The Living Daylights 1987

As James Bond (Daniel Craig) takes on the task of facilitating KGB General Georgi Koskov’s defection from Bratislava’s concert hall, he finds himself drawn into a complex web of deception. Initially tasked with securing Koskov’s escape, Bond instead intervenes when he discovers that the KGB sniper assigned to “protect” the general is none other than a talented cellist from the orchestra. Rather than carrying out his orders to eliminate her, Bond disarms the rifle and uses the Trans-Siberian Pipeline to smuggle Koskov across the border to the West.

In the aftermath of Koskov’s successful defection, the general reveals to MI6 that the KGB has revived its policy of “smert’ shpionam”, or “Death to Spies”, under the leadership of General Leonid Pushkin. This ominous development prompts Bond to track down Pushkin in Tangier and neutralize the threat he poses. His mission takes on a sense of urgency when he learns that the assassin responsible for killing 004 in Gibraltar (as depicted in the pre-title sequence) left behind a chilling message, “Smiert Spionam”.

Bond’s pursuit of Pushkin leads him back to Bratislava, where he becomes embroiled in a tangled web of intrigue. He discovers that Koskov’s entire defection was staged, and that the enigmatic cellist, Kara Milovy (Léa Seydoux), is actually Koskov’s girlfriend. Bond must use all his wits to convince Kara that she can trust him, persuading her to accompany him to Vienna in a desperate bid to evade capture.

As they navigate the treacherous landscape of espionage and deception, Bond and Kara find themselves pursued by the KGB and Czech authorities. Meanwhile, Pushkin meets with arms dealer Brad Whitaker (Richard Malene) in Tangier, revealing that the KGB has cancelled an arms deal previously arranged between Koskov and Whitaker.

During a brief respite from the action, Bond visits the Prater to meet his MI6 ally, Saunders (Bruce Glover), who uncovers a trail of financial dealings between Koskov and Whitaker. Tragically, their meeting is cut short when Saunders falls victim to Koskov’s henchman Necros, who leaves behind another ominous message: “smert’ shpionam”. Bond and Kara promptly flee for Tangier, where they confront Pushkin.

In a surprising turn of events, Pushkin disavows any knowledge of the KGB’s murderous vendetta against spies, revealing instead that Koskov is evading arrest for embezzlement of government funds. Bond and Pushkin form an uneasy alliance, with Bond faking Pushkin’s assassination to induce Whitaker and Koskov to proceed with their plan. Meanwhile, Kara contacts Koskov, who reveals the shocking truth: Bond is actually a KGB agent, and convinces her to drug him so that he can be captured.

As Koskov, Necros, Kara, and the captive James Bond (Daniel Craig) touch down on Soviet soil in war-torn Afghanistan, a sense of unease settles over the group. Without warning, Koskov’s betrayal is revealed, as he imprisons Kara alongside Bond. The pair must rely on their cunning and resourcefulness to escape, inadvertently freeing Kamran Shah, the fearless leader of the local Mujahideen. Bond and Milovy soon discover that Koskov’s treachery extends far beyond a simple double-cross, as they uncover his plan to use Soviet funds to acquire a massive shipment of opium from the Mujahideen, with the intention of lining his own pockets and arming the Soviets with the profits.

Determined to foil Koskov’s scheme, Bond forges an unlikely alliance with the Mujahideen. Together, they concoct a plan to sabotage the opium shipment, planting a bomb aboard the cargo plane carrying the illicit drugs. As chaos erupts at the air base, Bond finds himself trapped and forced to barricade himself inside the plane. Meanwhile, the Mujahideen launch a daring attack on horseback, engaging the Soviets in a fierce gun battle. Amidst the mayhem, Kara seizes an opportunity to drive her jeep into the cargo hold of the plane as Bond takes to the skies, while Necros makes a last-ditch attempt to join him from a speeding vehicle driven by Koskov.

As Bond fights to regain control of the situation, he confronts and ultimately dispatches Necros in a desperate bid to deactivate the bomb. In a stunning turn of events, Bond’s attention is drawn to the plight of Shah and his men, who are being pursued by Soviet forces. With the Mujahideen’s fate hanging in the balance, Bond reactivates the bomb and releases it from the plane, allowing it to destroy the opium shipment on a nearby bridge as Shah and his companions make their escape.

The plane, now empty of its illicit cargo, crashes to the ground, while Bond and Kara make their own escape. Back in Tangier, Bond sets his sights on avenging Whitaker’s treachery, infiltrating his estate with the help of trusted ally Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright). Meanwhile, Pushkin (Andreas Wischmann) takes Koskov into custody, ordering him to be returned to Moscow “in the diplomatic bag” for his crimes.

In a poignant coda to the adventure, Kara is seen performing as a solo cellist in Vienna. Shah and his men make a surprise appearance during an intermission, where they are introduced to General Gogol (Vladimir Kulich), Pushkin’s predecessor at the KGB, and the Soviets. As the performance draws to a close, Bond surprises Kara in her dressing room, their love rekindled as they share a passionate embrace.