Editing Licence to Kill (section)

==Production==
Shortly after ''[[The Living Daylights]]'' was released, producer [[Albert R. Broccoli]] and writers [[Michael G. Wilson]] and Richard Maibaum started discussing the sequel. The film would retain a realistic style, as well as showing the "darker edge" of the Bond character. For the primary location, the producers wanted a place where the series had not yet visited.<ref name=documentary/> [[China]] was visited after an invitation by the government, but the idea fell through partly because the 1987 film ''[[The Last Emperor]]'' had removed some of the novelty of filming in China.{{sfn|Barnes|Hearn|2001|p=176}} By this stage the writers had already talked about a chase sequence along the [[Great Wall of China|Great Wall]], as well as a fight scene amongst the [[Terracotta Army]].{{sfn|Cork|Stutz|2007|p=300}} Wilson also wrote two plot outlines about a drug lord in the [[Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia)|Golden Triangle]] before the plans fell through because of Broccoli's concerns that the [[Government of China|Chinese government]] would [[Censorship in China|censor]] the script.{{sfn|Cork|Stutz|2007|p=300}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Field|first=Matthew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/930556527|title=Some kind of hero : 007 : the remarkable story of the James Bond films|date=2015|others=Ajay Chowdhury|isbn=978-0-7509-6421-0|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire|oclc=930556527|access-date=8 September 2021|archive-date=28 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128234516/https://www.worldcat.org/title/some-kind-of-hero-007-the-remarkable-story-of-the-james-bond-films/oclc/930556527|url-status=live}}</ref> The writers eventually decided on a setting in a tropical country while Broccoli negotiated to film in Mexico,<ref name=documentary/> at the [[Estudios Churubusco]] in Mexico City.{{sfn|Cork|Stutz|2007|p=300}} In 1985, the Films Act was passed, removing the [[Eady Levy]], resulting in foreign artists being taxed more heavily.{{sfn|Barnes|Hearn|2001|p=176}} The associated rising costs to Eon Productions meant no part of ''Licence to Kill'' was filmed in the UK,{{sfn|Smith|2002|p=239}} the first Bond film not to do so.{{sfn|Barnes|Hearn|2001|p=176}} [[Pinewood Studios]], used in every previous ''Bond'' film, undertook only the post-production and sound re-recording.<ref name=glen/>

===Writing and themes===
The initial outline of what would become ''Licence to Kill'' was drawn up by Wilson and Maibaum.{{sfn|Barnes|Hearn|2001|p=176}} Before the pair could develop the script, the [[Writers Guild of America]] (WGA) [[1988 Writers Guild of America strike|went on strike]] and Maibaum was unable to continue writing, leaving Wilson to work on the script on his own.{{sfn|Smith|2002|p=234}} Although both the main plot and title of ''Licence to Kill'' owe nothing to any of the Fleming novels, there are elements from the books that are used in the storyline, including a number of aspects of the short story "[[For Your Eyes Only (short story collection)#The Hildebrand Rarity|The Hildebrand Rarity]]", such as the character Milton Krest.<ref name=documentary/><ref name=comm/> Felix Leiter's mauling by a shark was based on the novel ''[[Live and Let Die (novel)|Live and Let Die]]'',{{sfn|Barnes|Hearn|2001|p=176}} whilst the [[Live and Let Die (film)|film version of the book]] provided the close similarity between the main villain, Mr. Big, and ''Licence to Kill''{{'}}s main villain Sanchez.{{sfn|Smith|2002|p=235}} The screenplay was not ready by the time casting had begun, with [[Carey Lowell]] being auditioned with lines from ''[[A View to a Kill]]''.<ref name=documentary/>

The script—initially called ''Licence Revoked''—was written with Dalton's characterisation of Bond in mind,{{sfn|Barnes|Hearn|2001|p=176}} and the obsession with which Bond pursues Sanchez on behalf of Leiter and his dead wife is seen as being because "of his own brutally cut-short marriage".{{sfn|Smith|2002|p=225}} Dalton's darker portrayal of Bond led to the violence being increased and becoming more graphic.<ref name=comm>{{cite video |year=1999 |title=[[Audio commentary]] |location=''Licence to Kill'': Ultimate Edition |medium=DVD |publisher=MGM |people=John Cork}}</ref> Wilson compared the script to [[Akira Kurosawa]]'s ''[[Yojimbo (film)|Yojimbo]]'', where a samurai "without any attacking of the villain or its cohorts, only sowing the seeds of distrust, he manages to have the villain bring himself down".<ref name=documentary/> Wilson freely admitted that the idea of the destruction-from-within aspect of the plot came more from ''Yojimbo'' and [[Sergio Leone]]'s remake of that film, ''[[A Fistful of Dollars]]'', than from Fleming's use of that plot device from ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun (novel)|The Man with the Golden Gun]]''.{{sfn|Smith|2002|p=235}}

