Yeah, Connery aged really quickly during his tenure, by diamonds he looked literally twenty years older than Moore here - two years later and, as you say , five years older. The shorter hair makes Moore look extra fresh faced, though he still does look almost as young in the next. It’s a real shame he ended up being one of those victims of eighties dodgy plastic surgery. Calvin is too polite to ever say much about it in his reviews but I actually find Moore’s appearance kind of distracting in the last two movies. It’s sad he didn’t let himself age naturally considering how he seemed to have the genes for it ...

@@hannah6034 Yes, Roger Moore really looks very young in his first 4 movies - in LALD he looks like 37 y.o, in the TMWTGG - same, in TSWLM - 40 y.o, in MR - 42 y.o. As for me, he started to look old in 1980, where in FYEO he looks like 48 y.o, in OP - 51-52 y.o, and in AVTAK - like 58 y.o.. But I disagree with your statement, that he looks bad in Octopussy, he still looks pretty good in this flick with his usual appereance, and he looks like a man in his early fifties. But in AVTAK I agree, he looks really very old and unfit, compare to his previous appereances. AVTAK is the only movie, where Roger really looks like his real age at the time of filming. You are right, if he hadn't done this plastic surgery, he would have looked much better, maybe the same, as he was in FYEO and OP. This is really terrible, because 2 years later, in 1987 he looked much better than in AVTAK.

@@mr.tramber Don't believe Moore looked unfit in AVTAK. He looked slim & had lost weight since Octopussy. However facially he looked too old. The film didn't help & Moore's performance was flat.

He did look youthful. Espescially for 1973 when people looked older & were less fit.

Moore only started looking his age in FYEO. Father time eventually caught up with him. He still looked alright though until that awful face lift for AVTAK. And it's not like Moore stopped being handsome, but he just stopped being believable as Bond.

So true he was an awesome charcter

@@thefonzkiss he deserved more than what he got

SolarDragon007 I wish he came back at some point in the series and died for good.

@@oddjobplayzps4314 I played the Goldeneye video game long before I saw any of the movies and I can remember that extra level where you faced off with Samedi. I remember reading in the Player's Guide about how Bond "crossed swords" with him in Live and Let Die, so I figured, "He must be pretty major." And then, many years later, I see the movie, get to Bond's "confrontation" with Samedi and after it's over, I'm like, "Well, that was disappointing."

SolarDragon007 I emphatically agree with you. He was a fascinating character, and Holder's height (6'6") and deep, resonant laugh helped to make him a menacing character. His connection with both the voodoo/Tarot and crime themes of the film made him an interesting character.

Wyatt Corbin

Her hair (and she of course...) is so very beautiful. She's one of the most gorgeous Bond girls and female stars of cinema ever. I think she and Carole Bouquet are the prettiest. I guess I just like brunettes and long hair...

tupaei01 me too,

@@tupaei01 I see you're also a man of culture.

@@BATompsett Yes, sir.

That's exactly what I figured.

That was always my impression of her behavior in the scene.

I have to be honest - I always thought Solitaire was just trying to distract the bad guys at the airport. Bond clearly has nowhere to go and it’s why she’s a beat behind him getting out of the cab as she’s trying to figure out what to do to save him.

Correct, and so blatantly obvious. Calvin overlooks the obvious and instead overthinks it to death.

I seem to remember her making it clear in a previous scene that her main concern was for her own safety. That whole sequence looked a lot like a calculated attempt to help Bond get away, while confusing the henchmen (who probably would have figured out that she was working with Bond by now) about her true allegiance. Also noticed seeing that clip again in here, that she didn't actually try to whack him with her purse at all -- it was well away from his face :) Meaning she only did that so Bond could grab it, and the henchmen's eyes would naturally follow the movement, as eyes tend to do.

They were so impressed by him, they named the villain after him. In the book, the villain is just Mr Big alone.

Probably one of the coolest stunts from all the movies!

Also, side note, since you're re-reviewing a lot of the Bond films, I'd love to see an updated take on Goldeneye.

EntropicDecay Gaming oh yes I’m going to be running through TMWTGG up to Spectre again 😁 and yeah the thing about Solitaire is weird. I would have appreciated just one close up of her looking nervous before going steely eyed and putting on the act. As it stands there just isn’t anything to indicate anything other than she just is glad that they’ve captured Bond!

