For Your Eyes Only (1981)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

John Glen

Writers:

Richard Maibaum (screenplay) and
Michael G. Wilson (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

26 June 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

Bond Has Everything - James Bond Agent 007 Is Back

Plot:

Agent 007 is assigned to hunt for a lost British encryption device and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.

Plot Keywords:

British | James Bond | Ship | Agent | Spy

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Roger Moore	...	James Bond
Carole Bouquet	...	Melina Havelock
Topol	...	Milos Columbo
Lynn-Holly Johnson	...	Bibi Dahl
Julian Glover	...	Aristotle Kristatos
Cassandra Harris	...	Countess Lisl von Schlaf
Jill Bennett	...	Jacoba Brink
Michael Gothard	...	Emile Leopold Locque
John Wyman	...	Erich Kriegler
Jack Hedley	...	Sir Timothy Havelock
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Desmond Llewelyn	...	Q
Geoffrey Keen	...	Minister of Defence (Sir Frederick Gray)
Walter Gotell	...	General Anatol Gogol
James Villiers	...	Bill Tanner
John Moreno	...	Luigi Ferrara
Charles Dance	...	Claus
Paul Angelis	...	Karageorge
Toby Robins	...	Iona Havelock
Jack Klaff	...	Apostis
Alkis Kritikos	...	Santos
Stag Theodore	...	Nikos
Stefan Kalipha	...	Hector Gonzales
Graham Crowden	...	First Sea Lord
Noel Johnson	...	Vice Admiral
William Hoyland	...	McGregor
Paul Brooke	...	Bunky
Eva Reuber-Staier	...	Rublevich
Fred Bryant	...	Vicar
Robbin Young	...	Girl in Flower Shop
Graham Hawkes	...	Mantis Man
John Wells	...	Denis Thatcher
Janet Brown	...	The Prime Minister (Margaret Thatcher)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maureen Bennett	...	Sharon, Q's Assistant (uncredited)
Andy Bradford	...	Guard at St. Cyril (uncredited)
Jeremy Bulloch	...	Smithers (uncredited)
Clive Curtis	...	González Henchman (uncredited)
Lalla Dean	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)
Evelyn Drogue	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)
Peter Fontaine	...	Captain of the St. Georges (uncredited)
Cornelius Garrett	...	Trawler Navy Officer (uncredited)
Laurie Goode	...	Skier (uncredited)
Laoura Hadzivageli	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)
John Hollis	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld (uncredited)
Michel Julienne	...	Henchman Driver (uncredited)
Koko	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)
Chai Lee	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)
George Leech	...	Henchman Shark Victim (uncredited)
Kim Mills	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)
Debbie Newsome	...	Girl in Cortina (uncredited)
Greg Powell	...	Henchman Shot by Melina (uncredited)
Lenny Rabin	...	Ski-Jump Spectator (uncredited)
Robert Rietty	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld (voice) (uncredited)
Vanya Seager	...	Girl Who Kisses Henchman (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	...	Henchman Lotus Explosion Victim (uncredited)
George Sweeney	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Victor Tourjansky	...	Man with Wine Glass (uncredited)
Tula	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)
Max Vesterhalt	...	Girl at Casino (uncredited)
Viva	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)
Lizzie Warville	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)
Michael G. Wilson	...	Greek Priest at Wedding (uncredited)
Alison Worth	...	Girl at Pool (uncredited)

Directed by
John Glen

Writing credits
Ian Fleming		(stories "For Your Eyes Only" and "Risico") uncredited
Richard Maibaum		(screenplay) and
Michael G. Wilson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Tom Pevsner	....	associate producer
Michael G. Wilson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
Alan Hume

Film Editing by
John Grover

Casting by
Debbie McWilliams		(as Deborah McWilliams)
Maude Spector

Production Design by
Peter Lamont

Art Direction by
John Fenner

Set Decoration by
Vernon Dixon

Costume Design by
Elizabeth Waller

Makeup Department
Eric Allwright	....	makeup artist
George Frost	....	makeup artist
Stephanie Kaye	....	hair stylist
Marsha Lewis	....	hair stylist
Mike Jones	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Peter Bennett	....	unit manager
Mara Blasetti	....	production manager
Philip Kohler	....	production manager (as Phil Kohler)
Michalis Lambrinos	....	unit manager
Aspa Lambrou	....	production manager
Redmond Morris	....	unit manager
Umberto Sambuco	....	unit manager
Robert Simmonds	....	production supervisor (as Bob Simmonds)
Vincent Winter	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Broccoli	....	second assistant director
Gerry Gavigan	....	assistant director: second unit
Terry Madden	....	second assistant director
Gareth Tandy	....	second assistant director
Anthony Waye	....	assistant director
Arthur Wooster	....	second unit director
Michael Zimbrich	....	second assistant director
Paul Tivers	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ernest Archer	....	assistant art director (as Ernie Archer)
Franco Fumagalli	....	additional art director
Brian Humphrey	....	property master
Mikes Karapiperis	....	additional art director
Michael Lamont	....	additional art director
Michael Redding	....	construction manager
Denis Rich	....	illustrator (as Dennis Rich)
Ernest Smith	....	scenic artist
John Chisholm	....	props (uncredited)
Duncan Guest	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Don Picton	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Ron Quelch	....	buyer (uncredited)
Tony Rimmington	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Bob Sherwood	....	stand-by prop (uncredited)

