The Spy Who Loved Me

Evil mastermind plans to start world war three by stealing ships from opposing countries and making it seem like their opponents are to blame! But enough about You Only Live Twice...what about The Spy Who Loved Me? OK, so yes, clearly the plot for The Spy Who Loved Me is a retread of YOLT and one can't help but wonder if it is pure coincidence that Lewis Gilbert is back in the director's chair. The question is though...is this a good movie?

This is the first movie that Harry Saltzman is no longer on board to produce, so Broccoli is going it alone and that means that there is an awful lot riding on the film. Can Broccoli produce a Bond movie solo? Can he keep the franchise afloat? This is the longest period between movies as well, so Broccoli must have had every limb he owned crossed. The Spy Who Loved Me is an odd choice for a film as well; the Bond movies have become more and more divorced from the novels that inspired them, but there was usually some element in them that Fleming created. The Spy Who Loved Me has nothing even remotely connected to the novel, at Fleming's request (which results in the opening credits changing slightly; Roger Moore now portrays Ian Fleming's James Bond 007, as opposed to appearing in Ian Fleming's...whatever) so this film comes completely from the imagination of the authors - in this case newcomer Christopher Wood, ably assisted by the ever reliable Richard Maibaum.

Like Tom Mankiewicz before him, Wood changes the direction of the Bond films considerably. This seems to be more in line with Roger Moore's version of James Bond - he's not quite as callous in this as he is in the previous films (although his cool murder of Chandor (or is is Sandor?) still shows his cruel side) and Bond actually seems to see Major Amasova as more than just a sex object or a pawn in his plans. On a side note, Bond also seems to have learnt how to defuse a nuclear bomb since Goldfinger. Gilbert also seems aware of the new direction of the film and a lot of Hamilton's changes have been toned down; Bond and "M" have a far better relationship in this movie - indeed "M" is actually pleased when his chief agent seems to be a little better than the best the KGB have to offer - and the traditional briefing scene is replaced with a new scene on a ship (allowing Bond to get back in to naval uniform for the first time since...well, since YOLT, surprise, surprise) without "M", but with "Q", the Minister of Defence and a number of the admirality (including a return to the series by actor George Baker). Bond has an interesting relationship with the MOD, amiably calling him Freddie, although by the end of the film it seems he may have pushed this too far.

The return of the Naval uniform is not the only nod to the past. For the first time since Moore took over there seems to be an effort to establish he is the same character both Connery and Lazenby portrayed. We are reminded that "Q"'s real name is Major Boothroyd and there is mention made to the late Mrs Bond, which is a scene that Moore plays absolutely brilliantly. And thankfully Bond has become a secret agent once again, with only the KGB and Stromberg knowing who he is.

Gilbert also follows some of the little trends he started in YOLT. "M"'s office is movable now, popping up in the middle of Egypt, although this would appear to be an entire branch of MI6, complete with "Q"'s laboratory which contains the most amazing gadgets yet seen in a Bond film; from a lethal serving tray to a killer camel saddle. Indeed although there were gadgets in the previous two films, Bond didn't really use them, but in this film they are back with a vengeance, primarily in the form of the successor to the Aston Martin - Bond's Lotus. This car has the ability to fire rockets, blow smoke and liquid concrete (apparently) and also turns into a submarine. There is a particularly entertaining scene regarding the rivalry between MI6 and the KGB when Major Amasova uses the mines on the sub informing Bond she stole the plans for it some time earlier (though why she was surprised when he drove into the ocean is a little curious). Unfortunately, the Lotus leads to the dumbest scene in the film, where Bond drives out of the sea and gives drops a fish out of his car.

The rivalry between the KGB and MI6 is worth mentioning. This movie sees not only Bond get a KGB equivalent (as we'll discuss soon), but also "M" and Moneypenny in the form of General Anatol Gogol and his secretary Rublevitch. Gogol is played by Walter Gotell as a genial, but tough leader, and while Bond and Amasova play a game of one upmanship, it is to "M"'s delight and Gogol's amusement. Gogol is a great character who deserves to make a return appearance (though if the previous films are anything to go by, it'll be the loser who looks at his wine bottle when Bond drives out of the ocean that returns).

This all brings us to the crux of the film - Major Anya Amasova, KGB's agent XXX; the finest in her field and the equal to James Bond. Since Roger Moore has become Bond, the films have taken a slightly sexist angle, with The Man With The Golden Gun hitting the all time low in this department. TSWLM redresses that balance, not changing the fact that Bond himself is still a sexist, but showing that there are women more than able to equal him. Major Amasova, played by Barbara Bach, is one such woman. She clearly shows she has an equal knowledge to Bond in her field, and is also more than able to be a competent spy. Yes, she is overpowered by Jaws (more on him soon), but then, so is Bond. What's most entertaining is the introduction which initially suggests that the man who bears a slight resemblance to George Lazenby will be the mysterious XXX until it is Amasova who is clearly identifies herself as XXX. It's a great little bit of double play that sets the tone for the film. What is perhaps the best part about the character is her change of heart later in the film. Apparently falling for Bond, when she discovers that he is the killer of her former lover, she resolves to kill Bond in return. It's a great little change that allows some tension in the final part of the film, but happily her return to Bond is entirely believable.

