{{quote|Stuff my orders! I only kill professionals. That girl didn't know one end of her rifle from the other. Go ahead. Tell M what you want. If he fires me, I'll thank him for it... Whoever she was, I must have scared the Living Daylights out of her.|James Bond to [[Saunders]]}}
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{{quote|Stuff my orders! I only kill professionals. That girl didn't know one end of a rifle from the other. Go ahead. Tell M what you want. If he fires me, I'll thank him for it... Whoever she was, I must have scared the Living Daylights out of her.|James Bond to [[Saunders]]|audio=Scared the living daylights out of her.ogg|}}
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'''''The Living Daylights''''' is the fifteenth film in the [[James Bond films|''James Bond'' film series]] produced by [[EON Productions]], released in [[007 franchise timeline#1987|1987]], and was the first of two films to star [[Timothy Dalton]] as the fictional [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI6]] agent [[James Bond (Timothy Dalton)|James Bond]]. It is also the first Bond film to have [[Caroline Bliss]] as Miss Moneypenny replacing [[Lois Maxwell]]. The story was inspired by [[Ian Fleming]]'s eponymous [[Octopussy and The Living Daylights#"The Living Daylights"|short story]], first published in [[007 franchise timeline#1962|1962]]. It was produced by [[Albert R. Broccoli]], his stepson [[Michael G. Wilson]], and Broccoli's daughter [[Barbara Broccoli]]. This was the last film to make use of an Ian Fleming story title until the release of ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' in [[007 franchise timeline#2006|2006]].
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'''''The Living Daylights''''' is a [[James Bond]] short story written by [[Ian Fleming]], first published in the first color magazine supplement of the ''Sunday Times'' newspaper, on February 4, [[1962]], and later reprinted in ''Argosy'' magazine, under the title "Berlin Escape". In [[1966]] it was the second story in the short story collection ''[[Octopussy and The Living Daylights#"The Living Daylights"|Octopussy and The Living Daylights]]'', published two years after Fleming's death.
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The story inspired an eponymous film, released in [[1987]]. It featured [[Timothy Dalton]] in the first of two portrayals as [[United Kingdom|British]] secret service agent James Bond. ''The Living Daylights'' is the fifteenth film in the [[EON Productions]] series. It was produced by [[Albert R. Broccoli]], his stepson [[Michael G. Wilson]], and Broccoli's daughter [[Barbara Broccoli]]. This was the last film to make use of an Ian Fleming story title until the release of ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' in [[2006]].
==Plot summary==
==Plot summary==
===Pre-title sequence: Gibraltar===
===Pre-title sequence: Gibraltar===
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In the prologue, three double-0 agents parachuteonto [[Gibraltar]] totestitsdefences. [[002]] is captured almost immediately by the SAS, while [[James Bond (Timothy Dalton)|James Bond]] and [[004]] start scaling the cliffs to the base. As they ascend [[Imposter 00|an assassin]] appears and sends a tag reading ''Smiert Spionom'' down the rope before cutting it, sending 004 to his death. Bond witnesses the incident and gives chase to the assassin, ending in an explosives-laden Land Rover careening down Gibraltar's narrow roads and then into the air. Bond escapes with his reserve parachute while the assassin is killed when the Land Rover explodes in mid-air.
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In the prologue, three skydiving [[00 agents]] are tasked with penetrating radar installations atop the Rock of [[Gibraltar]] as part of a [[Ministry of Defence]] training exercise. [[002 (The Living Daylights)|002]] is captured almost immediately upon landing by the SAS, while [[James Bond (Timothy Dalton)|007]] and [[004 (The Living Daylights)|004]] start scaling the cliffs. As they ascend, [[Imposter 00|an assassin]] sends a tag reading ''Smiert Spionom'' down 004's climbing rope before cutting it, sending the spy to his death. Bond witnesses the incident and gives chase to the assassin, ending in an explosives-laden Land Rover careening down Gibraltar's narrow roads and then into the air. Bond escapes with his reserve parachute while the assassin is killed when the Land Rover explodes in mid-air.
