The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Retrospective/Review

[@DanTheMan2150AD]

Roger's finest outing and one of 007s best, nobody does it better.

[@t5kcannon1]

Agree. The best Roger Moore Bond, and, in my view, the best Bond film made to date.

[@Rschr101]

Goldeneye is my favorite but this one is up there for sure.

[@chaoticiannunez2419]

Makes me feel sad for the rest. Nobody does it HALF AS GOOD AS YOU! BABY! YOU'RE THE BEST!!

[@edvaira6891]

I found FOR YOU EYES ONLY and OCTOPUSSY as overall better films…Stromberg was just SUCH a Blah villain! And Barbara Bach is just Tanya Robert’s-level Bad!

[@tokyosmash]

Absolutely, if I had to show someone one single film that embodies who and what is James Bond, it would be TSWLM.

[@ExoScreenager]

Nice to see Calvin getting a shout out on this, his videos are superb if you're a Bond fan and I'd highly recommend them as well!

[@thebaron9059]

'Hello Mr Bond fans'!

[@Rschr101]

He’s hard to watch.

[@pontiusporcius8430]

muckluckable is better.

[@interestingvideos8127]

Agreed! Also The Bond Experience and Dutch Bond Fan also are great. Great video Oliver.

[@edvaira6891]

I’d also recommend SLJ Productions’ Bond videos

[@tristanmichels5721]

When Oliver Harper makes a new retrospective video… …I immediately watch. Even for films that I haven’t seen.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

Nobody Does It Better is one of the all time great Bond songs

[@effinjamieTT]

Danced to this at my wedding

[@PopCultureCat]

The ski chase turned base jump blending into the opening credits is my favourite movie beginning ever.

[@JOSH-lw2jv]

Shane Rimmer also had a uncredited cameo in *"STAR WARS"* (1977) as one of the Rebel Technicans who asked Luke Skywalker if he wants a new R2-unit for his X-Wing fighter.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Scott Tracey.

[@frankpinmtl]

He was also Canadian, not American

[@sprigflower]

The introduction scene and the Bond 77 theme are still outstanding!

[@moxxiegaming2832]

Now I want a moonraker retrospective lol

[@RickFrancis-uh1vf]

There's already one

[@wstine79]

The helicopter chasing Janes and Anya, with the LOTUS turning into a submarine, was my favorite sequence of the movie. JAWS is one of the best villains of the series.

[@Rschr101]

Caroline Munro❤

[@CaminoAir]

@@Rschr101 Beat me to mentioning Munro.

[@adamcade604]

My favourite of the classic James bond run! Nobody does it better Roger, Barbara and Lewis!

[@spaceodds1985]

Moore’s best Bond film and after ten years of uncertainty it was the film that IMO saved the series. Great set pieces, great score and Moore finally hits his stride as 007. Great shout out to Calvin Dyson, the man not only knows his subject, but his videos are hilarious and entertaining to boot. Great video Oliver.

[@matthewsalmon8194]

Peak 1970s Bond

[@nigeh5326]

My personal favourite Roger Moore Bond film. One of the best overall Bond films. The opening stunt, the Lotus Esprit, the model work, Jaws all top notch.

[@DandA604]

I love your retrospectives. Especially, your Bond retrospectives. Brilliant. 👏🏼

[@tomchris60]

Nobody does a James Bond Retrospective better than Oliver! My quick take: In '77, The Spy Who Loved Me was my first Bond movie where Sean Connery didn't come to mind. When the action heats up and the 007 theme is played, it's Roger's movie all the way.

[@kiers1970]

I see what you did there!

[@cloudtx]

As someone who didn't grew up during Roger's era, his first two movies were rough as hell but I'm glad I kept watching them cause this one was great!

[@funkagent]

You will come to really appreciate his run as Bond. Some of the coolest Bond moments are from his era.

[@FreshTillDeath56]

Oh man, what a great theme song... so sweet and sentimental. Carly Simon's masterpiece ❤ Great review, Oliver.

[@Anynom]

The best of the Moore Bonds and one of the best of the franchise. The opening stunt remains a banger of a start.