The other girl of note in the film is Caroline Munro as Naomi. Initially appearing as a bikini clad assistant to villain Stromberg, she later shows that she is so much more, turning up in a helicopter to try to kill Bond and Amasova. It's a great part, and Munro plays it well.

Onto the villains side of things, and sadly Curt Jurgens does not make much of a splash as criminal mastermind Carl Stromberg. He is effectively a Blofeld clone (hardly surprising as Blofeld was the original villain of the piece) but lacks any of the presence or threat that any of the three Blofelds had. The nicest thing to say about him is that he has webbed fingers and is bland. Which is pretty damning by anyone's count.

His henchmen start with the thuggish Chandor (although he is credited Sandor in the credits) and Chandor is quickly dispatched by Bond withing a few scenes. However, the piece de resistance of the film is undoubtedly Jaws. Standing at well over seven feet tall, with a mouthful of steel teeth, Jaws is the best thing about the film. His introduction in Egypt is astonishingly well filmed and when he confronts Bond and Amasova, neither of them have any impact on the man. In fact he is superhumanly strong, ripping cars apart, walking away from buildings collapsing on him and ultimately eating a shark to survive the movie. Of all the henchmen we have seen to date, Jaws is, if not the absolute, then one of the finest.

But it's not just the story and the cast that deserve honourable mentions in this film, or indeed director Lewis Gilbert and Cubby Broccoli bringing the series back on track. If I might I will take the opportunity to gush about three other areas that are worthy of note.

Firstly, Marvin Hamlisch takes up scoring responsibilites this time round, giving us the first title theme that isn't named after the movie (although the phrase "the spy who loved me" does appear in the lyrics) and it is a beautiful piece set to Maurice Binder's much improved opening credits - the first to feature the actor playing Bond (and also, thanks to the new special editions, the nudity is very obvious! It's also worth mentioning here that, curiously, the film goes back to the 2.33:1 aspect ratio). The rest of Hamlisch's score is almost disco, with the most memorably piece of the film being the underwater or Atlantis theme which is very much of its time, but is instantly memorable. Towards the end, and when it is required, Hamlisch ditches his upbeat version of the Bond theme for a more traditional one to accompany Bond's more Bondian moments. It is a fantastic score and one that improves the film no end.

Secondly, the production design of the film is the best since...well since You Only Live Twice really. While everything is of the usual excellent standard, it is the interior of the Liparus tanker that is worth the mention, apparently being so big that a new studio was built simply to house the thing. It has similarities to the hollowed-out volcano in YOLT in that there is a control room overlooking the area where the captured ships are placed, and there is a monorail that leads to a prison cell, but all that aside, you can't grumble when the set is so massive that there is no chance to take it all in on one sitting. Watching it for whatever time this is (and yes, I know I'm supposed to be viewing it fresh) there is still new stuff that I am finding.

Finally, the modelwork for this movie is out of this world and is up there with its contempory Star Wars. There is a tremendous amount of modelwork in the film but the two that are truly stand out are the Liparus - especially when it gobbles up the submarines - and the Atlantis, again particularly when it rises out of the water. It is clear that a lot of thought went into these models to ensure that the obvious problem of a size relatively problem wouldn't occur, and kudos to the team for it. It really is awesome.

The Spy Who Loved Me may be a recycled plot, but it does it with style and wit and gives Roger Moore the chance to come back from the embarrassment that was TMWTGG and establish himself firmly as James Bond.
Favourite Bond: 1. Sean Connery; 2. Roger Moore; 3. George Lazenby

Favourite movie order: 1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service; 2. Dr No; 3. Live And Let Die; 4. Thunderball; 5. The Spy Who Loved Me; 6. From Russia, With Love; 7. Goldfinger; 8. You Only Live Twice; 9. The Man With The Golden Gun; 10. Diamonds Are Forever

Favourite Bond girl: 1. Claudine Auger/Dominio; 2. Diana Rigg/Tracy; Barbara Bach/Anya; 4. Mie Hama/Kissy; 5. Daniela Bianchi/Tanya; 6. Ursula Andress/Honey; 7. Jane Seymour/Solitaire; 8. Honor Blackman/Pussy; 9. Britt Ekland/Mary; 10. Jill St John/Tiffany

Favourite Bond villain: 1. Donald Pleasance/Blofeld; 2. Gert Frobe/Goldfinger; 3. Christopher Lee/Scaramanga; 4. Adolfo Celi/Largo; 5. Yaphet Kotto/Mr Big-Dr Kananga; 6. Joseph Wiseman/Dr No; 7. Lotte Lenya/Klebb; 8. Telly Savalas/Blofeld; 9. Charles Gray/Blofeld; 10. Curt Jurgens/Stromberg