===Rescuing Koskov===
===Rescuing Koskov===
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The early part of the film has much of the original short story's plot: Bond assists [[Saunders]], head of [[Secret Intelligence Service#MI6 intelligence sections|Section V]], in the defection to the West of a devious [[KGB]] General, [[General Koskov|Georgi Koskov]]. Bond's part is to cover Koskov's intermission escape from a concert hall in [[Bratislava]], [[Czechoslovakia]]. He notices that the sniper protecting Koskov is a beautiful cellist from the orchestra, [[Kara Milovy |Kara Milovy]]. Suspecting she is not an assassin, he shoots the rifle out of her hands, sparing her life, whilst facilitating Koskov's escape from the hall.
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The early part of the film has much of the original short story's plot: Bond assists [[Saunders]], head of [[Secret Intelligence Service#MI6 intelligence sections|Section V]], in the defection to the West of a devious [[KGB]] [[General Koskov|General Georgi Koskov]]. Bond's part is to cover Koskov's intermission escape from a concert hall in [[Bratislava]], [[Czechoslovakia]]. He notices that the sniper protecting Koskov is a beautiful cellist from the orchestra, [[Kara Milovy |Kara Milovy]]. Suspecting she is not an assassin, he shoots the rifle out of her hands, sparing her life, whilst facilitating Koskov's escape from hall.
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In England, Bond reaches Blayden safe house, and greets the security operator, a gardener who temporarily removes his gun, and a kind, very posh butler who leads him in.General Koskov informs [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI6]] that the KGB is being run by power-hungry [[General Pushkin]]. According to Koskov, Pushkin has revived the old policy of ''Smert' Shpionam'' — literally, ''Death to Spies'' ([[SMERSH (James Bond)|SMERSH]]), a programme of Western spy assassinations — and as such Pushkin needs to be eliminated. This story is credible given the recent murder of Bond's partner in the Gibraltar training exercise. Shortly afterwards the KGB, in person of the assassin [[Necros]], raids the safe-house where British Intelligence hide Koskov. Before entering, he shows off his American accent skill, he murders a milkman with his headphones, puts on his outfit and makes himself sound like a stereotypical commoner, fooling the security base operator. He enters the kitchen and strangles the chef with his headphones, while the chef’s parrot watches, and tries to avert their eyes. While he dumps the body in the freezer, the butler, who is in fact secret service, walks in and spots this. He radioes in and shouts ‘Green four to base!’ with urgency.He attempts to pull out his gun, which is kicked out of his hand by Necros, and they engage in hand-to-hand combat, green four with the upper hand. Throughout this time, the security operator keeps pouring himself milk and asking why the butler isn’t finishing his sentence. After a long battle, (including green four’s face being grilled, almost being mutilated by a carving knife, and Necros’s hand being burnt) green four is dealt a headbutt during a struggle, followed by a series of kicks, and despite his attempts to regain composure he is knocked unconscious by a frying pan. Necros,pretending to be green four then radioes control, in a very posh voice but not panicked, about fake gas leaks,(and later fake gas explosions, which are really his grenades disguised as milk bottles),leading to an evacuation. However, two guards disguised in gardener outfits rush in with guns at the ready, although not very prepared. Necros sees them and swiftly lobs a grenade disguised as a milk bottle at them, and they collapse, wounded. Necros then deals with an agent who suspects something and is caught up in the evacuation, who aims his gun, while on the stairs. The milk bottle this time however succeeded in killing the agent. He finds Koskov and a stenographer in the room, who surrender to him. Necros tosses off his milkman apron, which the parrot kicks away angrily, and puts on a stethoscope- et voila, he is a doctor. During this time, he throws another milk bottle and steals the tape and burns the secretary’s notes, to get rid of evidence and to help blow the building up. He then proceeds to snatch Koskov and briefly holds a stenographer hostage, whom he lets go, and abducts Koskov in an ambulance disguised KGB helicopter, while security keep chattering about keeping a distance from the building, and not to use radio phones. M and the defence minister are far from pleased.
