Licence to Legacy: It’s been 40 years since A View to a Kill was released — Roger Moore’s final outing as James Bond — and this week we look back at one of the most divisive entries in the series.
After a brief detour to the Mexico Grand Prix, we dive into the film’s release and reception, sharing personal memories of seeing A View to a Kill for the first time and how opinions have changed - if they have - over the decades. We explore John Barry’s score and Duran Duran’s title song, the film’s unique tone, and how it captured the glossy excess of the 1980s.
The conversation turns to the Bond women — from Tanya Roberts to Grace Jones’ performance as May Day — and the sometimes volatile chemistry on set. We also discuss Christopher Walken’s chilling turn as Max Zorin.
Looking beyond the film, we reflect on Roger Moore’s final mission as 007, how he proved the series could thrive after Sean Connery, and what his long tenure says about age, legacy, and the evolution of Bond. There’s even time to touch on Lois Maxwell’s final appearance as Moneypenny, Patrick Macnee's portrayal of Sir Godfrey Tibbett, and the in-jokes, excess, and self-parody that make A View to a Kill such curious entry in the Bond franchise.
From its polarising reception to its lasting place in Bond history, we ask: four decades on, is A View to a Kill any better than we remember - or not?
Where to find us:
Bill Koenig
https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com/
Javi Trujillo
https://bsky.app/profile/javitru.bsky.social or https://www.instagram.com/thebondisnotenough/
David Leigh
https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com/
Recorded in the USA and Spain on 27th October 2025