License to Kill

SmokeScreeners review:

Year of Release: 1989

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Director: John Glen

Distributor: MGM

In this film 20 smoking incidents occured, 15 of which were inside and 5 of which were outside.

The film was reviewed by Dr. Barry Hummel on 6/5/2008

Dr. Hummel posted these additional comments:

"There a sharp increase in the amount of smoking in License to Kill compared to several previous James Bond films. In fact, this film had more smoking than any James Bond film since On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969! Timothy Dalton, Robert Davi, and Carey Lowell are among the 10 different actors seen smoking during the film.

[youtube:peoqjTIbCJk]

[youtube:wSrl0dWQJc8]

[youtube:NyRzp9y05rE]

Worse still, the producers of License to Kill accepted a payment of $350,000 for a product placement deal involving the Philip Morris Company's Lark cigarette brand. Because of a fear of lawsuits as a result, License to Kill become the first James Bond movie to include the United States Surgeon General's tobacco warning in its closing credits.

As a result of protests, some video versions actually swapped out the Lark pack for a generic cigarette pack. On the most recent DVD release, however, the Lark pack has made a comeback worthy of James Bond:

[youtube:AvN96m_S-qs]

Product placement in movies is the gift that keeps on giving! This film was made in 1989, and through the technology of video and DVD this subliminal ad continues to pop up for everyone to see. Now that is $350,000 well spent!"