I see it sort of like a double bluff. Yes she is trying to endear herself to the villains so she won't be killed, but she strikes out at Bond knowing that he will retaliate in some way and give him an opportunity to escape.

EntropicDecay Gaming Yes, that’s always what I thought too - once captured she was trying to make it look like 007 had taken her against her will, to avoid/lessen punishment.

I always thought the same. I actually figured she was a bit irked for not being fully rescued and allowed to be in Kananga's clutches again. I don't think it was actually a "hey, I'm a bad guy now, SURPRISE" moment, but rather, it's more like "How dare you be so careless and let me get captured again" moment. Keep in mind that the henchman says "there's a hell of a view of the lake from 10,000 feet" and that's when Solitaire speaks up and says "My only regret is that I won't be there to see it!" and THEN takes a swing and Bond. She's saying that she'd rather be up in the plane with Bond and taking that gamble of being free of Kananga or dying in a crash than to actually be back in Kanangas captivity again. She's mad at 007 for not getting her out of there. I don't think the scene needed a "wink wink" shot because I legitimately think she's mad, scared, and has lot all hope of being free again.

I do wonder how she explains to Kanaga why she escaped with Bond. But yeah, I always twigged it was her attempt to help him, as she'd just heard he was going to be dropped from the plane. Something he probably couldn't avoid.

My thoughts exactly

Sheriff Pepper almost should be put in the pokey himself - for GRAND THEFT SCENE STEALING!!! :D :D :D Seriously - I love his bits in the 2 movies he's in. :D

That’s a great reading! Had really occurred to me until reading this but yeah, whether it was intention or not there are certainly parallels

@@calvindyson agreed!

Paul Lally I love that line too😂😂

I say that sometimes and people look at me stange .

Thanks so much, Nathan! Really kind of you to comment with this and I appreciate it a lot 😁😁

With you jack, I love this film too. Probably my favourite, indisputably top 3. One of those Bond films that’s a good spy story and fun movie to watch in its own right too. As opposed to say octopussy that I have a soft spot for but you do kind of have to make excuses for certain parts. I love all the US locations and totally agree i wish we’d seen more of New Orleans. I wouldn’t have minded more 70s NYC too - the boat chase could’ve been liberally shaved down, it’s the only bit I don’t like and gosh does it go on. Great girl, great villain, best Felix, best theme song and I know this isn’t a commonly held view but I think Moore is at his very peak in this and TMWTGG.

Yes I remember the bond double Bill's at the cinema great value for money in those days

David Rixson Fantastic memories! Live And Let Die was also the first Bond film Sam Mendes saw.

@@phillipgreen2082 The first double bill I saw was Thunderball and you only Live twice, and I was blown away.

Yeah right?

I wish his manager hadn't advised him so badly. He could have grown into the part very nicely.

On top of that he's just a good presence for how Bond was portrayed in film. Bond did what he want- sneaking the baretta off M's desk, downplaying his skills before hipfiring a clay pigeon at Largo's, making Goldfinger think he won before revealing the wrong ball was played etc. He was like a devious cousin at a family party. Lazenby WAS that, and much of OHMSS's plot revolves around that side of Bond. Watch his casting documentary, read of behind the scenes stuff, and Lazenby really was that side of Bond and its how he found a lot of his successes in life. If anything it makes it believable since he's sorta playing himself in a way (including the player aspects, George was drowning in women before OHMSS). He feels really human, a biproduct of hiring a non-actor.

They had to loop over his lines, which made him come across quite poorly I think. But he also had very monotonic facial expressions. His jokes to me landed flat. And His Majesty Secret Service had a lot of ridiculous things in it - him pretending to be homosexual with all the women around. Just horrible. But surely he is the one Bond without a career. All other Bonds were able to have some sort of film career after Bond. So I think most of the people agree with me that he's a bad actor.

As has been said many times, Lazenby is a very wooden actor. He lacks the charisma and confidence of every Bond actor before and after. It’s very difficult to buy him as Bond as he’s just a bit too vulnerable. It doesn’t help that the film tries to big him up in somewhat unnatural ways.

