Monday, November 16, 2015

Live and Let Die (1973)


"Roger Moo7re is James Bond"


Directed by Guy Hamilton
Produced by Harry Saltzman, Albert R. Broccoli
Screenplay by Tom Mankiewicz
Based on "Live and Let Die" by Ian Fleming
Starring: Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour
Music by George Martin
Cinematography: Ted Moore
Edited by Bert Bates, Raymond Poulton, John Shirley
Production company: Eon Productions
Distributed by United Artists
Release date: 27 June 1973 (United States)
Running time: 121 minutes
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: $7 million
Box office: $161.8 million


"Live and Let Die" is an action adventure thriller film directed by Guy Hamilton and written by Tom Mankiewicz, based on "Live and Let Die" by Ian Fleming. It's the eighth installment of the "James Bond" film series which follows Secret Agent James Bond who is sent to stop a diabolically brilliant heroin magnate armed with a complex organization and a reliable psychic tarot card reader.


Cast
  • Roger Moore as James Bond
  • Yaphet Kotto as Dr. Kananga and Mr. Big
  • Jane Seymour as Solitaire
  • Julius Harris as Tee Hee Johnson
  • David Hedison as Felix Leiter
  • Gloria Hendry as Rosie Carver
  • Clifton James as Sheriff J.W. Pepper
  • Geoffrey Holder as Baron Samedi
  • Bernard Lee as M
  • Roy Stewart as Quarrel Jr.
  • Earl Jolly Brown as Whisper
  • Tommy Lane as Adam
  • Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny
  • Madeline Smith as Miss Caruso


Probably I'm wrong but Roger Moore doesn't seem like James Bond - too phlegmatic. Where's charisma? Where's passion? The picture turned out tedious, to my mind.


Advantages
  • Bernard Lee as M
  • Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny
  • Music

Disadvantages
  • Too pretentious
  • Some scenes are overacted
  • Funny special effects

"Strangenesses"
  • Seems like James Bond is absolutely immortal

Clue Moments
  • Mr. Big
  • Fillet of Soul 
  • "The Lovers"
  • Solitaire 


Soundtracks
  1. Paul McCartney/Wings - Live and Let Die (Main Title)
  2. Harold Dejan/Olympia Brass Band - Just a Closer Walk With Thee/New Second Line 
  3. George Martin - Bond Meets Solitaire
  4. George Martin - Whisper Who Dares
  5. George Martin - Snakes Alive
  6. George Martin - Baron Samedi's Dance of Death
  7. George Martin - San Monique 
  8. B.J. Arnau/George Martin - Fillet of Soul - New Orleans/Live and Let Die/Fillet of Soul - Harlem 
  9. George Martin - Bond Drops In 
  10. George Martin - If He Finds It, Kill Him
  11. George Martin - Trespassers Will Be Eaten
  12. George Martin - Solitaire Gets Her Cards 
  13. George Martin - Sacrifice 
  14. George Martin - James Bond Theme
  15. George Martin - Gunbarrel/Snakebit
  16. George Martin - Bond to New York 
  17. George Martin - San Monique [Alternate Take]
  18. George Martin - Bond and Rosie 
  19. George Martin - The Lovers 
  20. George Martin - New Orleans
  21. George Martin - Boat Chase
  22. George Martin - Underground Lair


Quotations
* * *
Solitaire: [Kananga has just died from the gas pellet shoved in his mouth] Where's Kananga?
James Bond: He always did have an inflated opinion of himself.
* * *
Quarrel: My regards to Baron Samedi, man, right between the eyes.
* * *
Rosie Carver: There's a...
James Bond: Oh, a snake. I forgot, I should have told you. You should never go in there without a mongoose.
* * *
Solitaire: The cards have followed you for me.
* * *
Mr. Big: What shall we drink to, Mr. Bond?
James Bond: [as the overweight Whisper approaches with drinks] Well, how about an earthquake?
* * *
Sheriff J.W. Pepper: Did you ever think of getting a driver's licence, boy?
* * *
James Bond: Same time tomorrow, Mrs. Bell?
* * *
Solitaire: Now what are you doing?
James Bond: Just being disarming, darling.
* * *
You may see the trailer here.


Plot: 7/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Acting: 6/10
Originality: 6/10
Music and Sound: 7/10


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