking over the management, the excessive speed, his using his equipment to stop the machine?
6. The evening with Corrine? Searching Drax’s desk, the papers? Corrine and her help, the safe? Her being expelled? Chased by the dogs into the forest?
7. Bond, the clue for Brazil, the extensive scenes in Rio, the clubs, the car pursuits, the plant on the mountain? Drax and his presence? The glass company, the fights and the destruction? Jaws and his presence?
8. The information about the Amazon, M and the Minister, the humiliation from Drax? Bond on his mission? The collaboration with Holly Goodhead? The plant, concealed, in the ruins, the plan for the space mission, the young people, a new civilisation, the poison gas to destroy earth?
9. The action sequences, the fights, Bond being taken, getting free, Holly Goodhead, the rescue, their working together?
10. The fights with Jaws, especially on the cable car on the mountain in Rio? Jaws, the young woman, small, falling in love? Humiliated by Drax? Changing sides?
11. The flight into space, the mission, the passengers, Bond getting free, Holly, the fights? The setting off of the capsules with the poison? The confrontation with Drax – and sending him into space?
12. Holly and Bond, pursuit of the capsules, eventually destroying them?
13. Back in London, the visuals, Bond with Holly – and the usual Bond ending?
14. The status in retrospect of this episode? Criticised at the time because of the space aspects which were not so popular?
