Moonraker

When a U.S. space shuttle is hijacked in midair, James Bond is sent to investigate. Double-oh-seven quickly discovers that the space shuttle manufacturer, ultra-wealthy industrialist Sir Hugo Drax, is using his global empire to create a deadly nerve gas that kills all but plant life. But for what purpose?

From the deserts of California to canals of Venice, from high above Rio de Janerio to deep inside the jungles of the Amazon, James Bond and sexy CIA agent Dr. Holly Goodhead follow a biological trail of terror to the ultimate confrontation with Drax and his minions...in OUTER SPACE!

Poster tagline: Outer Space Now Belongs To 007

A U.S. space shuttle, a “MOONRAKER,” vanishes in a fiery explosion while being piggybacked aboard a 747 over the jungles of South America. James Bond, returning from a successful mission in Africa – and surviving a near fatal encounter with his old nemesis, Jaws – is quickly called into action. Why is there no sign of the Moonraker in the aircraft wreckage? Is it possible the shuttle was hijacked in midair?

Drax: Look after Mr. Bond. See that some harm comes to him.

Bond jets to California to visit Drax Industries, manufacture of the Moonrakers. But OO7’s keen instincts are alerted when he meets ultra-wealthy industrialist Sir Hugo Drax, whose vicious dogs and deadly henchman, Chang, seem eager to make sure “some harm” comes to their guest from England. After surviving a near fatal encounter with a space centrifuge chamber – and a less than fatal encounter with Drax’s lovely assistant, Corinne Dufour – Bond discovers blueprints for a mysterious glass vial being manufactured in bulk by Drax Industries in Venice, Italy.

In Venice, Bond spies yet another Drax employee, Dr. Holly Goodhead, who seems all too interested in the glass vials herself. It’s here in a secret Drax laboratory that Bond makes a chilling discovery – the vials are being filled with an ultra-toxic nerve agent that kills all but plant life. After dispatching Chang in a glass-shattering fight above historic St. Mark’s Square, OO7 confronts Holly in her hotel room and discovers she’s working for the CIA. Holly is reluctant to team with OO7 and share information. She does, however, share her bed. “Oh, James.”

Bond: Bollinger. If it’s the ’69, then you were expecting me.

After making a rare blunder when he prematurely pushes “the panic button” on the lab (which has now transformed into an innocent drawing room), M sends Bond to Rio in search of Drax’s deadly cargo. With the help of lovely Manuela – and under the cover of Rio’s carnival – Bond infiltrates Drax’s local warehouse. What OO7 discovers there is Chang's replacement, his old nemesis Jaws! In a cable car high above Rio, Bond and Holly take down the 8-foot assassin. But just when they think they’ve escape, the long arm of Drax captures Holly and whisks her off to parts unknown.

It’s time for Q to come to the rescue. Outfitting OO7 with a speedboat loaded with deadly accessories, Bond heads deep into the Amazon where, after another deadly encounter with Jaws and an even more harrowing encounter with a waterfall and a giant snake, Bond discovers Drax’s secret lair, a launching pad for his entire fleet of Moonrakers. The cargo: People. Drax tells Bond and Holly his plan: kill off the world’s population from space with his deadly nerve agent globes; then repopulate the earth with his own chosen “perfect” people, who will forever look to the heavens and to Drax as their creator and master.

After escaping a grisly crematoria beneath the jets of Drax’s private Moonraker, Bond and Holly commandeer a Moonraker of their own and head into outer space to stop Drax. In a wild, weightless laser gun battle inside and outside Drax’s orbiting space station, Bond and Holly (with the help of Jaws) are able to stop the launch of the globes and send Drax into orbit via the airlock chamber. With the world once again safe, all that’s left for Bond is to take Holly “around the world one more time.”

Grey: My God! What’s Bond doing?
Q: I think he’s attempting reentry, sir.

• James Bond - Roger Moore

• Holly Goodhead - Lois Chiles

• Hugo Drax - Michael Lonsdale

• Jaws - Richard Kiel

• Corrine Dufour - Corinne Clery

• Chang - Toshiro Suga

• Manuela - Emily Bolton

• M - Bernard Lee

• Q - Desmond Llewelyn

• Miss Moneypenny - Lois Maxwell

• General Gogol - Walter Gotell

• Minister of Defense - Geoffrey Keen

• Colonel C. Scott - Michael Marshall

• Dolly - Blanche Ravelec

• Full Moonraker Cast List Here

• Director - Lewis Gilbert

• Producer - Albert R. Broccoli

• Screenplay - Christopher Wood

• Production Designer - Ken Adam

• Editor - John Glen

• Main Title Designer - Maurice Binder

• Costume Designer - Jacques Fonteray

• Casting - Margot Capelier, Weston Drury Jr.

• Second Unit Directors - Ernest Day, John Glen

• Music - John Barry

• Title Song - “Moonraker” lyrics by Hal David, Sung by Shirley Bassey

• Director of Photography - Jean Tournier

• Art Direction - Charles Bishop, Max Douy

• Special Effects Supervisor - Derek Meddings

• Full Moonraker Crew List Here

• World Premiere: 26 June 1979
• UK Television Premiere: 27 December 1982 (ITV)
• US Television Premiere: 21 November 1981 (ABC)
• Total Running Time: 126 minutes
• Poster Tagline: Where All Other Bonds End, This One Begins...
• Poster Tagline: Outer Space Now Belongs To 007
• Poster Tagline: From The Most Exotic Locations On Earth, Moonraker Will Take You Out Of This World!
• Locations: Outer Space; Yukon Territory, Canada; London, UK; Vaux-Le-Vicomte, France; California, USA; Venice, Italy; Rio de Janeiro, South America; Rio Tapirape, Brazil; Soviet Union
• Academy Awards: Best Visual Effects (Loss)
• Film Title: Spoken throughout the film when referring to the space shuttle
• James Bond Will Return In: For Your Eyes Only

You can read about all the gadgets of Moonraker here.

• Walther PPK
• Camera
• Seiko Watch
• Wrist Gun
• Moonraker Laser
• CIA Equipment

Drax: James Bond. You appear with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season.
Bond: I didn’t think there were any seasons in space.
Drax: As far as you’re concerned, only winter.

You can read more quotes here from Moonraker.

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