When a U.S. space shuttle is stolen in a midair abduction, only Bond can find the evil genius responsible. The clues point to billionaire Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale), who has devised a scheme to destroy all human life on earth! As Bond races against time to stop Drax's evil plot, he joins forces with Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles), a NASA scientist who is as beautiful as she is brilliant. And 007 needs all the help he can get, for Drax's henchman is none other than Bond's old nemesis Jaws (Richard Kiel), the indestructible steel-toothed giant. Their adventure leads all the way to a gigantic orbiting space station, where the stage is set for an epic battle for the fate of all mankind.

Featuring amazing gadgets such as Bond's wrist gun and amphibious gondola, Moonraker is an exciting rapid-fire spectacular with astonishing special effects, daring stunts, and exhilarating action sequences.

Trivia

The scene where Bond is riding to M's temporary headquaters in a South American hacienda is accompanied by Elmer Bernstein's theme from The Magnificent Seven (1960).

Drax' Venice laboratory has an electronic lock on it. The sequence which unlocks the door is the hailing tune from Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).

Despite the previous 007 film telling us that James Bond will return in For Your Eyes Only (1981), producer Broccoli choose Moonraker (1979) as the next installment after the success of Star Wars (1977).

The role of Drax was originally offered to James Mason.

Lois Chiles had originally been offered the role of Anya in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), but turned down the part when she decided to take temporary retirement. She got the role of Holly Goodhead by chance when she was given the seat next to Lewis Gilbert on a flight.

According to writer Tom Mankiewicz there was a scene featuring Drax meeting his co-financiers in the Amazon lair; they use the room located just below the space shuttle launch pad that Bond and Holly later escape from. This scene was shot but later cut out.

Some portions of the Moonraker assembly plant were filmed on location at the Rockwell International manufacturing facilities in Palmdale, California, and at the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Theme

© 1979 Danjaq S.A. & United Artists Corporation
Music by John Barry
Lyrics by Hal David
Sung by Shirley Bassey

Where are you? Why do you hide?
Where is that moonlight trail that leads to your side?
Just like the Moonraker goes in search of his dream of gold,
I search for love, for someone to have and hold.
I've seen your smile in a thousand dreams,
Felt your touch and it always seems
You love me,
You love me.

Where are you? When will we meet?
Take my unfinished life and make it complete.
Just like the Moonraker knows his dream will come true someday,
I know that you are only a kiss away.

I've seen your smile in a thousand dreams,
Felt your touch and it always seems
You love me,
You love me.

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