"Spy Who Loved Me" is easily Roger Moore's best Bond film, and easily one of the top-three Bond movies of all-time, in my opinion. This film hits all the right notes, perfectly. It is a masterpiece.

The spy who loved me was Moore Best by far imo. The lotus, the base jump off the mountain on skis, Jaws, Atlantis and it also featured what was at the time the biggest set ever made aka the interior of the tanker. What a film!

The ski jump was my first wow moment in film.

Moore was fine in LALD & TMWTGG. However they pulled out all the stops for TSWLM & it suited 1977 perfectly.

I think the reason people take shots at Roger’s fashion is they remember the pastel colors, bell bottoms and long dress colors (not to mention the safari suits he dons time to time). But the man was perfectly tailored and rakish regardless. The black long sleeve polo and slacks during his discussion with Anya about the death of her lover is such a clean and sharp look for Sir Roger.

Fantastic production by Ken Adam, great screenplay and ideas by Maibaum and Chris Wood.

It's definitely his most iconic, his Goldfinger. after the relatively poor performance of Golden Gun they pulled out all the stops for this.. Classic car, the only rival to Aston Martin, classic villain in Jaws.. The first really big pre title stunt, great theme tune.. Came out during the Queen's jubilee year so tied into a sense of British national pride

My explanation for the girl's "No!" reaction before the shot is not that she suddenly wants to save JB. I think she is scared for her life, she realizes the henchman is about to shoot JB while he is holding her.

Roger's most iconic Bond movie. Love it.

"Spy Who Loved Me" is Roger Moore's best Bond film. Actually, i love all Moore's Bond movies!!

This is incredibly minute but one quibble I have with us as a Bond community is this notion we and the public hold that Bond only really drinks martinis. Since David started the Fleming Reading Challenge I’ve listened to over half of the audiobooks and Bond’s most frequent drink by far is bourbon. He’ll have martinis here and there and he’ll drink bottle after bottle of champagne, but it seems like every chapter he’s ordering his third bourbon and branch water. Roger Moore drinking bourbon was not a move away from Bond elements, except maybe in the eyes of the public who were only used to Sean Connery ordering martinis.

Is it me or does Jo Darlington got an Orson Welles thing going on?

That cover of Nobody Does It Better at the end is sick!!!!!

TSWLM was the first Bond film I saw all the way through, on TV. In 1981. It was advertised heavily & was a big event in the days of 4 TV channels.

Nice to hear you rightly mention Roger Moore's versatility. Some critics always categorise him as the light/comic 007, but although he did that with aplomb, there was so much more to his screen presence than that. I've just been rewatching his Bond films with my son, and the fact is he carries off all the darker scenes with absolute authority and nuance. He never, ever misjudges the tone of a scene, and I still maintain he was a *very* underrated actor. Problem is he was so self-deprecating he didn't advance his cause, but just watch him in 'North Sea Hijack' or 'The man who haunted himself'. He's masterful in those films, and totally immerses himself in the characters. He was damn good in 'The Wild Geese' too, and easily holds his own against Richards Burton and Harris.

TSWLM is my favourite Moore Bond film and my favourite Bond film PERIOD.

I always appreciate the motion graphics and title sequences that Joe puts ahead of the videos. This was another good one.

I agree, he seemed to be very comfortable in the role in this film and did superbly. I think his first 3-4 films were really really good, solid movies and he performed strongly. After that he seemed a little too old to be playing Bond in my opinion. Personal favorite Moore movie is Live and Let Die.

David looks like Kevin Costner here.

These are a lot of fun. If i may, i have another theory. I think you can divide Sir Rogers tenure into two epochs, the 70's and the 80's. There is a big difference in tone between say the Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only, but both are good films.

Great colab guys!

The "bald guy" was Sandor, played by Milton Reid

I don't think that the kind of silly comedy scenes depend on Roger Moore. It was just the taste of the time. Many action movies from the 70s have these elements, even serious action movies from Sam Peckinpah like The Getaway. And compared to Diamonds the Roger-Moore-Movies seem almost serious.

You guys are fantastic together!

Great review. To me, Roger is often maligned but as much a classic Bond as Connery. This and For Your Eyes Only are my two favorite Roger films and both have their pro's and con's. This one is pure action, has all the elements and a memorable Bond lady, in addition to arguably the coolest henchman, who albeit went south thru poor writing in the next film. Roger is pure cool, super comfortable as Bond, the locales are great, the ski sequence, the chase scenes, on and on. Yes, Barbara Bach is wooden as an actress but as a Russian agent, works in her favor. I think this is one of the most purely entertaining of all the Bond films and ranks high up on my list. I agree with Joe on For Your Eyes Only's toughness. Definitely shows (along with key scenes in Spy as well as Live and Let Die) that he is no lightweight and can definitely get dark, when needed. Terrific stuff, keep it up. We pandemic deprived film fans appreciate all your content.

Hey David. Also my first Bond film. I saw it as a 5 year old at the movie theatre on the Army base at Ft. Riley (home of the Big Red 1) in 1977. I had much the same reaction as you did. My mom still jokes about how for years I referred to the movie as The Spy Who I Loved.

