1983 saw the release of not just one Bond film but two, in the form of Octopussy starring Roger Moore and the return of Sean Connery in the rival 007 outing Never Say Never Again. Moore's sixth outing as James Bond was a real globe-trotting adventure, from South America, Britain, Germany and the finale in India, it was in my opinion the better of the two films released that year. It also had some great memorabilia and collectables released to promote it, much featuring the fantastic illustration of the octopus like Maud Adams figure with her arms (tenticles) wrapped around Moore. So for 'a sweet distraction for an hour or two', check out the Octopussy items from my collection…
Octopussy giftset - model no. E3019 (Corgi, UK, 1983)
Octopussy Wacky Wall Walker (Tradex Corp., US, 1982)
Octopussy Dutch storybook including photographs from the film (Bruna Pockethuis b.v., Netherlands, 1983)
Octopussy Spin Saw (Wembley, UK, 1983)
Promotional Octopussy rubber place mat (Quick, Belgium, 1995). There are two others in the this set for The Man With The Golden Gun and GoldenEye
James Bond 007 Octopussy Special (Marvel Comics Group, UK, 1983)
Octopussy comic book of the film (Semic, Sweden, 1983)
Octopussy comic book of the film (Semic, Germany, 1983)
Octopussy soundtrack LP (A&M Records, UK, 1983)
Octopussy soundtrack LP with obi band an separate lyric sheet (A&M Records, Japan, 1983)
Octopussy Shredded Wheat promotional box with the opportunity to collect a series of 8 stickers (Nabisco, UK, 1983)
Octopussy one sheet advance poster (United International Pictures, Germany, 1983)
Octopussy Luger pistol (Maker and year of release unknown, although likely to be around the films release in 1983)
Cinema magazine with Octopussy cover and article (IPV Inland, Germany, Nr.8-83, August 1983)
Film Illustrierte magazine with Octopussy cover and article (P.R.Lupus Promotion, Germany, Nr.7, August/September 1983)
Prevue magazine with Octopussy cover and article (Supergraphics, US, Vol.2 No.13, September/October 1983)
Shop display card of bagged Octopussy badges (Present Needs Ltd., UK, 1983)
Octopussy 007 Secret Agent promo badge (left) and smaller version of the badges show on display card above (right) (Present Needs Ltd., UK, 1983)
Octopussy rectangular promo badge (Present Needs Ltd., UK, 1983)
Part series of James Bond pin badges from Dr No, Operation Tonnerre (Thunderball) and Octopussy (Maker unknown, France, c.1990s)
Octopussy exhibitor's campaign book (United International Pictures, UK, 1983)
Octopussy official souvenir brochure available at cinemas in the UK (Movie Publishing Ltd., UK, 1983)
Octopussy souvenir brochure (Maker unknown, Japan, c.1983)
Octopussy pressbook (CB Films, Spain, 1983)
Small Octopussy brochure (Neuer Filmkurier, Austria, 1983)
Part set of eight Octopussy promotional stickers given away in boxes of Shredded Wheat cereal (Nabisco/P&P Promotions, UK, 1983)
Octopussy Royal World Premiere brochure from the event held on the 6th June 1983 at the Odeon Leicester Square (UK, 1983)
Ticket to the Octopussy Royal World Charity Premiere held on the 6th June 1983 (UK, 1983)
Octopussy Smiths Crisps 6 bag multipack promotional pack with the chance to win a family holiday (Smiths Foods Ltd., UK, 1983)
Rita Coolidge All Time High from Octopussy theme single (A&M Records, UK, 1983)
Rita Coolidge All Time High from Octopussy theme single (A&M Records, Japan, 1983)
Rita Coolidge All Time High from Octopussy theme single (A&M Records, Brazil, 1983)
Promotional Octopussy plastic carrier bag (Karstadt Department Store, Germany, 1983)
All Time High from Octopussy sheet music (Columbia Pictures Publications, US, 1983)
The Official Octopussy Movie Magazine (Comics World Corp., US, Vol.1, 1983)
Mayfair magazine featuring three Bond girls from Octopussy bared (Fisk Publishing Co. Ltd., UK, Vol.18 No.7, 1983)
Starlog magazine with Battle of the Bonds cover and articles (O'Quinn Studios Inc., US, No.68, March 1983)
Cinema magazine with Battle of the Bonds cover and articles (IPV Inland, Germany, Nr.5-83, May 1983)
TV Times magazine with Octopussy cover and article (Independent Television Publications Ltd., UK, Vol.111 No.21, 21st May 1983)
Time Out magazine with Battle of the Bonds cover and article (Time Out Ltd., UK, 10th June 1983)
Shredded Wheat Octopussy code card and badge shown in the advert below (Shredded Wheat/P&P Promotions, UK, 1983)
Shredded Wheat advert to promote their Octopussy competition (Taken from Tiger magazine issue 16th July 1983)
Reproduction set of nine Octopussy lobby cards in 50th anniversary packaging (Pyramid International, UK, 2012)
Octopussy two sided synposis sheet (United Artists, France, c.1983)
Tintin magazine with Octopussy cover and article (Le Lombard, France/Belgium, No.37, 1983)
Octopussy original motion picture soundtrack two disc 40th anniversary expanded limited edition of 5000 copies worldwide (La-La Land Records, US, 2023)