What’s Worth Watching: The Spy Who Loved Me: License to Thrill

Rob Moynihan March 28, 2015, 3:00 am

Roger Moore with costar Barbara Bach on the set of the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me — Courtesy of Everett

Roger Moore with costar Barbara Bach on the set of the 1977 James Bond film *The Spy Who Loved Me*. Moore passed away Tuesday after a short fight with cancer.

The Spy Who Loved Me (Saturday, March 28, 8/7c, Encore)

Bond, James Bond. It’s a name that’s captured the imaginations of moviegoers worldwide for over 50 years. And with 23 films to choose from, it’s hard to narrow down an absolute favorite Bond film. Tonight, Encore presents what is arguably the best Bond of the Roger Moore era, 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me. When British and Soviet submarines go missing, Bond is on the case, traveling through Austria (complete with the iconic Union Jack parachute stunt), Egypt, and Sardinia. Spy also marked the first appearance for iconic villain Jaws, played by the late Richard Kiel, who used his metallic teeth to take down his opponents. And Bond’s car is particularly unforgettable: a Lotus Esprit that effortlessly converts into a submarine when driven into the ocean. Ridiculous? Yes. Entertaining? Without a doubt. The Spy Who Loved Me is a standout chapter in a timeless catalog of films that leaves viewers both shaken and stirred.