For the location Wilson created the Republic of Isthmus, a [[banana republic]] based on Panama, with the pock-marked Sanchez bearing similarities to General [[Manuel Noriega]].{{sfn|Smith|2002|p=235}} The parallels between the two figures were based on Noriega's political use of drug trafficking and [[money laundering]] to provide revenues for Panama.{{sfn|Smith|2002|p=236}} Robert Davi suggested the line "loyalty is more important than money", which he felt was fitting to the character of Franz Sanchez, whose actions were noticed by Davi to be concerned with betrayal and retaliation.<ref name="glen"/>

The United Artists press kits referred to the film's background as being "Torn straight from the headlines of today's newspapers"<ref>{{cite news|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|title=Creating a Thriller, Their Words Are Their Bond|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=9 July 1989}}</ref> and the backdrop of Panama was connected to "the [[Medellín Cartel]] in Colombia and corruption of government officials in Mexico thrown in for good measure."<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnston|first=Sheila|title=A cleaner, harder 007|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=16 June 1989}}</ref> This use of the cocaine-smuggling backdrop put ''Licence to Kill'' alongside other cinema blockbusters, such as the 1987 films ''[[Lethal Weapon]]'', ''[[Beverly Hills Cop II]]'' and ''[[RoboCop]],'' and Bond was seen to be "poaching on their turf" with the drug-related revenge story.{{sfn|Smith|2002|pp=236–7}}

===Casting===
After Carey Lowell was chosen to play Pam Bouvier, she watched many of the films in the series for inspiration. Lowell had described becoming a [[Bond girl]] as "huge shoes to fill", as she did not see herself as a "glamour girl", even coming to audition in jeans and a leather jacket. While Lowell wore a wig for the scenes set in the United States, a scene where Bouvier is given money and told by Bond to go and buy some new clothes (and, going off and doing so, also has her hair cut) was added so that Lowell's own short hair style could be used.<ref>{{cite video |year=1999 | title = Audio commentary|location=''Licence to Kill'': Ultimate Edition | medium = DVD | publisher = MGM | people=Carey Lowell }}</ref>

Robert Davi was cast following a suggestion by Broccoli's daughter Tina,<ref name="documentary"/> and screenwriter Richard Maibaum, who had seen Davi in the television film ''Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami''.{{sfn| Paul |2007|p=58}} To portray Sanchez, Davi researched the [[Illegal drug trade in Colombia|Colombian drug cartels]] and how to do a Colombian accent,<ref name="glen">{{cite video |year=1999 | title = Audio commentary|location=''Licence to Kill'': Ultimate Edition | medium = DVD | publisher = MGM | people=Robert Davi }}</ref> and since he was [[method acting]], he would stay in character off-set. After Davi read ''[[Casino Royale (novel)|Casino Royale]]'' for preparation, he decided to turn Sanchez into a "mirror image" of James Bond, based on Ian Fleming's descriptions of [[Le Chiffre]].<ref name="documentary"/> The actor also learned [[scuba diving]] for the scene where Sanchez is rescued from the sunken armoured car.<ref name="glen"/>

Davi later helped with the casting of Sanchez's mistress Lupe Lamora, by playing Bond in the audition.{{sfn|Cork|Stutz|2007|p=300}} [[Talisa Soto]] was picked from twelve candidates because Davi said he "would kill for her".<ref name=documentary/> [[David Hedison]] returned to play Felix Leiter, sixteen years after playing the character in ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]''. Hedison did not expect to return to the role, saying "I was sure that [''Live and Let Die''] would be my first – and last"<ref name=hedison>{{cite web |url=http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/interview_david_hedison.php3?t=lald&s=lald |title=David Hedison Interview |date=24 June 2005 |publisher=[[Mi6-HQ.com]] |access-date=28 August 2011 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010114500/http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/interview_david_hedison.php3?t=lald&s=lald |url-status=live }}</ref> and Glen was reluctant to cast the 61-year-old actor, since the role included a scene parachuting.