Sound Department
Derek Ball	....	sound mixer
Ken Barker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jean-Pierre Lelong	....	sound effects (as Jean Pierre Lelong)
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gordon McCallum)
Vernon Messenger	....	dubbing editor
Colin Miller	....	dubbing editor
Ken Nightingall	....	boom operator
William Trent	....	dubbing editor (as Bill Trent)
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Massimo Mariani	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Evans	....	special effects
Peter Fern	....	mechanical engineer (uncredited)
Dino Galiano	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
David Harris	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Mark Meddings	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Derek Meddings	....	visual effects supervisor
Paul Wilson	....	visual effects photographer

Stunts
Pat Banta	....	stunt team
Cyd Child	....	stunt team
Jo Cote	....	stunt team
John Eaves	....	stunt team
Martin Grace	....	stunt team
Hans Hechenbichler	....	stunt team
Michel Julienne	....	stunt team
Rémy Julienne	....	driving stunts arranger (as Remy Julienne)
Wolfgang Junginger	....	stunt team
George Leech	....	stunt team
Wendy Leech	....	stunt team
Gavin McKinney	....	stunt team
Gareth Milne	....	stunt team
Bernard Pascual	....	stunt team
Bob Simmons	....	action sequence arranger
Frances Young	....	stunt team
Gillian Aldam	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Andy Bradford	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Cade	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tim Condren	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Graeme Crowther	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Clive Curtis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Dowdall	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Stuart Fell	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Dorothy Ford	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Nick Gillard	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Martin Grace	....	stunt double: Roger Moore (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Fred Haggerty	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Reg Harding	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Jazzer Jeyes	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Dominique Julienne	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Michel Julienne	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
John Lees	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Wayne Michaels	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Riccardo Mioni	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Stefano Maria Mioni	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Potter	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Powell	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paolo Rigoni	....	stunts (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Roy Scammell	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Ken Shepherd	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Smart	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Roy Street	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Malcolm Weaver	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Chris Webb	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Bill Weston	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Paul Weston	....	additional stunts (uncredited)
Nick Wilkinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Marc Wolff	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Willy Bogner	....	photographer: Ski sequences
James Devis	....	aerial photographer
Al Giddings	....	underwater photographer
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
Dewi Humphreys	....	camera operator: second unit
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	camera grip (as Chunky Huse)
Bob Kindred	....	camera operator: second unit (as Robert Kindred)
Jack Lowin	....	camera operator: second unit
Alec Mills	....	camera operator
John Morgan	....	camera operator: second unit
John Tythe	....	electrical supervisor
Arthur Wooster	....	photographer: second unit
Martin Kenzie	....	second assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Chris Warren	....	video operator: underwater unit (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiny Nicholls	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Eric Boyd-Perkins	....	additional editor
Peter Davies	....	assembly editor
Matthew Glen	....	assistant editor
Derek Trigg	....	assembly editor

Music Department
Monty Norman	....	composer: James Bond theme
John Richards	....	music mixer
Bill Conti	....	conductor (uncredited)
Peter T. Myers	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Gerry Turner	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Verena Baldeo	....	ski team
Sally Ball	....	production assistant
Reginald A. Barkshire	....	production controller
Peter Bennett	....	location manager
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main titles
Willy Bogner	....	ski director
Sabine Boueke	....	ski team
Steve Bowerman	....	underwater team
John Bremer	....	underwater team
Nigel Brendish	....	aerial team
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Chester Brown	....	climbing team
Robin Browne	....	aerial team
Joanna Brown	....	executive producer's secretary
Walt Clayton	....	underwater team (as Walter Clayton)
Ken Court	....	underwater team
Captain John Crewdson	....	aerial team (as John Crewdson)
James Devis	....	aerial director
Giovanni DiBona	....	ski team (as Giovanni Dibona)
Brian Doyle	....	unit publicist
Czeslav Dyzma	....	aerial team
Brian Foley	....	skating scenes stager
Bill Fox	....	climbing team
Gerhard Fromm	....	ski team
Al Giddings	....	underwater director
Barry Goldsmith	....	marine advisor
Arlette Greenfield	....	underwater team
Moby Griffin	....	underwater team
David Halsey	....	marine advisor
Gerhard Huber	....	ski team
Van Jones	....	contact: London
Randy Jonsson	....	underwater team (as Randolph Johnson)
Charles Juroe	....	director of publicity
Terry Kerby	....	underwater team
Wolfgang Kleinwaechter	....	ski team
Michalis Lambrinos	....	location manager
Douglas Laughlin	....	underwater team (as Doug Laughlin)
Jack Monestier	....	underwater team
Redmond Morris	....	location manager
Richard Mula	....	underwater team
Charles Nicklin	....	underwater team
Douglas Noakes	....	production accountant
Georg Ostler	....	ski team
Herbert Raditschnig	....	climbing team
Michael Ratajczak	....	ski team
Peter Rohe	....	ski team
Pete Romano	....	underwater team
Iris Rose	....	production assistant
Umberto Sambuco	....	location manager
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Rick Sylvester	....	climbing team
Victor Tourjansky	....	ski team
Phyllis Townshend	....	continuity: second unit
Christian Troschke	....	ski team
Andrew Von Preussen	....	aerial team
Albert Werry	....	aerial team
Vincent Winter	....	location manager
Marc Wolff	....	aerial team
Sarah Lucraft	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Eugene Rizzo	....	unit publicist: Italy (uncredited)
Doris Spriggs	....	assistant: Roger Moore (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Danjaq
• Eon Productions (made by)
• United Artists