[@ReverendMeat51]

Rewatched all the Bonds last month and this stunt was literally jaw dropping, if there is a more impressive stunt in a movie I can't think of it

[@alf-thorstenhausmann4672]

Thank you for uploading this review. What I like especially about your Bond reviews is that they provide a source of lots of information to people who are less familiar with Bond but at the same time keep Bond fans and experts watching, because you create a very interesting sequence of information. Thank you again for this review!

[@thebaron9059]

Great review and insight Mr. H. As a 50yr old, huge Bond fan, TSWLM has always been in my top 3 favourite Bond films, and is definitely Sir Roger's greatest performance as 007.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Great film. One of my favorite James Bond movies. I bought it on DVD in 2009.

[@funkyromero]

One of the best bond films of all time.

[@tomtcf76]

The Greatest James Bond Ever Made. So much larger in cinematic epic scope than Sir Rog's previous two efforts (which are still great films) it has absolutely everything a James Bond film can offer. The super tanker swallowing nuclear submarines, the pre credit sequence skiing off the clifftop with Union Jack parachute, Atlantis, Stromberg, Jaws, the beautiful Anya, Sir Rog ice cool as Bond like never before and a stunning synth soundtrack by Marvin Hamlisch. Fantastic. I saw it twice on the big screen two years ago because of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the franchise (i was born in 1976) and The Spy Who Loved Me is cinema perfection in terms of epic action entertainment. My own personal favourite James Bond film and it aways will be.

[@donypaddy6859]

One of my favorite bond films and Roger at his best in the role.

[@Talks-Movies]

Bond not bond

[@AE-Rugby]

The best Bond Movie … bond music , Opening , villain , locations , Car , Girl , etc etc …

[@jamiehoward2007]

I always love your mini trailer you do at the start of these videos

[@cfytcf]

They're really good!

[@Paddynevs2012]

I absolutely adore this flim it’s the best bond and Moore outing next to goldeneye and the Carly Simon theme is perfect for a flim like this nobody does it better like Moore

[@ninfilms]

A great Bond film. I remember watching this on ITV in 1982 and loving the Lotus going underwater. I notice you forgot to mention legendary George Baker who was known for playing Inspector Wexford and was also in On Her Majesty Secret Service.

[@JOSH-lw2jv]

*"IT'S THE BIGGEST. IT'S THE BEST. IT'S BOND . . . AND BEYOND!"*

[@MFPMapFilmProductions]

A fun little trivia about the song "Nobody Does It Better." In Australia, many of us 80s kids who were not familiar with Bond or this movie first got introduced to a rendition of this via a rel-estate company commercial for LJ Hooker which played the song "Nobody does it better, LJ Hooker you're the best." Tacky as hell, but worked and it became the theme for the company for years and then their mantra. Hence why when I hear this song I always think of rel-estate in Australia.

[@askthecheesegaming3165]

Thank you oliver i thoroughly enjoy your 007 reviews, i look forward the next one

[@dragondaveltd1992]

One of my favourite Bond Films among with Goldfinger, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Licence To Kill, Goldeneye and Skyfall. And Nobody Does It Better than this Incredible Bond Film.

[@alexdas2000]

13:09 Shane Rimmer is Canadian not American. He is also in You Only Live Twice, Diamonds are Forever, and does the voice of Hamilton in Live and Let Die

[@mattperson7293]

Canadians are Americans. So are Mexicans. Fight me if you can find me :D

[@JOSH-lw2jv]

*"The Spy Who Loved Me"* was the first James Bond film in the series to be recorded in Dolby Stereo which they used for the next five Bond films from 1979 to 1987, before they went with Dolby Stereo Spectral Recording for *"Licence To Kill"* (1989).

[@renekauts8323]

So, originally, the first nine movies had mono sound. I understand that they later processed the sound of all the movies into high quality stereo. This happened at least in 2006. Because I have a James Bond collection "Ultimate DVD Collection"(2006). All movies in stereo 5.1.

[@JOSH-lw2jv]

@renekauts8323 Yeah, I prefer to watch the first nine James Bond films in their original Mono mix, and the 2.0 Dolby Surround mix in the other films from 1977-1989.

[@CA999]

I always remembered this Bond Movie with the distinction of the plot twist where the deadly Cold War rivals suddenly cooperated. Given the tensions of the 1970s and 1980s it had a shock value to it. It also showed how double agents also can be valuable.

