A View to a Kill Cast

A View to a Kill Cast

A View to a Kill Cast

A View to a Kill is the fourteenth film in the James Bond series, released in 1985. Roger Moore stars as James Bond, MI6 agent 007, in his final appearance and the film’s cast includes a number of notable actors and actresses, including Grace Jones, and Christopher Walken and Patrick Macnee.

Roger Moore had originally signed a three-film contract with Eon Productions, which was fulfilled with Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, and The Spy Who Loved Me. The following three films were negotiated on a film-by-film basis.

Moore later starred in Moonraker and For Your Eyes Only, which he said was his last. Uncertainty surrounding his involvement in Octopussy in 1983 led to other actors, including Timothy Dalton, being considered to take over, but he was convinced to come back. Eon then convinced him to remain as part of the A View to a Kill cast, but he announced in December 1985 that he had retired from the role after seven films and at the grand old age of 57.

Christopher Walken plays Bond villain, Max Zorin, a psychopathic industrialist who plans to destroy Silicon Valley to gain a monopoly in the microchip market. Early publicity for the film in 1984 included an announcement that David Bowie would play Zorin. He initially accepted the role, but later decided against it. The role was then offered to Sting, who turned it down, and finally to Christopher Walken.

Another notable addition to the A View to a Kill cast was Grace Jones, who played the role of May Day, Zorin’s lover and chief henchwoman. Jones was known for her distinctive androgynous appearance, and although her acting is somewhat questionable, her inclusion in the film’s cast added to the overall unique style of the film.

Patrick Macnee became he fourth actor from The Avengers to star in a Bond film after he was in A View to a Kill. Cast as MI6 undercover agent Sir Godfrey Tibbett, he plays a large part in the early part of the film, helping Bond investigate Zorin.

Watch Film ’85 BBC Report – A View To A Kill

Tanya Roberts plays Bond girl Stacey Sutton, the granddaughter of an oil tycoon whose company is taken over by Zorin. Priscilla Presley was originally cast as Stacey Sutton, but she had to be replaced by Tanya Roberts because of her contract with American TV shows, Dallas.

Zorin’s henchmen include Patrick Bauchau who’s cast as Scarpine, Zorin’s murderous loyal associate. Willoughby Gray played the role of Dr. Carl Mortner, formerly Hans Glaub, a Nazi scientist and father figure to Zorin. Dolph Lundgren starred in his first ever film when he was cast as Venz, a KGB henchman in A View to a Kill.

It’s believed the original script had Barbara Bach reprising her role as Major Anya Amasova from 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me. However, Bach declined the role, and so an entirely new character, Pola Ivanova, was created, played by Fiona Fullerton.

Desmond Llewelyn appears as Q, who supplies 007 with his equipment for his mission, and of course gives him a few tellings off. Robert Brown appears as M, the head of MI6. Walter Gotell appears as General Anatoly Gogol, the head of the KGB, who wants to give Bond and Order of Lenin award for helping the nation.

And finally Lois Maxwell appears as Miss Moneypenny in her final ever appearance in the role. Maxwell was the original and longest running Moneypenny, and every other actress is always compared against her. The Canadian actress only played a few scenes in each movie, but her flirtatious relationship with all 3 Bonds was always a highlight.

A View to a Kill was the last James Bond film to feature music composed by John Barry, who had scored every film in the series from Dr. No in 1962. Barry’s score includes a title song performed by 1980s pop band, Duran Duran, which was a commercial success and remains one of the band’s most popular songs.

The cast of A View to a Kill was a diverse and talented group of actors who brought their own unique styles and personalities to the film. Moore’s final performance as James Bond was criticized, more for his age than his performance.

Roger Moore may have bowed out a couple of films too late, but it is what it is, and although A View to a Kill is far from his best film, it’s still worth a watch.

Watch the Official Trailer of A View to a Kill

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