IMDb > Licence to Kill (1989)
Licence to Kill
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Licence to Kill (1989) More at IMDbPro »

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Licence to Kill -- Trailer 2 for Licence To Kill
Licence to Kill -- Clip: You Were Supposed To Be In Istanbul
Licence to Kill -- Trailer for Licence To Kill

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   49,158 votes »
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Up 22% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Glen
Writers (WGA):
Michael G. Wilson (written by) and
Richard Maibaum (written by) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Licence to Kill on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 July 1989 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
Out for revenge. Glimpse behind the cool facade of 007. And see how sweet revenge can really be. [USA poster] See more »
Plot:
A vengeful British spy goes rogue and sets off to unleash vengeance on a drug lord who tortured his best friend, a CIA agent, and left him for dead and murdered his bride after he helped capture him. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 nomination See more »
NewsDesk:
(136 articles)
Bond in the casinos
 (From SoundOnSight. 28 April 2013, 9:25 PM, PDT)
TV highlights: 24/4/2013
 (From The Guardian - TV News. 23 April 2013, 11:00 PM, PDT)
Title Of Next James Bond Novel Revealed
 (From EmpireOnline. 15 April 2013, 5:01 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
A criminally underrated Bond picture See more (277 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Timothy Dalton ... James Bond

Carey Lowell ... Pam Bouvier

Robert Davi ... Franz Sanchez

Talisa Soto ... Lupe Lamora

Anthony Zerbe ... Milton Krest

Frank McRae ... Sharkey

David Hedison ... Felix Leiter

Wayne Newton ... Professor Joe Butcher

Benicio Del Toro ... Dario

Anthony Starke ... Truman-Lodge

Everett McGill ... Ed Killifer

Desmond Llewelyn ... Q

Pedro Armendáriz Jr. ... President Hector Lopez (as Pedro Armendariz)

Robert Brown ... M

Priscilla Barnes ... Della Churchill Leiter

Don Stroud ... Heller
Caroline Bliss ... Miss Moneypenny

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa ... Kwang

Grand L. Bush ... Hawkins
Alejandro Bracho ... Perez
Guy De Saint Cyr ... Braun

Rafer Johnson ... Mullens

Diane Hsu ... Loti (as Diana Lee-Hsu)
Christopher Neame ... Fallon

Jeannine Bisignano ... Stripper
Claudio Brook ... Montelongo
Cynthia Fallon ... Consuelo
Enrique Novi ... Rasmussen
Osami Kawawo ... Oriental
George Belanger ... Doctor
Roger Cudney ... Wavekrest Captain
Honorato Magaloni ... Chief Chemist
Jorge Russek ... Pit Boss
Sergio Corona ... Bellboy

Stuart Quan ... Ninja (as Stuart Kwan)
José Abdala ... Tanker Driver (as Jose Abdala)
Teresa Blake ... Ticket Agent
Samuel Benjamin Lancaster ... Della's Uncle
Juan Peláez ... Casino Manager (as Juan Peleaz)
Mark Kelty ... Coast Guard Radio Operator
Humberto Elizondo ... Hotel Assistant Manager (as Umberto Elizondo)
Fidel Garriga ... Sanchez's Driver (as Fidel Carriga)
Edna Bolkan ... Barrelhead Waitress
Eddie Edenfield ... Clive
Jeff Moldovan ... Warehouse Guard

Carl Ciarfalio ... Warehouse Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Martinez ... Customs officer
Gerardo Albarrán ... Alvarez (uncredited)
Tom Bahr ... Marshall #1 (uncredited)

Chick Bernhardt ... Marshall Driver (uncredited)

Andrew Castillo ... Seaplane Pilot (uncredited)
James D'Orta ... Doctor (uncredited)
Alex Edlin ... Marshall #2 (uncredited)
Lars Lundgren ... Probe Operator (uncredited)

Branscombe Richmond ... Barrelhead Bar Patron (uncredited)
John Sabol ... Naval Officer (uncredited)
Jorge Valdés García ... Casino Guest (uncredited)

Michael G. Wilson ... DEA Agent (voice) (uncredited)
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Directed by
John Glen 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Michael G. Wilson (written by) and
Richard Maibaum (written by)

Ian Fleming (characters)

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli .... producer
Barbara Broccoli .... associate producer
Tom Pevsner .... associate producer
Michael G. Wilson .... producer
 
