The Spy Who Loved Me
The Spy Who Loved Me
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Producers: Albert R. Broccoli; William P. Cartlidge (associate)
Writers: Ian Fleming (novel); Christopher Wood and Richard Maibaum
Title Song: Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and Sung by Carly Simon
Opening Action Sequence: Bond is called into action while in Austria, and sets out to report to headquarters. As he begins to ski at a leisurely pace through the gorgeous landscape, Russian agents set upon him and an exciting chase ensues. Before it is over, Bond kills the lead Russian, skis off of an extremely steep cliff and casually parachutes to the ground.
Bond Visits: Austria; Egypt; Italy
Film Gross: $46,838,673--United States; $185,400,000--Worldwide
Plot Summary: Britain and Russia decide to pool their resources
in order to find out what has been happening to their naval submarines, which
have mysteriously been disappearing. Both countries assign their best
agents to the mission: Commander James Bond 007 of the British Secret
Service (Roger Moore) and Major Anya Amasova XXX of the Russian KGB (Barbara
Bach).
The agents frequently cross paths in their search for a microfilm that could cause military naval plans to crumble. Also after the prize is Carl Stromberg (Curt Jergens) and his hired hand, Jaws (Richard Kiel), a steel-toothed hulk of a man. After obtaining the film, Stromberg plans to create an Atlantis under the sea, while simultaneously destroying anyone and anything above the ocean.
While working for the betterment of their own countries, Bond and Amasova
eventually come together to save the world, and themselves. They also
fall in love, until Anya realizes that it was Bond who killed her lover in
Austria. Then the stage is set for a battle to the death between two
of the best secret agents in the world, both of whom have never failed a
mission...
Review: It has been quite awhile since a 007 adventure was so
engaging and so surprising. In The Spy Who Loved Me, the story
smacks of danger and the locales glow with intrigue. Roger Moore is
top-notch too, but the villains consistently steal the show in this one.
Jaws is an imaginative character, silent but extremely deadly. It's
the originality and danger behind Jaws that make him the most memorable henchman
since Goldfinger's Oddjob. Much like James Bond, he seems nearly
invincible. After all, he stands over seven feet high, he's built
like a brick wall, and has teeth that can gnaw through steel! Of course,
007's ingenuity keeps this monster at bay more than once. The fight
between James and Jaws on the train is fantastic because it shows how, even
at his most vulnerable, Bond
ca
n find a
way out of any scrape.
Stromberg, surprisingly, is another great villain. He never actually fights Bond, but the creative ways in which he eliminates those who upset him are absolutely bone-chilling! The shark pool scene, with its lilting classical music, is one of the most terrifying scenes in the history of Bond films.
Remember my disappointment in Lewis Gilbert's direction of You Only Live Twice? Well, Lewis has definitely redeemed himself with The Spy Who Loved Me. The creative style in which he handles some of the fight scenes and all of the beautiful locations is fun and enchanting.
Unfortunately, there is that needlessly flashy raid on Stromberg's hideaway. It's disorienting and needlessly long--strikingly similar to the finale of You Only Live Twice. There is no point of focus for the audience, as the action seems to be merely a way for the director to show off some special effects.
In almost all other respects, this movie is enormously entertaining. Despite the fact that Barbara Bach is not a great actress, her character remains enormously intriguing, a perfect match for the enigmatic Mr. Bond. Anya is definitely a different sort of Bond girl in that she has her own mission to accomplish and is a match for Bond in both wits and ability. This type of pairing will not again be seen until Tomorrow Never Dies, and even then it's not quite the same.
The star of the film, this time, is the story. Suspense is always waiting around every corner, and sometimes it's from unlikely sources. Even after falling in love with him, Anya has her mind set on killing Bond as soon as their mission is completed. So, just as her romantic feelings for 007 complicate the matter, there is always the sense that Anya would have no hesitation in ending James' life.
Thankfully, the movie is not bogged down with "Q"s gadgets, but does have a healthy supply of them. The most notable of these is Bond's new car, a Lotus Espirit which can easily maneuver underwater. As much as I loved Goldfinger's Aston Martin, 007's Lotus is just as much fun.
James Bond himself is great in The Spy Who Loved Me, but between the original plot, dangerous villains, awesome scenery, great stunts, and classy direction, Moore's performance is somewhat overshadowed. Regardless, this is one of the best Bond films ever.
Grade: A