Licence to Kill (1989)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

John Glen

Writers (WGA):

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

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

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
Don Stroud	...	Heller
Caroline Bliss	...	Miss Moneypenny
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	...	Kwang
Grand L. Bush	...	Hawkins
Alejandro Bracho	...	Perez
Guy De Saint Cyr	...	Braun
Rafer Johnson	...	Mullens
Diana Lee Hsu	...	Loti (as Diana Lee-Hsu)
Christopher Neame	...	Fallon
Jeannine Bisignano	...	Stripper
Claudio Brook	...	Montelongo
Cynthia Fallon	...	Consuelo
Enrique Novi	...	Rasmussen
Osami Kawawo	...	Oriental
George Belanger	...	Doctor
Roger Cudney	...	Wavekrest Captain
Honorato Magaloni	...	Chief Chemist
Jorge Russek	...	Pit Boss
Sergio Corona	...	Bellboy
Stuart Quan	...	Ninja (as Stuart Kwan)
José Abdala	...	Tanker Driver (as Jose Abdala)
Teresa Blake	...	Ticket Agent
Samuel Benjamin Lancaster	...	Della's Uncle
Juan Peláez	...	Casino Manager (as Juan Peleaz)
Mark Kelty	...	Coast Guard Radio Operator
Humberto Elizondo	...	Hotel Assistant Manager (as Umberto Elizondo)
Fidel Garriga	...	Sanchez's Driver (as Fidel Carriga)
Edna Bolkan	...	Barrelhead Waitress
Eddie Edenfield	...	Clive
Jeff Moldovan	...	Warehouse Guard
Carl Ciarfalio	...	Warehouse Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Martinez	...	Customs officer
Gerardo Albarrán	...	Alvarez (uncredited)
Tom Bahr	...	Marshall #1 (uncredited)
Chick Bernhardt	...	Marshall Driver (uncredited)
Andrew Castillo	...	Seaplane Pilot (uncredited)
Dr. James D'Orta	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Alex Edlin	...	Marshall #2 (uncredited)
Lars Lundgren	...	Probe Operator (uncredited)
Branscombe Richmond	...	Barrelhead Bar Patron (uncredited)
Jorge Valdés García	...	Casino Guest (uncredited)
Michael G. Wilson	...	DEA Agent (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
John Glen

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael G. Wilson		(written by) and
Richard Maibaum		(written by)
Ian Fleming		(characters)

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

Original Music by
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Alec Mills		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Grover

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
Peter Lamont

Art Direction by
Dennis Bosher
Michael Lamont

Set Decoration by
Michael Ford

Costume Design by
Jodie Lynn Tillen		(as Jodie Tillen)

Makeup Department
Tricia Cameron	....	hair styles supervisor
Naomi Donne	....	makeup supervisor
George Frost	....	makeup supervisor
Dinah Holt	....	hair stylist: second unit (as Di Holt)
Dinah Holt	....	makeup artist: second unit (as Di Holt)
Norma Webb	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Efren Flores	....	production manager
Philip Kohler	....	production manager
Ned Kopp	....	production supervisor: Florida
Héctor López	....	production supervisor: Mexico (as Hector Lopez)
Crispin Reece	....	production manager: Mexico
Iris Rose	....	unit manager
Anthony Waye	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marcia Gay	....	second assistant director: second unit
Miguel Gil	....	assistant director
Miguel Lima	....	assistant director
Terry Madden	....	first assistant director: second unit
Callum McDougall	....	second assistant director
Sebastián Silva	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Sebastian Silva)
Arthur Wooster	....	second unit director