Original Music by
Michael Kamen 
 
Cinematography by
Alec Mills (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
John Grover 
 
Casting by
Janet Hirshenson 
Jane Jenkins 
 
Production Design by
Peter Lamont 
 
Art Direction by
Dennis Bosher 
Michael Lamont 
 
Set Decoration by
Michael Ford 
 
Costume Design by
Jodie Lynn Tillen  (as Jodie Tillen)
 
Makeup Department
Tricia Cameron .... hair styles supervisor
Naomi Donne .... makeup supervisor
George Frost .... makeup supervisor
Dinah Holt .... hair stylist: second unit (as Di Holt)
Dinah Holt .... makeup artist: second unit (as Di Holt)
Norma Webb .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Efren Flores .... production manager
Philip Kohler .... production manager
Ned Kopp .... production supervisor: Florida
Héctor López .... production supervisor: Mexico (as Hector Lopez)
Crispin Reece .... production manager: Mexico
Iris Rose .... unit manager
Anthony Waye .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marcia Gay .... second assistant director: second unit
Miguel Gil .... assistant director
Miguel Lima .... assistant director
Terry Madden .... first assistant director: second unit
Callum McDougall .... second assistant director
Batan Silva .... first assistant director: second unit (as Sebastian Silva)
Arthur Wooster .... second unit director
 
