Octopussy (1983)

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Sometimes film titles are funnier than captions

Director John Glen

Stars Roger Moore, Maud Adams, Louis Jourdan, Steven Berkoff

Things You Might Like

• It’s officially Bond
• Grounded, Cold War adventure
• Solid, manipulative villain
• Strongly choreographed action

Things You Might Not Like

• Stupid gadgets ruin everything
• Missing Bernard Lee
• Slow opening pacing
• Clowns
• 1950’s postcard India

Conclusion
Octopussy is an intriguing and Harry Palmer-esque Cold War thriller, glossed over with tacky gadgets and a Union Jack hot air balloon.  A good watch, if only to root out the quality.

2 out of 5 Yo-yo Saws

Luke McGrath will return in A View to a Kill

***

In 1983 Bond fans were being spoilt.  The release of the thirteenth film in the series coencided with an unofficial return from the actor who started it all off.  It was Roger v Sean and Octopussy v Never Say Never Again.  Sadly for those fans, the year ended with no-one satisfied and everyone in agreement that while Bond still had life in him, the actors that played him were getting tired.

Unlike its rival (which was a remake of the Thunderball film that had caused such a legal stir two decades before), Octopussy was an original screenplay with a smattering of details from two Ian Fleming short stories.  Alerted to a jewel smuggling racket by the death of 009, Bond is sent to investigate Afghan prince Kamal Khan and his dealings with wildcard Russia general Orlov.  Before long, 007 uncovers a plot to force the nuclear disarmament of Europe with the renegade general at the helm.

Much like the previous For Your Eyes Only, the screenwriters chose to very consciously place Bond in the real world.  Ostensibly a Cold War piece, Octopussy grounds itself in a ‘what-if’ storyline that would have resonated with its 1980’s audience.  That much of the tension still works is testament to the strength of the narrative.  However, unlike the earlier movie, many of the irritating traits of the Roger Moore era manage to surface and wash over most of the hard work.

The opening act is un-Bondly pedestrian, though it does make the most of Moore’s skilled charm offensive.  Yet, the sad lack of Bernard Lee makes the opening exchanges with M lacklustre; we expect Bond to know more than he does by now and Robert Brown hasn’t the skill to match his predecessor.  Perhaps it would have been better to have begun with 007 already on a mission and cut out the backroom one-upmanship altogether.

When Khan’s trail leads Bond to India, the story perks up while all around it falters.  The action quickly motors through the gears, a street chase is a particular highlight, and the fights begin to have consequences when allies are killed.  Despite this, the overwhelming memory has to be of the wall-to-wall snake charmers, sword swallowers and beds of nails that make this India more like a Carry On than anything else.

The titular character is a similar disappointment, existing presumably so the film could have a cool name.  Khan and Orlov make for good enough villains without the addition of the lightweight and last minute love interest.  Louis Jourdan is brilliant, reserved yet in command of all around him.  He inspires loyalty in the towering bodyguard Gobinda whilst seducing Octopussy and Orlov with false promises.

It is in leaving India that the film returns to its strengths.  A train-top fight is an action highlight, as good as anything Moore had done before.  The race to stop Khan’s plan is a vivid reminder of the feelings of the time.  Seeing Bond in disguise as a clown serves to remind us that this wasn’t the age for super cool secret agents, its was a time when politicians were fighting to gain tactical superiority both at home and abroad.

Of course, most of the success of Octopussy has been forgotten.  It is replaced by memories of levitating ropes, crocodile submarines, tennis match crowds and an embarrassing rescue in the final act spearheaded by Q in a Union Jack hot air balloon.  Underneath the excess, it is as close to the anti-Bond Harry Palmer series that either Moore or Connery ever managed.  Torn between two extremes, Octopussy fails by showing dedication to neither and existing in a pointless mid-ground.

Buy Octopussy or pre-order the James Bond blu-ray collection from Amazon