Live and Let Die (1973)

Released (US): June 27, 1973
Genre: Action/Adventure
Length: 121 Min.
Director: Guy Hamilton
Writer:Tom Mankiewicz
Major Cast Members:
       Roger Moore - James Bond
       Yaphet Kotto - Kananga/Mr. Big
       Jane Seymour - Solitaire
       David Hedison - Felix Leiter
       Roy Stewart - Quarrel Jr.
Awards:
       Evening Standard British Film Award - Best Film
       Golden Screen Award (Germany)
Budget: $7,000,000
Box Office: $161,800,000

Plot Overview: In his inaugural Bond film, Roger Moore steps in as 007, replacing Sean Connery. Along with Connery, SPECTRE departs to make room for a fresh, new criminal. When several British agents pass away, James Bond is sent to get to the bottom of the situation. His discovery leads him to a tiny island in the Caribbean, where he confronts Dr. Kananga (otherwise known as Mr. Big) and Tee Hee, Kananga’s assistant. While being chased by Kananga’s henchmen, Bond must uncover the sinister plot and put a stop to it, while saving his most recent love from the claws of the enemy.

Did you know?: Sean Connery was offered the humongous (by the standards of 1973) salary of $5.5 million to come back for another Bond entry, but Connery turned the offer down.

Review: In Live and Let Die, the eighth installment of the James Bond franchise, Roger Moore replaces Sean Connery as 007. Nobody can match the original James Bond, but you can always try. While better than the one-timer George Lazenby, Roger Moore in his inaugural Bond movie does not dazzle either.

One flaw with this installment is the overall quality of the acting. It seems as if, whenever Connery departs, the performance of the cast seems to take a noticeable dip. Just a testament to just how good Connery is in the role of James Bond.

Throughout the movie, it seems a little over dramatized, like the actors are trying too hard to be classy, witty, smooth, etc. Felix Leiter (Hedison) comes to mind, as well as some of Bonds’ one liners. It just doesn’t seem natural like the witty and cool lines Connery made back when he was in his prime. It feels wrong. Moore, while solid, doesn’t feel like Bond. Hopefully, he hones his skills and becomes more appropriate for the role in his later additions, but, in this one, he seems misplaced.

Otherwise, the cast seems to be pretty good. Solitaire (Seymour) is a little disappointing, but her looks make up for that. Tee Hee (played by Julian W. Harris) is a good bad guy with the claw as a hand. Also, I liked Quarrel Jr. (Stewart) and Kananga (Kotto). Still, with a comparatively weak James Bond, the movie has a weak standing.

The plot was sub-par as well. The spiritual theme that pops up several times throughout the movie seems very un-James Bond. It would fit well with an Indiana Jones movie or something, but not here. Another gripe is one of the locations. The island in the Caribbean is fine, but Bond making his way to Harlem seems out of place. Not a huge issue, but, like some other parts of this film, it seems awkward. Additionally, some of James Bonds’ escapes are a little ridiculous (running across live crocodiles is one of them) and the ending was a little anticlimactic and it seemed like the makers ran out of money or time so they quickly slapped something together.

Oher issues include the fact that there is some racism involved with the film, but, when put in context with the time period when this movie was made, it is not too surprising. Also, the humor that is sprinkled throughout the film (provided mostly from the goofy Sherriff JW Pepper - played by Clifton James) is too ‘dumb’ and goofy for a Bond film. Previous movies had a certain amount of class and professionalism with their hints of humor, this just seems outright stupid - like it belongs in a Will Ferrell movie.

Overall, a very sub-par Bond film. One saving grace would be the very nice opening song (Live and Let Die) recorded by Paul and Linda McCartney. Actually, the entire score was pretty good in this flick. Unfortunately, it is not nearly enough to save this film, and I would rank this as the worst Bond film that I have seen to date. Bond fanatics should see it (mostly just to say that they have watched every one), but I wouldn’t scramble to see this one otherwise.

Final Grade: C-

Other Reviews:
DVDTown: “Live and Let Die marked Roger Moore’s inauspicious screen debut as 007. He had big shoes to fill with Connery gone, and this first of his long series of Bond associations proved less than promising.”

Reel Views: “Watching Live and Let Die isn’t a complete waste of time, but there’s no overriding reason why anyone should go out of their way to see it unless they’re a die-hard Bond fan or are curious about Roger Moore’s first turn in the role.”

DVD Verdict: “Roger Moore’s introduction to the Bond franchise, Live and Let Die does not have quite the same high-stakes blockbuster feel as some of the other entries in the franchise and lacks a strong sense of the high-living Bond style.”

Filmcritic.com: “…the early-’70s pop culture exudes throughout this flick. It’s certainly a unique entry into the Bond oeuvre…”

Movie Vault: “Shaken and slightly stirred, Live and Let Die is not Moore’s best License to Kill. It drags at times yet it showcases, as homage of sorts, the best of blaxploitation culture going up against Bond, James Bond.”

EFilm Critic: “..Bond w.as back and thanks to Moore’s assured performance he was going to be back for a while. But again thanks to Moore and the direction that his films took, Bond was never going to the same again.”

TVGuide: “Less macho than Sean Connery’s Bond, Moore’s fastidiously dressed 007 survives by his wits and injects more humor into the proceedings.”

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