Art Department
Andrew Ackland-Snow .... assistant art director
Gilly Noyes Court .... scenic artist (as Gilly Noyes-Court)
Ken Court .... art director: Florida
Roger W. Deer .... sketch artist (as Roger Deer)
Tony Graysmark .... construction manager
Bernie Hearn .... stand-by propman (as Bernard Hearn)
Bert Hearn .... property master
Richard Helfritz .... set decorator: Florida
Richard Holland .... assistant art director
Neil Lamont .... assistant art director
Daniel Miller .... sculptor
Rodney Pincott .... stand-by propman: second unit
Ron Quelch .... production buyer
Héctor Romero .... assistant art director (as Hector Romero)
Bob Walker .... graphics (as Robert Walker)
Frederic C. Weiler .... set decorator: Florida (as Fredrick Weiler)
Alejandro Ayala .... art assistant (uncredited)
William A. Cimino .... set dresser (uncredited)
Stephen P. Durante .... leadman (uncredited)
Teri Anne Kopp .... art department assistant: US (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Mark Auguste .... sound editor
Graham V. Hartstone .... sound re-recording mixer (as Graham Hartstone)
John Hayward .... sound re-recording mixer
Jean-Pierre Lelong .... additional sound effects
Vernon Messenger .... sound editor
Peter Musgrave .... sound editor
Edward Tise .... sound recordist
Martin Trevis .... boom operator
Ross Adams .... assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Sandy Buchanan .... post-production sound assistant (uncredited)
Nicolas Le Messurier .... sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Mark Mostyn .... assistant sound editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Clive Beard .... special effects technician
Lawrence J. Cavanaugh .... special effects coordinator: Florida (as Larry Cavanaugh)
Chris Corbould .... special effects supervisor: second unit
Neil Corbould .... special effects: first unit
Laurencio Cordero .... special effects supervisor: Mexico
Daniel Dark .... special effects: underwater team
Nick Finlayson .... special effects technician
Sergio Jara .... special effects supervisor: Mexico
Peter Pickering .... special effects technician
Paul Whybrow .... special effects technician: second unit
Andy Williams .... special effects technician: second unit
Jeffrey S. Farley .... shark puppet crew (uncredited)
Steve Hamilton .... senior special effects technician (uncredited)
Sergio Jara Jr. .... special effects assistant (uncredited)
Thomas Kittle .... special effects (uncredited)
Hal Miles .... animatronic supervisor (uncredited)
Nigel Nixon .... special effects model maker (uncredited)
Marcus Richardson .... special effects assistant (uncredited)
James L. Roberts .... special effects (uncredited)
R. Bruce Steinheimer .... special effects technician (uncredited)
Greg R. Stone .... special effects technician (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
John Richardson .... special visual effects
Craig Chandler .... optical camera (uncredited)
Alan Church .... optical camera operator (uncredited)
Julian Parry .... model unit (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Gerardo Albarrán .... stunt supervisor (as Gerardo Moreno)
Alex Arnold .... stunt diver
Mark Bahr .... stunts
Gilbert Bataille .... stunt driving team
Marc Boyle .... stunt supervisor
Jake Brake .... stunt double
Didier Brule .... stunt driving team
Julian Bucio .... stunts
Jorge Cardenas .... stunt diver
Juan Dario Corona .... stunt diver
Jo Cote .... stunt driving team
Simon Crane .... stunt double: Timothy Dalton
Manuel Cárdenas .... stunt diver (as Manuel Cardenas)
Steve Dent .... stunts
Alex Edlin .... stunts
J.W. 'Corkey' Fornof .... aerial stunt supervisor (as 'Corkey' Fornof)
Jean-Claude Houbart .... stunt driving team
Dominique Julienne .... stunt driving team
Rémy Julienne .... driving stunts arranger (as Remy Julienne)
Javier Lambert .... stunts
Jake Lombard .... aerial stunt double: Timothy Dalton
Emilio Magaña .... stunt diver
Artie Malesci .... stunt supervisor (as Art Malesci)
Mauricio Martínez .... stunts
David Reinhardt .... barefoot ski double: Timothy Dalton
Paul Weston .... stunt coordinator
B.J. Worth .... parachute stunt coordinator
Tom Bahr .... utility stunts (uncredited)
Chick Bernhardt .... stunt driver (uncredited)
Marc Boyle .... stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Giacomazzi .... stunts (uncredited)
Terry Jackson .... stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin .... stunt driver (uncredited)
Jake Lombard .... stunt rigger (uncredited)
Jake Lombard .... stunts (uncredited)
Lars Lundgren .... stunts (uncredited)
Valentino Musetti .... stunts (uncredited)
Rafael Valdez .... stunts (uncredited)
Nick Wilkinson .... utility stunts (uncredited)
Curtis Williams .... stunt diver (uncredited)
B.J. Worth .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Atherfold .... camera grip: second unit (as Ken Atherfold)
Ramón Bravo .... underwater photographer (as Ramon Bravo)
Donald Bryant .... second camera operator: Mexico
Frank Elliott .... camera focus
John Elton .... second camera operator: Florida
Mike Evans .... camera focus: second unit (as Michael Evans)
Pepe Flores .... underwater assistant camera
Mike Frift .... camera operator (as Michael Frift)
Keith Hamshere .... still photographer
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse .... camera grip (as Chunky Huse)
Edward Knott III .... key grip: Florida (as Eddie Knott III)
Malcolm MacIntosh .... camera operator: second unit
Phil Pastuhov .... camera operator: aerial team
Tim Ross .... second camera operator: Mexico
John Tythe .... electrical supervisor
George Whitear .... still photographer: second unit
Arthur Wooster .... photographer: second unit
Norman Zuckerman .... electrical supervisor: Florida
Lou Angeli .... camera operator: video (uncredited)
Andrew Cooper .... photographer: underwater unit (uncredited)
Jack Gittings .... underwater lighting: second unit (uncredited)
Erik Hollander .... additional still photographer (uncredited)
Simon Mills .... clapper loader (uncredited)
Gary Ryan .... best boy rigging gaffer (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Claudia Becker .... casting: Mexico
Emilia Arau .... assistant to casting director (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Chase .... costume supervisor: Florida
Hugo Peña .... costume supervisor (as Hugo Pena)
Barbara Scott .... costume supervisor
Enrique Villavicencio .... wardrobe master: Mexicali
 
