Live and Let Die (1973)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Alexander D

  
  This film marks the point where I have seen six Bond films (in order of seeing them: GOLDFINGER, CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, DR. NO, YOU ONLY LOVE TWICE, LIVE AND LET DIE), and before, I thought GOLDFINGER was the best. Now, I think this by far is.

• Dean M

  
  Roger Moore's debut 007 role is very different to Sean Connery and George Lazenby while playing as James Bond as a more relaxed, charming, humourous character. Jane Seymour looks innocent in the ways of the world... she is lovely as the clairvoyant heroine Solitaire, whose… More
  Roger Moore's debut 007 role is very different to Sean Connery and George Lazenby while playing as James Bond as a more relaxed, charming, humourous character. Jane Seymour looks innocent in the ways of the world... she is lovely as the clairvoyant heroine Solitaire, whose powers fade after being romanced by the suave, and handsome British secret agent. Yaphet Kotto is a good actor and makes a great villian and Clifton James adds some comedy value as Sheriff J.W. Pepper. The set-pieces are spectacular in all the ways you would expect them to be (the bus chase, speed-boat chase and the infamous crocodiles stand out in particular), and the action is fast-paced throughout.

• xGary X

  
  Bond investigates a drug lord with a reputation steeped in black magic in probably the most tacky and exploitative outing in the franchise. It is guilty of jumping on every yokel-pleasing bandwagon of the 1970s, including redneck humour, blaxploitation and ludicrously over the top car… More
  Bond investigates a drug lord with a reputation steeped in black magic in probably the most tacky and exploitative outing in the franchise. It is guilty of jumping on every yokel-pleasing bandwagon of the 1970s, including redneck humour, blaxploitation and ludicrously over the top car chases, all tainted by the kind of distasteful sexism that was swept away by 1980s political correctness. The plot is also straight out of Austin Powers, featuring a villain called "Mr Big" (oh, the imagination) and an attempt to kill the indestructible secret agent by leaving him alone and unguarded right outside their secret drug lab. Doh. Moore is far more sleazy than suave, his seduction of the radiantly beautiful Jane Seymour feeling particularly seedy, but my biggest problem with this rather nasty blaxploitation pastiche is the fact that blaxploitation worked because the heroes were BLACK. That was kind of the point. Making a blaxploitation film where all the villains are black and the two heroes are both white just smacks of plain racism. Having said all that, it manages to be mildly entertaining on the level of pure kitsch but the amount of sophistication or subtlety on display here is equalled by the average Carry On film.

• Mike S

  
  Featuring supernatural elements like voodoo-occultism, tarot readings and characters that rise from the dead (twice!), this certainly goes into the records as one of the more unique of the Bond movies. There are some plot elements that are outright bizarre and preposterous, which had… More
  Featuring supernatural elements like voodoo-occultism, tarot readings and characters that rise from the dead (twice!), this certainly goes into the records as one of the more unique of the Bond movies. There are some plot elements that are outright bizarre and preposterous, which had me scratching my head on more than one occation. Yet, it has a wonderful charm and likeability about it, that makes it easy to ignore all those question marks. Roger Moore is great with its sophisticated British wit, and Jane Seymore unforgettable as the stunning Solitaire. It's actually the first Bond flick with Moore that I've seen in its full length, and what I can say after the viewing, is that I'm positively left with an appetite for more.

