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Tag Archives: Clifton James

The Man with the Golden Gun

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by vinnieh in 007 thoughts and reviews, Movie Reviews

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

007, 1970's, Bernard Lee, Britt Ekland, Christopher Lee, Clifton James, Desmond Llewelyn, Guy Hamilton, Hervé Villechaize, James Bond, Lois Maxwell, Maud Adams, Roger Moore, Soon-Tek Oh, Spy, The Man with the Golden Gun

Film Title

The Man with the Golden Gun

Director

Guy Hamilton

Starring

  • Roger Moore as James Bond
  • Christopher Lee as Francisco Scaramanga
  • Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight
  • Maud Adams as Andrea Anders
  • Hervé Villechaize as Nick Nack
  • Soon-Tek Oh as Lieutenant Hip
  • Clifton James as Sheriff J.W. Pepper
  • Bernard Lee as M
  • Desmond Llewelyn as Q
  • Lois Maxwell as Moneypenny

Roger Moore’s second tour of duty as James Bond comes by way of The Man with the Golden Gun. It doesn’t match the heights of Live and Let Die because of its reliance on too much comedy and uneven sense of pace, but it has its moments that are exciting and enjoyable nonetheless, as is to be expected of any Bond movie. It may not be the best that the franchise has to offer, but it does its job.

The energy crisis is at its height and agent 007 is sent by M to locate a Solex Agitator, a powerful device that uses the sun for energy. There is just one hitch in the mission, MI6 has received a golden bullet, engraved with 007 on it. The Man with the Golden Gun posterThe only known person to use such a bullet is Francisco Scaramanga, an assassin who charges a million for a kill and is largely unseen by many. M believes that the bullet is a warning that Bond is the next intended target for Scaramanga. Bond, although investigating the Solar crisis, decides to find Scaramanga before he becomes the next victim. Jetting from Macau to Hong Kong and eventually Thailand, Bond discovers that the Solex and Scaramanga are actually linked in an evil plot to harness the world’s solar energy. With the bumbling MI6 agent Mary Goodnight in tow and the help of Scaramanga’s terrified mistress Andrea Anders, Bond is sent into this dangerous game of cat and mouse with his eye on eliminating Scaramanga before it is too late.

As previously mentioned, The Man with the Golden Gun is not the finest Bond film out there. I feel that the writers went a bit overboard on the comedy and lost some of the essence of the previous movies. A good example of this is the car stunt over a rickety bridge that is quite amazing to watch, but marred by the presence of a slide whistle sound effect that detracts from the impact of the stunt. Guy Hamilton lays on the comedy a little too thick with his direction, but at least has some quality action moments and stunning locales to showcase in the typical Bond fashion. The pacing is quite indifferent as well and could have been trimmed a little in parts that drag on. Just as Live and Let Die had incorporated elements of the blaxploitation genre that was popular at the time, Golden Gun decides to get in on the act with countless references to the burgeoning Kung Fu genre. Some of the martial arts scenes are good and well staged, but they eventually become more than a little tiresome. With those negatives out of the way, the positives will now be discussed. The location work is beautiful and the choice of Thailand is a stroke of genius. Scaramanga’s lair is a definite highlight of this, with the island location and breathtaking views. Bond and ScaramangaIt makes for an excellent scene in which Scaramanga challenges Bond to an old-fashioned gun duel. John Barry returns for musical duties and provides a lush score with Far Eastern allure and intrigue ever-present. The title song may not be the best, but with Lulu on vocal duties and singing with seductive fervor, it serves its purpose.

Roger Moore is once again on fine form as Bond, playing the role with a definite tongue in cheek quality and filled with some great one liners. He has the charm to burn and charisma a plenty and firmly establishes his idea of Bond. Christopher Lee, with his imposing stature and sinister presence is an ideal adversary for Bond. Playing Scaramanga as a ruthless but utterly charming villain, Lee relishes the part as he toys with Bond and questions his moral standing. Although a gorgeous presence and a stunner in a revealing bikini, Britt Ekland’s role as fellow MI6 agent Mary Goodnight is not the best. Mary GoodnightA bumbling and very clumsy helper to Bond, many of her antics act as more of a hindrance than anything else. I will give Britt Ekland some credit in that she does have her funny and charming moments, but the role of Goodnight just isn’t that good or interesting. Maud Adams gets the better Bond girl role in the form of the tragic and vulnerable Andrea and is very emotionally effective in the part. It is through her that Bond traces Scaramanga and we get the sense of loneliness and restriction that Andrea must endure under the influence of Scaramanga. Hervé Villechaize is a hoot as Scaramanga’s pint-sized sidekick Nick Nack who is prone to sly actions. Soon-Tek Oh is not very effective as an agent helping Bond on the mission. The same can be said about bringing back Clifton James as Sheriff Pepper. It is a misstep as he soon becomes a nuisance in the film. Bernard Lee is particularly gruff but witty this time around as Bond’s superior and Lois Maxwell equally charming as Moneypenny. And its good to see Desmond Llewelyn back as Q after his absence in the last movie.

