Roger Moore’s penultimate outing as 007 is back on screens this weekend – and for many fans, Octopussy remains a nostalgic highlight of the James Bond franchise.
The 1983 film, set against the backdrop of Cold War tensions, sees Bond investigating the murder of a fellow agent and uncovering a plot involving a rogue Soviet general, stolen jewels, and a circus that serves as cover for a nuclear conspiracy.
The film takes Bond from India to East Germany and features a memorable mix of action set-pieces, exotic locations, and outlandish disguises – including Moore famously donning a clown costume in one key scene.
The title character, Octopussy, is played by Swedish actress Maud Adams – the only Bond girl to appear twice in different roles in the official Eon series, having also starred in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) -, heading up an all-female smuggling syndicate based on a floating palace.
While Octopussy received mixed reviews on release, it has since gained a loyal following. Many Bond fans regard it as a classic of the Moore era, praising its mix of humour, tension and an international touch: “An excellent adventure, perfectly blending a seriousness and hard-edged spy thriller element with zany knowing humor in an exciting cocktail of suspense, romance and international intrigue”, one fan wrote in an online review. “This is one of the most fun installments in the series and Roger Moore brings his A-game in what may well be his best performance as Bond”.
“In my opinion, best James Bond next to Never Say Never Again & Skyfall”, said another. “The raw definition of the James Bond character, Roger is slick, cool, and savvy”.
The film also features a strong supporting cast, including Louis Jourdan as the villainous Kamal Khan, Kabir Bedi as his imposing henchman Gobinda, and Steven Berkoff as General Orlov. The title sequence, set to Rita Coolidge’s ‘All Time High’, makes for one of the more romantic openings in the franchise.
Octopussy went head-to-head at the box office with Never Say Never Again, Sean Connery’s unofficial Bond return released the same year. Despite the rivalry, Moore’s version ultimately outperformed its competitor at the global box office.
Some other reviewers analysed the feature in comparison with other Bond titles, with one branding it the “complete opposite of the Daniel Craig series, though I love both”.
“This is silly to the point of almost corny, but the style is unique to James Bond and always a lot of fun. So many of the gags are based on old stereotypes, don’t take it seriously and you’ll have a blast”, they added.
Octopussy will be on ITV4 at 6:20pm on Sunday, May 5th.