JAMES BOND FACT FILES

Following the acquisition of United Artists in 1981 by the Tracinda Group (who also owned Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), the merged studios became known as the MGM/UA Entertainment Company. Octopussy (1983) was subsequently distributed in the UK by United International Pictures. The Exhibitors’ Campaign Book for Octopussy was produced by UIP (who distributed MGM, Paramount, United Artists and Universal motion pictures in the UK) and still listed the promotions and licenced products related to the film, which were now overseen by Promotions Manager Sarah Harman from the former United Artists offices at 37-41 Mortimer Street in central London. The Campaign Book also included a 13-page editorial with detailed biographies of the cast and crew of Octopussy, and historical background relating to the James Bond series which was celebrating its 21st Anniversary in 1983.

Although featured in Octopussy (1983), the Montblanc fountain pen given to James Bond (Roger Moore) by gadget master Q (Desmond Llewelyn), was not marketed as a retail product. However, the the Swiss company did produce colour posters (23½" X 33½") [which unfortunately flipped the colour still of Llewelyn, Moore and Vijay Amritraj] to promote their connection with Octopussy for display in stores. The Campaign Book did show the availability of a still with an image from the scene correctly reproduced.

Although only briefly glimpsed in a scene between Kamal Khan (Louis Jourdan) and Gobinda (Kabir Bedi) at the Monsoon Palace, the game of Taliesin was marketed as a tie in with Octopussy (1983) and available in three different versions in the UK.

Smiths Foods Ltd. ran an “on-pack” promotion on nearly two million bags of crisps and snack products from June 1st to September 30th, 1983. Smiths customers were offered the official James Bond watch [pictured below] for only £6.99 (RRP £19.99) plus four proofs of purchase. A further 15 million multipack bags ran a consumer competition, offering Enterprise Family Holidays, Video Cassettes and Soundtrack Albums. The competition required customers to identify the principal location for each of four Bond films named on the pack. Other competitions were also run in conjunction with supermarkets, Cash and Carry outlets and selected newsagents offering different prizes.

Zeon released a second version of the “Official James Bond 007 Quartz Watch” to tie in with Octopussy (1983). The packaging repurposed the same artwork seen on the For Your Eyes Only edition from 1981 and added an illustration of Roger Moore as James Bond from Moonraker (1979). The watch itself was now finished in black with a plastic strap and gold lettering on the face.

CORGI's final original James Bond toys were issued in the summer of 1983 to tie-in with the release of Octopussy. The toys were only ever available in the Gift Set E3019 and no larger scale versions were originally produced. The Acrostar mini-jet has folding wings to fit inside the horsebox, but the workmanship on this model is particularly crude when compared with CORGI's other smaller scale toys. By 1983 Mettoy (and their competitors) were finding it hard to stay afloat as video games took a hold on the market. In an attempt to keep its products contemporary, Mettoy even began production of their own Dragon computer, which was aimed at younger users. The expense of this project eventually proved a drain on the company's resources, and profits were seriously diminished. In October 1983, CORGI Toys were forced to call in the Official Receiver, just three years after the demise of competitors Dinky Toys, and one year after Lesney (who owned the Matchbox brand).

Also aimed at a younger audience was the “James Bond Spin Saw” from Wembley Games. Modelled on the deadly ‘Yo-Yo’ saw featured in the film, this somewhat politically incorrect toy was made of plastic with a saw blade effect, and labelled as “totally safe”!

A major promotion with Nabisco appeared on eight million packs of Shredded Wheat in the UK throughout the summer of 1983. Eight stickers with illustrations of scenes from Octopussy were to be collected, and four different illustrations featured on the back of packs of Shredded Wheat.

A secret agent code book and badge could also be obtained by sending 20p and three tokens cut-out from the biscuit packs. The promotion featured in advertising in various children's comics during the campaign with most printing their own free 007 token. The EAGLE comic [pictured above] also ran a competition to win a Rank Cinemas pass for two valid for one year, Zeon watches, Octopussy T- Shirts [also listed in the Exhibitors’ Campaign Book, but not illustrated] and 100 runner up prizes of the Shredded Wheat Secret Agent Badge [pictured below] and code-card kits.

Other children's comics such as Tiger [pictured above bottom right] also alerted readers to the Shredded Wheat promotion, and included a free cut-out token

To tie in with the appearance of professional tennis player Vijay Amritraj in Octopussy (1983), Belgian sports equipment brand Donnay produced a promotional colour poster (20" X 28" approx) featuring scenes from the film. Once again, the item was not illustrated in the Exhibitors’ Campaign Book as this was one of many deals made but final details were not available at the time UIP went to press. A Donnay tennis racket is used by Vijay Amritraj as the Universal Exports’ Special Expediter to fend off attackers during the Tuk-Tuk chase in Octopussy (1983), and featured prominently in publicity stills of the Indian tennis player turned actor.

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