Movie Type: Glamorized Spy Film, Romantic Adventure
Themes: Out For Revenge
Main Cast: Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet, Topol, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Julian Glover
Release Year: 1981
Country: UK
Run Time: 127 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
For Your Eyes Only eschews the gimmickry and campiness of earlier James Bond films, concentrating instead on telling the story and maintaining suspense. Roger Moore is back as Secret Agent 007, this time on the trail of Soviet spies while he romances the beautiful Melina, played by Carole Bouquet. Richard Maibaum's screenplay has very little to do with the collection of short stories that made up Ian Fleming's For Your Eyes Only, save for the plotline involving Melina's seeking vengeance for the death of her father. The direction is by John Glen, who'd previously done second unit work on other Bond films. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
After 1979's Moonraker, the keepers of the James Bond franchise determined that the series had drifted too far from its roots and became overly reliant on gadgetry and camp. For Your Eyes Only, the 12th film in the series, returns to the form that worked in the early Sean Connery films. The Bond character is restored to his earlier incarnation as an edgy, tough gentleman spy, and simple intrigue returns to the storytelling. Though it has fewer technological gimmicks than the typical Bond movie, For Your Eyes Only provides solid adventure, with an emphasis on stunts. It has a more believable plot than usual, and the villains seem human for once. Still, it could have been better. While the main body of the film offers constant riveting action, it is regrettably framed by a pair of unfortunate camp bits involving frequent Bond nemesis Ernst Blofeld and a Margaret Thatcher lookalike. In his fifth turn as Bond, Roger Moore delivers his finest performance. More serious than usual, Moore eschews the goofiness that marks his other portrayals. The acting highlight, however, comes from Carole Bouquet's performance as Melina Havelock. This "Bond girl" can actually act; she delivers a tough, adult portrayal -- a stark contrast to the silly characterization of Bibi offered by Lynn-Holly Johnson. Intended as comic relief, Bibi comes off as merely annoying -- so annoying even Bond won't sleep with her. While Topol provides good fun as the smuggler Columbo, Julian Glover and Michael Gothard make boring bad guys. Director John Glen, who'd previously done second unit work on the series, proves himself adept at using beautiful locations and staging breathtaking stunts. Note Topol's first scene with Moore, on a boat, as Glen subtly sways the camera to simulate rocking. ~ John L. Messina, All Movie Guide
Cassandra Harris - Lisl; Jill Bennett - Brink; Michael Gothard - Locque; John Wyman - Kriegler; Jack Hedley - Havelock; Lois Maxwell - Moneypenny; Desmond Llewelyn - Q; Geoffrey Keen - Minister of Defense; John Wells - Denis; James Villiers - Tanner; Janet Brown - The Prime Minister; Paul Angelis - Karageorge; Paul Brooke - Bunky; Fred Bryant - Vicar; Graham Crowden - 1st Sea Lord; Charles Dance - Claus; Walter Gotell - General Gogol; William Hoyland - McGregor; Noel Johnson - Vice Admiral; Stefan Kalipha - Gonzales; Jack Klaff - Apostis; Chai Lee; Toby Robins - Iona Havelock; Viva; Alkis Kritikos - Santos; Robbin Young - Girl in Flower Shop; Koko the Horse; John Moreno - Ferrara; Eva Reuber-Staier - Rublevich
Credit
John Fenner - Art Director, Tom Pevsner - Associate Producer, Elizabeth Waller - Costume Designer, Anthony Waye - First Assistant Director, John Glen - Director, Arthur Wooster - Second Unit Director, John Grover - Editor, Michael G. Wilson - Executive Producer, Bill Conti - Composer (Music Score), Michael Leeson - Songwriter, Peter Lamont - Production Designer, Alan Hume - Cinematographer, Albert R. Broccoli - Producer, Sheena Easton - Singer, Vernon Dixon - Set Designer, Derek Ball - Sound/Sound Designer, Rick Sylvester - Stunts, Derek Meddings - Special Effects Supervisor, Richard Maibaum - Screenwriter, Michael G. Wilson - Screenwriter, Don Lusher - Musical Performer, Ian Fleming - Book Author
