Meet the New 007 – Roger Moore!
I am reviewing all of the James Bond films in order, and it’s time to introduce the third James Bond in three films!
We all know that George Lazenby was the “one and done” Bond in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” But, after Sean Connery returned to the role for “Diamonds Are Forever”, it was assumed by fans that he was “back as Bond” for good – but no!
Connery turned down the then astronomical sum of $5.5 million to play James Bond for a seventh time. Instead, he gave his personal seal of approval for Roger Moore, calling him “an ideal Bond”.
So, the 8th film in the 007 series would feature the third James Bond – and “Live And Let Die” was a re-set of the franchise in a number of ways…let’s dig in first by checking out the trailer:
The film gets off to a fast start with the murder of several Secret Agents, including one that happens in New Orleans as a funeral procession is going by – the agent asks a bystander, “who’s funeral is it?”
“Yours” is the reply as a knife goes into his side. He fall into the street, and then this happens:
Down goes the casket, in goes the spy, and then the party begins! It’s a clever start to the film, which then goes into credits – before we have ever seen the new 007.
Credits are now as usual, nude women in silhouette as the greatest Bond theme of all plays…
“Live And Let Die” is based on Ian Fleming’s 1954 novel, and is a departure from previous SPECTRE-fuelled evil plots to take over the world. In this film, a Harlem drug kingpin known as Mr. Big has a plan to distribute two tons of heroin for free to put rival drug barons out of business and then become a monopoly supplier.
Bond gets involved when other Secret Agents are murdered to cover up the scheme.
Mr. Big is revealed to be the alter ego of Dr. Kananga, a corrupt Dictator who rules the island of San Monique, where opium poppies are grown to fuel his business.
For the first time ever in a Bond film, they used a fictional country, although it was filmed in Jamaica.
It turns out that Mr. Big uses a Tarot Card reader, Solitaire, to predict the future…this was the first major film role for Jane Seymour, who immediately cemented herself as one of the all-time favorite “Bond girls.”
In addition, Actor Julius W. Harris chews up the scenery as “Tee Hee Johnson”, Mr. Big’s “muscle” who has a pincer-tipped prosthetic arm!
As for the introduction to the new 007, we first meet Bond in bed with Madeline Smith, one of Englands’s most popular Hammer Horror Queens!
Smith later said there was a lot of awkwardness filming the bedroom scene because Moore’s very over-protective wife was on set while they were filming!
Also, this is the first time we’ve seen Bond’s apartment since “Dr. NO”, and surprisingly, M shows up there to disrupt Bond’s lovemaking – in order to give him an assignment: find out who killed their man in New Orleans.
Interestingly, Desmond Llewelyn didn’t appear in this movie as Q, because Llewellyn was filming a TV show, and the producers decided not to include the character, feeling that “too much was being made of the films’ gadgets”, and decided to downplay this aspect.
Instead, Bond heads to New York where car chases, gun battles and more ensue – and in these early scenes it feels that Moore is still finding his way in the role.
However, Producers gave him a lot of absorb. The film kills the Martinis that are “shaken, not stirred”, and have him smoking cigars as well!
That’s a different 007 to be sure!
The film was shot in 1972, and released in 1973 – the height of “blaxploitation” cinema, and it’s very pervasive in the scenes shot in Harlem…as when Bond jumps in a cab to tail a car and the black driver says:
“You headed into Harlem, man”. Bond offers him $20, and he replies:
“For twenty bucks I’ll take you to a Ku Klux Klan cookout!”
This is where 007 meets Solitaire, and for the first time in the film – and as 007 – Roger Moore introduces himself as “Bond. James Bond.”
From there, the film follows Bond as he uncovers the plot to control the heroin supply, and his relationship with Solitaire is foretold in the cards.
Along the way, we are introduced to a rural southern cop with a heavy drawl, a wad of chewing tobacco in his cheek and a hair trigger:
Veteran character Actor Clifton James ends up with Bond as they go on a terrific car chase through the Louisiana Bayou, first by car and then by boat!
It ends up with one of the more impressive stunts in 007 history: a real flying boat!
The film’s speedboat jump made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for its distance of one hundred ten feet, a record that stood for three years. Clifton James’ spontaneous reaction in that scene was kept in the final print!
Another Bond First…
“Live And Let Die” was the first Bond film that has 007 making love to a black woman. Actress Gloria Henry was a CIA Agent helping Bond before succumbing to his charms. When the film was released in South Africa, all of Hendry’s love scenes were removed, due of the Apartheid policies of the government at the time!
The film has a few great set pieces from the Caribbean island, where the film’s explosive finale takes place.
All in all, “Live And Let Die” is pretty entertaining, with some nice action set pieces – but Moore is a bit stiff, and he’s not helped by the Producers taking away so many of his tools like the gadgets and the martinis.
The cast is strong…Kotto is great as the “bad guy” in the film, and “Tee Tee” has fun with his metal pincers – oh, and there’s one more terrific set piece as well.
Bond is taken to a crocodile farm and left on a small island in a lagoon, and the crocs are seeing him as their next meal!
