Live and Let Die (1973)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

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 | New York | Heroin | James Bond | 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 Pepper
Julius Harris	...	Tee Hee (as Julius W. Harris)
Geoffrey Holder	...	Baron Samedi
David Hedison	...	Leiter
Gloria Hendry	...	Rosie
Bernard Lee	...	'M'
Lois Maxwell	...	Moneypenny
Tommy Lane	...	Adam
Earl Jolly Brown	...	Whisper
Roy Stewart	...	Quarrel
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 last lines of the Ian Fleming James Bond novel "Live and Let Die" read: "There was open sensuality in Solitaire's eyes as she looked up at him. She smiled innocently. 'What about my back?' she said."

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Quarrel was killed in Dr. No (1962), which is why Bond refers to "Quarrel Junior."

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 "High Chaparall: (#3.4)" (2004)

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