I don’t think I’d ever heard this story before 😂😂 I know he was a bit of a magpie when it came to pinching hotel towels and the like but I didn’t realise that extended to actual props!

@@calvindyson In terms of freebies, I would like to announce here that part of Roger Moore's salary included an unlimited supply of (expensive) Monte Cristo Cigars for the duration of filming. Cubby regretted this as he didn't realise how many Rodge would go through! This is actually a fact, although it sounds like something from Would I Lie To You.

Oh, thank god that never happened. I have a love/hate relationship with the Moore era as it is, but seeing K9 roll onto set would have pushed me over the edge.

I’m mentally trying to re-edit that scene with K9 and it’s killing me. I’m sorta sad I don’t live in a world where this happened.

@@calvindyson And in Revenge Of The Cybermen the brush radio was used by actor Jeremy Wilkin who played Forsyth in TSWLM.

Rune Væver Hartvig thanks so much for this, Rune 😁 I shall double up efforts to cover TMWTGG soon so there isn’t too much of a break between the actual film reviews. Hope you continue to enjoy and I seriously can’t THANK YOU enough for the Patreon support

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond Thank you for thoughtful answer! With that kind of community interaction I wouldn’t dare withdrawing my pledge 🤩 now hurry on, I’m eager for TMWTGG!

I agree!!! Calvin’s reviews are my favourites

I know! A couple of times watching this film, I've had similar thoughts that Sheriff Pepper would be perfectly at home in "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World"!! Spot on, good sir! :D

@@logandarklighter 😂

The producers originally intended to have Paul McCartney do the film score but he was too expensive. The soundtrack for this film is truly remarkable. Although it's from as early as 1973, it's one of the most well-produced film scores I've ever heard with regards to mixing and audio-quality in general. Goes to show what a truly amazing producer George Martin was!

It's nice somebody talks here about the cards! So I think you know how big mistake the scriptwriters made with literal interpretation of cards "The Death" and "The Lovers" 😁

It's one of the best effects in the series for sure, wicked unsettling

Which im grateful for that but hes my least favorite bond he isn't bad just to campy for my taste

@@nitsuagaming6121 You really think Lazenby was better? With that stupid sped up ‘fight’ scene & his dumb quip to the camera?

@@southlondon86 most bonds are better then moore in my oppinion and that wasn't a bad movie the fourth wall break joke was stupid though

@@nitsuagaming6121 Moore’s movies are far more exciting and memorable. The stories, villains, gadgets, Bond girls. Even with the cheesy one liners, they are far more interesting than anything dalton or craig has done. Craig is the ugliest Bond and his movies are so boring!

@@southlondon86 hes also the most book accurate bond though aside from the bad writing in later creig films its all a matter of oppinion though

Loved reading this! Always great to read such enthusiasm when it comes to anything Bond :D

Loved this movie as kid especially the guy with hook was scary haha. While 60s Bond is dream like, this is like return to bleak reality. After rewatching it I have to say it did not have the same impact but yeah it isikinda kinda special entry in the serie. Man with the golden gun is quite similar in style but the spy who loved me returned to dreamy looks.

BenCol good point about MI6 and Kananga... funnily enough, that thought came to mind when I read the book but it never really bothered me so much in the film!

If the villain's modus operandi was hiding pirate treasure in shark tanks to finance covert global Soviet spy operations, the plot might have been slightly more plausible.

Well, Hamilton (nod to the director) was on loan to The CIA. So, there's a link???? I was also impressed at M's local knowledge. He knows there's a perfectly adequate watchmaker, just down the street. Or did he waste MI6 resources to find out?

At the very least, the UK ambassador was murdered.

Always think that sequence is like something out of a Hitchcock film.

I agree. Personally he’s a top 10 Bond villain of all time.

Gosse Drent thanks very much, Gosse! I can understand why people would feel the way you do. To be honest, I didn’t really consider until this watching how few standout action moments there are. It’s quite tame in that regard really. Obviously the boat chase at the end is a big set piece but aside from that a lot of the action is quite tame.

@@grantmalone I can overlook it, but that might just be nostalgia talking. Tbh, having it offscreen with a Bond reaction shot in place, whilst cheap, would: 1) Make what happens far more horrifying, as it’s left to your imagination. 2) Gets rid of that truly _terrible_ effect. I still to this day don’t know what they were thinking!

