Octopuses (Octopussy) is a 1983 British-American spy action thriller film directed by John Glenn from a screenplay by George Macdonald Fraser, Richard Maibaum, and Michael J. Wilson. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 7 June 1983.
„Octopuses“" was released in the year when moviegoers witnessed the "battle of the two Bonds" — this film with Roger Moore competed with "„Never say never.“(1983), in which Sean Connery returned to independent production.
To outdo the competition, producer Albert Broccoli decided to make a film that combined everything audiences loved: exotic locations, dangerous women, subtle humor, spy intrigue, and spectacular stunts. The result is a more humorous but visually stunning film that demonstrates that Roger Moore still masters the role with ease and style.
After the murder of a British agent in East Berlin, MI6 comes across a Fabergé egg that turns out to be a fake. James Bond (Roger Moore) is sent to track down the smuggled antiques dealer—and so he ends up in India, where he discovers the trail of the influential Afghan prince Kamal Khan (Louis Jordan) and the mysterious Octopussy (Maud Adams) — a woman who runs her own organization of smugglers and mercenaries.
Bond realizes that behind the smuggling lies a much larger plan: Soviet General Orlov (Steven Berkoff) intends to detonate a nuclear bomb in West Germany and provoke NATO to disarm. With the help of Octopussy and her all-female army, Bond must stop a plot that could lead to World War III.
The film is lush and colorful, shot in India, Germany, and the UK. The tuk-tuk rickshaw chase in Udaipur is comical but spectacular. The airplane stunt at the end is one of the most memorable scenes in the franchise. The escape from the circus train and the moment when Bond disguises himself as a clown to save the day are both tense and symbolic.
John Barry's music is softer, more exotic and sensual. The song "„All Time High“" performed by Rita Coolidge is one of the most romantic in the series.
„Octopuses“" shows Bond as a man of diplomacy, not just of arms. The film combines entertainment, adventure and political subtext without losing its charm. In an era of tension between East and West, Bond remains a mediator between chaos and order - always with a smile, a suit and a laser watch.
The film grossed over $1.4 billion, a significant success that surpassed its rival,„Never say never.„". Critics praised it as "funny but not that serious", although fans loved it for its exoticism and style. It marked the peak of Roger Moore's popularity and solidified the Bond formula as a mixture of action, romance and light humor.
„Octopuses“" is a colorful, adventurous and elegant chapter in the Bond saga. It is not the deepest, but it is among the most entertaining films of the 80s - with daring stunts, strong women and the typical British charm of Roger Moore. A real explosion of style, humor and exoticism.