Art Department
Andrew Ackland-Snow	....	assistant art director
Gilly Noyes Court	....	scenic artist (as Gilly Noyes-Court)
Ken Court	....	art director: Florida
Roger W. Deer	....	sketch artist (as Roger Deer)
Tony Graysmark	....	construction manager
Bernie Hearn	....	stand-by propman (as Bernard Hearn)
Bert Hearn	....	property master
Richard Helfritz	....	set decorator: Florida
Richard Holland	....	assistant art director
Neil Lamont	....	assistant art director
Daniel Miller	....	sculptor
Rodney Pincott	....	stand-by propman: second unit
Ron Quelch	....	production buyer
Héctor Romero	....	assistant art director (as Hector Romero)
Bob Walker	....	graphics (as Robert Walker)
Frederic C. Weiler	....	set decorator: Florida (as Fredrick Weiler)
Alejandro Ayala	....	art assistant (uncredited)
William A. Cimino	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Teri Anne Kopp	....	art department assistant: US (uncredited)

Sound Department
Mark Auguste	....	sound editor
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Graham Hartstone)
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jean-Pierre Lelong	....	additional sound effects
Vernon Messenger	....	sound editor
Peter Musgrave	....	sound editor
Edward Tise	....	sound recordist
Martin Trevis	....	boom operator
Ross Adams	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Sandy Buchanan	....	post-production sound assistant (uncredited)
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Mark Mostyn	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Clive Beard	....	special effects technician
Lawrence J. Cavanaugh	....	special effects coordinator: Florida (as Larry Cavanaugh)
Chris Corbould	....	special effects supervisor: second unit
Neil Corbould	....	special effects: first unit
Laurencio Cordero	....	special effects supervisor: Mexico
Daniel Dark	....	special effects: underwater team
Nick Finlayson	....	special effects technician
Sergio Jara	....	special effects supervisor: Mexico
Peter Pickering	....	special effects technician
Paul Whybrow	....	special effects technician: second unit
Andy Williams	....	special effects technician: second unit
Jeffrey S. Farley	....	shark puppet crew (uncredited)
Steve Hamilton	....	senior special effects technician (uncredited)
Thomas Kittle	....	special effects (uncredited)
Hal Miles	....	animatronic supervisor (uncredited)
Nigel Nixon	....	special effects model maker (uncredited)
James L. Roberts	....	special effects (uncredited)
R. Bruce Steinheimer	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Greg R. Stone	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
John Richardson	....	special visual effects
Craig Chandler	....	optical camera (uncredited)
Alan Church	....	optical camera operator (uncredited)
Julian Parry	....	model unit (uncredited)

