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MI6 tracks the legacy of The Living Daylights,
from Ian Fleming's story, to the comic strip adaptation,
feature film and computer game...
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The Living Daylights - The Legacy
Summary
In 1966 the last of Ian Fleming's 007 adventures was
released. This was part of the short story anthology,
Octopussy And The
Living
Daylights, which was published posthumously. That same year
the third season of James Bond daily comic strips was
syndicated, and between September and
November
of ‘66
a strip version of the story by writer Jim Lawrence and
artist Yaroslav Horak appeared in the UK’s Daily
Express. |
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Timothy Dalton exploded onto the silver screen in the 1987 cinematic
version of The Living Daylights. Richard Maibaum and Michael
G. Wilson drafted a thrilling script using the Ian Fleming plot
as a solid base. The same year Domark published its second interactive
Bond computer game, The Living Daylights. Its basic structure
but solid plot made this game an improvement on their last attempt,
but it still failed to ‘wow’ Bond fans and gamers
alike.
The Short Story
The final Ian Fleming Bond title Octopussy And The Living Daylights was first
published by Jonathan Cape on 23rd June 1966. Originally it was just the
two titular stories until the volume was later re-released in paperback and
Property Of A Lady was added to the mix. The 2002 print now features an further
extra adventure, 007 In New York.
 "Octopussy
And The Living Daylights" Literary Coverage
Bond is sent to Berlin to shoot a sniper
trying to kill a double agent coming to the West. On the
third of the three
possible nights, the agent comes, but 007 sees that the
sniper is a beautiful Russian cellist whom he had his
eyes
on. At the last minute, he shoots her gun instead of her
head, to the berating of the vexing local agent. Bond is
satisfied to have ‘scared the living daylights’ out
of her. The double-agent made it safely.
"Ian Fleming traces the intricacies of counter-espionage
with all the efficient authority of 007's own secret reports."
- Sunday Times
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Above:
1st edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK). Artwork by Richard Chopping. |
"M looked coldly across the desk.
It was going to be dirty work and Bond, because he belonged
to the Double O section, had been chosen for it. ‘You’ve
got to kill this sniper. And you’ve got to kill him
before he gets Agent 272. Is that understood?’
So, it was to be murder..."
The Comic Strip
By 1966, the Bond comic strips were beginning their third series,
and veteran artist, John McLusky was no longer involved.
Instead
Yaroslav Horak drew The Living Daylights and Jim Lawrence adapted
Fleming’s story for comic strip.
"The Living Daylights" finds
a melancholy Bond facing another sharpshooter - a KGB sniper.
Set across the jagged scar of the Berlin Wall, Bond's finger
is on the trigger... and into his sights walks a beautiful
blonde musician! Possibly the most faithful adaptation
of all the Daily Express comic strips, and what little
is added, is added in a true Fleming feel. |
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"The
Living Daylights" Comic Strip Coverage
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Sender: "Sorry 007 - no drinking!
Must keep your reflexes sharp if you're to get that Russian
sniper, eh?"
Bond: "Stow it, chum! If you want me sacked from
Double-O go right ahead! They can shift me to a nice paper-shuffling
job!"
Above: The opening panel of "The
Living Daylights" |
The Film
On 29th June 1987, Timothy Dalton made his Bond
debut in The Living Daylights. Written by Richard Maibaum
and Michael G. Wilson and directed by John Glen, The
Living
Daylights adopts the Fleming plot and continues to weave
a Fleming-esque story from there.
The principal cast
is star
studded this time, including: Maryam d'Abo, Joe Don Baker,
Jeroen Krabbé, Art Malik and John Rhys-Davies.
"The Living Daylights" Film
Coverage
James Bond must prevent renegade KGB General
Koskov and his ally, arms dealer Brad Whitaker, from enriching
themselves
through a complicated scheme to cause all-out war between
Soviet and British intelligence agencies.
Frederick Warder and Glyn Baker were cast as the two murdered
agents in the opening sequence because they closely resembled
Roger Moore and George Lazenby. The producers wanted to
play with the expectations of their audience as to who the
new Bond was.
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Above: Ultimate Edition DVD cover art
The Living Daylights - Ultimate Edition
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| Whitaker: "That's too
bad, Bond. You could've been a live rich man, instead
of a poor
dead one." |
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Released: UK: 29th June 1987
(PG) USA: 31st July 1987 (PG)
Running Time: 125 minutes
Worldwide Box Office: $191.2m
Preceded by: A View To A Kill
Followed by: Licence To Kill |
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Above: Timothy Dalton in The Living
Daylights |
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Music
John Barry is back again (but for the last time) and A-Ha
performs the title song, which makes it to number
5 on the
UK charts. Aside from the title song, John Barry composed
two memorable pieces, which are performed by The Pretenders
and make appearances throughout the film. If There Was
A Man features in the closing credits while Where
Has Everybody
Gone plays on Necros’ walkman. The Living Daylights
was the first film to have a different song to the main
theme on the end titles.
"The Living Daylights"
Music Coverage
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The Game
In September 1987, Domark produced their second Bond movie tie-in
game. Originally planned for a June release to coincide with
the
movie
premiere, unforeseen circumstances meant that its eventual release
was pushed back until September.
"The
Living Daylights" Game Coverage
As James Bond you must shoot your way through
all eight levels before you at last come face to face with
the evil arms dealer - Brad Whittaker. General Koskov, the
Russian KGB double dealing agent helps Bond through his
adventure - watch him closely - he may be treacherous! Once
Whittaker's forces are destroyed, your mission is accomplished
and the beautiful Kara is yours!
The Living Daylights is an improvement in Domark's lineage
of movie tie-in games in the sense of robust and reliable
gameplay, however it comes at the expense of interesting
action and originality with the sideway scrolling format.
With "Daylights", Domark went back-to-basics with
simple linear gameplay to deliver a solid title, but it
will leave you neither shaken nor stirred.
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Above: Game box art |
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