• Mister C

  
  If you ever wanted to hear British secret agent James Bond get called a "honky",well Roger Moore's first Bond film and the official eighth 007 movie is for you. However,this is not the first time actor Roger Moore has played an international man of mystery and… More
  If you ever wanted to hear British secret agent James Bond get called a "honky",well Roger Moore's first Bond film and the official eighth 007 movie is for you. However,this is not the first time actor Roger Moore has played an international man of mystery and espionage. He was however,the suave and sophisicated Simon Templar on the 1960's television series "The Saint". Moore had some big shoes to fill after fellow Bond Sean Connery exited the series after "Diamonds Are Forever",which was released in 1971,and the seventh 007 film in the series. Exit Sean Connery and Enter Roger Moore. "Live and Let Die" came out at the height of the blaxploitation/martial-arts craze that defined the 1970's. Released in the summer of 1973,"Live and Let Die" is all aspects in insane beyond measure even by Bond film standards. "Live and Let Die" was the first Bond film in the series to have a African-American villain in the featured role. Let's see,there's a lot of the voodoo stuff,Yaphet Kotto as the evil Caribbean dictator Kananga/Mr. Big who wants to take over the world while owning a chain of soul food restaurants right? There's also Jane Seymour(with that Big Ass Afro) as a psychic virgin called Solitaire who works her charms on Bond while Bond works his charms on her,in the bedroom. Oh yeah,there's Kananga's assistant with the metal hand Tee(Julius Harris),and all over the place Baron Samedi(Geoffrey Holder...who remembers him and the 7-Up commercials from that decade?) and that dumbfounded county sheriff(Clifton James) while our hero escapes hit-men,skips across a bunch of crocodiles while getting back to safety,not to mention being chased by car and speedboats in this over the top film. Another reason is the all-over-the-place theme song by Paul McCartney and Wings(and it is also noted that the 8th Bond film did not have a original John Barry composition). This is "gonzo" Bond at its 1970s-est. And if you want further proof catch the other 007 films starring Roger Moore that included more insanity and over the top acting from "The Man With The Golden Gun",' "Moonraker","For Your Eyes Only","Octopussy",and his final outing as 007 in 1985's "A View To A Kill".

• Jeff "

  
  The First Roger Moore film in the James Bond series is a film with a much different direction than previous films in the series. Despite this, Live And Let Die is one of the most original Bond films with Roger Moore and the most original films in the series since Thunderball. A film… More
  The First Roger Moore film in the James Bond series is a film with a much different direction than previous films in the series. Despite this, Live And Let Die is one of the most original Bond films with Roger Moore and the most original films in the series since Thunderball. A film that returns to what made the series so great, this is a film not to miss, and has colorful new villains and allies. Blofeld is no more as the film makers felt that James Bond needed a new type of villain to fight. Live And Let Die is an action packed film with plenty of thrills to spare, and this is one of the most serious films in the roger era of Bond films. As many of them later on would become more tongue in cheek and cheesy. This one is a no nonsense thriller.

• Cassandra M

  
  Bond goes blaxplotition. People who describe this movie as 'racist' are clearly deluded. Ok,the entire set of villains are black, but this in fact is a positive. In previous Bonds, there were few noticable black characters, and those that did appear were mainly stereotyped… More
  Bond goes blaxplotition. People who describe this movie as 'racist' are clearly deluded. Ok,the entire set of villains are black, but this in fact is a positive. In previous Bonds, there were few noticable black characters, and those that did appear were mainly stereotyped as simple and superstitous. This time, although some of the minor baddies seem very blaxploitation, some of the most memorable villains were spawned here, including Yaphet Kotto's Dr Kanaga, steel clawed giant Tee Hee, and the mystical Baron Samedi. For the first time, black people are considered to be worthy of a serious feature in James Bond, as serious opponents. This is also the first Roger Moore film of the series, which makes it more watchable. The mood is lighter and there is a trace of comedy, which helps things immesurably since the wooden and colourless Sean Connery years, which although they set Bond on the way, were surpassed by Moore in the 70s and 80s. Moore gave the series a real flavour, and that begins here with some of the most memorable sequences of the whole Bond era. The plot may not be totally cohesive or even coherent, but some of the images and performances in this film will live in movie history, and rightly so.

• Anthony L

  
  The Blaxploitation Bond, love it!