[@8bvg300]

So many iconic elements. I wish that magic still existed

[@robvegas9354]

A truly fantastic film. Roger Moore is on top form, stunningly beautiful ladies, exotic locations, non stop action and fun. Nobody does it better.

[@jonno209]

When it comes to retrospective reviews, Nobody Does It Better than Oliver Harper!

[@Keep-Believing-Mark536]

Great review. Glad you made another 007 Review. I love them! Please do more 007 reviews, they're awesome!

[@fusionspace175]

The first thing I ever had in my life that I knew of as James Bond was that car as a Hot Wheels. I wouldn't even see the movie until I was watching the series as a young man, but I played with that submarine car as much as a Batmobile, and he was a part of my imagination long before I had the patience to sit through any movie paced for the 1970's. I do remember this as one of my favorites from the Moore era though, who was the Bond I grew up seeing the most of on tv in the 80's, and why I would reject Dalton when I saw those in the theater. Brosnan became my all time favorite, but the balance of humor and charm in his character all comes from Moore's interpretation, and it's such an essential part of the franchise to me. This one's up there with Goldfinger.

[@NiceGuyAidey]

Jeremy Bulloch aka Boba Fett with a ciggy in his hand at 0:33.

[@StarwarsFannick]

Awesome upload and a classic that got me into bond, along with Roger's favorite.

[@_Braised]

Great video as always- you've really mastered the editing of your intros in particular. At 13:09 It's worth mentioning that Shane Rimmer, aside from voicing Scott Tracy in Thunderbirds, also played roles in previous Bond films You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever. A bit more relevant than the Superman stuff. Also the parachute ski jump reportedly was suggested by George Lazenby way back in the 60s while shooting OHMSS, far earlier than the Canadian Club commercial.

[@alancheatley4378]

My favourite Bond movie, but my first I saw at the cinema would be Moonraker, I didn't know Jaws was a returning character then. Wow we do need that full soundtrack, I hope to see 4K boxsets of each film and have the soundtrack accompanying it 😊

[@edkwon]

Probably one of Roger Moore's most iconic Bond movies

[@matthaught4707]

One of my favorite Roger Moore films is one he did in between Bond flicks: The Wild Geese. Seeing Richard Harris, Richard Burton, and Roger Moore doing a bit of mercenary skullduggery is always entertaining.

[@Engineer_without_a_cause]

You should watch "The Sea wolves" sometime then, that is a great movie.

[@davidsheilds7191]

Much appreciated sir and keep up the stellar work.

[@LiamDalley-jd1kc]

My favourite Roger Moore Bond movie. It’s the right level of great action sequences and serious moments, plus it has one of my favourite scores in the entire franchise and I love the production design of film

[@AndyJay1985]

Roger got comfortable in the role and they knew how to use them. I love Live and Let Die, but Moore seems to be finding his footing, then for The Man With the Golden Gun, he's very "mean." This and For Your Eyes Only are my favorite from the Moore era.

[@CDubya.82]

Of course Oliver gets in a Superman reference at least once.

[@OliverHarper]

Hey for good reason ;) It should become a drinking game.

[@ericmac4648]

I thought I was the only one who’d notice that. I love some Superman 1978 and it’s always welcoming in your videos.

[@willwriteandtalk5006]

Prime Roger. About as perfect a Bond film as you can get. So good that they remade it as Moonraker. Which is even better in a lot of respects.

[@jamiehoward2007]

Hooray. Another retrospective

[@RodneyMunch8767]

This Bond film had so many iconic elements. I saw it in the cinema when it first came out as a 13-year-old and loved it. However, I don't want to revisit it because its flaws will taint my memories. Thank you, Oliver, for another brilliant retrospective.

[@Makman1994]

Personally, Moonraker's my favourite Moore Bond film for the set pieces, scale and the pacing.

[@jcollins1305]

Jaws in an all time villain in any movie, let alone a Bond film. Great job as always Oliver!

[@denvan3143]

I’m happy to see another Oliver Harper review; nobody does it better. 👌

[@dinobarletta9670]

My favorite Bond movie when I was younger - and special shout out to Barbara Bach 🤩😂

[@DrakeAurum]

This is not only the first Bond movie I saw, it's the very first movie I can remember seeing at the cinema. I was very much a pre-teen at the time, but I still vividly remember the experience of being in the theater and seeing the ski jump, those opening credits, and the car that turned into a submarine (which I subsequently owned in die-cast form). As such it's always had a special place in my heart, and it took a long time to shake off the notion that this is the definitive Bond car, and the definitive Bond soundtrack. I still love the music.

