Yesterday, Roger Moore age 89 passed away in Switzerland after a short fight with cancer. Today, I honor the man who took 007’s character to a lighter, funnier side compared to his predecessor by sharing theme mewsic from his James Bond flicks.
His first three Bond movies – Live and Let Die (1973), The Man With the Golden Gun (1974), and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) I didn’t see when they released in theaters (we own the entire Bond Collection now). It was after DH and I got married before I watched any of these films but I can’t swear to it that I didn’t see any of them on TV. It doesn’t really matter because these iconic films are a part of my favorite all-time action movies.
Roger Moore will always be The Spy Who Loved Me. I often sing the theme song to DH.
Nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby, you’re the best
Moonraker (1979) is the first James Bond movie to release the year we got married, so I definitely recall seeing this film at the theater. It was awesome to see on the big screen.
You gotta admire the producers and directors in the early years for incorporating all the hot babes in the opening sequences setting the viewers up for more of that James Bond playboy charm and I fondly recall For Your Eyes Only (1981) and perhaps my all-time favorite Moore Bond film. We saw it at least three times in the theaters and bought Sheena Easton’s US hot ranking (#4) song!
Throughout Roger Moore’s reign as James Bond, there was more comic relief than others past or present movies that I recall. Maybe I’m remembering wrong but I could be right on this. In the 1983 film Octopussy there are a few unforgettable movie quotes that left the audience laughing out loud or snickering sheepishly.
James Bond (Moore): [Q’s mechanized version of the “Indian Rope Trick” malfunctions] Having problems keeping it up, Q?
Q (Desmond Llewelyn): Experimental model!
James Bond (Moore): [looking at the tattoo on Magda’s back] Forgive my curiosity, but, what is that?
Magda (Kristina Wayborn): That’s my little octopussy.
A View to a Kill (1985) was Roger Moore’s last film as James Bond. I read it was his least favorite of his Bond movies and I’d have to agree but it was good nonetheless. I found this bit of trivia interesting from IBDb.
Roger Moore said that he decided to end his run as James Bond when he realized that Tanya Roberts‘s mother was younger than he was. However, Albert R. Broccoli said he wanted a younger actor for the next film The Living Daylights (1987) and would not have kept Moore as Bond anyway. Broccoli felt that retaining Moore, who was 57, for this film had been a mistake. Contrary to what some sources have said, Moore was never offered another Bond film after this one.
According to IMDB, Moore’s Bond never actually uttered the line shaken, not stirred when ordering a martini in any of his 007 movies. He also never drove the spy’s famed Aston Martin.
I found two fun articles Roger Moore Had the Greatest Gadgets in the History of Bond and The Wittiest James Bond in History I enjoyed reading this morning during my search.
The news of Roger Moore’s passing was bittersweet. I was sad that he died but thankful for having known him on the big screen as James Bond. His good-looks and classy sophistication captured the hearts of women around the world. I was not offended by his Bond character’s playboy antics. I saw a man who loved women with a certain tenderness. Maybe that was Moore’s personality shining through but he gave me the sense that his sexual escapades were more than just a one night stand if his bed buddy didn’t wind up getting killed or his duties to Queen and country didn’t take precedent. Through his acting career, Roger Moore became a person I felt like I would want to meet someday because his goodness radiated through his eyes and smile. Unfortunately, I won’t get that chance in this lifetime. Perhaps in the afterlife, I will.
Roger Moore had a colorful life with women. He leaves behind wife #4, Kristina Tholstrup and three children from a previous marriage. The BBC reported his children statement which read, “Thank you Pops for being you, and being so very special to so many people.” These words touched me deeply. Moore’s kids appreciated and understood the value of their Dad not only in their lives but through the eyes of his fans.
Our prayers and thoughts are with the Moore family. May God’s loving presence give you comfort and strength in the coming days as you adjust to facing life without your husband, father, grandfather, and friend. God bless!
[tweetthis]From a #1 fan sending farewells to & prayers for the #RogerMoore family! #Godbless[/tweetthis]
You will be missed, Mr. Bond!
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My dad was a huge James Bond fan, so he took my family to see all these films (even though I wasn’t that old–probably elementary school aged). I enjoyed the heck out of them anyway and Roger Moore will always be James Bond for me.
Tamara,
Jame Bond movies are great classics which never go out of style. They are just as good today as they were when the series premier 50+ years ago and Roger Moore was one of the best James Bonds ever!
I haven’t seen all or even half of the numerous Bond movies out there, and I’m not entirely sure I’ve seen one with Roger Moore. From what I’ve seen, though, I do love the Bond franchise. You’ve written a lovely tribute. I guess I should start catching up with some of the older films now. 🙂
With Love,
Mandy
Mandy,
If you have Amazon Prime, then I believe they have most if not all of the James Bond movies that you can stream at no additional cost. You will like Roger Moore. He has a great way with the Bond character that’s a bit easier going than the others.
Roger Moore was my favorite James Bond by far. I had trouble taking the original “spy/playboy” idea seriously, so Moore’s witty, tongue-in-cheek portrayal that poked fun at it had me loving him. In addition to his acting, he received awards for his work with charities, particularly UNICEF, proving he had a golden heart as well as a golden gun. He will indeed be missed.
Lexa,
Roger Moore was charming and witty. No matter what role he took, these characteristics shined through on the big screen. You’re right, he poked fun of the James Bond Playboy status and himself, not taking any of it seriously which made Bond’s womanizing ways more appealing. I read about his charitable contributions to UNICEF and that Audrey Hepburn (she was a classy lady) introduced him to the organization. He will certainly be missed and loved always.
A nice tribute. Love what his kids said about him. Next to Sean Connery, he was my favorite Bond. Thanks, Cathy!
There was a lot of dry humour in those films which I enjoyed. Great tribute.
He was a little too old to play Bond, I thought, but having seen him in The Saint, he had the right vibe about him. Sorry to hear of his passing, but he led a full life.
My hubby and I also own the whole Bond collection. Roger Moore was great in this and in the Saint and The Persuaders. I even remember him in Maverick! He was a friend of Audrey Hepburn and took over her role in Unicef and campaigned for PETA. He will be missed. I love all these songs and my 2 favourite are Live and Let Die and For Your Eyes Only. I think of the James Bond as a split personality. His Bond was the fun loving, devil may care Bond while, right now, we have anger boy Bond.
Great tribute, my friend. He will be missed. For me, he was James Bond. Always will be. Hugs.
Hi, Cathy!
Clearly Roger Moore, a major memory maker from your growing up years, meant a lot to you, and his death has hit you hard. It is painful to lose a piece of the puzzle, a person, place or thing that was an important part of the mosaic of our lives, someone or something that influenced us and gave us joy. In your life Roger Moore did so.
You are eleven years younger than Shady. To me George Reeves was the real Superman, Adam West was the real Batman and Sean Connery was the real Bond, but I most certainly admired Roger Moore and favored his interpretation of the Bond character over that of George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and the other actors who took the role.
I was age 12 thru 17 when the initial string of Connery films was released. At that age I was wowed by the brassy, sexy music, Bond’s playboy swagger and the awesome opening title sequences that became the trademark of the Ian Fleming 007 film series. Imagine watching the opening credits of all of the Bond movies edited together end to end to form one mind blowing experience!
Thank you for remembering the late, great Roger Moore, dear friend Cathy!
(Knowing that you always pop back over to chat with me at SDMM after I leave a comment here, may I suggest that you hold off until tomorrow? I need to drive Mrs. Shady to the airport today and will be away many hours. I will have a brand new post for you to check out tomorrow and I hope you enjoy it. See you then, dear friend!)
Thank you for your lovely tribute to Roger Moore. He was my favourite James Bond.
R.I.P. Mr. Moore. ♥ This is a lovely tribute, Cathy. Although not my favourite Bond, I did love him in “The Saint” and “The Persuaders”. Regardless who played him, James Bond intros are always fun. Thanks for the videos! We also have the entire Bond collection at home.
Debbie,
I have not watched “The Saint” or “The Persuaders” but I’ve seen clips of the first. It appears like a program that I’d enjoy, too. I liked all the actor playing the Bond character, except for Daniel Craig. He’s a good actor but it seems he’s not good suit, though. Have a good evening, my friend!
Excellent tribute. He was the best James Bond. When I met my husband in 1989 he took me to my first Bond film and every one since, but we rented all the past ones over the years too.
Ellen,
Roger Moore is DH’s favorite Bond, too. I like Roger a lot but I may prefer Sean Connery just a wee more. Perhaps that’s because he was the first Bond, I don’t know. Moore is very close second. I loved his warmth and humor which was so natural on camera. I was shocked and a bit heartbroken to hear of his death. Thanks for visiting!