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In England, General Koskov informs [[MI6]] that the KGB is being run by power-hungry [[General Pushkin]]. According to Koskov, Pushkin has revived the old policy of ''Smert' Shpionam'' — literally, ''Death to Spies'' ([[SMERSH (James Bond)|SMERSH]]), a programme of Western spy assassinations — and as such Pushkin needs to be eliminated. This story is credible given the recent murder of Bond's partner in the Gibraltar training exercise. Shortly afterwards the KGB, in person of the assassin [[Necros]], raids the safe-house where British Intelligence hide Koskov and snatch him back East.
{{main articles|[[List of James Bond vehicles]] and [[List of James Bond gadgets]]}}
{{main articles|[[List of James Bond vehicles]] and [[List of James Bond gadgets]]}}
*[[Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante]] — Equipped with the usual weapons, including side skis, spiked tires, missiles, lasers, rocket propulsion, a self-destruct device and a modified radio to tune in to police/military bands.
*[[Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante]] — Equipped with the usual weapons, including side skis, spiked tires, missiles, lasers, rocket propulsion, a self-destruct device and a modified radio to tune in to police/military bands.
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==Locations==
==Locations==
===Film locations===
===Film locations===
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{{#display_map:
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Gibraltar;
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London;
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Bratislava, Slovakia;
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Vienna, Austria;
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Tangier, Morocco;
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Afghanistan;
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}}
*[[Gibraltar]]
*[[Gibraltar]]
*[[Bratislava|Bratislava, Czechoslovakia]]
*[[Bratislava|Bratislava, Czechoslovakia]]
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*[[Afghanistan]]
*[[Afghanistan]]
*[[Tangier]]
*[[Tangier]]
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*[[New York]](Mentioned not shown)
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*[[New York]] (Mentioned not shown)
===Shooting locations===
===Shooting locations===
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{{#display_map:
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Iver Heath, England
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Gibraltar;
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Vienna, Austria;
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Morocco;
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Germany;
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Italy;
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}}
*[[Pinewood Studios]] / [[Albert R. Broccoli's 007 Stage]]
*[[Pinewood Studios]] / [[Albert R. Broccoli's 007 Stage]]
* Timothy Dalton had originally been considered for the role of James Bond as a replacement for [[Sean Connery]], but had ruled himself out as being too young. He had been considered again when [[Roger Moore]] decided to leave the role prior to ''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'', and was apparently all but signed to portray the character when Moore changed his mind at the last moment.
* Timothy Dalton had originally been considered for the role of James Bond as a replacement for [[Sean Connery]], but had ruled himself out as being too young. He had been considered again when [[Roger Moore]] decided to leave the role prior to ''[[For Your Eyes Only]]'', and was apparently all but signed to portray the character when Moore changed his mind at the last moment.
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* Both Sam Neill and [[Pierce Brosnan]] were screen-tested for the role of James Bond in ''The Living Daylights''. Brosnan was successfully signed for the role, but his contract to the television programme ''[[wikipedia:Remington Steele|Remington Steele]]'' forced him to withdraw; he would wait seven years for his second chance, in ''[[GoldenEye]]''. [[Maryam d'Abo]], however, earned her Kara Milovy role with her screen test with Brosnan; she was not in the running for a role in the film, but had been hired to act opposite the 007 contenders; impressed, the producers gave her the part.
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*[[File:Sam_Neill_screen-test_for_The_Living_Daylights.jpg|thumb|265px|Actor Sam Neill in his screen-test for the role of James Bond.]] Both Sam Neill and [[Pierce Brosnan]] were screen-tested for the role of James Bond in ''The Living Daylights''. Brosnan was successfully signed for the role, but his contract to the television programme ''[[wikipedia:Remington Steele|Remington Steele]]'' forced him to withdraw; he would wait seven years for his second chance, in ''[[GoldenEye (film)|GoldenEye]]''. [[Maryam d'Abo]], however, earned her Kara Milovy role with her screen test with Brosnan; she was not in the running for a role in the film, but had been hired to act opposite the 007 contenders; impressed, the producers gave her the part.
