When drug lord Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi) exacts his brutal vengeance on Bond's friend Felix Leiter (David Hedison), 007 resigns from the British Secret Service and begins a fierce vendetta against the master criminal. Bond won't be satisfied until Sanchez is defeated, and to accomplish this aim he allies himself with a beautiful pilot (Carey Lowell) and Sanchez's sexy girlfriend (Talisa Soto). But Bond, relegated to outlaw status, must battle agents on both sides of the law as he discovers the horrifying extent of his prey's resources. In order to bring Sanchez down, Bond must survive a ferocious boat chase, a midair brawl over the controls of an out-of-control airplane, and an action-packed confrontation in the Mexico desert.
It's a pulse-pounding thrill ride with awesome stunt sequences, subtle humor, and explosive confrontations. When Bond's licence to kill is revoked, he's more deadly than ever!

Trivia

The film was originally to be set in China but production difficulties became insurmountable.

Kerim Bay's son. Pedro Armendariz Sr. played Kerim Bay in From Russia with Love (1963).

David Hedison returns as Felix Leiter, a role he first played in Live and Let Die (1973).  He was the only actor to portray the character twice. The character has appeared in seven Bond films, and been played by six different actors

In the final chase sequence just after 007 lands on the tanker, Sanchez fires at Bond hitting the truck's fuel tanks. The sound of the bullets ricocheting off the tanks plays the start of the James Bond theme.

Robert Brown's final appearance as "M"

At the end of the film, the credits say "James Bond will return".  He would not for six long years!

Theme
Gladys Knight
Ooooh; Oh-hooo; I need, I need, I've got to hold on to your love; Oooh.

Hey baby, thought you were the one who tried to run away.
Ohh, baby, wasn't I the one who made you want to stay?
Please don't bet that you'll ever escape me
Once I get my sights on you,

Got a license to kill (to kill)
And you know I'm going straight for your heart.
(Got a license to kill)
Got a license to kill (to kill)
Anyone who tries to tear us apart.
(Got a license to kill)
License to kill.

Hey baby, think you need a friend to stand here by your side?
Yes you do (your side).
Ohh baby, now you can depend on me to make things right (things right)
Please don't bet that you'll ever escape me
Once I get my sights on you,

Got a license to kill (to kill)
And you know I'm going straight for your heart.
(Got a license to kill)
Got a license to kill (to kill)
Anyone who tries to tear us apart.
(Got a license to kill)

Say that somebody tries to make a move on you
In the blink of an eye, I'll be there too.
And they better know why I'm gonna make them pay
Till their dying day
Till their dying day
Till their dying day

Got a license to kill (to kill)
And you know I'm going straight for your heart.
(Got a license to kill)
Got a license to kill
Anyone who tries to tear us apart.
(Got a license to kill)

Got a license to kill (to kill)
And you know I'm going straight for your heart.
(Got a license to kill)
Got a license to kill
Anyone who tries to tear us apart.
(Got a license to kill)
License to kill
Gotta hold onto your loving.
License to kill
Ooohooo! Kill.

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