Producer: Albert Broccoli
Director: John Glen
Scriptwriter: Richard Maibaum
Score: Michael Kamen
Title Song: Gladys Knight
Locations: Florida, Mexico

     Licence to Kill was produced by Eon Productions in 1989. This was to be Dalton's last outing as Bond after only two movies. Dalton got a real chance to use his hard edged, gritty style for Bond in this movie, since the plot is tailored around revenge. Bond's long time friend and C.I.A. contact, Felix Leiter, is attacked by thugs of Sanchez on his wedding day. His wife is killed, and he is left partially eaten by a shark. Bond wants to get revenge, but MI6 wants to leave the problem to the Americans. When Bond threatens to go after Sanchez anyway, his licence to kill is revoked. Bond is shot at by his own fellow agents, but escapes with his gun. He goes on to hunt down Sanchez, even if it means causing problems for Hong Kong narcotics, who want to bust Sanchez.
A NOTE ON THE THEME SONG: Michael Kamen's score to Licence to Kill puts a fresh twist on the James Bond theme and provides a requisite Latin flavor. Gladys Knight performed the title track which made its way to #6 on UK charts.
MY GRADE: A+  Dalton's second performance is just as great as his first. In fact, he brings even more force and toughness to the role. I really like the plot, which allows us to see Bond as a rouge agent. Bond finds himself on the wrong side of the law, but still manages to save the day, and get revenge.
BEST MOMENT: When Bond asks Sanchez "Don't you want to know why, and holds up the lighter to light him on fire, that was Bond at the toughest, grittiest he's ever been in the movies.
ALSO NOTICEABLE: *This is Q's largest role in any of the Bond movies. It was great seeing him out in the field. Even Bond has to admit, "[Q], you're a hell of a field operative."
DID YOU KNOW: *A shark interfered with the underwater truck escape scene during the first take.
*Albert Broccoli became ill while shooting was going on in Mexico City, and had to leave for the rest of the film's shooting.
*An actual rocket was shot out of the stinger missile. It did not have an explosive payload, but it did travel like a rocket. When the rocket was shot, it traveled for two miles and hit a telephone repairman. He was only slightly injured.
*The road on which the tanker chase scene occurred was though to be haunted, since a legend said that a bus of five nuns crashed on it.
*The original working title of this movie was "Licence Revoked".