Timothy Dalton plays James Bond for the first time, leaving behind the high camp of the Roger Moore years for a relatively straight reading of the famous secret agent. The action this time sees Bond running around various exotic spots (Gibraltar, Afghanistan) in pursuit of a couple of seedy dealers in arms, drugs and diamonds. There is as much action and gadgetry as ever, but a slightly less tongue-in-cheek script keeps 007's romantic liaisons down to a minimum. Caroline Bliss makes her debut as Miss Moneypenny.

The second and final of Timothy Dalton's outings as James Bond sees 007 leave Her Majesty's Secret Sevice and branch out on his own. The trouble begins when drug baron Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi) makes an unexpected appearance at the wedding of Felix Leiter (David Hedison), Bond's good friend, leaving the groom maimed and the bride dead. Bond has no choice but to seek his revenge and, with a little help from the obligatory 'Bond girl' (Carey Lowell) and the ever-present Q (Desmond Llewellyn), sets out after the villainous Sanchez. Causing a storm on its release because of its violence and dark plot, the film was originally given an 18 certificate before studio cuts.