I did find Stromberg memorable. Curt Jurgens for me was a terrific actor.

I remember they played the spy who loved me, on regular TV, back in about '85, Chicago

The Spy who Loved me is my personal favourite Bond-Film.....

Call me crazy 007 fan but I (try to) schedule watching this movie on August 3rd, to match Max Kalba' appointment with Fekkesh loool

Rest in Peace Michael Lonsdale AKA Hugo Drax 1931-2020

Released in 1977 and fits in with the Queens Silver Jubilee. I remember when it was shown in '77 and the Lotus Espirit in the foyer of the cinema when I lived in Plymouth

Darlington, when ya putting out the review of Spectre?

I always say that the third bond movie of an actor is usually the best. Maybe except Brosnan if ur picky. And those who did not make 3 movies, it is their last that is the best. With Sean Connery, his third movie is Goldfinger and id say it is the best. Lazenby only made one so it's his best lol. Moores third film being well The Spy Who Loved Me. And it is his best film. Dalton only made 2 movies but that means in my opinion that his last is the best movie, being Licence to Kill. Brosnans third was The World Is Not Enough. I think it is his best movie even some might disagree. Craigs third outing as bond being Skyfall is his best. (Sure Casino Royale might be better with some people but I think Skyfall has the perfect mix for a bond movie.)

Well done, gentlemen! After viewing this, I do believe TSWLM has creeped into 2nd position in my Moore rankings, after For Your Eyes Only (with Octopussy running a solid 3rd, thx to Calvin and Joe). Had Barbara Bach's wooden performance been more fluid, it would rival the very best of the era! They should have swapped the Bach/Munro characters out...

I love all roger moore james bond series

This is one of my favorite soundtrack of the 007 films and I love the bond 77 track on the soundtrack I love this film.

Most enjoyable discussion. I liked listening to you over my breakfast this morning. Nice way to start a Sunday. Remember that Moore was a very good bad-ass when he played THE SAINT on TV. He always knew how to throw punches. I look forward to watching more of your talks. Good job!

Some comments I had for this movie: - The music score is outstanding and sooo matching the scenes: the ski chase, the pyramids fight, the Atlantis approach - Caroline Munro not only very hot but combination of Assassin as well - Villain's plan was quite weak; to restart civilization underwater based on only Atlantis; Drax's similar plan looked better - One more goofy behavior of Jaws was attacking the van but not JB or Anya. He actully cut it open and instead of grabbing either one of them he just continues smashing the vehicle

@24:24...Your absolutely spot on David.👍

Brilliant opening graphics and intro Joe! You guys look great- the epic beard and the cool sports jacket and turtleneck!👍🏻 The Spy Who Loved Me is just CLASSIC James Bond- filled with iconic 007 signatures- The Ski Jump- The Classic Song-The INCREDIBLY Beautiful Russian Spy Anya-Jaws- The Lotus Car Chase with Cars, Motorbikes, Helicopters and underwater vehicles- and finishing with a great finale with army’s fighting in a giant Tanker. Sure ,FYEO and Octopussy are great, but because of all of these unforgettable elements - The Spy Who Loved Me is- to me -DEFINITELY Rogers best.

I would say that TSWLM is quintessential Bond movie from the 70s. A lot of genuine fun moments, but still not dialing the absurd level up to eleven.

Live and let die is my favourite bond film

Yep. Easily his best & possibly top 3 of all. What's not to like? Music, scenery, Hello Lotus, helicopter car chase, Jaws, bad guy, Barbara B/Caroline M. ...

Since NTTD was postponed, I rewatched many of the Bond films a few months back and also attempted to do a tentative ranking. FRWL (it is like a period, Fleming's, Hitchcockian 007 film) and TSWLM (a perfect or maybe ironed out Big Bond villain film) ranked at the top.

From a production perspective it's easily the best. Just so well put together and has so many memorable moments. For my favorite its FYEO

22:53 love bond girl felicca

While most people say TSWLM and FYEO are Roger's best, I'm more of a Live and Die and Octopussy man myself. But all of his 007 adventures are good fun.

Yes

I think this might be my best Bond film of all time.

The Spy Who Loved Me is my absolute favorite

In my top three a great moore film .

The slight "cartoony-ness" dropped this to my #2 Moore film. FYEO is #1 IMHO.

Yes.

Growing up in the 80s, like all people my age, Roger Moore was James Bond and although now Sean Connery to me is the OG then he was an imposter. But this car to me, when I was a kid (and all my friends) was the coolest car ever after a lambo of course. But that brings me to my point, is Roger Moore the only James Bond who doesn’t get a Aston Martin? He’s almost the alt bond with the alt trademark car.

I always loved bond girl olga bisera aka felicca forever, she was my first crush since i saw this film 20 years ago

My issue with TSWLM was how ineffective and campy Jaws was. He had the presence and appearance and I definitely found him frightening as a kid but the sight of him running in Egypt makes him look far too goofy to be taken seriously. That bit with him dropping the stone on his foot was also pretty weak. If they had portrayed him as being more efficient like Oddjob, TSWLM would probably be my favourite Roger Moore Bond film right now but whenever Jaws runs or looks foolish i sigh at how misused he was.

