Licence to Kill (1989)

Director:

John Glen

Writers (WGA):

Michael G. Wilson (written by) and
Richard Maibaum (written by) ...

Release Date:

14 July 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

Out for revenge. Glimpse behind the cool facade of 007. And see how sweet revenge can really be. [USA poster]

Plot:

James Bond leaves Her Majesty's Secret Service to stop an evil drug lord and avenge his best friend, Felix Leiter.

Plot Keywords:

Drug | Agent | Drug Lord | CIA | Personal Vendetta

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 26

10:30 AM

SYFY

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Bond 16 (UK) (original script title)
Bond XVI (UK) (original script title)
Licence Revoked (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for action violence and drug content. (2006 video version)

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

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 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

707 South Street, Key West, Florida Keys, Florida, USA

Company:

Danjaq

Trivia:

The film was originally to be set in China but production difficulties became insurmountable. Scriptwriters Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson wrote two treatments set around drugs in the Golden Triangle with the villain being a Drug Warlord of the region. Ideas for the film included a motor cycle chase along the Great Wall of China and a fight sequence in the recently discovered museum of ancient terracotta statues at Xian. When the Chinese Government made a number restrictive demands such as veto rights over the script, the viability of the location fell through.

Goofs:

Continuity: As the seaplane is taking off, stormclouds are seen in the distance, but disappear in the next scene.

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 Crab 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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bond Girls Are Forever (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Dirty Love

Dalton is the best Bond

Licence to Kill has a mixture of all the essential Bond attributes. Dalton is an action man and a more sensitive and moody Bond in this film. Shame he turned down the chance to do Goldeneye, that would have made him a mega star.