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*''The Living Daylights'' marks the first time a headbutt is used in a James Bond movie, as well as the first use of a variation of the word "fuck" on-screen (by Timothy Dalton, although he is not audible at the time).
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* ''The Living Daylights'' marks the first time a headbutt is used in a James Bond movie, as well as the first use of a variation of the word "fuck" on-screen (by Timothy Dalton, although he is not audible at the time).
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* Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson wrote a first draft of a script portraying James Bond's first field mission; Cubby Broccoli rejected the idea.
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* [[Richard Maibaum]] and [[Michael G. Wilson]] wrote a first draft of a script portraying James Bond's first field mission; Cubby Broccoli rejected the idea.
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* Originally, the KGB general set up by Koskov was to be [[Anatol Alexis Gogol|General Gogol]], however, actor [[Walter Gotell]] was ill, unable to handle the major role; the character of Leonid Pushkin replaced Gogol, who appears briefly at the end of the film, having transferred to the Soviet diplomatic service. This is Gogol's final appearance in a James Bond film (Gotell died in 1997). The similarity between Pushkin and Gogol is emphasized by the fact that Pushkin is seen accompanied by a beautiful blonde, much as Gogol was in his early appearances.
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* Originally, the KGB general set up by Koskov was to be [[General Gogol]], however, actor [[Walter Gotell]] was ill, unable to handle the major role; the character of Leonid Pushkin replaced Gogol, who appears briefly at the end of the film, having transferred to the Soviet diplomatic service. This is Gogol's final appearance in a James Bond film (Gotell died in 1997). The similarity between Pushkin and Gogol is emphasized by the fact that Pushkin is seen accompanied by a beautiful blonde, much as Gogol was in his early appearances.
* This is the final James Bond film to be scored by [[John Barry]].
* This is the final James Bond film to be scored by [[John Barry]].
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* [[Joe Don Baker]] would reappear in ''[[GoldenEye]]'' and ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'', as a different character, [[Jack Wade]], Bond's CIA liaison and replacement for [[Felix Leiter]].
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* [[Joe Don Baker]] would reappear in ''[[GoldenEye (film)|GoldenEye]]'' and ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies (film)|Tomorrow Never Dies]]'', as a different character, [[Jack Wade]], Bond's CIA liaison and replacement for [[Felix Leiter]].
* [[a-ha]]'s lead vocalist, [[Morten Harket]] was offered a small role as a villain's henchman in ''The Living Daylights'', but declined, because of lack of time and the reasoning that they wanted to cast him just because of his popularity, not his acting. Instead, [[a-ha]] sang the title song for ''The Living Daylights''.
* [[a-ha]]'s lead vocalist, [[Morten Harket]] was offered a small role as a villain's henchman in ''The Living Daylights'', but declined, because of lack of time and the reasoning that they wanted to cast him just because of his popularity, not his acting. Instead, [[a-ha]] sang the title song for ''The Living Daylights''.
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* In a cameo role, series composer [[John Barry]] conducts the orchestra in Vienna at the end of the film. Producer [[Michael G. Wilson]] also continues his string of Bond film cameo appearances; he can be seen as a member of the opera house audience.
* In a cameo role, series composer [[John Barry]] conducts the orchestra in Vienna at the end of the film. Producer [[Michael G. Wilson]] also continues his string of Bond film cameo appearances; he can be seen as a member of the opera house audience.
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* The use of the Russian phrase "Smert Shpionam" ("Death to Spies") is a reference to [[SMERSH]], the Russian spy agency James Bond combated in the early [[Ian Fleming]] novels. It was mentioned in only one previous Bond film, ''[[From Russia with Love]]''.
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* The use of the Russian phrase "Smert Shpionam" ("Death to Spies") is a reference to [[SMERSH]], the Russian spy agency James Bond combated in the early [[Ian Fleming]] novels. It was mentioned in only one previous Bond film, ''[[From Russia with Love (film)|From Russia with Love]]''.