​@@horrorfanandy4647 Having Kananga's death offscreen wouldn't line up with what the series established, showing the big bad go out in a big, bad way, so it's obvious what they were thinking. If you "don’t know what they were thinking," you have failed at watching James Bond. It's not a "truly terrible effect." It's pretty competently done, appropriately explosive, and fitting of the tone of the film, not to mention satisfying. They made a dummy of Kananga, inflated it, and blew it up. That gets the job done, I think. I don't think there was any way they could've created the effect in 1973 without making it too graphic or less convincing. And it's not like the way Kananga is killed is exactly unreasonable, considering that the kind of bullet that Bond stuffed in his mouth blew up a couch in similar fashion just a few minutes earlier, so the doctor's explosive demise doesn't come out of nowhere, but rather was set up ahead of time. Setting up the anti-shark bullets in this manner makes it clear that they're going to come into play in the climax, and what better way to do that than use one of them to deliver the killing blow? As the Chekhov's gun principle states, "One must never place a loaded rifle on the stage if it isn't going to go off. It's wrong to make promises you don't mean to keep." It's not even out of the ordinary for Bond baddies to go out in such a big, bad way. I mean, in this series, there are villains who are boiled alive, burned alive, shredded, electrocuted, harpooned, crushed, devoured by sharks and piranhas, dropped from dizzying heights, sucked out of airplanes, and ejected into space, but blowing up like a balloon is where we draw the line? Suuuure. Also, this is a James Bond film in which supernatural events occur. I'd say a suspension of disbelief is required. Besides, never blame nostalgia for overlooking it. Nostalgia is your friend. Let it hold your hand. It will make things all the more enjoyable. And never refer to it in a condescending manner.

So, you're saying that "the producers should have know better" than to kill off the big bad in a big, bad way, something that's on par with the course for Bond films? Who are you to second guess them on how to create an exciting climax? Even if you want to call it "silly," it wouldn't exactly be out of place with the film's camp.

@@imfsresidentotaku9699 Don’t get me wrong, I love the moment (this was my first James Bond film after all) but when I look at it out of context the effect looks completely ridiculous even by James Bond standards, it not the fact he blows up like a balloon, because you’re right, there are more ridiculous things that happen, it’s simply how cheap it looks, it feels like they were cutting a corner there. I don’t mind, it doesn’t break my immersion at all, and the film is brilliant, but I just think there were better ways to do it even back then, regardless of how seriously you take the film, because it *looks cheap.* I love nostalgia, but I have to be subjective as well. Still a top 5 Bond film however!

I do need to check out more of the two of them together!

@@calvindyson You have to see Naked Face. There is some great screen sharing between Moore and Hedison.

ME TOO, fFolkes fFolkes.fFolkesfFolkes fFolkes PLEASE. Here again under North Sea Hijack kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eraBqMRhrc2bfmg.html. And don't forget Anthony Perkins as the bad guy. You know James Bond vs Norman Bates. With an ending that will give you goosebumps guaranteed. Meow. Unfortunately The Naked Face may not be so easy to find. That movie is also with rod steiger, an art Carney.

The Naked Face also has Moore's friend and Escape to Athena co-star Elliott Gould.

@@calvindyson The Man Who Haunted Himself is great too. The first instance of moving mattes used for doubling an actor.

Thanks, mate :D :D Very much appreciate that, hope you continue to enjoy the videos!

I could tell something was up in Mr. Big's first scene. His face looked fake AF

Its not arrogance if you can back it up.

...moments like that are why I watch Calvin

Just looked him up on IMDB, and weirdly his main career was in Transportation on movies. Strange how he ended up playing two Sheriffs in Bond films! Although he isn't at Clifton James' level, I love the disappointed look he gives Bond in Diamonds when approaching the car. Not Angry, Just Disappointed. Another bit of triv: The actor who plays the waiter who takes Bond's order in the Harlem Fillet Of Soul also played Che Che, Draco's henchman who Bond has a fight with in the hotel room. He later would play a member of Stromberg's crew. His name is Irvin Allen, which is similar to Irving Allen, Cubby Broccoli's first business partner, who told Ian Fleming that the Bond novels weren't good enough for TV, let alone movies! Years later, he produced the Bond apeing Matt Helm films.

