[5]

Heavily influenced by the success of Star Wars a few years prior, James Bond (Roger Moore) blasts into outer space to foil a bad guy’s scheme to eradicate all human life on Earth. While Moonraker made a lot of money and arguably packs more action than most other Bond films, it’s also sillier than most. Richard Kiel’s ridiculous Jaws character from The Spy Who Loved Me makes a pandering return and the final act aboard the space station is laughably inappropriate for the franchise. At one point, after Bond drives a hybrid gondola/car out of the water and through a crowded Venetian square of slack-jawed onlookers, director Lewis Gilbert cuts to a bird giving a double-take achieved by Benny Hill-like editing.

Moonraker is the nadir of 007’s filmography thus far. Michael Lonsdale’s villainous performance is forgettable, but at least Lois Chiles holds her own as this chapter’s feisty Bond girl, Holly Goodhead. Shirley Bassey’s title song (her third and final for the franchise) was never a big hit — but it may grow on you. The film also features Bernard Lee’s final performance as Bond’s boss, M.

With Corinne Clery, Geoffrey Keen, Toshiro Suga, Desmond Llewelyn, and Lois Maxwell.

Oscar Nomination: Best Visual Effects