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*The Living Daylights is the first Bond film since ''[[Moonraker]]'' to not have its title announced in the end credits of the previous film, nor has any Bond film since had its title announced in the end credits of the previous film.
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* ''The Living Daylights'' is the first Bond film since ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' to not have its title announced in the end credits of the previous film, nor has any Bond film since had its title announced in the end credits of the previous film.
* The cargo plane sequence was originally planned to be ended with Bond and Kara flying over the ocean and being intercepted by two US Navy F-4 Phantoms.
*The cargo plane sequence was originally planned to be ended with Bond and Kara flying over the ocean and being intercepted by two US Navy F-4 Phantoms.
*It was the first film in 14 years to feature [[Felix Leiter]] who had not been seen since ''[[Live and Let Die]]''.
*The actors who portrayed Pushkin and Rubavitch have starred in science fiction television series after the film's release - John Rhys-Davies in ''Sliders'' and Virginia Hey in ''Farscape''. Both actors appeared in 1980s-era blockbuster film franchises (Rhys-Davies in the Indiana Jones series and Hey in Mad Max 2).
*The actors who portrayed Pushkin and Rubavitch have starred in science fiction television series after the film's release - John Rhys-Davies in ''Sliders'' and Virginia Hey in ''Farscape''. Both actors appeared in 1980s-era blockbuster film franchises (Rhys-Davies in the Indiana Jones series and Hey in Mad Max 2).
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*This film is noted for Virginia Hey appearing partially nude in a Bond film outside the opening credits (images of nudity have been used in a majority of the Maurice Binder designed title sequences).
*This film is noted for Virginia Hey appearing partially nude in a Bond film outside the opening credits (images of nudity have been used in a majority of the Maurice Binder designed title sequences).
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*Second time we see [[M]] in his Royal Navy uniform; the first time was in [[You Only Live Twice]] when he wore the Royal Navy whites with the old insignia board.
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*Second time we see [[M]] in his Royal Navy uniform; the first time was in ''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'' when he wore the Royal Navy whites with the old insignia board.
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*This was the last film of the series ever to be rated PG by the MPAA in North America. The fellowing ones beginning with the next movie ''[[Licence to Kill (film)|License to Kill]]'' are rated PG-13.
[[de:Der Hauch des Todes (Film)]] [[es:Alta tensión]] [[fr:Tuer n'est pas jouer (film)]] [[ja:007 リビング・デイライツ]] [[pt-br:007 - Marcado para a morte]] [[ru:Искры из глаз]]
"Stuff my orders! I only kill professionals. That girl didn't know one end of a rifle from the other. Go ahead. Tell M what you want. If he fires me, I'll thank him for it... Whoever she was, I must have scared the Living Daylights out of her."
In the prologue, three skydiving 00 agents are tasked with penetrating radar installations atop the Rock of Gibraltar as part of a Ministry of Defence training exercise. 002 is captured almost immediately upon landing by the SAS, while 007 and 004 start scaling the cliffs. As they ascend, an assassin sends a tag reading Smiert Spionom down 004's climbing rope before cutting it, sending the spy to his death. Bond witnesses the incident and gives chase to the assassin, ending in an explosives-laden Land Rover careening down Gibraltar's narrow roads and then into the air. Bond escapes with his reserve parachute while the assassin is killed when the Land Rover explodes in mid-air.
Rescuing Koskov
The early part of the film has much of the original short story's plot: Bond assists Saunders, head of Section V, in the defection to the West of a devious KGBGeneral Georgi Koskov. Bond's part is to cover Koskov's intermission escape from a concert hall in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. He notices that the sniper protecting Koskov is a beautiful cellist from the orchestra, Kara Milovy. Suspecting she is not an assassin, he shoots the rifle out of her hands, sparing her life, whilst facilitating Koskov's escape from hall.