Stunts
Gerardo Albarrán	....	stunt supervisor (as Gerardo Moreno)
Alex Arnold	....	stunt diver
Mark Bahr	....	stunts
Gilbert Bataille	....	stunt driving team
Marc Boyle	....	stunt supervisor
Jake Brake	....	stunt double
Didier Brule	....	stunt driving team
Julian Bucio	....	stunts
Jorge Cardenas	....	stunt diver
Manuel Cárdenas	....	stunt diver (as Manuel Cardenas)
Juan Dario Corona	....	stunt diver
Jo Cote	....	stunt driving team
Simon Crane	....	stunt double: Timothy Dalton
Steve Dent	....	stunts
Alex Edlin	....	stunts
J.W. 'Corkey' Fornof	....	aerial stunt supervisor (as 'Corkey' Fornof)
Jean-Claude Houbart	....	stunt driving team
Dominique Julienne	....	stunt driving team
Rémy Julienne	....	driving stunts arranger (as Remy Julienne)
Javier Lambert	....	stunts
Jake Lombard	....	aerial stunt double: Timothy Dalton
Emilio Magaña	....	stunt diver
Artie Malesci	....	stunt supervisor (as Art Malesci)
Mauricio Martínez	....	stunts
David Reinhardt	....	barefoot ski double: Timothy Dalton
Paul Weston	....	stunt coordinator
B.J. Worth	....	parachute stunt coordinator
Tom Bahr	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Chick Bernhardt	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Marc Boyle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Jackson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jake Lombard	....	stunt rigger (uncredited)
Jake Lombard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lars Lundgren	....	stunts (uncredited)
Valentino Musetti	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rafael Valdez	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nick Wilkinson	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Curtis Williams	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
B.J. Worth	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Atherfold	....	camera grip: second unit (as Ken Atherfold)
Ramón Bravo	....	underwater photographer (as Ramon Bravo)
Donald Bryant	....	second camera operator: Mexico
Frank Elliott	....	camera focus
John Elton	....	second camera operator: Florida
Mike Evans	....	camera focus: second unit (as Michael Evans)
Pepe Flores	....	underwater assistant camera
Mike Frift	....	camera operator (as Michael Frift)
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	camera grip (as Chunky Huse)
Edward Knott III	....	key grip: Florida (as Eddie Knott III)
Malcolm MacIntosh	....	camera operator: second unit
Phil Pastuhov	....	camera operator: aerial team
Tim Ross	....	second camera operator: Mexico
John Tythe	....	electrical supervisor
George Whitear	....	still photographer: second unit
Arthur Wooster	....	photographer: second unit
Norman Zuckerman	....	electrical supervisor: Florida
Lou Angeli	....	camera operator: video (uncredited)
Andrew Cooper	....	photographer: underwater unit (uncredited)
Erik Hollander	....	additional still photographer (uncredited)
Simon Mills	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Gary Ryan	....	best boy rigging gaffer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Claudia Becker	....	casting: Mexico
Emilia Arau	....	assistant to casting director (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Chase	....	costume supervisor: Florida
Hugo Peña	....	costume supervisor (as Hugo Pena)
Barbara Scott	....	costume supervisor
Enrique Villavicencio	....	wardrobe master: Mexicali

Editorial Department
Ross Adams	....	assistant editor
Richard Fettes	....	assistant editor
Matthew Glen	....	assembly editor
Rob Green	....	assistant editor
Mark Mostyn	....	assistant editor
John Nuth	....	assistant editor
Carlos Puente	....	editor: Mexico
Wayne Smith	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Andrew Glen	....	music editor
Michael Kamen	....	conductor
Dick Lewzey	....	music mixer
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music programmer
Monty Norman	....	composer: James Bond theme
Joel Sill	....	music consultant
Vic Flick	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Arthur Dunne	....	transportation manager
Joyce M. Lark	....	transportation coordinator: Florida (as Joyce Lark)
Mauro Venegas	....	transportation captain: Mexico
Alfonso Paredes	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Laura Aguilar	....	location manager: Mexico
R. Allen	....	helicopter pilot: US Coast Guard (as L.cdr. R. Allen)
Gerardo Barrera	....	production assistant
Harris Bierman	....	armorer
Maurice Binder	....	title designer
Ramón Bravo	....	director: underwater scenes (as Ramon Bravo)
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Tony Broccoli	....	location manager: underwater team
Linda Brown	....	contact: Los Angeles
Kenny Calman	....	helicopter pilot (as Ken Calman)
Saul Cooper	....	director of publicity
Loolee DeLeon	....	production coordinator (as Loolee Deleon)
Jack Descent	....	location accountant: Florida
Tony Didio Jr.	....	armorer (as Tony Didio)
Sue Field	....	continuity: second unit
Ileana Franco U.	....	production secretary
Sheila Goldfinger	....	jeweler
Rosa María Gómez	....	accountant (as Rosa Maria Gomez)
Monica Greene	....	production assistant
Sparky Greene	....	special consultant to producers
R. Colette Hailey	....	location manager: Florida (as Colette Hailey)
Georgina Heath	....	production coordinator: Mexicali
Lorentz Hills	....	marine coordinator: Florida
Neil Hughes	....	helicopter pilot: US Coast Guard (as Lt. Neil Hughes)
Charles Juroe	....	marketing director
Nicole Kolin	....	location manager: underwater team
Patricia Serafina Madiedo	....	production coordinator: Florida (as Patricia Madiedo)
John McElwain	....	technical advisor: US Coast Guard (as Comdr. John McElwain)
Randy Meade	....	helicopter pilot: US Coast Guard (as L.cdr. Randy Meade)
Jane Meagher	....	accountant
Andrew Noakes	....	assistant accountant
Douglas Noakes	....	production accountant
Jillian Palenthorpe	....	special consultant to producers
Marcia Perskie	....	production assistant
June Randall	....	continuity
Carlos Renero	....	animal supplier
Amanda Schofield	....	contact: London
Rita Sheese	....	underwater coordinator
Tom Bahr	....	marine coordinator (uncredited)
Hector De Rubi	....	stand-in: Timothy Dalton (uncredited)
Ann Dunsford	....	publicity coordinator (uncredited)
J.W. 'Corkey' Fornof	....	pilot: Piper PA-18 Super Cub (uncredited)
Pauline Hume	....	graphic artist: titles (uncredited)
Mark Juckett	....	pilot: Cessna 185 (uncredited)
Harry Kopoian	....	airport liaison: Mexico (uncredited)
Andreas Leon	....	utility stand-in (uncredited)
Maria Alaina Mason	....	production assistant: Key West (uncredited)
John Patteson	....	armorer: second unit (uncredited)
Laura Ruiz	....	stand-in: Talisa Soto (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Danjaq
• Eon Productions (uncredited)
• United Artists

