Moonraker (1979)

This action sequence brought to you by: British Airways!

The end of an action sequence in Moonraker (1979) on a hill in Rio ends with a bad guy on a gurney smashed into a British Airways billboard.
The end of an action sequence in Moonraker (1979) on a hill in Rio ends with a bad guy on a gurney smashed into a British Airways billboard.
Jaws (Richard Kiel) shows his signature metal smile in Moonraker (1979)

Oh yes, well…if you can get *him* of course

Jaws’ (Richard Kiel) intro in Moonraker (1979) has to be the best henchmen intro of any James Bond movie.

We catch the tail end of villain Hugo Drax’s (Michael Lonsdale) phone conversation searching for a replacement henchman for the recently deceased Chang (it’s so weird he refers to him as “Cha” in the phone conversation, but whatever). As he sits atop his ivory tower, he’s pleasantly surprised to hear the prospect of Jaws (Richard Kiel) as his next henchman to help carry out his nefarious plot and subdue James Bond in the process. I also wonder who Drax is on the phone with – is there a villain’s HR department?!

Fast forward to Jaws’ hilariously oversized arrival in Rio de Janeiro – we see him set off the metal detectors for obvious reasons. Without a word (just a smile), he explains the beeping to the Rodney Dangerfield doppelganger customs worker, totally freaking him out. LOL!

Jaws (Richard Kiel) shows his signature metal smile in Moonraker (1979)

Jaws (Richard Kiel) shows his signature metal smile in Moonraker (1979)

The Moonraker Gondola Chase Reactionaries

In Moonraker (1979), as James Bond makes his escape via his hydrofoil gondola in Venice, some great, funny and downright cheesy reactions from the witnessing crowd are seen.

Which is your favorite?

Sultry

Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) looks at James Bond (Roger Moore) in a very suggestive manner at the end of Moonraker (1979)

"Most Secret" footage of the 747 aircraft crash site after the Moonraker space shuttle was hijacked off its back in Moonraker (1979)

Most Secret?

"Most Secret" footage of the 747 aircraft crash site after the Moonraker space shuttle was hijacked off its back in Moonraker (1979)

“Most Secret” footage of the 747 aircraft crash site after the Moonraker space shuttle was hijacked off its back in Moonraker (1979)

Odd…Why not designate as the traditional “Top Secret”?

James Bond (Roger Moore) takes a picture using his 007 spy camera in Moonraker (1979)

Say cheese!

James Bond (Roger Moore) takes a picture using his 007 spy camera in Moonraker (1979)

James Bond (Roger Moore) takes a picture using his 007 spy camera in Moonraker (1979)

A closeup of Goodhead's dress...sorry!

The Ugliest Outfit Award of all James Bond movies goes to…

…Dr. Holly Goodhead in Moonraker (1979)! GAH!

Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) and James Bond (Roger Moore) walk down a Venice street in Moonraker (1979) - 007 obviously embarrassed by her dress choice

Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) and James Bond (Roger Moore) walk down a Venice street in Moonraker (1979) – 007 obviously embarrassed by her dress choice

A closeup of Goodhead's dress...sorry!

A closeup of Goodhead’s dress…sorry!

The look on 007's face says it all...

The look on 007’s face says it all…

The title card from Moonraker (1979)

Moonraker – Production costs out of this world!

The title card from Moonraker (1979)

The title card from Moonraker (1979)

The beginning of the end credits for Moonraker references an out-of-this-world filming location!

The beginning of the end credits for Moonraker references an out-of-this-world filming location!

Moonraker was literally filmed in space! (note the exclamation point used for emphasis)

It must have cost a fortune for filming…perhaps Drax assisted with production costs? A quick Google shows it’s possible to use private space agencies to go intergalactic at ~$200,000 per flight, or around $60,000 in 1979 dollars. Although no such agency existed back then…

Richard Kiel as Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Which Jaws smile is best?

Richard Kiel as Jaws smiles in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Richard Kiel as Jaws smiles in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

OR

Richard Kiel as Jaws smiles in Moonraker (1979)

Richard Kiel as Jaws smiles in Moonraker (1979)

The start of the space fight in Moonraker (1979)

Open the cargo doors

The Bond movie franchise’s response to the space-based Star Wars phenomenon of the late 1970’s comes in the form of Moonraker (1979). And this fight scene perfectly encapsulates the movie’s attempt at inserting some James Bond action into the vast bleakness of space.

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