Recommended music:
Today, from the Bond on Vinyl archives, we’re listening to music from Moonraker!
Following the release of The Spy Who Loved Me, EON Productions had initially planned to turn to For Your Eyes Only as the next theatrical James Bond film. However, after the massive success of Star Wars in the summer of 1977, they decided to go to space as well with 1979’s Moonraker.
The film differed significantly from the 1955 novel: the Bond Girls were different, the book didn’t feature the henchman Jaws (who was brought back due to his popularity following TSWLM), and the most significant change from the book was that James Bond never even went into outer space. One element retained was the villain, Hugo Drax.
Like Karl Stromberg in the previous film, Drax is another Bond villain who loves classical music. In the film, Drax’s estate includes a château relocated from France to California. In real life, the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is about 30 miles from Paris. The interior of the home (filmed at a different château about a mile from Disneyland Paris) was decorated with Louis XVI furniture and a Steinway Piano. This is where we see Drax playing ‘Raindrop Prelude’ written by 19th-century Polish composer Frédéric Chopin.
I’m sure there are many classical music albums featuring the ‘Raindrop Prelude’, but I wanted to find one that also includes a good selection of other piano pieces. Also, you should watch the scene where actor Michael Lonsdale is “playing” the tune. It’s funny when you look at his hands.😉
115. 30 Piano Masterpieces
Dale's Toys 