Category: VHS covers

“The Spy Who Loved Me”: Danish rental VHS (1986)

In 1983 Warner Home Video began releasing the James Bond 007 films on rental video (VHS) in Danmark through local distributor Metronome Video A/S.

The cover below is for the first Danish rental VHS of "The Spy Who Loved Me" (EON 1977) which was released in 1986. The front cover is based on Bob Peak's poster artwork.

TSWLM DK lejevideo 1986

Thanks to Michael Frederiksen.

“Golden Eye” (1989): Danish rental VHS

The English TV movie "Golden Eye" from 1989 (not to be confused with EON's theatrically released "GoldenEye" from 1995) was the first filmed dramatization of James Bond author Ian Fleming's life. Charles Dance, almost a dead ringer for Fleming,  was perfectly cast in the lead after previously guest-starring as the henchman Claus in EON's "For Your Eyes Only" (1981). Christoph Waltz, who was later to become Blofeld in "SPECTRE" (2015) and "No Time to Die" (2021), also had a bit part as a Nazi in "Golden Eye", the plot of which was inspired by Ian Fleming's experiences in the Royal Navy's Secret Service during World War II.

Danish distributor Irish released "Golden Eye" with Danish subs as a rental VHS sometime around 1989/90. The cover designer clearly didn't bother checking the name of the main character who is invariably spelled Ian Flemming on the front and back cover.

"Golden Eye" was shown on Danish TV 2 on February 1, 1992, now retitled "Hemmelige affærer" [Secret Affairs]. To this date, "Golden Eye" has not been released on DVD or VOD with Danish subtitles.

Goldeneye Irish VHS forside

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“James Bond Festival”: Magazine ad for VHS rental cassettes (1983)

In 1983 Metronome Video inserted this advert in Danish weekly magazines to announce the fact that seven of the EON James Bond 007 films were available as VHS rental cassettes in Denmark.

The Bond films were not issued on VHS in chronological order. By 1983, the rental series included Sean Connery's first three Bond films as well as the two first and (at the time) two latest with Roger Moore.

● See more Danish James Bond 007 VHS covers

Bond-festival annonce leje-vhs

Materials courtesy of Isak Thorsen.

“The Spy Who Loved Me”: First Danish retail VHS (1989)

In 1989 Warner Home Video issued all of the James Bond 007 films (except the Columbia-produced "Casino Royale" from 1967) on retail VHS through local distributor Metronome Video. The Bond films had not previously been available for sale in Denmark.

This initial retail series had specially designed cover art with raster graphics on a metallic grey background which was obviously meant to resemble Maurice Binder's famous gunbarrel design.

The tenth cassette in the series was "The Spy Who Loved Me (EON 1977):

Scan courtesy of Jan Mouritzen.

“The Man with the Golden Gun”: First Danish retail VHS (1989)

In 1989 Warner Home Video issued all of the James Bond 007 films (except the Columbia-produced "Casino Royale" from 1967) on retail VHS through local distributor Metronome Video. The Bond films had not previously been available for sale in Denmark.

This initial retail series had specially designed cover art with raster graphics on a metallic grey background which was obviously meant to resemble Maurice Binder's famous gunbarrel design.

The ninth cassette in the series was "The Man with the Golden Gun" (EON 1974):

Tak til Jan Mouritzen.

“Live and Let Die”: First Danish retail VHS (1989)

In 1989 Warner Home Video issued all of the James Bond 007 films (except the Columbia-produced "Casino Royale" from 1967) on retail VHS through local distributor Metronome Video. The Bond films had not previously been available for sale in Denmark.

This initial retail series had specially designed cover art with raster graphics on a metallic grey background which was obviously meant to resemble Maurice Binder's famous gunbarrel design.

The eighth cassette in the series was "Live and Let Die" (EON 1973):

Scan courtesy of Jan Mouritzen.