In England, Bond reaches Blayden safe house, and greets the security operator, a gardener who temporarily removes his gun, and a kind, very posh butler who leads him in.General Koskov informs MI6 that the KGB is being run by power-hungry General Pushkin. According to Koskov, Pushkin has revived the old policy of Smert' Shpionam — literally, Death to Spies (SMERSH), a programme of Western spy assassinations — and as such Pushkin needs to be eliminated. This story is credible given the recent murder of Bond's partner in the Gibraltar training exercise. Shortly afterwards the KGB, in person of the assassin Necros, raids the safe-house where British Intelligence hide Koskov. Before entering, he shows off his American accent skill, he murders a milkman with his headphones, puts on his outfit and makes himself sound like a stereotypical commoner, fooling the security base operator. He enters the kitchen and strangles the chef with his headphones, while the chef’s parrot watches, and tries to avert their eyes. While he dumps the body in the freezer, the butler, who is in fact secret service, walks in and spots this. He radioes in and shouts ‘Green four to base!’ with urgency.He attempts to pull out his gun, which is kicked out of his hand by Necros, and they engage in hand-to-hand combat, green four with the upper hand. Throughout this time, the security operator keeps pouring himself milk and asking why the butler isn’t finishing his sentence. After a long battle, (including green four’s face being grilled, almost being mutilated by a carving knife, and Necros’s hand being burnt) green four is dealt a headbutt during a struggle, followed by a series of kicks, and despite his attempts to regain composure he is knocked unconscious by a frying pan. Necros,pretending to be green four then radioes control, in a very posh voice but not panicked, about fake gas leaks,(and later fake gas explosions, which are really his grenades disguised as milk bottles),leading to an evacuation. However, two guards disguised in gardener outfits rush in with guns at the ready, although not very prepared. Necros sees them and swiftly lobs a grenade disguised as a milk bottle at them, and they collapse, wounded. Necros then deals with an agent who suspects something and is caught up in the evacuation, who aims his gun, while on the stairs. The milk bottle this time however succeeded in killing the agent. He finds Koskov and a stenographer in the room, who surrender to him. Necros tosses off his milkman apron, which the parrot kicks away angrily, and puts on a stethoscope- et voila, he is a doctor. During this time, he throws another milk bottle and steals the tape and burns the secretary’s notes, to get rid of evidence and to help blow the building up. He then proceeds to snatch Koskov and briefly holds a stenographer hostage, whom he lets go, and abducts Koskov in an ambulance disguised KGB helicopter, while security keep chattering about keeping a distance from the building, and not to use radio phones. M and the defence minister are far from pleased.
Czechoslovakia
For his mission to kill Pushkin at a trade conference in Tangier, Morocco, Q supplies Bond with a new Aston Martin and an electric key-finder able to both release stun gas or explode. Bond doubts the Smert' Shpionam theory and begins suspecting that Koskov's defection and recapture were staged. He returns to Bratislava, posing to Kara Milovy as General Koskov's friend and discovers that Kara is in fact Koskov's girlfriend, who is observed by KGB. The pair flee to Vienna, Austria, in the weaponized Aston Martin, pursued by KGB and Czechoslovak Police (Veřejná bezpečnost or VB — Public Security). Bond, however, is forced to destroy the car, whereupon he and Milovy sled down a snow-covered hill in the Kara's cello case.
After the opera in Vienna Bond excuses himself from Milovy to meet Saunders in a café. Saunders has investigated Koskov's story and has discovered a tenuous link between him and a greedy arms dealer, "General" Brad Whitaker. Kara's Stradivarius cello, though bought by Koskov, was funded by him. The military enthusiast is merely a self-styled general, as he has been expelled from West Point for cheating, and has never served as a military officer. Whitaker has arranged to supply the KGB with Western high-technology weapons through Koskov, and the latter is attempting to deliver the down payment in diamonds. As Pushkin is investigating Koskov and cancels the arms deal with Whittaker, the pair wants him dead. Because Necros is known to the KGB, Koskov intends to deal with Pushkin by having the British kill him. Whitaker agrees but wants Necros to ensure that Pushkin is dead if Bond hasn't done so before the end of the conference.
As Saunders leaves the café he is killed by Necros, who detonates a bomb slamming the sliding door of the café onto Saunders. Necros leaves behind a balloon with the words Smert' Shpionam on it, unaware that Bond already suspects the true motives behind the trail of clues lain for him. Bond returns to Milovy, and they immediately leave for Tangier, Morocco.
