Live and Let Die (1973)

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writer:

Tom Mankiewicz (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 June 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

Roger Moo7re is James Bond

Plot:

007 is sent to stop a diabolically brilliant heroin magnate armed with a complex organization and a reliable psychic tarot card reader.

Plot Keywords:

British | Heroin | James Bond | Cards | Tarot Card

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Roger Moore	...	James Bond
Yaphet Kotto	...	Kananga / Mr. Big
Jane Seymour	...	Solitaire
Clifton James	...	Sheriff J.W. Pepper
Julius Harris	...	Tee Hee (as Julius W. Harris)
Geoffrey Holder	...	Baron Samedi
David Hedison	...	Felix Leiter
Gloria Hendry	...	Rosie Carver
Bernard Lee	...	M
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Tommy Lane	...	Adam
Earl Jolly Brown	...	Whisper
Roy Stewart	...	Quarrel Jr.
Lon Satton	...	Strutter
Arnold Williams	...	Cab Driver 1

Also Known As:

Ian Fleming's Live and Let Die (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Hungarian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:12 | Ireland:PG | South Korea:15 | Brazil:Livre | New Zealand:PG | Canada:14A (video rating) | Portugal:M/12 | UK:PG (tv rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (TV rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1973) | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | UK:A (original rating) | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

117th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Eon Productions

Trivia:

The first Bond film in which 007 has a liaison with an "African black" woman, Rosie Carver, played by Gloria Hendry. This meant that when the film was released in South Africa, all Hendry's love scenes were removed because of the apartheid policies of the South African government.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The whole crew and spectators are reflected in the cab's window when Bond leaves the Voodoo shop.

Quotes:

[first lines]
UN Translator: [translating for Hungarian delegate] ... was so ably pointed out by the Secretary General in his opening remarks. But - and I must emphasize this point - no formula can or will ever cover each case. For instance...
[audio feed is unplugged]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Designing Bond: Peter Lamont (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

LIVE AND LET DIE

Bond with spookiness!

This Bond film is often sorely neglected – and here is my little bit to say, "Hey, don't neglect Live and Let Die!". Because I have to say here and now that I am a fully qualified authority on Bond films (i.e. I've seen them all and know plenty enough about Bond and the Bond franchise) and that Live and Let Die is one of the best. Many others Bond fans may squirm at this, but a bold effort by Roger Moore at a very difficult task indeed (that is, following Connery's act), together with an unusual Voodoo-themed plot, a very creepy set of megalomaniacs, tasty set-pieces and the very best theme tune of any Bond film, make for pretty stonking viewing, I feel.

Looking closer at that plot, it really is quite unusual, Bond-wise, for a bit of dabbling in Voodoo and the occult. It creates a spooky atmosphere not normally a part of the average Bond experience. The heroin-based impetus behind the plot serves only as a sensible explanation for the eerie goings-on. Baron Samedi and Tee Hee cannot fail to both amuse you, frighten you and make you go "oooh!"; whilst the ever-dominating Kananga is nice 'n' scary – played by Yaphet Kotto. Sheriff Pepper is a touchy subject for Bond purists, but I like him - and Solitaire is a Bond girl with an intriguing touch (!). Oh! - and this is surely the best Felix Leiter. The set-pieces are spectacular in all the ways you would expect them to be (the bus chase, speed-boat chase and the infamous crocodiles stand out in particular), and the action is fast-paced throughout.

Oh, and that theme tune! It is too often ignored, in my opinion, and is so high-powered and so fitting to the film, I can't help but love it!

Bad points: Moore isn't quite Connery – although I do not question his good performance here, and Hey! No "Q"!

RATINGS

As a Bond film: 9 or 10 (out of 10)

As a film: 8 1/2