Is this still my favorite Bond Film in 2026?
Today's Film is Live and Let Die, a 1973 Film that marks the return of James Bond to Theaters.
After Connery turned down a massive payday (something akin to about $30 million today), a new Bond had to be found...again.
The Producers yet again went to Roger Moore and this time he was free (having been busy doing two different Shows when asked in the past). He was actually OLDER at this point than Connery was when Diamonds Forever came out but didn't look or feel it.
The Plot is a big swing, going from tales about billionaires wanting world domination to being about a drug kingpin. It is also heavily a Blaxploitation Film in all of the best (and sometimes worst) ways.
Yaphet Kotto really shines here, also giving us our first Bond Villain of Color. We also get our first Bond Girl of Color in Gloria Hendry, but I'll get to my issues with that later.
Start humming that Oscar nominated Bond Theme as I dive right into...
In the Cold Open, a trio of Agents are killed while spying on Mr. Big (a drug kingpin) and Kananga (Kotto).
One via sound blast (I think?), one via stabbing and one via snake/voodoo ritual.
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| Moore got his buddy cast as Agent Dead Meat #2 |
Bond- after a wacky bit of hiding the lady he just slept with- is off to New York to meet up with Felix (David Hedison) and find out what Mr. Big is up to.
Kananga is also in the City too, which is certainly not a coincidence.
People often refer to Blazing Saddles- released a year later- but I think other Films are more applicable.
Thanks, Tom Mankiewicz.
Bond fails at the Secret part of the Secret Agent role and falls into Mr. Big and later Kananga's clutches, followed the whole time.
He meets Solitaire (Jane Seymour) who is the Fortune Teller/Tarot Card Reader for the latter.
After escaping, he follows the trail to Jamaica, where he meets up with a new CIA contact in Rosie Carver (Hendry).
Her role consists of being scared, being incompetent, having her ass grabbed by Bond...and then being revealed as work for Kananga (not of her own free will).
She dies after running away.
* A sort of progress, no? *
Bond sneaks into Kananga's Base there and meets up with Solitaire.
He tricks her with her cards into sleeping with him, which he doesn't realize will make her 'lose her powers.'
To be fair, she did clearly want to sleep with him, but he did cheat with the cards.
As we end Act 2, Bond meets up with Mr. Big again and then the truth comes out.
Mr. Big is Kananga.
He's planning to flood the US with Drugs and then exploit the addicts.
Don't worry- Trump will pardon you.
In New Orleans, we get two of the Film's iconic Scenes.
A Captured Bond must first find a way to escape crocodiles (and not alligators?) surrounding him.
Later, he takes a speedboat and takes part in a massive, amazing Chase Scene.
*****
A climactic series of Action Scenes ensues.
Bond kills Baron Samedi, he blows up the drug supply and then fights Kananga by some sharks.
Yes, this Film has Crocodiles AND Sharks.
He uses a very recent Chekhov's Gun to blow up the bad guy.
Of course, the Henchman wasn't actually killed and is here for One Last Hurrah.
Bond kills him on the train, in spite of him being a full-on cyborg that looks like Tony Todd.
The End.
A Film that is very dated and very fun.
This Bond Film feels like a breath of fresh air. After so many Films with Connery (and one with Lazenby), it was needed.
The villain sells drugs. Bond goes to Harlem. Voodoo.
Moore is a really great Bond, since he feels so different from Connery. That's not a dig on him, but you don't want a repeat after a Decade, no?
Kotto and company really shine here as well, chewing the scenery just the right amount. His plain is crazy. His demeanor is unbalanced. He's so good.
The Action Scenes and Atmosphere really seal the deal. It's so good. It's so bonkers.
Even better, it is the start of a new Series...
Next up, an Action Film with both Ice T and Cube in it. That's a good pick for Black History Month, right? Stay tuned...
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