James Bond Deconstructed

Moonraker (1979) Directed by Lewis Gilbert

Starring Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale, Richard Kiel

00:10 The gun barrel sequence features a thumping orchestral opening and a superbly flared and bow-tied Moore. Yes it’s the seventies. He makes no apologies for that and we’re in for a fun night.

00:41 Similar to ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’, ‘Moonraker’ has a two-part pre credits sequence. The first part sets up the story and the second part is a completely unrelated mini-adventure culminating in an outrageous and magnificent stunt.

This time we’re aboard an RAF aeroplane transporting a space shuttle. But two leather jacketed rascals have hi-jacked the Moonraker space shuttle in mid-air and fried the pilots of the afore-mentioned RAF transporter.

01:53 M’s office as he receives the news of the mid-air catastrophe. This was Bernard Lee’s last film as M and Bond hasn’t been the same since.

02:09 There’s a nice sound effect touch here as we hear Big Ben chiming outside. Indeed both in ‘Moonraker’ and ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’, a lot more atmosphere is added to the scenes in M’s office from the addition of external sound effects. It really adds something. Compare this to M’s staid office sequence in ’The Man with The Golden Gun’.

02:13 These boys weren’t using cheap props – Feel the weight in the door as M has to use all his might to open the darn thing.

02:16 Again, harking back to ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’, we are introduced to Bond’s pre-credits adventure with a double entendre set-up from M and Moneypenny.

02:18 Aboard the plane with a lovely lady, we’re all set for one of the great Bond pre-credits adventures. Bond’s attire in this sequence is classic Moore. Ribbed cream polo neck with a navy brass buttoned blazer and grey slacks. Alan Partridge couldn’t have done it better.

02:57 Moore was often criticised for his lack of punch in fight sequences, but this is pretty meaty.

03:24 Great twist to the sequence. Falling out of a plane without a parachute. How does he get out of this one?

03:37 Its very well done. The few seconds of silence before the Bond theme kicks in is timed perfectly.

03:44 Although this is a stunt man, it really does look like Moore putting his hands on his backside and plunging downwards after his previous assailant.

This entire sequence was filmed completely for real by stunt men, with no camera tricks. That’s why it works so well. It’s a terrific sequence, and the parachutes under the jackets can only really be seen on repeated DVD viewing.

04:28 A classic Bond kill with blood curdling scream to match.

04:47 Our old friend Jaws enters the fray, and what an entrance. With the Bond theme kicking in, it’s a fantastic shot.

04:54 Brilliant shot of Bond being chased by Jaws in MID-AIR. They don’t make ’em like this any more, and if they did, it would be done on a computer.

05:34 Bond has made his escape and its time for the credits sequence. Surely one of the most under-rated Bond songs? And the graphics are classic Binder. I remember watching this as a youngster and wondering who these women were. Were they real? Where did they live? Surely they didn’t just walk the streets like normal people. Maybe they lived permanently in some sort of fantasy James Bond world just like the films.

08:29 Something the new films are sadly lacking – 1.) Moneypenny and 2.) Banter between Bond and Moneypenny before he goes to get his brief from M.

08:50 No-one does exasperation like Bernard Lee.

08:56 I don’t know why, but I always enjoy Bond being addressed as ‘Commander’.

The interplay between Bond and the old cronies is tip-top. He is viewed by them with a wearisome exasperation despite being their top secret agent.

10:13 They’ve got most of the bases covered already and its only ten minutes in. Here it is – the gadget. Bond will use this twice in the film, and both times it will save his life.

10:30 M’s exasperation is justified as Bond defaces one of his pictures.

10:47 Bond’s typical disdain for Q’s gadgets is evident, despite the fact that they have saved his life on numerous occasions. I like the fact that he either doesn’t want or need the box. He’s just going to wander around London with poison tipped darts in his trouser pocket.

12:42 We get the first impressions of the scale of the movie now as Bond is flown over Drax’s estate.

14:21 Our first impression of the villain and he ticks all the right boxes. A foreign accent, a jacket with no lapels and that great air of menace which all the best Bond villains have.

15:11 Our first sign of Drax’s henchman, Chang and again, he’s classic henchman material. He’s oriental, apparently mute and not least of all, looks pretty scary.