Editorial Department
Ross Adams .... assistant editor
Richard Fettes .... assistant editor
Matthew Glen .... assembly editor
Rob Green .... assistant editor
Mark Mostyn .... assistant editor
John Nuth .... assistant editor
Carlos Puente .... editor: Mexico
Wayne Smith .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Andrew Glen .... music editor
Michael Kamen .... conductor
Dick Lewzey .... music mixer
Stephen McLaughlin .... music programmer
Monty Norman .... composer: James Bond theme
Joel Sill .... music consultant
Vic Flick .... musician: guitar (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Arthur Dunne .... transportation manager
Joyce M. Lark .... transportation coordinator: Florida (as Joyce Lark)
Mauro Venegas .... transportation captain: Mexico
Manuel Paredes Murillo .... driver (uncredited)
Alfonso Paredes .... driver (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Laura Aguilar .... location manager: Mexico
R. Allen .... helicopter pilot: US Coast Guard (as L.cdr. R. Allen)
Gerardo Barrera .... production assistant
Harris Bierman .... armorer
Maurice Binder .... title designer
Ramón Bravo .... director: underwater scenes (as Ramon Bravo)
Albert R. Broccoli .... presenter
Tony Broccoli .... location manager: underwater team
Linda Brown .... contact: Los Angeles
Kenny Calman .... helicopter pilot (as Ken Calman)
Saul Cooper .... director of publicity
Loolee DeLeon .... production coordinator (as Loolee Deleon)
Jacques Descent .... location accountant: Florida (as Jack Descent)
Tony Didio Jr. .... armorer (as Tony Didio)
Sue Field .... continuity: second unit
Ileana Franco U. .... production secretary
Sheila Goldfinger .... jeweler
Monica Greene .... production assistant
Sparky Greene .... special consultant to producers
Rosa María Gómez .... accountant (as Rosa Maria Gomez)
R. Colette Hailey .... location manager: Florida (as Colette Hailey)
Georgina Heath .... production coordinator: Mexicali
Lorentz Hills .... marine coordinator: Florida
Neil Hughes .... helicopter pilot: US Coast Guard (as Lt. Neil Hughes)
Charles Juroe .... marketing director
Nicole Kolin .... location manager: underwater team
Patricia Serafina Madiedo .... production coordinator: Florida (as Patricia Madiedo)
John McElwain .... technical advisor: US Coast Guard (as Comdr. John McElwain)
Randy Meade .... helicopter pilot: US Coast Guard (as L.cdr. Randy Meade)
Jane Meagher .... accountant
Andrew Noakes .... assistant accountant
Douglas Noakes .... production accountant
Jillian Palenthorpe .... special consultant to producers
Marcia Perskie .... production assistant
June Randall .... continuity
Carlos Renero .... animal supplier
Amanda Schofield .... contact: London
Rita Sheese .... underwater coordinator
Tom Bahr .... marine coordinator (uncredited)
Hector De Rubi .... stand-in: Timothy Dalton (uncredited)
Ann Dunsford .... publicity coordinator (uncredited)
J.W. 'Corkey' Fornof .... pilot: Piper PA-18 Super Cub (uncredited)
Pauline Hume .... graphic artist: titles (uncredited)
Mark Juckett .... pilot: Cessna 185 (uncredited)
Harry Kopoian .... airport liaison: Mexico (uncredited)
Andreas Leon .... utility stand-in (uncredited)
Maria Alaina Mason .... production assistant: Key West (uncredited)
John Patteson .... armorer: second unit (uncredited)
Laura Ruiz .... stand-in: Talisa Soto (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for action violence and drug content (edited for re-rating)
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
133 min
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English | Spanish
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Germany:16 (re-release) (uncut) | West Germany:16 (video rating) (cut) | Ireland:15 | USA:R (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/12
Filming Locations:
707 South Street, Key West, Florida Keys, Florida, USASee more »
Company:
DanjaqSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
This film marked the retirement of Barry from composing scores and songs for the series. Michael Kamen took over composing duties on the film as John Barry was undergoing throat surgery at the time. Creative differences with the band A-Ha on the The Living Daylights (1987) allegedly also contributed.See more »
Goofs:
Factual errors: When killing Krest, Sanchez pressurizes the chamber to many atmospheres, then lets all air out in an instant. While a massive pressure change can indeed kill someone that way (as happened in the horrible Byford Dolphin accident) that would also create a massive pressure and sound spike *outside* the chambers with all that air escaping explosively. Sanchez and the others would be subjected to an explosion of air, rendering them deaf and possibly knocking them off their feet. Yet all we notice is some hissing.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
AWACS radar operator:We have a mid-course deviation. Target heading 036, 126 miles, bearing 062, Havana VOR.
Voice of DEA agent:He's landing at Cray Key. Advise Key West Drug Enforcement.
AWACS radar operator:Roger, sir. AWACS to Key West. Key West Drug Enforcement, please come in.
Voice of DEA agent:If they hurry, they just might be able to grab the bastard.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in James Bond: The Duel (1993) (VG)See more »
Soundtrack:
Licence to KillSee more »

