Review of Live And Let Die: Special Edition (James Bond)

Introduction

How can a franchise continue when its main selling point has vacated the position? For the second time, producers Broccoli and Saltzman were left with the same conundrum. The first time this happened - when Connery left after You Only Live Twice - they struck back with Australian model turned actor George Lazenby. However, he was a lacklustre choice that soon turned into a lacklustre actor. His performance, and indeed film, lacked the charisma of previous efforts.

But after this blip, due to the amount of cash on the table, Connery decided to return in 1971 to the seventh Bond adventure: Diamonds Are Forever. And after that, he claimed, that was it. And he was true to his word - he headed on for pastures green and left an audience of millions wondering if this was really it...the demise of the hugely popular and successful series. But then, due to the same perserverance the film-makers had displayed countless times before, they pressed on - pressed on for a new star, someone to guide them through the 70s and cement James Bond 007 as the action hero.

And their search ended upon finding Roger Moore, current TV star, and whose combined talent of wit and deadliness meant Bond was back. In 1973 Live And Let Die was released onto the world, with a plot that revolved around Bond`s investigations into the murders of three fellow agents. He soon finds himself a target, evading the vicious assassins as he closes in on the powerful Kananga (Yaphet Kotto). Known as "Mr Big", Kananga is coordinating a globally threatening scheme using tons of self-produced heroin. As Bond tries to unravel the mastermind`s plan, he meets Solitaire (Jane Seymour), the beautiful Tarot card reader whose magical gifts are crucial to the crime lord. Bond, soon works his own magic on her, and the stage is set for yet another battle of good versus evil.

Video

1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen. The visual quality of previous Bond DVDs have varied from strong to very strong, but for some reason the overall quality on Live And Let Die is a slight step back. Dust, grain, and the odd other tarnishes are evident on the print, and unfortunately the transfer has failed to clear it up sufficiently to offer a crisp and clear alternative that most other releases enjoy. It is still better than a TV presentation though - so those who claim that catching the Bond films on BBC/ITV is as good as DVD are wrong. The overall visual quality is good, but it is just that the odd niggle prevents this from being a trademark transfer.

Guy Hamilton, the director of previous Bond escapades Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever, returns to the helm to coax Moore into what will become a familiar pair of shoes for the actor. By using some of Hamilton`s trademarks - humour, larger-than-life events and daring sequences - Live And Let Die manages to mix various elements into what seems like one endless set-piece, with highlights including an extensive boat chase (which, in true 007 style, ends up on terra firma) and Bond commandeering a double-decker bus whilst being chased by a group of police.

Audio

Dolby Digital Mono (English). Yet again a single channel is only used - surely, this being released in 1973, MGM could have put a bit of effort into remastering the audio as they did with the visuals, and produce a soundtrack that would replicate every action sequence in glorious 5.1. But, as it stands, the mono channel is a crisp, yet lacklustre, means of creating a soundstage.

Tom Mankiewicz, long-time scriptwriter for the Bond series, is in control of Moore`s debut into the cinematic world, and has adapted one of Fleming`s darker novels well. Themes of death and voodoo magic occur, and dealt at times with menace yet also with bouts of typical Bond humour, delivered with great comic timing by Moore himself...now at least 007 isn`t just full of cheesy one-liners!

Features

Two audio commentaries are present on the disc; the first from director Guy Hamilton, and the second from writer Tom Mankiewicz. It is usual for at least one of the commentaries to be an ensemble effort - cast and crew recollecting their experiences - but on this disc they both go solo, which is not a bad thing, as both men are interesting to listen to, but perhaps combining them in one commentary would have been better, and added a touch of banter to the proceedings.

Another breach of Bondian DVD rules comes as this disc contains only one documentary, instead of the usual two. Entitled "Inside Live And Let Die", it is a 30 minute comprehensive look at how the film was made, with retrospective interviews from cast and crew. Overall, very interesting.

There are a couple of on-set video diaries, hosted by a benevolent Roger Moore, clearly enjoying the atmosphere the film creates. The first, "Hand Gliding Lessons", is footage of Moore training for the flying sequence, and the second, "Funeral Parade", is him telling a rather amusing anecdote of how an old mate of his had a cameo as a murdered MI6 agent.

A collection of advertising materials are on offer: TV spots, radio spots, the theatrical trailer and a slighltly bizzarre milk commercial! All are good for collectors who want to see every element of a film, and the marketing that surrounded it.

An extensive photo gallery, containing dozens of stills, complete the extras. Comprehensive as ever, although I doubt that many people would want to press the arrow keys so much!

There is the usual 8-page booklet containing interesting production notes and chapter listings.

The menus are once again animated well, with the score in the background as an animation revolves in the centre of the screen. They are fairly easy to navigate.

Conclusion

This is not a usual Bond film in terms of plot: a druglord and his ambition to spread his stash across the world does not sound like the standard fantasy epic, such as physical domination. Instead, a more subtle means of controlling the world - through economic control mainly - is played on throughout the film, and yes, exotic villains and locations do crop up, but at heart this is a more down to earth 007 adventure.

Roger Moore slips into the shoes of Bond easily and quietly, without the seeming need for in-jokes that Lazenby required when he played Bond - Connery is not forgotten, but Moore defines his own style well, and creates a James Bond that is slightly different from Connery`s, which is a welcomed change after six outings with the Scotsman.

The action is contained well within the story, but perhaps a bit more of it wouldn`t have gone amiss, and perhaps characters such as the fairly pointless Sheriff Pepper could have been done away with. Pepper is there as an idiotic scapegoat, someone to offer slapstick comedy, and not very good slapstick at that. Unfortunately he will continue to appear in the series throughout the 70s: one of the disadvantages of the Moore era, but nevertheless comic fans might appreciate the diversity. I don`t.

The disc itself is fairly good - better-than-average visuals (but not as good as previous Bond discs), just above-average audio, and good extras make a good overall DVD package. Talking of the extras, the lack of a second documentary means I have to mark the extras down, and also the lack of cast/crew participation in the commentaries make this a bit of a let down considering the usual high quality we expect from the special features. Still good, mind.

Due to a film that lets up in pace sometimes, and a disc that does the same, this cannot be classed as the best Bond DVD. Fortunately, both areas have enough merits for them to be good, and it can safely be said that Live And Let Die marks the successful and enjoyable debut of Roger Moore as Agent 007, who would grow into the role even more in the subsequent 12 years. And for that, this is another recommended Bond package.