18:24 Bond has now met Doctor Goodhead and its immediately apparent that something is going to go wrong pretty soon.

19:21 Bond’s suspicions are aroused. Oh – and Chang isn’t mute after all – but he still looks pretty mean when he’s turning that wheel.

20:19 This is one of the most genuinely gripping and horrifying sequences in any of the films. Roger Moore’s face was pummelled with air jets to create the effect of g-force on his face, which left him with bruises for days. And Ken Adam’s set is classic Bond as well. Where are these guys when we need them now?

21:46 Must be one of the few sequences if any where Bond has a visible flash back.

22:03 I never knew he had it in him. Moore is utterly convincing as someone who has nearly been crushed to death by excessive g-force. (I would imagine).

22:34 One of the few times we see Bond as vulnerable as this in any film.

23:15 Sir Rog is in cat burglar mode all in black. Although this is one of the weaker sequences in the film, the fantastic score still shines through. It’s a great feature of the Bonds of this era that the songs were so powerful that they would be used as a refrain throughout the movies alongside the classic Bond theme itself. In Quantum of Solace the ‘James Bond Theme’ by Monty Norman wasn’t heard once. What’s that all about?

28:55 The first meeting of Bond and Drax where they both know what the other is up to. Drax’s attempt on Bond’s life is foiled, however, the casual way in which Bond drives up, greets his host then kills his would be assailant is Moore at his coolest.

31:08 Another genuinely sinister moment. Those dogs are scary.

32:13 Moonraker has to be one of the greatest Bond movies just for the sheer variety of locations. Venice looks magnificent. I always thought it would be a great idea to have luxury holiday tours based on the locations of Bond films. Moonraker would be hard to beat; starting off in California, then on to Venice, Rio and the Amazon rainforest before blasting into outer space! Somebody tell Richard Branson.

37:00 The extravagant expense Bond’s enemies will go to knows no bounds. The very thought of organising a funeral boat on the off chance that 007 may take to the water at some point is a bit of a long shot.

37:11 Its another great gadget. A motor powered hover-gondola. It doesn’t get much better than this kids.

37:21 A classic case of the inept and bungling enemy as he fails to take into account the height of the Venice bridges.

37:46 I like this old guy This is the sort of thing that used to get a laugh in the pictures. More of this in subsequent Bond films please Barbara Broccoli.

38:26 More great comedy facial expressions.

38:44 The famous hover-gondola sequence in St Mark’s square complete with double-taking pigeons, slapstick waiters and plenty of open mouthed astonishment from passers by.

39:01 This is the same actor doing exactly the same gag as can be seen in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ when the underwater car emerges onto the beach.

40:25 There’s a cute gag here as the scientists use the ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ melody to enter the lab.

43:05 Another classic death scene as the scientists gasp for their lives. Bond is nonchalant as ever.

43:55 The big ‘made you jump’ moment in the movie.

44:45 Sir Rog looks like he knows what he’s doing with that sword in his hand.

45:03 Another good gag as Bond replaces the vase. Although it doesn’t stay intact for long

46:22 Great location for a fight. And again, its another fantastically grisly end, this time for Chang.

47:50 Nice display of CIA gadgets. Gadget and body count now running at an alarming rate and we’re not even an hour in.

49:35 Now this sounds familiar. Bond agreeing to work with a foreign female spy?

51:26 Oh dear. 007 has egg on his face. But not for long.

53:10 One of my favourite bits in the film. It seems that Drax is calling what sounds like an agency for villainous henchmen. Where did he get the number? The yellow pages?

53:20 You can’t keep a good man down.

53:37 As Concorde lands in Rio we hear the theme tune refrain again and this time it has a Latin flavour to it. Beautiful!

54:30 No doubt this camp hotel porter got some laughs back in the less enlightened seventies.

55:52 He doesn’t waste any time does he?

56:00 Genuine footage from the Rio Carnival filmed the year below gives this sequence an air of authenticity.

57:25 Jaws’ costume plodding down the alley way is genuinely sinister. In fact its less scary when he removes the head.

59:22 Moore’s winning smile always got a laugh.

1:00:20 There’s a wonderful party atmosphere throughout the whole Rio sequence.

1:03:05 The cable car scenes are fantastic, but since when is the outside of a cable car safer than the inside?

