A View to a Kill (1985)

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007: “Vodka, rather shaken...”

Overview: Millionaire industrialist Max Zorin plans to destroy California’s Silicon Valley in order to make his own stock of computer microchips infinitely more valuable. James Bond deletes his scheme in this remake of Goldfinger. Roger Moore has an impressive six drinks in this outing, and proves that real men do eat quiche.

What does Bond drink?

• In the mini-sub disguised as an iceberg, Bond reveals the items he has procured in Siberia, “Best Beluga, vodka, rather shaken, and one microchip.” (The vodka is a bottle of Stolichnaya.) He says to Kimberley Jones “We could do with a couple of glasses,” and she replies “They’re in the overhead rack.”
• As we join Bond and Achille Aubergine in Restaurant Jules Verne on the second level of the Eiffel Tower, they appear to be having a little contest. Bond takes a sip from a flute of champagne and correctly identifies it as “Bollinger ’75.” Aubergine remarks, “I see you are a conniseur, Mr. Bond.” As the waiter pours more champagne for 007, Aubergine orders “Lafite Rothschild cinquante-neuf” (’59). Bond adds “Another excellent choice.” Aubergine says, “I’m pleased you approve, since you are paying the bill. Cheers!” Bond replies, “Santé, Monsieur Aubergine.”
• At Zorin’s party, Bond holds a flute of champagne as he takes photos of the guests with a camera in his ring. Later, he brings a bottle of champagne and two glasses when he introduces himself to Stacey Sutton. After he fills the flutes, he places the bottle on a passing waiter’s tray. When May Day escorts Stacey away, she hands her glass to Bond. After she leaves, he takes a drink.
• Bond and Stacey share two bottles of red wine over dinner in her house. Towards the end of the meal, 007 refills both of their glasses, and we see them both drink.
• During the final scene, as Bond and Stacey shower together, two glasses of bubbly and a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket can briefly be seen to the left of the shower.

It’s not just for happy hour anymore: When Zorin traps Bond and Stacey in the elevator in San Francisco’s City Hall, he throws two Molotov cocktails, one in a one-liter Bacardi rum bottle, the other in a Perrier bottle.

Other people’s drinks:

• When Bond pulls the driver out of his taxi cab during the chase with May Day, it appears the cabbie has a plastic glass of red wine.
• The champagne flows at Zorin’s party. Bottles and individual flutes are seen a number of times, as well as a rack holding several decanters of liquor or wine. At one point, Zorin hands a glass of champagne to a female guest.
• When the Taiwanese tycoon tells Zorin he wants no part of Mainstrike, Zorin tells him to wait outside, and says “May Day will provide you with a drink.” Except it’s not the beverage he expects, as he is dropped out of Zorin’s blimp into San Francisco Bay.
• As Bond carries Stacey down the fire engine ladder at City Hall, the scene intercuts reaction shots of a wino holding a bottle. As he first watches the action, he takes a drink from the wine. At one point, when Bond slips, the wino drops the bottle on the ground, and it shatters.
• At the end of the film, General Gogol and Minister Gray drink snifters of cognac in M’s office.

Product placement: Numerous brand names are flogged during the film, from the Sharper Image to Whiskas cat food. Bollinger Champagne gets a mention early on, and an acknowledgement during the closing credits. The plug during the final credits is a tradition that has continued through five subsequent films to this day.

By the book: Based on “From a View to a Kill” (1960).

Total: Six. Four glasses of Bollinger, at least one glass of red wine, and at least one straight vodka.