Up-and-coming actor [[Benicio del Toro]] was chosen to play Sanchez's henchman, Dario, for being "laid back while menacing in a quirky sort of way", according to Glen.<ref name="documentary"/> Davi warmed to the actor: "Benicio called me his mentor during 'Licence'".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Robert Davi - Interview |url=https://pennyblackmusic.co.uk/Home/Details?Id=27938 |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=Penny Black Music|language=en-US}}</ref>[[Wayne Newton]] got the role of Professor Joe Butcher after sending a letter to the producers expressing interest in a cameo because he always wanted to be in a Bond film.{{sfn|Cork|Stutz|2007|p=300}} The President of Isthmus was played by Pedro Armendáriz Jr., the son of [[Pedro Armendáriz]], who played [[List of James Bond allies in From Russia with Love#Ali Kerim Bey|Ali Kerim Bey]] in ''[[From Russia with Love (film)|From Russia with Love]]''.<ref>{{cite video |year=1999 | title = Inside From Russia with Love|location=''From Russia with Love'': Ultimate Edition | medium = DVD | publisher = MGM | author = Cork, John }}</ref>

[[John Rhys-Davies]] claimed he was asked to reprise his role from the previous film as General Pushkin in a cameo appearance, but declined since he felt the character was not necessary to the plot.<ref name=":1" />

===Filming===
[[File:Otomi cultural center 006 by mexikids.jpg|thumb|500px|right|''Centro Ceremonial Otomi'', designed as a place for the [[Otomi people]] to congregate and celebrate their culture, was used to represent the "Olympatec Meditation Institute".|alt=A large stone building with a forest in the background.]]
[[Principal photography]] ran from 18 July to 18 November 1988. Shooting began in the [[Estudios Churubusco]] in Mexico, which mostly doubled for the fictional Republic of Isthmus:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Licence to Kill|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58171-LICENCE-TOKILL?sid=4314a62c-7242-4293-9559-fa0f03007a91&sr=13.578258&cp=1&pos=0|access-date=2021-06-09|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609155040/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58171-LICENCE-TOKILL?sid=4314a62c-7242-4293-9559-fa0f03007a91&sr=13.578258&cp=1&pos=0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="documentary">{{cite video |year=1999 | title = Inside Licence to Kill|location=''Licence to Kill'': Ultimate Edition | medium = DVD | publisher = MGM | author = Cork, John }}</ref> locations in Mexico City included the Biblioteca del Banco de Mexico for the exterior of ''El Presidente Hotel'' and the Casino Español for the interior of ''Casino de Isthmus'' whilst the Teatro de la Ciudad was used for its exterior. Villa Arabesque in [[Acapulco]] was used for Sanchez's lavish villa, and the La Rumorosa Mountain Pass in [[Tecate]] was used as the filming site for the tanker chase during the climax of the film. Sanchez's Olympiatec Meditation Institute was shot at the Otomi Ceremonial Center in [[Temoaya]].<ref name=locations>{{cite video |year=1999 | title = Exotic Locations|location=''Licence to Kill'': Ultimate Edition | medium = DVD | publisher = MGM | author = Cork, John }}</ref> Other underwater sequences were shot at the [[Isla Mujeres]] near [[Cancún]].{{sfn|Barnes|Hearn|2001|p=185}}

In August 1988, production moved to the [[Florida Keys]], notably [[Key West]].<ref name="documentary"/> [[Seven Mile Bridge]] towards [[Pigeon Key]] was used for the sequence in which the armoured truck transporting Sanchez, following his arrest, is driven off the edge. Other locations there included [[Ernest Hemingway House]], [[Key West International Airport]], [[Mallory Square]], [[Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea (Key West, Florida)|St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church]] for Leiter's wedding and Stephano's House 707 South Street for his house and patio. The [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]] pier was used to film Isthmus City harbour.<ref name=locations/> As production moved back to Mexico City, Broccoli became ill, marking the first time during the James Bond film series where he was not present during filming.<ref name=documentary/>

