45th Anniversary of For Your Eyes Only starring Roger Moore as Ian Fleming's 007

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2026-06-24

For Your Eyes Only, film, 45th Anniversary, jubileum

On this day in James Bond history, 45 years ago, the film For Your Eyes Only premiered at cinemas. The film was first released in the UK on 26th June 1979, in USA on the 29th, and in Sweden on 18th August.)

James Bond infiltrates the Greek underworld to secure a system capable of controlling a fleet of nuclear submarines. From the depths of the ocean to mountain peaks, Bond will fight to the death to keep the device out of the hands of the Russians in this taut, fast-paced thriller, the 12th in the iconic Bond series.

Official theatrical trailer for For Your Eyes Only:

Production notes about For Your Eyes Only

(Source: MGM / Eon Productions)

• August 1980: Long-time Bond film editor John Glen confirmed to direct his first 007 adventure.
• 15 September 1980: Principal photography began with a five-week shoot on Corfu, Greece
• Late 1980: The crew moves to the Greek mainland to film at the Meteora monasteries, followed by a three-week shoot in the ski resort town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
• 5 January 1981: The crew shot scenes in Italy featuring Bond in the Lotus Esprit Turbo
• January to February 1981: Interior and water tank sequences were shot at Pinewood Studios in the UK. Concurrent underwater photography is also completed in the Bahamas.
• February 1981: Principal photography officially wraps.
• May 1981: Bill Conti records the final musical score in Wembley, London.
• 24 June 1981: The film holds its world premiere in London before being rolled out in UK and US theaters.

A selection of filming locations for For Your Eyes Only:

• Achillion, Corfu, Greece (Casino Scene)
• Bahamas (underwater scenes)
• Bouas-Danilia Village, Corfu, Greece (Greek Wedding scene)
• Cortina d’Ampezzo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy
• Meteora, central Greece (for the beautiful but isolated Monastery of the Holy Trinity)
• Pinewood Studios, London, England (including monastery interiors, MI6 HQ sequences, etc)
• Stoke Poges church graveyard, near Slough, England

Vehicles used during the filming of For Your Eyes Only:

(Source: BMT 216A: The James Bond Vehicle Library)

• Beach Buggy
• Bell 206 Jet Ranger
• Citroên 2CV
• Colombos Yacht
• Lotus Esprit Turbo 2.2
• Mercedes-Benz
• Peugeot 504
• PZL Mi-2
• Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
• Submarine 'Neptune'
• Yacht Triana
• Yamaha XJ500

Over the years, FSWL has been fortunate to meet some of the cast and crew from For Your Eyes Only:

>Alan Hume (director of photography)
>Alison Papworth (actress)
>Alkis Kritikos (actor)
>Anthony Waye (first assistant director)
>Arthur Wooster (2nd unit director)
>Chris Corbould (special effects technician)
>Colin Miller (dubbing editor)
>Debbie McWilliams (casting director)
>Desmond Llewelyn (actor)
>Eva Rueber Staier (actress)
>Geoffrey Keen (actor)
>Jeremy Bulloch (actor)
>John Glen (director)
>John Moreno (actor)
>John Grover (editor)
>John Wyman (actor)
>Julian Glover (actor)
>Keith Hamshere (stills photographer)
>Kim Mills (actress)
>Lizzie Warville (actress)
>Lois Maxwell (actress)
>Lynn-Holly Johnson (actress)
>Martin Grace (stuntman)
>Michael G. Wilson (Executive producer)
>Monty Norman (Composer of 'The James Bond theme')
>Nosher Powell (stuntman)
>Paul Weston (stuntman)
>Peter Lamont (production desginer)
>Richard Graydon (stuntman)
>Richard Maibaum (screenwriter)
>Rick Sylvester (climber)
>Rocky Taylor (stuntman)
>Roger Moore (actor)

Photo on top:
The original Swedish film poster for For Your Eyes Only (1981) from the FSWL collection.

Read more about the film For Your Eyes Only on MGM's official website.

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#on_the_tracks_of_007