Yes...considerably

1.On Her Majesty's Secret Service 2- From Russia with Love 3- Casino Royale 4- For Your Eyes Only 5- Spy Who Loved Me 6- Skyfall 7- Licence to Kill 8- Goldfinger 9- Thunderball 10- You Only Live Twice 11- Live and Let Die 12- GoldenEye

The one I've seen more times than any orther I've even seen this in Majorca in Spanish with English sbutitites at 2am in the morning but the real reason is Barbra Bach (Mrs Ringo Starr) she is not a damsal in distress she is gorgeous and is equal to Bond in this.

On the audio commentary Lewis Gilbert said about the men working for the bad guy ( men in jump suits ) who tells there wife's that there husband been killed

Nobody does it better..

23:42

I like jaws in this film rather than in moonraker but it is one film I don’t watch that often

Second best! His best is for your eyes only!

The Lotus to me had Always been my favourite.

'When your Dad makes that face' For me, it was mum. Always. When that line what about to be crossed, I got that look and knew to behave...or else.

I love you guys

Yes as I've posted on other sites 3rd is Best. Sir Roger frequently stated in interviews SWLM was his best/Favorite. Proved his 007 was just as good a killer as a gentleman,and the look he gave Anya when she mentioned Tracy... Sir Sean/Goldfinger- the blueprint for franchise ever since. P. Brosnan- The World is Not Enough 2nd best pre title sequence(after Goldfinger),and his final confrontation w/Electra BANG! "I never miss" Daniel Craig- Skyfall- enough said. If only Tim Dalton had did a third...

I think TSWLM ranks so high in ranking lists because of it's iconography (Jaws/Lotus Esprit). It has never been one of my favourites (I think Stromberg is a weak villain and I think its style is too ostentatious for me - yellow jumpsuit etc), but it is definitely one of RM best.

i never noticed the web fingers before !

I wonder what the other MooreBond film was re-released shortly after his passing ? (Moonraker? Live and Let Die?) Parts of this purportedly dramatic film is "cartoony". But then, so is A View to a Kill.

Can't find the World is Not Enough video you allude to at the end of this video. Is it still posted? I like the discussion idea of the THIRD of the tenured Bonds. Please post a link to your Thunderball and Skyfall videso in this series if you see this comment. Thanks

Octopussy with my first James Bond. I really like it. I think it’s pretty great except for the Tarzan yell and stuff in the jungle. I wish I had seen for your eyes only in the theater, because I liked bond back then, I just missed it. Thank you for the review on the spy who loved me. I think it’s a pretty fantastic movie

For a Sci Fi/Fantasy genre type film, The Spy Who Loved Me is perfect. I appreciate for what it is. it's a great film. Though I personally prefer the trotter Bond films

Interesting observation David, but spot on.

Why don’t you two do a review of every Bond movie? You already got the first, last and now the third

16:56 Joe almost looses an eye

Octopussy was in my opinion his #1 film. Probably because it was the first one I saw and I was 14. Not any longer but I was hooked.

its definitely Roger Moore best 007 movie he did out of the 7 films

28:15 Don't go chasing waterfalls. Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to

It's hard to choose but SPY would be a good choice for Roger... Connery best is Goldfinger Dalton best Living Daylights Brosnan best is Goldeneye Craig best is Casino Royale

Morning everyone

Did you guys discuss Goldfinger already? I can't find the video

Yes, yes it is.

So that base rising out of the water doesn't make anyone else think of the evil base the Superfriends cartoon has?

Fun fact: it's the last movie Charlie Chaplin and Elvis Presley saw before they died

man with golden gun my favourite.

37 minutes to say 'yes'...an exercise in inefficiency.

... in many ways a remake of "You Only Love Twice"????? think about it......

I think FYEO’s Moore’s best but TSWLM’s my personal favorite of Moore’s!

Moore's best Bond's are Live and Let Die and View to a Kill, and Octopusy, Man with Golden Gun, Spy Who Loved Me.

For me a Bond film has to have a great gadget laiden car to be complete. The Lotus in this film is Bonds best car.

Why does David keep saying “Wile D. Coyote”, instead of Wile E. Coyote?!

Not only is Spy Moore's finest, the film is the last classic Bond film. Nothing in the series has approached that level of quality since.

Mayday, no coyote moment, did Gobinda have a coyote moment? Erich Kriegler?

Maud Adams was awesome in Golden gun and Octopussy!!!!

Is the British press right about Tom Hardy? We need a vlog to discuss....

for me ,stromberg is one of the biggest and cruelest villains of all 007 films. remember me the globalists today.

I think FYEO is hands down the best Moore movie. I enjoy TSWLM, and XXX is a good counterpoint to 007. But theres something about FYEO that is just better to me. Also not a fan of Jaws (sue me :P).