avalydia's review
3.0
This was a really interesting (and sometimes pretty wild) book. I made sure to watch Live and Let Die before I started reading it, since I had never seen it before, and I'm glad I did because it was so helpful to be able to visualize all the locations.
There were a lot of fascinating details about the way race played into the film. Given the plot of the movie and the decade in which it was made, I wasn't surprised by how, erm, questionable some of it was. I did some research and found out that it was made when "blaxploitation" films were really popular - these were movies that emphasized stereotypes about black people, yet were notable at the time for having mostly or all-black casts.
Roger Moore was unexpectedly not racist for a white Englishman living in the seventies, and he noted that Solitaire (ultimately played by Jane Seymour) was originally supposed to be played by a black actress, which would have made so much more sense given the context of her character. He also mentioned that his wife, Luisa, informed him that certain women in their Louisiana social circles had confided in her that they would not be seeing the movie if James Bond made love to Rosie Carter, a black Bond girl; Moore's response was that this made him all the more determined to proceed with it.
Also, like super randomly, Moore drops this tidbit:
Um, excuse me, what?? (The subject is never visited again.)
So, all in all, an entertaining read and a fascinating look at the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of the cast and crew. I wish there were more diaries like this out there for other movies!
There were a lot of fascinating details about the way race played into the film. Given the plot of the movie and the decade in which it was made, I wasn't surprised by how, erm, questionable some of it was. I did some research and found out that it was made when "blaxploitation" films were really popular - these were movies that emphasized stereotypes about black people, yet were notable at the time for having mostly or all-black casts.
Roger Moore was unexpectedly not racist for a white Englishman living in the seventies, and he noted that Solitaire (ultimately played by Jane Seymour) was originally supposed to be played by a black actress, which would have made so much more sense given the context of her character. He also mentioned that his wife, Luisa, informed him that certain women in their Louisiana social circles had confided in her that they would not be seeing the movie if James Bond made love to Rosie Carter, a black Bond girl; Moore's response was that this made him all the more determined to proceed with it.
Also, like super randomly, Moore drops this tidbit:
Jim Garrison, the District Attorney of New Orleans, who conducted his own investigation into the assassination of Kennedy, invited me, along with a couple of FBI agents, to his office to view some film. I am not at liberty to disclose what I saw but it left no doubt in my mind that it was not Oswald who fired the fatal shot. Garrison’s assertion is that Oswald was not acting alone but as part of a CIA conspiracy.
Um, excuse me, what?? (The subject is never visited again.)
So, all in all, an entertaining read and a fascinating look at the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of the cast and crew. I wish there were more diaries like this out there for other movies!
sirchutney's review
4.0
Roger Moore's James Bond Diary by Roger Moore
Roger Moore's James Bond Diary is an account of his filming the movie Live and Let Die and was published in 1973. The book opens with an acknowledgment to Sean Connery, with whom Moore has been friends for many years: "I would also like to thank Sean Connery – with whom it would not have been possible."
This pun really sums Sir Rodge up and sets the tone for the rest of the book.
Being a big Bond fan, and also a big Sir Rodge fan (check out his recent books and autobiography, they’re very good) I picked up this curiosity of a book from eBay for a couple of pounds. Its written in his usual dry and witty style and was thoroughly entertaining. There’s not a great deal of depth to it, for example there were no profound insights into his acting method, characterisation, effect of working on location on relationships and family, etc rather its a straightforward account of filming a Bond movie; the day-to-day grind, pressures and frustrations. What I picked-up from the book is:
- Rodge knows everyone; to him networking and socialising is critical and he probably rather enjoys it
- He’s a professional: he turns up for work, delivers his lines and is clearly doing a job which he loves
- He seems to be prone to illness both real and imagined
- He understands the value of money and how much he is worth
- He uses humour to try to put others, and possibly himself, at ease and he definitely doesn't take himself too seriously
You get the impression that Rodge was rather shocked at being cast as Bond, especially as he was in his mid-forties at the time (Bond is portrayed in his early to mid-thirties in the books) and in real life Sir Rodge is definitely not an action hero. So, in summary a light-hearted and easy read which records each day’s shooting, and includes insights into the other activities which occur when the cameras stop turning.
Roger Moore's James Bond Diary is an account of his filming the movie Live and Let Die and was published in 1973. The book opens with an acknowledgment to Sean Connery, with whom Moore has been friends for many years: "I would also like to thank Sean Connery – with whom it would not have been possible."
This pun really sums Sir Rodge up and sets the tone for the rest of the book.
Being a big Bond fan, and also a big Sir Rodge fan (check out his recent books and autobiography, they’re very good) I picked up this curiosity of a book from eBay for a couple of pounds. Its written in his usual dry and witty style and was thoroughly entertaining. There’s not a great deal of depth to it, for example there were no profound insights into his acting method, characterisation, effect of working on location on relationships and family, etc rather its a straightforward account of filming a Bond movie; the day-to-day grind, pressures and frustrations. What I picked-up from the book is:
- Rodge knows everyone; to him networking and socialising is critical and he probably rather enjoys it
- He’s a professional: he turns up for work, delivers his lines and is clearly doing a job which he loves
- He seems to be prone to illness both real and imagined
- He understands the value of money and how much he is worth
- He uses humour to try to put others, and possibly himself, at ease and he definitely doesn't take himself too seriously
You get the impression that Rodge was rather shocked at being cast as Bond, especially as he was in his mid-forties at the time (Bond is portrayed in his early to mid-thirties in the books) and in real life Sir Rodge is definitely not an action hero. So, in summary a light-hearted and easy read which records each day’s shooting, and includes insights into the other activities which occur when the cameras stop turning.
lokster71's review
2.0
This book is a reasonably entertaining, light-hearted account of Roger Moore's experience of filming Live & Let Die. It's - usually - upbeat.
It's a bit politically incorrect, especially when it comes to talking about women but that is a sin of the time it was written I suspect.
Roger Moore is an actor with an awareness of his own limitations and has an ability to laugh at himself, which means even when he's talking about another dinner with the rich and/or famous you don't find yourself too irritated by it (or him.)
It is interesting to note how many risks the production seemed willing to take with Moore's health and safety. Or, indeed, Jane Seymour's.
As a writer once said: 'The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there." If you have an interest in Bond (or in movies in general) it is worth a read but I wouldn't say it is a book for the ages. But you'd be surprised if it was really wouldn't you.
It's a bit politically incorrect, especially when it comes to talking about women but that is a sin of the time it was written I suspect.
Roger Moore is an actor with an awareness of his own limitations and has an ability to laugh at himself, which means even when he's talking about another dinner with the rich and/or famous you don't find yourself too irritated by it (or him.)
It is interesting to note how many risks the production seemed willing to take with Moore's health and safety. Or, indeed, Jane Seymour's.
As a writer once said: 'The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there." If you have an interest in Bond (or in movies in general) it is worth a read but I wouldn't say it is a book for the ages. But you'd be surprised if it was really wouldn't you.
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