He also played that kind of sheriff in 1976 "Silver streak" - a very nice comedy with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. There also another Bond character. Richard Kiel... with his steel jaws!!! It was a year before "The spy who loved me" so i think they adapted this character to James Bond franchise.

@@rafachrzaszcz6997 You're thinking of Clifton James. I'm referring to Leroy Hollis, whose only two acting credits are the ones I mentioned.

@@samclark379 okay, I know! He played another sheriff in LALD

This was a really lovely and awesome thing to read, thank you very much, Rocky. Had a bit of a crappy day so this really lifted me up. Thanks 😊 I hope you’re staying safe and healthy too

@@calvindyson ...today is o.k.....tomorrow never dies......

Also - "names is for tombstones, baby" is such a cool line!

Kananga's death is far from "the worst bit."

To quote CIA Agent Stan Smith, "Jane Seymour from behind, Jane Seymour from behind...".

Thanks so much, Chris! Really happy you found the channel and even happier you're enjoing the videos :D very kind of you to comment and much appreciated!

Dale Baker I’ve honestly never heard a bad word said about Roger. He sounds like he was just a class act in every way. Proper gentleman. And thanks for the kind words!! Really appreciate it 😁😁

@@calvindyson thank you Calvin, i am so honoured with your reply.

Thanks very much! Yeah I think I've grown a lot since those early reviews and I'm much more pleased with this recent format style. Glad to hear you like it too! Going to have LOTS to talk about with TMWTGG!

Jonathan Campbell HA! Completely unintentional I swear 😆

29:05

Of course. It's crazy how he overlooks this most obvious explanation and overthinks it to death.

It always seems a weird objection, as if Bond went up against The Mafia, of course they'd all be Italian, for instance. Or The Triads would be Chinese. The All Black People Are Villains Prejudice is actually played as a prank on the audience twice, by both Strutter the CIA agent and Quarrel Jr being suggested initially as villains. Kanaga is able to manipulate through creating a stereotypical Black villain in Mr Big, while his true self is far more intellectually strong. We should instead be happy at such interesting Bond villains, and a main villain, equivalent to Blofeld, played by a Black actor. In 1973!

@@davidjames579 That's the other side isn't it? Black actors as competent adversarys and not just as cheap carricatures. And this movie was already a step-up compared to Fleming's book, but in the context of the time it could also been an attack on Blaxploitation and the results of the civil right movement and whatnot. Like I said, you can make a good case for this movie being racist, but it's also true what you said. Personally I tend more on the side of the awesome, even if you have to add "...for it's time." And yes, the actors were all great, no doubt it. like I said, I love Tee Hee and the Baron very much :D.

@@Harryeaster Obviously with it being a Bond film, the hero is White. But if say the focus was switched to Strutter investigating Mr Big's operation (as he is), it would make the film akin to Shaft, and therefore not seen as racist. Shaft fights oppressors of all races, including Black ones.

Mr Big working out of Harlem without a diversity and inclusion manager is disgraceful 🤣

The villains are black, but I don't see that as vilifying as they are totally bad ass. Baron is amazing and "can not die" and Kananga is intelligent and spectacular. Rosie is SO hot. Strutter is on Bond's side. I wasn't around in the 70's and I'm not black, but the cultural aspects of Harlem & the Caribbean are shown as fascinating and cool - not as disrespectful and negative.

Thanks so much, Philippe! Really appreciate the support. Certainly inspires me to double up efforts and I'm very glad you've enjoyed the videos for so long. Going to get to TMWTGG re-review much sooner!

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond awesome.

actually, "Tee-Hee"

@@uncannyx Fixed.

@@jonathancampbell5231 there ya go! but thanks for that info, I guess I missed him calling him Adam

It's funny how with the Sheriff pepper section, the film pretty much swings into another movie, a proto Smokey And The Bandit! It's like when you pass you through his Parish, it stops being a Bond film! Bond's ruthless using of situations to his advantage are realistic for what a spy has to do, but rubs the line of what's okay in film entertainment. I buy Bond as a character having to do it, but whether we want to see our hero do it is something else. At the time though, it probably was perceived as a "Way hey! Not 'arf lads, get it where you can" snigger.