For Your Eyes Only

Roger Moore’s fifth James Bond film, in 1981’s “For Your Eyes Only,” was foreshown as a return to basics after “Moonraker.” Despite being hugely successful, “Moonraker” was also the most ridiculous of the Bond stories. The twelfth Bond movie, “For Your Eyes Only,” had veteran screenwriter Richard Maibaum partnering with executive producer Michael G. Wilson to create a more normal script that put the series’ trademark fun, women and song with the high-stakes mission of a more intense Bond.

Bond must recover the ATAC missile launching system before it can be used to destroy Western nuclear submarines. The main Bond girl Melina Havelock, played by the sultry Carole Bouquet, has her own plans: vengeance for the murder of her parents. The story includes a bit more mystery than usual, with Bond figuring out which of the two smugglers he should trust: Milos Columbo (a delightful Topol) or Aristotle Kristatos (Julian Glover). Peter Canavese stated in his review, “The story combines elements from two short stories from Ian Fleming's collection For Your Eyes Only: the title story and "Risico" (a bit is also cribbed from the novel Live or Let Die).”

Making this type of a darker Bond, Moore hesitantly agreed to film a part where Bond unnecessarily (and spectacularly) kills a gunman. Canavese said, “Around that defining scene is the usual Bondian fun, including gripping underwater and rock-climbing sequences, a ski sequence, and a cracking car chase, all with inordinately impressive stunt work.” As a former editor, first-time director John Glen knows what’s needed to make suspense. The downside of the film is loaded with an annoyingly old song by Bill Conti (the catchy theme song is sung by Sheena Easton).

Canavese said, “The film ends with a climactic showdown at one of the series' most novel villainous lairs, an abandoned mountain monastery, but it's the opening scene that takes the cake, with Bond escaping a death trap and turning the tables on Blofeld (identified in every way but name, due to a copyright issue).” The scene is both engaging in the action and ridiculously funny, a strange way to start the then carefully balanced Bond film. Canavese ended his review by noting, “The coup de grace is Blofeld's desperate plea for mercy: "I'll buy you a delicatessen—in stainless steel! Producer Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli suggested the line, an old-timey reference to stainless-steel deli counter tops being prized Mafia currency.”

This is an exciting film that you should definitely check out because you will love it. If you weren’t satisfied with “Moonraker” like I was, then this one will get you excited for the series again.

Check in tomorrow for the next installment in “James Bond Month.”