• First L

  
  007 Roger Moore investigates the disappearances of secret agents and gets mixed up with some voodoo witch doctors and a tarot card reader named "Solitaire". Bond goes to Harlem and then to New Orleans, where apparently, Bond is a "honkey". At one point, Bond… More
  007 Roger Moore investigates the disappearances of secret agents and gets mixed up with some voodoo witch doctors and a tarot card reader named "Solitaire". Bond goes to Harlem and then to New Orleans, where apparently, Bond is a "honkey". At one point, Bond pulls a "pitfall" moment, and jogs across some alligators. A whole lot of nothing else happens and then there's a boat chase that might be the most boring boat chase ever committed to film. But then there's the plot: Mr. Big (Kotto) has plans to flood the world's heroin market thereby driving the mafia out of business, at which point he shall rule the drug world. Ugh, then there's a shark tank, a magnetic watch, and by the time you realize Yaphet Kotto looks alot like Flip Wilson, he meets a ridiculous end. Hey, at least the theme song (by Paul McCartney) is good! This is the weakest pre-80s Bond film I've seen so far.

• Chris G

  
  Roger Moore takes over the role of James Bond in Live and Let Die, which has Bond spending most of his time in the Western Hemisphere as he investigates the connection between a Caribbean prime minister and an American drug lord. What's interesting about Live and Let Die is… More
  Roger Moore takes over the role of James Bond in Live and Let Die, which has Bond spending most of his time in the Western Hemisphere as he investigates the connection between a Caribbean prime minister and an American drug lord. What's interesting about Live and Let Die is that there are supernatural aspects in the film, mainly with red hot Jane Seymour's portrayal of the tarot card reading Solitaire. These aspects don't overpower the film that has really become a love it or leave it entry into the series, most of which comes from the public's obsession with Sean Connery as James Bond. Yaphet Kotto plays the lead baddie Kananga as almost a black Blofeld, cool instead of aristocratic. Live and Let Die is as fast paced as they get. You have to remember that Roger Moore's Bond and Connery's Bond are different, yet the same. It's still Bond. The only real problem with the film is how racist it can be perceived to be. Imagine that instead of SPECTRE you are saying that the entire black populations of Harlem and New Orleans are involved in an international drug conspiracy. Yeah, this was before the P.C. world we live in now. But overall Live and Let Die is a great action flick with Moore taking the role smoothly.

• Lewis C

  
  Voodoo, heroin, airplane/car chases, racist southern police, snake attacks...this Bond film has it all. Well, the first ninety minutes is a Bond film, the rest is some weird, Dukes of Hazard/horror movie mixture. It's all thrown together in sort of a mishmash, and I never really… More
  Voodoo, heroin, airplane/car chases, racist southern police, snake attacks...this Bond film has it all. Well, the first ninety minutes is a Bond film, the rest is some weird, Dukes of Hazard/horror movie mixture. It's all thrown together in sort of a mishmash, and I never really knew what the movie was about, but that's what separates it from the better Bond films. Roger Moore does a good job as Bond, but he doesn't contrast well with all the "pimpmobiles" and jive talk of Harlem. The villain was decent, nothing special. Jane Seymour on the other hand is simply delicious as a Bond Girl. I wish we could have seen much more of her (literally). Overall, Live and Let Die is a memorable Bond film. Sadly, that's because of its American settings and disparate elements, not because of its quality.

