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AND... One of the best ending scenes of the whole series IMHO. Mr. Bond, did you think it was so easy to kill... A God? Now i want to drink a gallon of that un-cola nuts beverage, hahahahahaaaaaaa...
I read through all the comments here - not a lot more I can add regarding how great this film is, except I really liked Roger's haircut and wardrobe, the colourful and memorable soundtrack, and the fictional location of San Monique. There's a creepy-sounding area at the north end of the island called Snake Point - not referenced in the film, but gives off a sense of danger, much like Crab Key.
Some of the props from this film would soon after appear in episodes of Doctor Who, such as the Morse code hairbrush and control panels from Kananga's lair.
Speaking of Roger's performance, I've started a silly little project analyzing his kissing technique throughout the Bond films Here's my take on his first romantic scene with Miss Caruso...
The Roger Moore Kiss Files [001] - Live and Let Die: “Sheer magnetism, darling.”
Someone once pointed out that Sir Roger Moore has a very unique and charming way of kissing on screen. He no doubt learnt this old-fashioned technique of puckering his lips and sucking in his cheeks during his dramatic studies. So I have taken on the insane task of reviewing every kiss that Roger Moore delivers throughout the James Bond film series.
Where better to start than with Roger’s first 007 flick, Live and Let Die (1973)? We focus on the very first time we see him in the role, in bed at his London apartment with the lovely Italian agent, Miss Caruso.
Now, my memory failed me on this one, as I was sure Roger managed to get in multiple pecks. But there’s just one solitary kiss in the whole scene!
To set the scene: Agent Caruso is spending the night with James Bond after a successful mission together. M interrupts their slumber by ringing the intercom buzzer as he’s popped by to give Bond a new mission briefing and his repaired magnetic Rolex Submariner. We’re treated to a funny sequence as M looks for the ‘missing’ Agent Caruso around the flat while 007 and Miss Moneypenny try to misdirect him.
As for the kiss? For a first outing, it’s poor. Roger seems completely uninterested. He misses the mark entirely, and it’s clear his priority lies with wondering whatever had just woken him up. The kiss suffers as a result. It’s actually a bit hilarious, Miss Caruso wakes at the same time as Bond, and she clearly thinks they are going to get intimate (not for the first time that night, apparently) and she shows that she’s up for it by going in for a kiss on Bond. Alas, their lips barely brush against each other as James ponders at who is at his door. Just as the lacklustre kiss ends, James jumps out of bed, leaving the poor Miss Caruso wanting.
Final Verdict: This is not the best example of a kiss from our charming gentleman spy. No real effort is given here and the contact is minimal. But due to his sheer magnetism Miss Caruso is still keen despite the lack of interest.
Rating:
🐟 🐟
2/10 Puckering Fish
Congratulations, you are taking Bond fandom to unforeseen new extremes! I am expecting nothing less than a full analysis of all the Bonds kissing techniques by the end of this little project. ^:)^
Interesting idea, I guess you could probably lose the scene in his flat, although it is a lot of fun.
Interesting idea mate...but that meant dropping the opening with the lovely Madeleine Smyth!!!
I guess it would have been nice to have seen the Italian mission Bond had met her on as a PTS!
Maybe they're on their mission and sort of stumble across the assassination of the UK ambassador to the UN who gets murdered in the PTS (why is that guy killed again?).
No, definitely keep the flat scene. It would just be a long PTS.. like TWINE 😁
It's truly one of the most unique Bond stories told, in any media.
No Q, in the only time that Desmond Llewelyn didn't come back to his trademark role. He could have easily been written in the script, but alas. More M and Bond banter.
Richard Maibaum didn't write in any way, as much as it seemed like he wished he would have. As usual in his somewhat typical way, he criticized the movie as is. It was probably a burn to Guy Hamilton for not wanting him, and Tom Mankiewicz for rewriting his original DAF screenplay. I find it ironic that he wrote LTK as a drug caper akin to LALD. The very thing that he said wasn't a Bond caper. Even if he didn't finish the LTK screenplay, he's earned the fair criticism of himself for one. He would have probably been more faithful to the original novel. I would have liked to see a novelization of the movie, preferably by Tom Mankiewicz, but I understand why it didn't happen. Plus, he probably would have had to put back on his script version of TMWTGG.
People have been saying that EON didn't take risks with the character's different races, being good or bad. This is true, but I do understand it from a marketing standpoint, at the time at least. Rosie should have been white, but Gloria Hendry was great with what she was given. Solitaire being black I could have gone either way on. I think that EON missed one opportunity with that.
However, my bigger missed opportunity with being faithful to the novel. Felix Leiter gets his shark attack. I know that EON was aiming for lightheartedness, so soon after OHMSS. But it could have made for bigger stakes at the time. The switching of Leiter actors won't have helped, above all. I also wish that he would have led the boat chase. If EON wanted a hillbilly sheriff for a quick comedic moment, OK. But not for long periods of time, in an already overlong, often boring chase. It just hasn't aged well aside from a cool boat jump.
Solitaire is one interesting Bond Woman who could have comeback in a unique way. Maybe in an Pierce Brosnan Old Man Bond movie. Considering how much PB and Jane Seymour (and Halle Berry) spend on environmental issues. She could also be one generally good side character in Bond who could make a great villain (Mr. Big backstory or not). Might be an idea for a future Bond story in a book, movie, or video game.
Mr. Big is unique, and I don't blame Yaphet Kotto for being a bit upset over the stereotyping of his character. That's just Guy Hamilton and Tom Mankiewicz doing their usual Bond bad points. The original novel didn't give him much character as well. His death should have been eaten by sharks instead of the balloon, as it would be somewhat faithful to the novel.
As for Baron Samedi's come back, it would have been interesting to see him come back in a movie. Perhaps Octopussy? I mean, in some versions of the script Blofeld and Goldfinger almost came back. At least he got to come back in Goldeneye 007, along with the Golden Gun. That is a fair comeback for me.
Sir Roger Moore is a bit more serious here than people realize. He could have played a more serious Bond than people (and himself) think. Guy Hamilton and Tom Mankiewicz both arguably stereotyped him in the long run, partly thanks to LALD, unfortunately. Also, another unique fact above LALD, Bond FLAT-OUT doesn't appear in the pre-titles sequence. Even in FRWL and TMWTGG a version of Bond himself arguably appears, in different ways.
So overall, LALD is a unique story in the Bond saga, both in front and behind the scenes. The last Bond where Harry Saltzman called most of the major shots, pun intended. It proves that had he stayed on, Bond would definitely be more unique than what we got. So many viewpoints are definitely seen and heard about LALD and it's major beginnings and endings. LALD is unique, but its uniqueness has made it an interesting point in the never-ending Bond Saga.