[@fredlandry6170]

I loved the old James Bond films when I was a boy that had the villain with an evil plan of world domination. Caroline Munro was so beautiful.

[@marsmeetsearthproductions6279]

You’ve covered 5 of my many favorite bond movies that is neat

[@gbrading]

Moore's finest film! And Nobody Does It Better is THE Bond theme for me.

[@drumtum]

For me the almost perfect Bond movie. Not to keen on the campy reprogramming of the missiles at the end, but other then that yes.

[@lostlakpaul]

The first Bond film I ever watched & to this day is still one my favorites in the franchise.

[@renekauts8323]

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME 1977 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ * One of the best films in the franchise! An almost perfect movie! * Great movie, great director Lewis Gilbert and of course, the one and only, the real English James Bond actor: Roger Moore! * My Top 10 is: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1995.

[@jorgezarco9269]

Caroline Munro looks so good. Check out Starcrash(1978).

[@Rschr101]

💯

[@bonghunezhou5051]

Another splendid retrospective by Oliver H; by my count, this is only the _second_ video covering the 1970s Bond films (TMWTGG being the first) ~ 📽👍

[@lenlooksback7981]

Absolutely THE BEST Bond of them all.

[@Doughty321]

The car chase is one of my favourites in the whole franchise. Also the introduction to Jaws was excellent.

[@callumvideogamefilmtvcriti5833]

The Spy who love me it my favorite James Bond film of all time

[@JamesBondStarWarsFan1983-by6qp]

R.I.P Roger Moore, Richard Kiel, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor I miss Roger Moore, Richard Kiel, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor so much and Roger Moore along with Richard Kiel, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor will always be my absolute favorites. Roger Moore did a brilliant job as James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me, Richard Kiel was an awesome actor in The Longest Yard 1974 and The Spy Who Loved Me, and George Carlin as well as Richard Pryor are both my all time favorite American comedians.

[@johnberry5296]

Brilliant work.

[@Nightstalker314]

Some rather unique infos about editing/pacing back in the days. Never thought about that.

[@creepythinman1978]

This would look incredible on 4K as the cinematography is soo sharp, colorful and crisp!

[@MartinEl78]

I was four when this came out - it is far and away my favourite Bond Picture and I clearly remember my dad coming home with the Corgi Lotus. I have watched and enjoyed it over and over for decades and only now do I know Stromberg's hands were webbed...

[@-NateTheGreat]

Even though Moore was Bond when I was growing up when I became interested in 007 and started to go back to earlier films it was Connery that really sold me.

[@JestersDeadUK]

6th… like an idiot… haha, thanks for this amazing video, and have a GREAT Xmas Oliver!!! - love your content, longtime fan

[@white-dragon4424]

I don't think the film makers realised that if there was a nuclear war, then the oceans would be irradiated as well. Shane Rimmer also had a small part in Star Wars: A New Hope. He was the X-Wing mechanic who asked Luke if he wanted a new R2 unit.

[@suttercane6]

Had to pause the video to watch Alan Partridge "acting" out the opening of Spy Who Loved Me... Classic 😆😆😆

[@ozzyg82]

Jaws freaked me out as a kid. Loved Roger in his role.

[@renekauts8323]

I think "The Spy Who Loved Me"(1977) & "Moonraker"(1979) are the most entertaining and visually gorgeous films in the 007 franchise. These films also had fantastically great promotion! * IT'S THE BIGGEST! IT'S THE BEST! IT'S BOND! AND BEYOND! * WHERE ALL THE OTHER BONDS END... THIS ONE BEGINS! *

[@sonnyblack0870]

Oh man to each’s own I guess, but Moonraker is a tough watch for me. Near the bottom of the list above only Die Another Day and (If you consider it a legit Bond film) Never Say Never Again. I think there’s a fine line these films have to walk between silly disbelief and seriousness, and in the same way Craig era Bonds don’t appeal to me for being too on the serious side of the equation, I feel Moonraker leans too far into the silliness side of the formula. It almost feels like a Bond parody, albeit an ineffective and not very funny Bond parody.