Tangier
Bond confronts Pushkin, who says the KGB deactivated Smiert Spionam in 1967, and that they had nothing to do with the recent deaths of the British agents. Pushkin also reveals that Koskov is actually guilty of embezzling Soviet government funds. This confirms Bond's suspicions that a third party is behind the plot. Bond and Pushkin decide to let Koskov progress with his scheme by faking Pushkin's assassination as he speaks at the convention, just seconds before Necros, who had also infiltrated the convention, could kill Pushkin. Bond escapes from the police and is picked up by Felix Leiter, who is observing Pushkin in Tangier.
Meanwhile Milovy contacts Whitaker's home and Koskov convinces her that Bond is a KGB Agent looking to kill him. She assists in capturing Bond for him, grasping too late that Koskov has fooled her and had intended her being killed in his defection. After being captured by Koskov, Bond and Milovy are flown to a Soviet air base in Afghanistan, at the height of Soviet occupation.
Afghanistan
Imprisoned on arrival, they escape, helped by Bond's key-finder, and free a prisoner to be hanged the next day. The prisoner is Kamran Shah, leader of the local Mujahideen. Bond discovers that Whitaker and Koskov are paying diamonds for a large shipment of opium, which would turn a profit within days of distribution in the streets of the US, and so continue supplying the Soviets with arms.
The Mujahideen help Bond and Milovy infiltrate the air base. Bond plants a bomb in the back of the cargo airplane transporting the drugs, but Koskov recognises him. Bond hijacks the airplane, while the Mujahideen attack the airbase. Milovy, at the last minute, joins Bond in the airplane take off and assumes the controls while Bond leaves to defuse his bomb. Necros, however, has stowed away on board, and attacks Bond. Milovy accidentally opens the cargo door, and Bond and Necros are sucked out, on the cargo net holding the opium; Necros and Bond fight. Necros is left hanging from Bond's boot. Bond cuts his bootlaces, dropping Necros to his death.
Bond manages to find the bomb amidst a slew of bags and defuses it with just two seconds left on the fuse. Milovy flies over Kamran Shah's Mujahideen, who are being pursued by Soviet soldiers across a bridge. Bond reactivates the bomb and drops it onto the bridge, killing the Soviets, helping the Mujahideen win their battle. However, soon after their gunfire-punctured fuel tanks deplete, and as there is no place to land Bond and Milovy use the release chute on the jeep to extract themselves as the airplane crashes in Pakistani territory.
Showdown
With Leiter's help Bond infiltrates Whitaker's residence, and pops in as "General" Whitaker is playing a battle in his terms. When Bond tells him that the opium is burned, Whitaker is determined to kill him. He takes out a heavy assault rifle with a shield. When Bond uses up all of his bullets, Whitaker makes a glib remark: "Well, you've had your 8, now I'll have my 80!", taunting Bond with remarks about new technology with weapons while hunting him through his amory.
Bond's key-finder saves him again, when he uses the plastic explosive to topple a bust of Wellington onto Whitaker, killing him. The KGB save Bond's life when agents, led by General Pushkin, burst in and kill the Whitaker guard who had cornered Bond. General Koskov is found by KGB agents, and, while not killed, he is to be flown back to Moscow "in the diplomatic bag", by Pushkin's order.
In London, Milovy performs with an orchestra with M, now-diplomat General Gogol and General Pushkin attending. M reveals that Gogol has persuaded the Soviet government to allow her to perform in both the Soviet Union and in Great Britain. Kamran Shah and his men arrive but miss most of the performance. Milovy introduces Shah and his men to Gogol and the Russians before retiring to her dressing room. Bond then surprises her there and the two share a kiss.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante — Equipped with the usual weapons, including side skis, spiked tires, missiles, lasers, rocket propulsion, a self-destruct device and a modified radio to tune in to police/military bands.