• Aaron N

  
  Tee-Hee: There are two ways to disable an croc, you know. James Bond: I don't suppose you'd care to tell me what they are. Tee-Hee: One way is to take a pencil and stick it in the pressure area above its eye. James Bond: And the other way? Tee-Hee: Oh, the other way is twice… More
  Tee-Hee: There are two ways to disable an croc, you know. James Bond: I don't suppose you'd care to tell me what they are. Tee-Hee: One way is to take a pencil and stick it in the pressure area above its eye. James Bond: And the other way? Tee-Hee: Oh, the other way is twice as simple. You just stick your hand in its mouth and pull its teeth out. Roger Moore steps in for the first time as Bond, replacing Connery and trying to find his own footing. He eases in well enough, with various changes to the character, but nothing too drastic. The movie itself is a Bond plot, with some worked in aspects to it making it a good enough Bond flick with a new Bond. [as Bond unzips Miss Caruso's dress with the magnet in his watch] Miss Caruso: Such a delicate touch. James Bond: Sheer magnetism, darling. The story involves Bond's investigation into a murder case involving the death of three English agents. These murders were at the hands of a drug kingpin known as Mr. Big, played by Yaphet Kotto, and leads Bond to different parts of the US and Caribbean, including Harlem and New Orleans. Along the way he of course meets a few women including Jayne "Dr. Quinn" Seymour, because there is always time. Cab driver: You know where you're going? James Bond: Uptown, I believe? Cab driver: Uptown? You headed into Harlem, man! James Bond: Well you just stay on the tail of that jukebox and there's an extra twenty in it for you. Cab driver: Hey man, for twenty bucks I'd take you to a Ku Klux Klan cookout! Part of the theme of this movie revolves around Blaxsploitation movies. This installment tries to incorporate those elements, which is off putting, but fitting with the time, much like Moonraker during the Star Wars craze. Getting back to Moore as Bond, he plays him sort of like the Dean Martin version, very self aware of his character, very smooth and sure of himself. He is of course no Connery, but Moore's own style, which will be later improved upon in his third play at Bond in "Spy Who Loved Me," is a good approach as well. Overall, this is a fun film, with a bit of an acceptance of a new Bond needed to enjoy it more. And it has one of my favorite Bond songs from Paul McCartney. [Bond refuses to answer Mr. Big's question about Solitaire] James Bond: I'm not in the habit of giving answers to... lackeys. Mr. Big: You damn *lucky* you got an ear left to hear the question with! Which is, did you mess with that? [pointing to Solitaire's cards]

• Derek D

  
  Moore's first outing as 007 and my personal favorite of all 21 films. A well-paced and interesting ride from New York City to Louisiana to a Haiti-like island run by the drug-smuggling Lt. Al Giardello - oops, I mean Kananga/Mr Big. Add a very hot Jane Seymour into the mix and… More
  Moore's first outing as 007 and my personal favorite of all 21 films. A well-paced and interesting ride from New York City to Louisiana to a Haiti-like island run by the drug-smuggling Lt. Al Giardello - oops, I mean Kananga/Mr Big. Add a very hot Jane Seymour into the mix and this was a hell of a way to open up the best run of Bond movies in the bunch.

• Matthew C

  
  Overall decent Bond movie. Albeit I think some of Roger Moore's later ones are better. Jane Seymour makes her big screen debut in this one.

• Lenny M

  
  My personal favorite Bond for no real reason except for the fact that Roger Moore is hookin' up with all colors on the electromagnetic spectrum.

• Curtis L

  
  It's James Bond vs. Black people! Every black person in Louisiana apparently is evil, but they wear great 70's pimp attire. Bond also goes to a Island of VooDoo to fight a guy who can't die, and takes the virginity of a prophetess. Alllllright.

• Pierluigi P

  
  Moore's first step in the shoes of the ultimate spy. nostalgic 70s fashion, great entertainment.

• moon r

  
  jane seymour....wow!

• Lafe F

  
  A new James Bond against a Voodoo drug lord. Great theme song by Paul McCartney with spooky burning skulls. A cool adventure and crime and action movie. It's great fun seeing James Bond dispelling all the Voodoo magic. New York, New Orleans and Jamaica made great atmospheric… More
  A new James Bond against a Voodoo drug lord. Great theme song by Paul McCartney with spooky burning skulls. A cool adventure and crime and action movie. It's great fun seeing James Bond dispelling all the Voodoo magic. New York, New Orleans and Jamaica made great atmospheric locations. The camera-mounted scarecrows were chilling. There was a good crocodile escape scene and speedboat chase. Solitaire (played by Jane Seymour) was one of James Bond's most beautiful and delicate women. I liked the deck of cards she played with. The villains were scary and powerful. A great debut for Roger Moore as James Bond.

• Cindy I

  
  My first James Bond movie. I saw it when I was 13, and I was surprised years later when I saw it again that I had remembered so much. Great boat chase, and lots of scary voodoo stuff.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings