by David C. Terr

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Title: The Spy Who Loved Me

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Starring: Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curd Jurgens, Richard Kiel

Release Date: July 13, 1977

Running Time: 125 min

Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Commentary
The Spy Who Loved Me is one of my favorite 007 films. It contains all the best elements of the Bond films, including a villain with a sinister plot, fast-paced action, high-tech gadgets, exotic scenery, and beautiful women. Roger Moore is great as 007 in this one. Barbara Bach also plays a great role as the Soviet secret agent Triple X. Richard Kiel is awesome in his role as Jaws, a speechless hulk with capped teeth who bites his victims to death. Jaws is the only villain to appear in two Bond films, reappearing in the sequel Moonraker.

Plot Summary
Bond (Roger Moore) is sent by his headquarters to investigate the disappearance of nuclear submarines from the Royal Navy as well as the Soviet fleet. He ends up teaming with the Russian agent Major Anna Amasova, a.k.a. Agent Triple X (Barbara Bach). Following some nearly fatal encounters with Jaws (Richard Kiel), they eventually meet up with shipping tycoon Karl Stromberg (Curd Jurgens), who plans to annihilate the world with the nuclear missiles from the submarines he hijacked in order to create a new underwater empire. James and Anna manage to stop him, but Jaws gets away.

Gadgets
The Spy Who Loved Me is one of the better Bond films in terms of gadgetry. The best prop in the film is Bond's Lotus Esprit, which doubles as a submarine. The movie also has several other impressive underwater vehicles and props, including Atlantis, Stromberg's base, as well as a large control room where the nuclear subs are secretly taken.

Movie Clips

Here's the original movie trailer.

Here's the intro along with the theme song by Carly Simon.