[@badouplus1304]

I am in line with you, for me, Bond is Roger Moore for the simple reason that the first Bond movie I saw in theater was "For Your Eyes Only" when I was 11 years old.

[@panzerfaust187]

Until golden eye this was the best bond movie imo. Now I still think golden eye is the best but damn Barbara Bach rocked that dress with the diamonds. Classic beauty.

[@zzygyy]

I was 9 yrs old when this movie released in theaters. Bond was so much cooler than Star Wars hype at the time.

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

Nice overview Oliver. I’m glad you mentioned Maibaum and Mankiewicz whose contributions are vital in giving Spy its edge and grounding in the series iconography in terms of the story. I disagree about the editing as John Glen’s cutting is on point if a bit methodical to fit the more relaxed pacing of Gilbert’s Bond films. Claude Renoir gives the film a unique look for the series and Ken Adam gets to run freely with his designs. Spy was also the first film in the series to officially have a release in stereo as the premiere was 4 track stereo. (Others possibly had alternate stereo presentations but these are unconfirmed) The film soundtrack not having an official release still kills me to this day. Spy is one of two films along with Doctor No to have no release of the film score. The album presentation is extremely well recorded and mastered, but has been frustrating to all of us Bond fans ever since its release. The sequencing is also frustrating. I keep hoping La La Land records gets to do a restoration as part of their ongoing Bond series, as this would be one of the most important scores to do. Definitely read Christopher Wood’s novelization! Not only do you get more details about Stromberg, his entire backstory, and the explanation of the webbed fingers… But it’s also the greatest Fleming pastiche anyone has ever written. It’s essentially the film story in novel form as if Fleming wrote it complete with torture sequence. The irony is that after all the script struggles they inadvertently reworked the plot of You Only Live Twice. The bottom line is that Spy was the necessary relaunch of the series that meant it could continue. It will always be immortal as one of the most perfectly executed Bond films and the kind of film we need so badly today.

[@jedthementalist5112]

21:05 "Oh, what was that!? Too late."

[@MakeMoneyDaily-w9j]

This was such a golden era for Bond films. The underwater car scene still feels iconic-did anyone else catch all the subtle Cold War references in the dialogue?

[@TheWraith7]

'Midnight Express' (1978) is another film that won the Oscar for best musical score. However most of the film's original music STILL isn't available because when it came time to release the soundtrack, Giorgio Moroder filled it with a bunch of lame disco-style renditions instead of the actual tracks from the movie.

[@nyiniamako]

Wow I wasn't aware of Kubrick's involvement in this

[@danielstreuli7563]

When Bond knows Strongberg doesn't like shaking hands and still goes for a handshake. Bond most baddass moments

[@DaveVoyles]

These videos are the highlight of my month.

[@mattorfact]

Awesome video!

[@naysmith5272]

That car, and the 007 digital watch, were the big things in the school playground

[@Stereozentrum]

Good retrospective as always, Oliver! It was in my opinion a great choice that they didn't hire Barry. The score to this movie is so refreshing compared to Barry's dull and uninspired pseudo-minimalism for almost all other Bond films of that era.

[@tearjerkasylum6500]

Never seen the movie but had the game on the Amiga as a youngster. Loved riding in the car and the speedboat.

[@adamoconnor8964]

Glad to see Calvin get a shout out

[@georgelea4297]

One of the best 007's

[@Telecoaster94music]

It’s interesting that Richard Kiel played a similar character in “Silver Streak” which predated this movie by one year in 1976. He even had gold teeth, which was an emphasized and distinctive part of his character Reace. I wonder if the JAWS character was inspired by Kiel’s role in “Silver Streak” or just a coincidence as some of the behind the scenes scene tests’s for The Spy Who Loved Me were from October of 1976 after Silver Streak wrapped filming but had not yet been released.

[@markarevalo2707]

Really enjoyed this docu, Saltzman becomes Broccoli and vice versa in the photos.. : ) Both great men of course.

[@evolvedHE]

My favourite Bond film!!!!

[@moose6509]

Pure escapist fun. Compare this to the dour, miserable Craig outings. I want Moore....

[@michaelsinkler3069]

“The Spy Who Loved Me” is THE 007 film. Every Bond element is here: the most fun. The coolest. The best.