I’ve always loved Bond’s great cello case escape trick from The Living Daylights (1987). Although it would’ve been neat to hear Bond (Timothy Dalton) explain the game plan to Kara Milovy (Maryam d’Abo) in this scene (how did they time it so perfectly with the passing tram?), I overall enjoyed how it was filmed and how we the audience are let in on the ruse.

I particularly enjoy the surveyor’s satisfied face and gentle head nod when he witnesses Bond get into his car, only to have his day ruined when he realizes the “person” in the phone booth is an empty cello case clothed with a hat and coat.

The quick edit from Bond’s insistent “NO WAY!” are we going to get the cello to him nervously waiting in for Milovy to get her cello is only trumped by his subsequent frustrated almost physical comedy in packing the enormous cello case into the cramped, two-seat Aston Martin. Surely a violin and its case would’ve been easier to handle! Hilarious!

James Bond (Timothy Dalton) begrudgingly packs Kara Milovy (Maryam d’Abo)’s cello into his Aston Martin in The Living Daylights (1987)