Live and Let Die
Dir: Guy Hamilton
1973
*****
1973's James Bond outing Live and Let Die is the 8th 007 film and the second of Ian Flemming's novels. Guy Hamilton's humourous and somewhat over the top style was decided as being the future direction of the franchise and, keeping with the trend of the day, in 1973 the world's favorite Spy would enter the world of the Blaxploitation movie. Screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz suggested the adaptation during the filming of Diamonds are Forever as he thought that having a mainly Black cast would be current and exciting, given the media coverage the Panthers were getting at the time. The story follows that of the novel very loosely, Mr. Big being a Soviet spy who deals in roman coins, rather than the Drug baron he is in the film. In fact, more of the book's contents can be found in later Bond films For Your Eyes Only and Licence to Kill. This time Connery was definitely out, a new Bond had to be found. Many names were suggested, the studio wanted an American and approached Burt Reynolds, Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Clint Eastwood was first choice with his role in Dirty Harry in mind but Eastwood declined stating that he thought the character should be played by a Brit. Cubby Broccoli agreed and after considering many British actors including Julian Glover, John Gavin (once more), Jeremy Brett and Simon Oates, to name a few, it was Michael Billington the studios wanted. However, Broccoli submitted Roger Moore's name into the fold, as he had done when casting Dr. No and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Moore played the character the only way he could, completely different to Connery but very much fitting with the part. A new chapter was born, Guy Hamilton stretching his comedic direction even further than before and creating an allover different kind of 007 that has divided Bond fans ever since. Jane Seymour was cast as Bond girl and has since been regarded as a fan favorite and David Hedison makes his Felix Leiter debut and remains my personal favorite. The bad guys are great. Julius Harris plays the sinister hook-handed Tee Hee, while Yaphet Kotto's Mr. Big suffers one of the best deaths of the entire series. However, Geoffrey Holder's Voodoo master Baron Samedi, remains one of the most terrifying and thrilling bad guys of any film, ever, and is a huge reason why many consider this their favorite of the Bond films. Plus the brilliant Clifton James Sheriff J.W. Pepper cameo and it is safe to say that this is by far, my personal favorite of the Bond films.