The Man with the Golden Gun is not 007’s finest hour, but it has its moments that can be enjoyed throughout.

 

 

 

Live and Let Die

03 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by vinnieh in 007 thoughts and reviews, Movie Reviews

≈ 33 Comments

Tags

007, 1970's, Bernard Lee, Clifton James, David Hedison, Geoffrey Holder, Gloria Hendry, Guy Hamilton, James Bond, Jane Seymour, Julius Harris, Live and Let Die, Lois Maxwell, Roger Moore, Spy, Yaphet Kotto

Film Title

Live and Let Die

Director

Guy Hamilton

Starring

  • Roger Moore as James Bond
  • Yaphet Kotto as Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big
  • Jane Seymour as Solitaire
  • David Hedison as Felix Leiter
  • Julius Harris as Tee Hee
  • Geoffrey Holder as Baron Samedi
  • Gloria Hendry as Rosie Carver
  • Clifton James as Sheriff J.W. Pepper
  • Bernard Lee as M
  • Lois Maxwell as Moneypenny

After Sean Connery signed off once again from the role of 007 in Diamonds Are Forever, the role was subsequently recast. The part was filled by Roger Moore, who brought a more debonair and charming air to the role of 007. Live and Let Die is his first outing as Bond and a successful one at that, a breath of fresh air after the underwhelming previous movie. With Moore now in role, the world of Bond is still as exciting and thrilling as it always has been with a few tricks along the way.

This time we have Bond investigating the deaths of three of his fellow agents. All three where looking into the affairs of political president of a small Caribbean island,Dr. Kananga and a known drugs lord named Mr. Big. Bond is sent to New York, where he encounters Mr. Big as well as Kananga. live and let die posterPiecing the plan together, Bond deduces that they are one in the same. Kananga plans to flood the American market with two tons of heroin and earn millions in the process, he hides his fields of opium on his island and has it heavily guarded under the guise of voodoo master Baron Samedi. Kananga also uses the virginal fortune-teller Solitaire to his advantage. As long as she remains a virgin, she will have the power of foresight. But after a night of passion with Bond, Solitaire finds her life in danger. Bond’s attempts to stop Kananga’s plan send him from the slums of New York to the bayous of New Orleans as he comes up against the crime lord and the powers of voodoo in an exciting eighth entry into the Bond series.

What is interesting upon viewing Live and Let Die is the influences of other genres that it has. It takes many cues from the blaxploitation genre that was popular in the 70’s and many a gangster film. KanangaThis gives Live and Let Die more of an edge, rather than having a world domination plot it settles for a thrilling and somewhat gritty plot of drug smuggling with the nefarious Kananga at the centre of the scheme. Elements of the horror genre abound in Live and Let Die, primarily in the form of Baron Samedi and the use of voodoo as a backdrop, with tarot cards, human sacrifices and creepy symbolism a plenty. Guy Hamilton regains his confidence again and after the misstep of Diamonds, delivers a more assured and action-packed outing for 007. The action is the main highlight of the film, with a chase on speedboats through the bayou a compelling example of this. For the first time in the Bond series history, John Barry does not provide a score. This task falls to George Martin, who does a commendable job of balancing the sounds of exciting action with the dark undercurrent of the mystical. The amazing title songs, performed by Paul McCartney and Wings, is one of the best songs for a Bond movie with its shifts in tempo, devilish drums and rocking guitars. The song compliments the dark title sequence of gorgeous girls covered in tribal paint, skulls on fire and clawing hands.

Filling the shoes of 007 for the first time is Roger Moore. He brings more charm to the role, but also a certain ruthlessness as well. Moore’s incarnation is very much the more humorous Bond than Connery(especially with that one eyebrow raise and razor-sharp wit), yet he does have serious moments in which he also excels.Moore certainly makes an impression on his Bond debut. Yaphet Kotto makes for an excellent villain in the form of the two-faced Kananga, his sinister smile and outbursts of anger are particularly effective. Solitaire Live and Let DieThe beautiful Jane Seymour inhabits the role of Solitaire with a guarded and naive sensitivity, as we watch her gradually slip from under the domineering influence of Kananga into the willing arms of Bond. David Hedison portrays the most charismatic Felix Leiter in the series, and Julius Harris as the hook handed Tee Hee and Geoffrey Holder as Baron Samedi are fine as two of Kananga’s many henchman. Gloria Hendry is saddled with an uninteresting role as a rogue CIA agent employed by Kananga, whilst Clifton James has a laugh as the redneck sheriff caught up in the speedboat chase. Once again Bernard Lee and Lois Maxwell are given scant material as M and Moneypenny. And it is really annoying that Desmond Llewelyn is absent as Q.

Live and Let Die is an exciting and intriguing Bond movie with loads of action, adventure and enjoyment that is the perfect way to introduce Roger Moore as the new James Bond.

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