Northwest Herald film critic and HMSS friend Jeffrey Westhoff had the excellent opportunity to interview Roger Moore. The interview is on the Web site of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
An excerpt:
Speaking by phone from the St. Regis Hotel in New York (where Bond stayed in the novel “Live and Let Die”), Moore said the publisher of his autobiography, “My Word Is my Bond,” approached him about writing another book focusing on 007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary hoopla. “They thought it might be a good time to bring out a book about my opinion of Bond,” Moore said.
He writes his opinions in a tongue-in-cheek style that reflects his portrayal of Bond. Moore frequently refers to Bond as “Jim” or “Jimmy,” and he doesn’t worry if this will further infuriate Sean Connery purists who complain Moore never took the character seriously. “That’s the way I played it,” he said. “That was my reaction to the character I was expected to play. He wasn’t a real spy. The idea that he’s known by every barman in the world, that he has a taste for martinis shaken not stirred.”
(snip)
In the new book, Moore remarks that recent Bond theme songs have been forgettable. He said Adele’s “Skyfall” theme breaks that trend. “The song is absolutely marvelous. It has the complete John Barry flavor. Unmistakably a Bond song.”Moore attended a private screening of the new film several weeks ago “when [the print] was literally still wet.” He was “absolutely knocked out by it.” He praised Sam Mendes’ direction and was impressed with the way “Skyfall” presents a new side to 007.
“Bond shows a lot of vulnerability in it, but also that he’s a hard nut,” Moore said. “And I don’t think anybody can do that better than Daniel Craig.”
You can read more of Westhoff’s interview by BY CLICKING HERE.
Well done, sir.
Filed under: James Bond Films, Uncategorized | Tagged: 007, Bond 23, Chicago Sun-Times, Daniel Craig, James Bond, James Bond 50th Anniversary, James Bond Films, James Bond movies, Jeff Westhoff, Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald, Roger Moore, Sam Mendes, Skyfall |
The Spy Command 
Jeff sent along a note with some very interesting insight that did not make the final cut of the Sun-Times piece. Have a read. Great stuff.
“The editor at the Sun-Times wanted me to concentrate on Roger’s thoughts on “Skyfall” and Daniel Craig and all that. I was specifically told to ask him whether he liked the Adele song. That wouldn’t have occurred to me. I wish I had more room to talk about his history as Bond.
Some of the things that didn’t make the article included:
I asked him about his “Live and Let Die” diary and what the chances are of it being reprinted. He said pretty much none. “I’ve forgotten who the publisher was.” He also said he wasn’t happy that the publisher “censored a lot of it.” They thought children might read it and “I have what is called a colorful turn of phrase.”
Despite many reports to the contrary, he simply does not believe he was in the running for “Dr. No.” He thinks the notion that Ian Fleming suggested him was invented by the publicity department. But I do love it that he met Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman while playing chemin de fer at London casinos.
I asked if it ever bothered him that he’s the only Bond who didn’t have a memorable introduction scene. “No, it didn’t worry me.”
He didn’t like “Quantum of Solace.”
I asked if he liked being remembered as the Lotus Bond, and he said not really, the car was too small for him. “My legs are a little bit too long.” (That answer sort of broke my heart.)
And I swore to myself if I ever got the chance to talk to Roger Moore, I would ask him this: If he objected to kicking Loque’s car off the cliff in “For Your Eyes Only,” did he object to dropping Sandor off the roof in “Spy Who Loved Me,” because those always struck me as similar scenes. He said he didn’t have a problem with killing a defenseless man, which is the way John Glenn made it sound. Roger thought it was a better idea that tossing the dove pin into the car was just the added weight required to send the car over. Kicking the car was “overkill.” He then went on to describe how Milton Reid tried to talk his way out of falling from the roof in “Spy.” “Can’t I just scream?”
Finally, I asked him, “Besides the money, what was the best thing about being Bond?” He chuckled because he realized I took his joke away from him, then he said he loved the family atmosphere of the Bond sets, that he loved working with that family. “Of course, the money was attractive too.”