| The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) | |
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Rating: 7.0/10 (116,240 votes) Director: Lewis Gilbert Writer: Christopher Wood, Richard Maibaum, Ian Fleming Stars: Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curd Jürgens Runtime: 125 min Rated: PG Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller Released: 03 Aug 1977 |
| Plot: James Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads, with the help of a K.G.B. agent whose lover he killed. | |
I never really got the love that so many have for this film. I always regarded it as one of the weaker entries in the series. However, given that it is a few decades since I last watched it, there was a chance that I would view it with fresh eyes, and see what so many find so endearing about it.
Sadly, it only takes five minutes before I see what I despised about the film…the barrage of Carry On style of innuendo. “Miss Moneypenny, where is Bond?” “On a mission!” “Well tell him to pull out!” Fnar fnar. “Let me try something bigger!” Wahay! “Something’s come up!” Chuckle! Then a ski-chase with the cheesiest music ever, before the iconic parachute, before the main film really kicks in.
The basic plot sees nuclear subs vanishing, a Russian agent with a personal vendetta against Bond, and an evil megalomaniac planning world domination from his elaborate base – all in all a typical Bond plot. Indeed, this film has nothing to do with the book by Fleming, aside from the title, and was scripted purely for film. Given this knowledge it is no shock that it is extremely formulaic in nature, playing more like a ‘greatest hits’ compilation. We have a giant ship swallowing smaller vessels, a lair with a small car monorail system, and a breakout at said lair of prisoners told to raid the armoury and fight. Far too familiar for its own good, and showing weak scripting to just lift whole elements from earlier films. It would be fair to also mention that after the opening credits, the farce and forced comedy seems to subside, and the film does aim to be a more serious affair. That is aside from the ever present innuendo (“When one is in Egypt, one should delve deeply into its treasures!” Oh how we laughed!) which sadly damages what could have been a good, if not great film.
Stromberg, the villain, is basically Blofeld with a different name, but his henchmen are more iconic in nature, especially Jaws. In the silent powerhouse with metal teeth, the franchise found a perfect enemy for the wisecracking 007. A shame that he was so popular a villain that they decided to use him in the following film…but I’ll get to that when I cover Moonraker.
In summary, I still don’t get what is held in such regard about this film. It is not the worst Moore entry, but is far from the classic many herald it as.