Distributors

• MGM/UA Distribution Company (1989) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Spain) (theatrical) (as Cinema International Corporation)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Norway) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1990) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Fox Network (1993) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2001) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• United Artists
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Germany)
• Warner Home Video (1990) (Australia) (video)
• Warner Home Video (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• C.T.S. Studios  music recording studio
• Churubusco Azteca  studio
• Churubusco S.A.  studio
• Cinevideo Tech  camera equipment: Miami
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color
• Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.  studio
• Kodak Mexicana S.A. de C.V.  film stock
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• National Philharmonic Orchestra  orchestra
• Pinewood Studios  post-production facilities
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Technicolor  prints
• Trata Films  camera equipment: Mexico City

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:

Eric Clapton and Vic Flick were asked to write and perform the title song along with composer Michael Kamen. Apparently, they re-recorded and made a video of a new version of the James Bond theme with the guitar riff played by Flick. However, the theme was rejected by the producers and not used.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the two tankers collide and Sanchez drives away in the last tanker. In one shot just before the explosion the two drivers are in front of the flaming tanker, one passed out. Seconds later in the next shot (not enough time to get away) when the tankers explodes, both drivers have disappeared.

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 James Bond 007: Yesterday and Today (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

If You Asked Me To

Dalton's best run in the role

The worst-performing movie in the Bond movie in terms of grosses, it probably failed because it wasn't really a Bond at all. True, it is the character Fleming created, and Q is in there, but this extremely violent thriller with its strong female characterisation (Carey Lowell, perhaps the only Bond girl with `balls') is not a neat fit with the others.

The only one of the franchise created especially with star Timothy Dalton in mind (perhaps the sexiest Bond of them all?) it is a tale of loyalty, drug cartels, sharks, and 007 losing his licence and setting off as a vigilante. Lowell plays agent Pam Bouvier, who shines in a bar fight and gives 007 as good as he gets. And boy, do these two have chemistry together!

The only problem with this movie is that it gets so truncated on its TV showings that it loses a lot of its point (and in the worst edit I saw, its sense). There is perhaps too much going on - the abused Latino bimbo, the crooked evangelist, the Japanese businessmen touring the factory, the casino …

Not at all as bad as many commentators at the time and since have suggested. What a pity the series stagnated after this before its big budget Pierce Bronson revival. Dalton should have had the chance to show us more of the character he portrays in `Licence to Kill'. And what a great theme tune from Gladys Knight.