[[File:Seven Mile Bridge, part of the Overseas Highway.jpg|thumb|left|[[Seven Mile Bridge]]|alt=A view of a long bridge over water: a number of cars are visible in the left hand lane]]
The scene where Sanchez's plane is hijacked was filmed on location in Florida, with stuntman Jake Lombard jumping from a helicopter to a plane and Dalton himself tying Sanchez's plane with a cable. The plane towed by the helicopter was a life-sized model created by special effects supervisor John Richardson. After filming wide shots of David Hedison and Dalton parachuting, closer shots were made near the church location.<ref name=documentary/> During one of the takes, a malfunction of the harness equipment caused Hedison to fall on the pavement. The injury made him limp for the remainder of filming.<ref name=hedison/> The aquatic battle between Bond and the henchmen required two separate units, a surface one led by Arthur Wooster which used Dalton himself, and an underwater one which involved experienced divers. The [[Barefoot skiing|barefoot waterskiing]] was done by world champion Dave Reinhart, with some close-ups using Dalton on a special rig.<ref name=documentary/> Milton Krest's death used a prosthetic head which was created by John Richardson's team based on a mould of Anthony Zerbe's face.<ref>{{cite video |year=1999 | title = Audio commentary|location=''Licence to Kill'': Ultimate Edition | medium = DVD | publisher = MGM | people=John Richardson}}</ref> The result was so gruesome that it was shortened and toned down to avoid censorship problems.<ref name=comm/>

For the climactic [[tank truck|tanker]] chase, the producers used an entire section of [[Mexican Federal Highway 2D]] in [[La Rumorosa]], [[Baja California]], which had been closed for safety reasons.<ref name=":0" /> Sixteen [[Semi-trailer truck|eighteen-wheeler]] tankers were used,<ref name=documentary/> some with modifications made by manufacturer [[Kenworth]] at the request of driving stunts arranger [[Rémy Julienne]]. Most were given improvements to their engines to run faster, while one model had an extra steering wheel on the back of the cabin so a hidden stuntman could drive while Carey Lowell was in the front and another received extra [[suspension (vehicle)|suspension]] on its back so it could lift its front wheels.<ref name=documentary/><ref>{{cite video |year=2006| title = Kenworth Stunt Trucks|location=''Licence to Kill'': Ultimate Edition | medium = DVD | publisher = MGM | author = Cork, John }}</ref> Although a rig was constructed to help a rig tilt onto its side, it was not necessary as Julienne was able to pull off the stunt without the aid of camera trickery.<ref name=documentary/><ref>{{cite video |year=2006| title = On Set with John Glen|location=''Licence to Kill'': Ultimate Edition | medium = DVD | publisher = MGM | author = Cork, John }}</ref>

===Music===
{{main|Licence to Kill (soundtrack)}}
Initially [[Vic Flick]], who had played lead guitar on [[Monty Norman]]'s [[James Bond Theme|original 007 theme]], and [[Eric Clapton]] were asked to write and perform the theme song to ''Licence to Kill'' and they produced a theme to match Dalton's gritty performance, but the producers turned it down<ref name="Rogers (2008)">{{cite news|last=Rogers|first=Jude| author-link = Jude Rogers |title=Film & Music: Music: For your ears only|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=31 October 2008}}</ref> and instead [[Gladys Knight]]'s song and performance was chosen. The song was based on the "horn line" from "[[Goldfinger (Shirley Bassey song)|Goldfinger]]", seen as an homage to [[Goldfinger (film)|the film of the same name]],<ref name="Rogers (2008)"/> which required royalty payments to the original writers.<ref name="UKC4TV">{{cite video | people =Walden, Narada Michael |year=2006 | title =James Bond's Greatest Hits | medium =Television | location =UK | publisher =North One Television}}</ref> The song gave Knight her first British top-ten hit since 1977.{{sfn|Barnes|Hearn|2001|p=179}} The end credits feature the Top 10 R&B hit "[[If You Asked Me To]]", sung by [[Patti LaBelle]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Dingwall|first=John|title=DVD Reviews|newspaper=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|date=12 July 2002}}</ref>

[[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]] was originally intended to score but was not available at the time due to throat surgery after suffering a [[Boerhaave syndrome|rupture of the esophagus]] in 1988 and it was considered unsafe to fly him from his home in [[New York (state)|New York]] to [[London]] to complete the score, post-production was extended to allow Barry time to recover.<ref name=":1" /> The soundtrack's score was composed and conducted by [[Michael Kamen]], who was known for scoring many action films at the time, such as ''[[Lethal Weapon]]'' and ''[[Die Hard]]''.{{sfn|Smith|2002|pp=231–2}} Glen said he picked Kamen, feeling he could give "the closest thing to John Barry."<ref name="glen"/>