Roger Moore: A Matter of Class (1995) (TV)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Directors:

Gene Feldman
Suzette Winter

Writers:

Gene Feldman (writer)
Suzette Winter (writer)

Release Date:

16 November 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Movie Production | Acting | James Bond | Interview

Cast

Roger Moore	...	Himself - Narrator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carroll Baker	...	Herself
Michael Caine	...	Himself
William P. Cartlidge	...	Himself
Jackie Collins	...	Herself
Tony Curtis	...	Himself
Lewis Gilbert	...	Himself
Audrey Hepburn	...	Herself (archive footage)
Geoffrey Moore	...	Himself
David Niven Jr.	...	Himself
Jerry Pam	...	Himself
Gregory Peck	...	Himself
Donald Sutherland	...	Himself (archive footage)
Michael G. Wilson	...	Himself

Runtime:

50 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Wombat Productions

Great documentary focusing on Moore's film career and UNICEF work.

It's a fantastic documentary introducing Roger Moore not only as a great actor but also as a UNICEF special representative. A very interesting journey through Moore's acting career begins in 1945 „Caesar and Cleopatra' where he was just an extra, but during the break in filming Brian Desmond Hurst, the second director of the movie, suggested him to join RADA. In 1953 Moore went to USA where he signed contract with MGM and played in several films and TV shows. Then he returned to Britain when he starred in his first TV series – „Ivanhoe' which brought him fame in UK. After that he was offered to return to USA and star opposite Carroll Baker in „The Miracle'. Moore was happy about that and soon did his first American TV series „The Alaskans'. Later, when James Gardner left the „Maverick' cast, the producers of the series invited Roger Moore to star in it as Beau Maverick, an English cousin. But it was 1962 when he returned to Britain to become famous Simon Templar, the role he has played for 7 years and the one which has brought him stardom all around the world. In early 1970s he did another series for ITC – „The Persuaders', which also featured Tony Curtis. But fortunately it wasn't as succesful in America as „The Saint' and so Roger Moore was able to follow Sean Connery's steps as James Bond in 1973 „Live and Let Die'.

Moore narrates the documentary, which helps it to be more real and enjoyable. Amongst the stars are Rog's good friends: Michael Caine, David Niven Jr, Gregory Peck, Tony Curtis, Jackie Collins, Lewis Gilbert, Jerry Pam and his son Geoffrey. Moore elaborates widely about his friendship with late David Niven (Moore met Niven in mid 40s when they both worked in animation studios) and Audrey Hepburn (She was his very good friend. They together worked as models in 1948 and played episodes in same movies in early 1950s. In 1991 she introduced him to UNICEF.). Also complains about his beauty and tells many funny anecdotes.

There are many clips from actor's films starting from 1954 „The Last Time I Saw Paris', through: „Diane', „The Miracle', „The Saint', „The Man who Haunted Himself' and the Bonds. There are also some good quality, rare photographs, like f.e. the one showing Roger as a baby. At the end there's some marvellous footage from Moore's journey to Africa, showing him from a very different side, as a man of a warm and big heart. It's really worth seeing.