The final mission of Roger Moore as 007 was a chaotic, high-stakes production.
In short: Released in 1985, A View to a Kill marked Roger Moore's seventh and final appearance as James Bond. Despite critical disdain for the ageing star and a production plagued by studio fires and rogue stuntmen, the film became a commercial success, anchored by a chart-topping theme song from Duran Duran.
The film's development was marked by significant departures from the original Ian Fleming short story. While the title was borrowed, the screenplay was entirely original, initially featuring a plot where the villain, Max Zorin, attempted to crash Halley's Comet into Silicon Valley. Producers eventually opted for a more grounded narrative involving Zorin's plan to destroy the region's geological stability to monopolize microchip manufacturing. The role of Zorin, a psychopathic product of Nazi genetic experimentation, was highly sought after, with David Bowie and Sting both turning down the part before Christopher Walken was cast.
Production was fraught with logistical challenges. In June 1984, a fire destroyed the legendary 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios, forcing a rebuild. On location in Paris, a stuntman was fired for performing an unauthorized parachute jump from the Eiffel Tower after being told his services were no longer needed. Despite these setbacks and a schedule that ran two weeks over, the film was completed $5 million under its initial $35 million budget. The production also benefited from a marketing coup involving an Airship Industries blimp, which had recently appeared at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
The film remains a notable entry in the Bond canon for its unique cast and cultural impact. It featured the final appearance of Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny and introduced a young Dolph Lundgren in a minor role as a KGB agent. The title track by Duran Duran achieved a rare feat for the franchise, becoming the only Bond theme to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Although Roger Moore personally disliked the film, his performance concluded a tenure that redefined the character for a generation, ultimately earning his Bond the Order of Lenin for thwarting Zorin's apocalyptic scheme.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A View to a Kill
- Also: Wikidata — A View to a Kill · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — A View to a Kill · CC0
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