Live and Let Die (1973)

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writer:

Tom Mankiewicz (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

27 June 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | 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:

Heroin | British | Cards | Murder | Tarot Card

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Roger Moore	...	James Bond
Yaphet Kotto	...	Kananga / Mr. Big
Jane Seymour	...	Solitaire / Simone Latrelle
Clifton James	...	Sheriff J.W. Pepper
Julius Harris	...	Tee Hee Johnson (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	...	CIA Agent Harold Strutter
Arnold Williams	...	Cab Driver 1
Ruth Kempf	...	Mrs. Bell
Joie Chitwood	...	Charlie
Madeline Smith	...	Beautiful Girl
Michael Ebbin	...	Dambala
Kubi Chaza	...	Sales Girl
Brenda Arnau	...	Singer (as B.J. Arnau)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Dix	...	Hamilton (uncredited)
James Drake	...	Dawes (uncredited)
Dennis Edwards	...	Baines (uncredited)
Stocker Fontelieu	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Lance Gordon	...	Eddie, State Trooper (uncredited)
Stephen Hendrickson	...	Mr. Bleeker (uncredited)
Roy Hollis	...	Louisiana Sheriff (uncredited)
Dan Jackson	...	Fillet of Soul Waiter (uncredited)
Della McCrae	...	Tribal Dancer (uncredited)
Marc Smith	...	UN Worker (uncredited)
Don Topping	...	San Monique Emcee (uncredited)
Nikki Van der Zyl	...	Solitaire (voice) (uncredited)
Gabor Vernon	...	Hungarian Delegate (uncredited)
Sylvia Kuumba Williams	...	Crying Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Guy Hamilton

Writing credits
Tom Mankiewicz		(screenplay)
Ian Fleming		(novel) uncredited

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Harry Saltzman	....	producer

Original Music by
George Martin		(music score)

Cinematography by
Ted Moore		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bert Bates
Raymond Poulton
John Shirley

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.		(as Weston Drury Jnr)

Art Direction by
Syd Cain		(supervising art director)
Robert W. Laing		(co-art director) (as Bob Laing)
Peter Lamont		(co-art director)

Set Decoration by
Simon Wakefield		(uncredited)
Frederic C. Weiler		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Julie Harris

Makeup Department
Colin Jamison	....	hairdresser
Paul Rabiger	....	chief makeup artist
Mike Jones	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Claude Hudson	....	production supervisor
Stephen F. Kesten	....	production manager: USA
Michael Rauch	....	unit manager: USA
Steven P. Skloot	....	production manager: USA

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Derek Cracknell	....	assistant director
Alan Hopkins	....	assistant director: USA
Raymond Becket	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Nicolas Hippisley-Coxe	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
Richard Jenkins	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Leon Davis	....	construction manager
Stephen Hendrickson	....	art director: USA
Patrick Weymouth	....	props
John Chisholm	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ken Barker	....	sound recordist
Christopher Lancaster	....	dubbing editor (as Chris Lancaster)
Teddy Mason	....	dubbing editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Jim Shields	....	dubbing editor (as Jimmy Shields)
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Derek Meddings	....	special effects
Rick Baker	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Charles Staffell	....	optical effects

Stunts
Bill Bennet	....	stunt coordinator
Joie Chitwood	....	stunt coordinator
Jerry Comeaux	....	stunt coordinator
Ross Kananga	....	stunt coordinator
Bob Simmons	....	stunt coordinator
Eddie Smith	....	stunt coordinator
Vic Armstrong	....	stunt double: Roger Moore (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Brayham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alonzo Brown Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joie Chitwood	....	airplane stunt driver (uncredited)
Joie Chitwood	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Brian Chung	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)
Murray Cleveland	....	stunt boat driver (uncredited)
Jerry Comeaux	....	stunt boat driver (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leslie Crawford	....	stunt double: Roger Moore (uncredited)
Leslie Crawford	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Reg Harding	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Koerner	....	stunt boat driver (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Minor	....	stunts (uncredited)
Maurice Patchett	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Allen Pinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rick Seaman	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Smith	....	stunt boat driver (uncredited)
Roy Street	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chris Webb	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
George Bouillet	....	camera operator: USA
John Harris	....	second unit cameraman
Bob Kindred	....	camera operator
Warren Rothenberger	....	camera operator: USA
Vinnie Gerardo	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Mike Roberts	....	focus puller (uncredited)
David Wynn-Jones	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Allan Foenander	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laurel Staffell	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Steve Cuiffo	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Monty Norman	....	composer: The James Bond theme
Don McVay	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John Koerner	....	boat driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main title
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
William Grefe	....	shark scenes: USA
Bernard Hanson	....	location manager
Geoffrey Holder	....	choreographer
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Jack Weis	....	location coordinator: USA
Scott Hamilton	....	assistant unit publicist (uncredited)
Jordan Klein Sr.	....	underwater special shark scenes (uncredited)
John Koerner	....	boat coordinator (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	police liaison: New York (uncredited)
Doris Spriggs	....	assistant: Roger Moore (uncredited)
Michael G. Wilson	....	EON productions: legal and administration (uncredited)

Thanks
Fergus Hall	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of: tarot cards by, courtesy of Portal Gallery, London

Production Companies

• Eon Productions (as Eon Productions Limited)

