Live and Let Die is the eighth film in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, and the first to star Roger Moore. The film is based on Ian Fleming’s 1954 novel of the same name. The storyline involves a Harlem drug lord known as Mr. Big, who is revealed to be the alter ego of Dr. Kananga, a corrupt Caribbean dictator, who rules San Monique, a fictional island where opium poppies are secretly farmed. Bond is investigating the deaths of three British agents, leading him to Kananga, and he is soon trapped in a world of gangsters and voodoo as he fights to put a stop to the drug baron’s scheme. It is set in Harlem and New Orleans, as well as the Caribbean Islands. It was also the first James Bond film featuring an African-American Bond girl romantically involved with 007, Rosie Carver, who was played by Gloria Hendry.
OK, on to the ratings;
Bond – 91 out of 100 In his first outing Roger Moore gives energy to Bond that I don’t see in later movies. Maybe his best Bond, in my opinion.
Villain- 93 out of 100 Yaphet Kotto was an under appreciated actor and brings a fine darkness to Mr. Big / Kananga.
Bond Girls- 86 out of 100 Jane Seymour is beautiful and actually a little exotic as Solitaire, Kanata’s psychic and Bond’s love interest. And Gloria Hendry is sexy and ground-breaking is her role as Rosie Carver.
Theme- 73 out of 75 I’m not a fan of the Beatles or Paul McCartney, but “Live & Let Die” is an iconic theme song, a pop hit and Oscar nominated. Hard to argue with that resume.
Henchmen- 44 out of 50 This is a group rating. Julius W. Harris is Tee Hee Johnson, Kananga’s primary henchman who wears a pincer-tipped prosthetic arm. Geoffrey Holder is Baron Samedi, Kananga’s henchman who has ties to the Voodoo occult. And Earl Jolly Brown as Whisper, Kananga’s henchman who only whispers. All do good work here.
M, Q, Moneypenny, etc.- 9 out of 25. Not a lot going on here. Clifton James as Sheriff J.W. Pepper, the cliche “hick” Louisiana sheriff, actually detracts from the score. Bernard Lee and Lois Maxwell as “M” and Moneypenny are fine, but not given much to do.
Total- 396
Scoreboard;
- Goldfinger- 419
- Spectre-397
- Live and Let Die- 396
- Casino Royale / Die Another Day- 382
- The World is not Enough- 367
- Dr. No- 346
- The Man with the Golden Gun. 331
- License to Kill- 321
- Octopussy- 255
- The Living Daylights- 228
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