A View to a Kill (1985)

The recovery of a microchip off the body of a fellow agent leads James Bond to a mad industrialist who plans to create a worldwide microchip monopoly by destroying California's Silicon Valley.

Director:

John Glen

Writers:

Richard Maibaum (screenplay), Michael G. Wilson (screenplay)

Stars:

Roger Moore, Christopher Walken, Tanya Roberts

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roger Moore	...	James Bond
Christopher Walken	...	Max Zorin
Tanya Roberts	...	Stacey Sutton
Grace Jones	...	May Day
Patrick Macnee	...	Tibbett
Patrick Bauchau	...	Scarpine
David Yip	...	Chuck Lee
Fiona Fullerton	...	Pola Ivanova
Manning Redwood	...	Bob Conley
Alison Doody	...	Jenny Flex
Willoughby Gray	...	Dr. Carl Mortner
Desmond Llewelyn	...	Q
Robert Brown	...	M
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Walter Gotell	...	General Gogol

Storyline

James Bond has one more mission. Bond returns from his travels in the U.S.S.R. with a computer chip. This chip is capable of withstanding a nuclear electromagnetic pulse that would otherwise destroy a normal chip. The chip was created by Zorin Industries, and Bond heads off to investigate its owner, Max Zorin. Zorin may only seem like an innocent man, but is really planning to set off an earthquake in San Andreas, which will wipe out all of Silicon Valley. As well as Zorin, Bond must also tackle May Day and equally menacing companion of Zorin, while dragging Stacy Sutton along for the ride.

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Plot Keywords:

official james bond series | interracial kiss | interracial love | 007 | golden gate bridge | 

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Taglines:

Smooth Operator. [UK poster]

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The sound effects used in the burning elevator shaft are the same ones used during the destruction of the space station in Moonraker (1979).

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Goofs

Early in the movie, Zorin comments that they make microchips out of silicon, "which is common sand." Sand is mostly quartz (silicon dioxide).

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Quotes

Pola Ivanova: [Bond is sharing a hot tub with Pola Ivanova, a beautiful KGB agent, gently massaging her shoulders] Ah... that feels wonderful.
James Bond: Feels even better from where I'm sitting.
[Pola couldn't agree more]
James Bond: Would you like it harder?
Pola Ivanova: James, you haven't changed.
James Bond: Well, you have.
[she turns in his direction]
James Bond: You're even lovelier.
[she smiles at that and Bond kisses her cheek]
Pola Ivanova: James? That night in London when I was with the Bolshoi...?
[...]

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Crazy Credits

James Bond will return

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Alternate Versions

A deleted scene presented on the DVD shows Bond being bailed out of a Paris jail by M following his taxi chase of May Day. The scene shows Bond collecting his personal effects, including the wristwatch with garrote wire from From Russia with Love, an ink pen filled with acid, and a cigarette lighter that's a flame thrower.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Fletch/A View to a Kill/Perfect/Goodbye, New York (1985)

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Soundtracks

Swan Lake, Op.20
(uncredited)
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

User Reviews

Very good!!!

This is a good Bond film, but sadly is the last with Roger as 007. Despite this, A View to a Kill has one of if not the best Bond bad guys ever. Chris Walken is in fine form as the evil Zorin - a psychopathic mega-lo-maniac with his eyes set on computer domination of the world by destroying silicone valley. I found his devilish laughter, especially just before he dies, one of the best moments in the film. Also his horse related exchanges with 007 are swiftly and enjoyable executed. Obviously Moore does it again with a fine portrayal as JB. The scene with the Iceberg, the fight at Miss Suttons house, the fire truck, the race course are particularly enjoyable. Grace Jones is VERY scary as May Day and certainly one of the most unusual Bond girls. Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton is fine and does what all Bond girls are supposed to do - say "oh James" at the end of the film. With Lois Maxwell and Roger Moore leaving the series its a good swan song for them both. (Also, the title Duran Duran sequence is probably the best of the lot with its colourful 80's imagery and the punchy track from a great band!)

Details

Country:

UK Iceland USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

24 May 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

A View to a Kill

Filming Locations:

C Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,687,114, 26 May 1985

Gross USA:

$50,327,960

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$50,327,960

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1