Here’s great trivia thanks to IMDB.com:
It took crocodile wrangler and stuntman Ross Kananga (the villain in the movie was named after him) 6 takes to complete the scene were he doubles for Sir Roger Moore when Bond flees the bad guys by running across the backs of 3 crocodiles in a swamp. Kananga received $60,000 for the stunt, filmed at Swamp Safaris, his 350 acres of mangrove swamp on Jamaica’s north coast, where he kept a herd of over 1000 crocodiles.
Check it out:
In a 1973 interview, he explained; “something like that is almost impossible to do. So, I had to do it six times before I got it right. I fell five times. The film company kept sending to London for more clothes. The crocs were chewing off everything when I hit the water, including shoes. I received one hundred ninety-three stitches on my leg and face.”
WOW!
So how did the world react to Roger Moore as 007?
A “Big Bucks” Bond!
Moore’s debut was a smashing success.
From a budget of around $7 million, the film grossed more than $161- million worldwide! In fact, Moore kept a diary of the filming and it was published as a book – I just bought it at Amazon:
So a hit movie, a revealing memoir about the making of the film, and oh, it had the best-selling 007 theme song of all time as well!
Paul McCartney recorded the theme song with his band Wings, and it was a massive worldwide hit – and 007’s first rock theme song!
According to Paul McCartney, after Director Guy Hamilton heard the title song for the first time he said, “yeah, that’s good for a demo, but when are you going to do the real record?”
I love the debate on best and worst Bond themes, and if you love to discuss them as well, click here for a great mashup of them all!
McCartney became the first artist to be nominated for a Best Song Academy Award for a James Bond title track!
So there you have it: three films, three different Bonds…and a new, grittier 007 for Roger Moore…but will Moore settle in and be the Bond we want?
Well, my next review details how the wheels nearly came off the 007 franchise!
My review of the disastrous sophomore effort by Moore is coming soon!
Prior to Moore taking over the role of 007 in “Live And Let Die”, Sean Connery made a financial windfall to reprise the role after a one film break:
But was the film as lazy as Connery seemed to be in the role?
Here is my review:
As I said, I am reviewing the 007 films in order, and before Connery returned to the role, we had the “one and done” Bond – see my review here:
The “one and done 007” George Lazenby film was one of the best Bonds of all time, and it all happened because Sean Connery left the series!
“You Only Live Twice” was the end of Connery until “Diamonds” – here’s my review of that film and details of “The Rock’s” connection to 007!
As you know, I am reviewing all the Bond films in order, and prior to Connery’s departure after “You Only Live Twice”, 007 had his most explosive outing ever!
It was bigger and bolder than any Bond film – but it’s also at the heart of the 007 / Kevin McClory legal battles.
Click here for my review of “Thunderball”:
It was never going to be easy to top the record-breaking success of “Goldfinger” – the fastest grossing film of its time!
It was a film where it all came together perfectly – see my review here:
“Goldfinger” was the third in the Bond series – I also looked at the sophomore effort from 007:
“From Russia With Love” gave James Bond a worthy adversary – the incredible Robert Shaw!
See why this is a terrific entry in the series by clicking on my review here:
The story of 007 got its start with this one first entry, chosen instead of the legally entailed “Thunderball”:
Click here to see my review of “the birth of Bond!”
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Categories: 70's Cinema, 70's Music, Action Films, Classic Rock, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
HI John, I liked Roger Moore the best of the Bonds. I wonder if I saw the redacted version of the film. I may have to rewatch it.
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Interesting point Robbie based on where you live…as you know I am reviewing all the Bonds in order and am deep into the Moore films now! Thank you as always for reading and sharing, it is much appreciated!
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My pleasure, John. I always like the Bond movies.
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This is one of my favorites of all the Bond films.
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It was a great start to a new Bond, but as with all of the 007’s, they can’t seem to put a long string of great ones together…as I am re-watching them all in order it’s interesting to see play out! Thank you so much for the comment!
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I watched that one just to see the gorgeous Maddy Smith. But I think Moore played it too much for laughs, and overdid the sardonic grins.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wow! Thanks for the great movie memories and history behind the scenes. I loved this!
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Thanks so much for reading…it’s a fascinating film series because so many people have a “bond” that they grew up with!
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Yes, I think that’s what makes this series so good for everyone. You are doing a fabulous job, John!
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I suspect the crocodile scene would be all CGI today. Crazy how they did it then. And yes, I think this is my favorite Bond theme songs, it’s so Bond-like. Ha ha.
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Agree on both counts…and as for “Bond-like”, I get it: a them should have a richness of sound and a bit of bombastic “duh DUH duh” from the “007 theme” to bring it into the family!
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wow, that poor crocodile guy, and I’m guessing that Madeline smith may have been almost as dangerous! great post with new things that I learn each and every time that I read any of your posts in the bond series
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Thank you for the comment…and yes, there are some interesting behind-the-scenes stories to be sure! Next up is a very “problematic” entry in the series!
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Jane Seymour was amazing….Moore not my favorite. chuq
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He was the longest running Bond but as I point out in the review, he was still and ill at ease in the role…it gets worse before it gets better…there are some who love him but as I re-watch every single film in order I’m seeing a lot of cracks in the 007 armor! Thanks for the comment!
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