Keychain — Bond's keychain, designed by Q-Branch, also is an explosive triggered by a wolf whistle. It also could deploy stun gas (when the user whistles "Rule Britannia"), and contains lockpicks capable of opening 90% of the world's locks.
Ghetto Blaster — Never used by James Bond; it is seen tested in Q-Branch for American allies. The ghetto blaster is an '80s–style rocket-firing, stereophonic, cassette tapedeck.
Scouring Pig — Used to initially to clean and check the natural gas pipeline from USSR to West Europe. It's converted here specially to smuggle a man out of the Eastern bloc, with Koskov being the first.
Harrier — This V/STOL aircraft evacuates Koskov after his defection to the west.
Timothy Dalton had originally been considered for the role of James Bond as a replacement for Sean Connery, but had ruled himself out as being too young. He had been considered again when Roger Moore decided to leave the role prior to For Your Eyes Only, and was apparently all but signed to portray the character when Moore changed his mind at the last moment.
Actor Sam Neill in his screen-test for the role of James Bond.
Both Sam Neill and Pierce Brosnan were screen-tested for the role of James Bond in The Living Daylights. Brosnan was successfully signed for the role, but his contract to the television programme Remington Steele forced him to withdraw; he would wait seven years for his second chance, in GoldenEye. Maryam d'Abo, however, earned her Kara Milovy role with her screen test with Brosnan; she was not in the running for a role in the film, but had been hired to act opposite the 007 contenders; impressed, the producers gave her the part.
The Living Daylights marks the first time a headbutt is used in a James Bond movie, as well as the first use of a variation of the word "fuck" on-screen (by Timothy Dalton, although he is not audible at the time).
Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson wrote a first draft of a script portraying James Bond's first field mission; Cubby Broccoli rejected the idea.
Originally, the KGB general set up by Koskov was to be General Gogol, however, actor Walter Gotell was ill, unable to handle the major role; the character of Leonid Pushkin replaced Gogol, who appears briefly at the end of the film, having transferred to the Soviet diplomatic service. This is Gogol's final appearance in a James Bond film (Gotell died in 1997). The similarity between Pushkin and Gogol is emphasized by the fact that Pushkin is seen accompanied by a beautiful blonde, much as Gogol was in his early appearances.
This is the final James Bond film to be scored by John Barry.
a-ha's lead vocalist, Morten Harket was offered a small role as a villain's henchman in The Living Daylights, but declined, because of lack of time and the reasoning that they wanted to cast him just because of his popularity, not his acting. Instead, a-ha sang the title song for The Living Daylights.
In a cameo role, series composer John Barry conducts the orchestra in Vienna at the end of the film. Producer Michael G. Wilson also continues his string of Bond film cameo appearances; he can be seen as a member of the opera house audience.
The use of the Russian phrase "Smert Shpionam" ("Death to Spies") is a reference to SMERSH, the Russian spy agency James Bond combated in the early Ian Fleming novels. It was mentioned in only one previous Bond film, From Russia with Love.
The Living Daylights is the first Bond film since Moonraker to not have its title announced in the end credits of the previous film, nor has any Bond film since had its title announced in the end credits of the previous film.
A scene with Bond flying on a magic carpet was cut from the final film.
The cargo plane sequence was originally planned to be ended with Bond and Kara flying over the ocean and being intercepted by two US Navy F-4 Phantoms.
The actors who portrayed Pushkin and Rubavitch have starred in science fiction television series after the film's release - John Rhys-Davies in Sliders and Virginia Hey in Farscape. Both actors appeared in 1980s-era blockbuster film franchises (Rhys-Davies in the Indiana Jones series and Hey in Mad Max 2).
This film is noted for Virginia Hey appearing partially nude in a Bond film outside the opening credits (images of nudity have been used in a majority of the Maurice Binder designed title sequences).
Second time we see M in his Royal Navy uniform; the first time was in You Only Live Twice when he wore the Royal Navy whites with the old insignia board.
This was the last film of the series ever to be rated PG by the MPAA in North America. The fellowing ones beginning with the next movie License to Kill are rated PG-13.