FAQ

Who sings the title song?
Why does Milton Krest's head explode when Sanchez takes an axe to the decompression chamber?
Whats this about Bond having been married before?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
74 out of 95 people found the following review useful.
A criminally underrated Bond picture, 22 November 2006
Author: Gavin Salkeld from United States

Licence To Kill is one of the most underrated Bond movies since On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Slipping easily back into 007's shoes with style after his previous role as Bond, Timothy Dalton embodies the character. With a break away from the comic-book villains and fantastical locations, the filmmakers decide to focus instead on a very adult and contemporary story about drug smuggling and revenge. Michael G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum's story is engaging and exciting, with a steadfast confidence in their leading man. This is a Bond movie that took risks -- it was the first 15-rated Bond film in the UK -- and surely deserves kudos for doing so. Make no mistake; this is not a family Bond picture. Its themes require a more mature perspective than its predecessors, and the violence is certainly stronger than anything that had come before. Unfortunately, these factors seem to be what critics of Licence To Kill call 'faults'. But why is change so bad, I ask? Casino Royale is getting major appreciation from critics for its grittiness and its darker edge. So why not Licence To Kill? After all, this is the movie that started the current trend, with Dalton's mature portrayal of Bond paving the way for Pierce Brosnan and, without doubt, Daniel Craig. It always amazes me that people do not give Dalton more respect for what he did with the character. This guy started the ball rolling. And boy did he give it a hard push.

The characters in Licence To Kill are one of it's major plus points. James Bond is the most human we have seen him in 20 years, as Dalton brings a real sense emotional depth to the character; a tortured man full of hurt and pain and vengeance, his determined and stony face almost cracking with the burning hatred that is barely contained inside of him. We also get a strong female lead with Carey Lowell, whose portrayal of Pam Bouvier is at once intelligent, sexy, and funny. On the flip side of the coin, we have a genuinely terrifying villain in the shape of Robert Davi, playing his role deadly straight with not a hint of camp. It's a rare scenario where you feel Bond has met someone of equal competence. The Sanchez character is a frightening presence, and an early role from Benicio Del Toro is just as effective; his chilling grin a fear-inducing sight.

Technically speaking, John Glen's direction is taught and assured, with the pace never really letting up for the 130+ minutes running time, save at the very end of the movie where the spectacular truck chase sequence perhaps drags just a little. The brilliant Michael Kamen also supplies us with an elegant, sensual and brooding score that is a vital player unto itself, complimenting the visuals excellently.

In spite of these pluses, there are some minor quibbles. As I said before, the truck finale is perhaps a bit long, even though the stunt work is amazing, but it does slow the pace a bit. Talisa Soto is indeed beautiful as Sanchez' girlfriend but, bless her, she isn't exactly the most talented actress on the planet. She plays her part well enough, but the role isn't exactly Oscar-worthy, and it's not helped by the fact that the script tends to relegate her to the sidelines. Everett McGill's cigar-chomping Killifer is rather too pantomime for me - he just doesn't stand up to the characters of Sanchez or Anthony Zerbe's Krest but he doesn't stick around long so doesn't get in the way too much.

With a striking leading man in Bond's shoes, Licence To Kill deserves a lot more credit than it gets. This is the film that broke the mould, opening the doors to a more adult, violent Bond world that continued briefly with some of the Brosnan films and certainly with Daniel Craig's portrayal of the character. In Timothy Dalton we have a brilliant actor in the starring role who brought us a more human and believable Bond, yet it is Daniel Craig who is currently getting the credit for these exact traits. Don't get me wrong, his characterisation is superb. But Dalton is the one who started it off, and it is a shame that he only made the two films.

John Glen says that from all of the Bond movies that he directed, Licence To Kill is the one he is most proud of. And rightly so. Not only do we get a more fleshed-out character in Bond than previous outings, we get a more believable and mature storyline, with great characters and competent direction. Definitely one of the most underrated Bond movies, this engaging film is a great piece of entertainment, and one that I hope will gather praise with time. See it.

4 stars.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
This film disturbs me. bradhig
how could they walk into a hotel room full of bad guys. bradhig
Was Felix high on painkillers... scarlet_symon
'We feed maggot to our special breed of genetically engineered fish' shehateme01
Surprised no one noticed... phultra
Girl in credits sequence? mostlovedproductions
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