A VIEW TO A KILL

US, 1985, 131 minutes, Colour.
Roger Moore, Christopher Walken, Tanya Roberts, Grace Jones, Patrick Macnee, Patrick Bauchau, David Yip, Fiona Fullerton, Alison Doody, Desmond Llewellyn, Lois Maxwell, Walter Gotell, Geoffrey Keen.
Directed by John Glen.

A View to a Kill is the last of Roger Moore’s seven James Bond films. He had taken over from Sean Connery in 1974 with Live and Let Die and was to keep the role for just over a decade. He was directed in his last three films by John Glen. Glen also directed the next two James Bond films, the two films with Timothy Dalton.

This film has a less spectacular international political flavour. Rather, some commentaters say it is a remake of Goldfinger. A younger Christopher Walken portrays Max Zorin, the result of a Nazi-like Russian experiment in genetics. He is a psychopath – with external charm. His henchwoman is Grace Jones as May Day.

Zorin has a monopoly on microchips for computers and intends to destroy Silicon Valley by explosions and thus take over the world market. He also is a racehorse breeder – and his doctor does experiments on computer-controlled drug enhancement for racing wins.

The locations are quite spectacular: Iceland standing in for Siberia for the opening sequence, beautiful palaces in France, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge…

The song is by Duran Duran and Maurice Binder continues with his idiosyncratic credits sequences. This was to be the last film for Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny who had begun with Dr No in the early 60s. Desmond Llewellyn continues as Q. Walter Gotel was General Gogol – who is more on-side with the British in the Timothy Dalton films.

1.The long life of the James Bond films? Roger Moore’s contribution? His age, his wooden manner in performance, his serious quizzical expression? His droll delivery of innuendo? The action sequences – credible for his actual age or not?

2.The tradition of the James Bond film, the opening action? The introduction of Bond? His attitude towards authority, M, Miss Monepenny?, Q? His missions? Suave manner? Womanising? Debonair, action sequences? Using his wits? How well did James Bond seem in this film?

3.The locations: Iceland, San Francisco, France? The beauty of the locations? Especially the mansions and palaces in France? The racecourses? The theme music? The theme song?

4.The title, the play on the phrase? As applied to the film?

5.The situation in 1985, Soviet- Western détente, the West’s suspicions of the Soviet Union? Microchips? The death of 00 agents? The agents in London, Pola and her ballet dancing, secret agent, wanting to rob Bond in San Francisco? The other agents and General Gogol? Trying to control Max Zorin? His KGB background?

6.Max Zorin and Christopher Walken as the blond-haired villain? The explanation of his background, the doctor and his experiments? Zorin as psychopath? Accompanied by May Day? His executioner? Zorin and his power, his wealth, in France? No information available? In London and his visit? At the Eiffel Tower? His racing interests, his win in England? The sale in France? Suspicions of Bond, the computer to find out who he was? The confrontations? San Francisco, his plan for Silicon Valley? His cartel – and the dissenter being dropped from his balloon? The Silicon Valley explosions, experiments? Taking over Stacey and killing the official? The final confrontation – and his laugh before his death?

7.May Day, Grace Jones and her appearance, the executions, the butterfly in the Eiffel Tower, her leap from the Eiffel Tower? In France, suspicions? Her obeying Zorin’s orders? Her change at the end, collaboration with Bond to stop the explosion?

8.Scarpine, his second-in-charge with Zorin? Meeting Bond, the host? Doing his dirty work in San Francisco?

9.The British authorities, M and his control, Q and the non-magnetic microchip? Miss Moneypenny and her flirting? The minister?

10.The Americans, Chuck Lee and his cover in San Francisco, the meetings, information from Washington?

11.Patrick Macnee, Sir Godfrey Tibbett, at the races, the invitation to France? Posing as the chauffeur, having to carry the cases, the cover for secret microphones? His investigations of the horse? His death?

12.The doctor, his work on the horses, surgery, the insertion of the chips? The former experiments with humans? His collaboration with Zorin for the explosions?

13.The racecourse sequence? The riding sequence with Bond defeating Zorin? The car chases? The Golden Gate Bridge? The planned explosions? The action sequences?

14.Audience expectations of a James Bond film? Its action? Spying? War? Moral perspective on Bond himself?