1:04:25 Some of the blue screen effects are slightly ropey, but this never detracted from my enjoyment of this sequence.

1:05:49 That chain came in handy. Its just as well someone left it lying around.

1:06:52 What can I say? Jaws meets Dolly. One of the most unexpected and funniest moments in any Bond movie.

1:09:40 The British Airways gag got a great laugh at the pictures. And then we’re into another movie reference / in joke as the theme to ‘The Magnificent Seven’ is heard.

1:10:45 Two gags here as the monk makes the sign of the cross after flattening his opponent and Bond and Moneypenny’s meeting echoes their interchange at the start of the movie when Moneypenny doubts Bond’s story.

1:11:10 Apparently not only have British Secret Services commandeered an entire monastery, but the monks have kindly let them shatter their peace by testing out all sorts of noisy and deadly weaponry.

1:12:44 Bond is back in favour with M. One of the few if any occurrences of M referring to Bond by his Christian name.

1:13 50 Moore was never far from the water in his first four outings as Bond and here we have yet another boat chase. Yet this one has a rather fantastical ending. There’s a welcome musical refrain from ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ as well here. This was actually my first glimpse of Bond as I seen this clip on Noel Edmond’s Saturday morning show ‘Swap Shop’ in 1979. I’ve been hooked ever since.

1:16:35 A rather fantastical and dreamlike sequence as Bond is lead into danger by a mysterious lady in the jungle. The musical score here is hauntingly beautiful. Ken Adam’s set as ever is perfection. Another Bond staple is present here – the modern steel bridge over the deadly waters.

1:20:33 Another great feature of the older Bond’s is represented here when 007 punches Jaws in the stomach. We see just how ineffectual Bond is against this seemingly indestructible foe and wonder how he can possibly defeat him.

1:20:36 Again its textbook Bond. Orange boiler suits. ‘Nuff said.

1:21:20 We get our first flavour of the space adventure about to unfold. Drax’s plan is unveiled and it is truly dastardly on a massive scale. Your classic Bond villains didn’t do things by half measures.

1:23:48 Drax’s death sentence is suitably chilling and cryptic.

1:24::54 “Even in death, my munificence is boundless.”

1:26:24 It’s a classic air vent escape. Are all the yellow boiler suited stooges going up into space or are some being left behind to die?

1:28:00 Now this is what you call flying by the seat of your pants. 007 strapped into the cockpit of a space shuttle. Just as well the lovely Doctor Goodhead knows what she’s doing. Incidentally, they used salt to create the rocket vapours in this sequence.

1:29:50 The space sequences are quite mesmerising, especially on the big screen with the fantastic score.

1:31:27 The space station reveal.

1:34:10 Nice wire work and its another stupendous Adam set.

1:36:00 Whatever process they’ve put Drax’s voice through, its always stuck with me. His full master plan is revealed in all it’s horrendous glory.

1:38:55 The space station can now be seen from earth. The USA will have a shuttle full of laser gun toting space cadets in the air in minutes.

1:43:05 The air lock chamber with its red lighting always sent a chill down my spine.

1:43:30 This is how Bond used to defeat his enemies – using his wits. It’s the only case of a villain changing sides in a Bond movie and it’s a heart warming moment.

1:47:47 Drax is still barking orders. He appears to still have faith in his plan, but is it all a front?

1:49:28 I remember Drax’s exit and the sheer emptiness of space. What a way to go!

1:50:36 The sense of Bond running around on the disintegrating space station is edge of the seat stuff.

1:52:15 Our villain turns out to be the romantic lead – what a turnaround.

1:52:55 The velvet tones of Jaws are revealed. Its a great Bond moment.

1:54:00 Bond seems very confident that the bucket of rust that Jaws and Dolly have jettisoned off in will make it back to earth. His confidence is well placed as is revealed later.

1:57:27 Its revealed that Jaws and Dolly were safely picked up from the space station. God knows how.

1:58:09 Again, the end harks back to ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ with M and associates being outraged by Bond’s dalliance with his lady colleague. Q’s ‘Re-Entry’ line is Moore’s favourite from all the Bond films.

1:58:50 The end – and it’s a fantastic disco reprise of the Moonraker theme. Farewell Bernard Lee, this was the last classic line up of M, Q and Moneypenny.