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1981) (UK) (theatrical) (as United Artists Entertainment from Transamerica Corporation)
• United Artists (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• C.B. Films (1981) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1981) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1981) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• United Artists (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1981) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1981) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (ultimate edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (ultimate edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (ultimate edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special edition)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Citroën  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by (uncredited)
• Garmont Boots  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Greek National Tourist Office and Ministry of Culture, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Jewell Water Buggies  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Les Films Michel François  optical effects (as Michel Francois Films)
• Liberty Records and Tapes  soundtrack album available on
• Lotus Cars  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Ministry of Tourism and the Government of the Bahamas, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Mitsui Yamaha  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Music Centre, The  music recorded at
• Normalair-Garrett Dive Helmets  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• North Thames Gas Board  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Oceaneering International Services  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Olin Skis  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Osel Mantis  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Perry Oceanographics  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Philips Industries  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Pinewood Studios  sound re-recording
• Raemonde Rahvis, London  wardrobe: Miss Bouquet and Miss Harris
• Scubapro Diving Equipment  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Seiko Time (U.K.)  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Technicolor  prints by
• Town of Cortina D'Ampezzo, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Tyrolia Bindings  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Greek | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:M (video rating) | Australia:M (DVD rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:PG | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1981) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG (Certificate #26343) | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | UK:A (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Achillion Palace, Gastouri, Corfu, Greece

Company:

Danjaq

Trivia:

After viewing Flash Gordon (1980), the producers at one time wanted to cast not just Topol (Zarkov) in this film, but also Timothy Dalton (Prince Barin) as Bond and Ornella Muti (Princess Aura) as Melina, even writing the part specifically for her.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the downhill chase when one of the Peugeot 504s begins to bump into Bond's 2CV, We see a close-up of the driver and there are no vehicles visible on the road behind him. In the following shot when Bond is pushed off the road the second Peugeot is almost directly behind him.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Vicar: Mr. Bond, Mr. Bond. I'm so glad I caught you. Your office called. They're sending a helicopter to pick you up. Some sort of emergency.
James Bond: It usually is. Thank you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Ian Fleming: 007's Creator (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

For Your Eyes Only

Moore's finest Bond.

'For Your Eyes Only' starts the tenure of John Glen at the helm of the Bond series. He had worked previously on many of the Bond movies but during the eighties he directed all 5 Bond movies, and with the exception of 'A View To A Kill', they are up there with the best of the whole series. Certainly 'For Your Eyes Only' and the follow up, 'Octopussy' are the best of the Moore years, and I don't think it would be overstating it to say that Glen may have single handedly saved the franchise.

By the end of the 1970s Bond had turned from Ian Fleming's masterspy into an entirely comic book creation, culminating in the preposterous shenanigans of 'Moonraker' in 1979. At the start of a new decade a new style is clearly apparent, with a back to basics story that actually involves some spying, and a genuine threat to world peace. It's pushing it to say that the story is believable, but it is realistically told and is certainly a more adult affair than the previous efforts.

The film starts with the final nail in the coffin for Blofeld. After years of legal wrangling over who had the rights to the character the filmmakers decided to show that they didn't need him anyway and unceremoniously dumped him once and for all. We are also immediately put in the mood for a far more serious Bond when he visits his late wife's grave, an unusual moment, not least because the movies rarely referenced previous actors in the role. Here we are reminded that Moore wasn't playing Bond at the time of his marriage. That serious tone pervades throughout the movie, with less wisecracking than usual, and a subdued villain, at odds with the expected megalomaniac we are used to. But the film is all the better for it. There are some fantastic action set-pieces including a chase in a Citroen 2CV, and a ski chase that tops even that of 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', along with a tense finale that is literally a cliffhanger. Bond is actually forced to use his wits, and much of the action and escapes are less contrived than one would expect. It's also good to see (after 'The Spy Who Loved Me' and 'Moonraker') that the filmmakers have tried to get back to Fleming's Bond, with many ideas lifted from the original stories. The scene with Bond and Melina dragged behind the speedboat, for example, is taken directly from the novel of 'Live And Let Die', and many characters appear in Fleming's short story of the same name.

Add to the mix a fine cast, notably Carole Bouquet as another strong character in the list of 'Bond women', and you have a satisfying and thrilling entry in the series.