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Artistes Associés S.A.B. (1973) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• C.B. Films (1973) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1973) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1973) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• United Artists (1973) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1973) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1973) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (video)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (VHS) (Ultimate Edition)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (laserdisc)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (ultimate edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (ultimate edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special edition)
• Warner Home Video (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chevrolet  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Chevrolet Motor Division - General Motors Corp.)
• Glastron  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Glastron Boat Company)
• Evinrude Motors  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Harley Davidson Motorcycles  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Harley Davidson Motor Company Inc.)
• Budget Rent-a-Car  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Budget Rent-A-Car Inc.)
• AMF  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as A.M.F. Inc.)
• Panasonic  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Visi-Tel  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Visi-Tel Corporation)
• Dunham Coach  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as exotic cars by Dunham Coach of N.J.)
• Pan American World Airways  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Rolex  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Rolex Inc.)
• Pulsar  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Pulsar® The Time Computer®)
• Black Stuntmen's Association (BSA)  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as The Black Stuntmen's Association, Hollywood, Calif.)
• Portal Gallery  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as tarot cards by Fergus Hall, courtesy of Portal Gallery, London)
• New Orleans Police Department, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as New Orleans Police Department)
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as New Orleans International Airport)
• Orleans Levee Board  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as New Orleans Levee Board)
• New Orleans Lakefront Airport & Tenants Association  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as New York Mayor's Office of Film Co-ordination)
• New York Police Department (NYPD)  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• New York Department of Commerce & Industrial Development  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Jamaica Defence Force  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Jamaica Defence Forces)
• Jamaica Tourist Board  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Jamaica Swamp Safari  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Jamaica Swamp Safari Limited)
• Air Studios  music recorded at (as Air Studios, London)

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:

Bernard Lee was very ill during filming, causing the producers to consider replacing him as M with Kenneth More.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the taxi driver picks Bond up in New Orleans, his dialog and his lip movements don't match.

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:

Referenced in Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

Soundtrack:

New Second Line

Bond Over Easy, Cool But Dumb

Was Roger Moore channeling Austin Powers in 1973? There's a scene in this, his first go-round as 007, where Bond is tied up and his arm is cut to draw blood and attract some hungry sharks swimming below. Moore twitches his eyebrow and asks: "Perhaps we can try something in a simpler vein."

Those sharks don't need any frickin' laser beams on their heads to get you to smell the Austin. Moore gets a lot of blame for turning the Bond movies into weakly-plotted farces, ignoring that the series had been moving in that direction since "Goldfinger" and that the previous installment, Sean Connery's final EON bow "Diamonds Are Forever," was every bit as goofy. Also, Moore could deliver a more serious Bond when the script allowed, and two of the finest Bonds ever, "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "For Your Eyes Only," were his.

But there's no getting around this, "Live And Let Die" is a dumb movie. The gadgets are silly, the villain's scheme is ill-defined, the storyline is frenetic and unengaging, the action is plodding and overlong. Moore starts out not quite know how to play Bond here, while the movie requires him to play the fool sauntering through Harlem in a double-breasted suit like the Prince of Wales waiting for some natives to show him around.

But this film makes me smile, in part because I'm young enough to remember what it was all about when it came out. If this was Bond for the cheap seats, it at least delivered the goods, with some vivid supporting characters, a knockout visual style, amazing title music from Paul McCartney, and most importantly for Moore's future in the series, drop-dead quips. My favorite is when the nasty Tee Hee twists his pistol muzzle out of shape with a metal pincer arm, then giggles when he hands it back: "Funny how the least little thing amuses him."

Julius Harris is menacing but charming as Tee Hee, mostly mute except when he sticks Bond in a gator pond and suggests the best way to disarm the beasts is to try and pull out their teeth. Chief villain Yaphet Kotto has his moments, too, but with odd shifts of character. In the beginning, he's stone-cold Ron O'Neal in "Superfly," and at the end, he's plummy Charles Gray in "Diamonds Are Forever." Jane Seymour is Bond's love interest, and why she goes off with him is another of those things best not thought about long.

There are two great characters in this movie, though, bigger than just about anything seen in a Bond movie before who kind of work in tandem in overhauling any objections about this film being too "cartoony." Clifton James is redneck sheriff J.W. Pepper, who throws off one madman line after another while Bond is off on one of his long silly chase scenes. James mugs through every scene he's in, rolling his tongue around, playing off everyone and everything, and delivering every hackneyed Southern stereotype to such righteous perfection it's enough to make cotton sprout out of his ears. Bond purists who whine should just take their vodka martinis shaken not stirred and let the rest of us enjoy the craziness. The series is supposed to be fun; if you want serious espionage go watch "Smiley's People." (I grant you Pepper shouldn't have returned in the next Bond film; that was a mistake.)

The other great outsized character is Geoffrey Holder as perhaps the most mysterious figure in the whole series, Baron Samedi. Is he supernatural? Is he just crazy from the heat? He's certainly different, a guy who sides with the bad guys without quite being one of them. The always-eerie quality of his appearances, either dancing in a big hotel production number or quietly sitting in a cemetery playing a flute, make you question whether there ain't something to that voodoo after all.

It's silly bashing Pepper but praising Samedi, they are both equally so unreal, in a way that's in tune with the rest of the movie. The best thing to do is enjoy the different kinds of fun on offer. Frankly, not having these guys around might push this film on the bad side of Spinal Tap's "fine line between stupid and clever," the side where "A View To A Kill" and "Moonraker" are on.

But "Live And Let Die" is a winner. It's a fun movie that brings me back to younger days, when my heart was an open book. It's a nice transitional film for the series in that Moore managed a mostly smooth entrance to the role of Bond. And it has one of the best final shots in movie history. That's all I'll say there; you know it if you saw it.