Live and Let Die
1973 · Directed by Guy Hamilton
Original language: English
- adventure
- action
- thriller
The story
James Bond must investigate a mysterious murder case of a British agent in New Orleans. Soon he finds himself up against a gangster boss named Mr. Big.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated daylight gives way to sodium-orange and neon nights, with the New Orleans bayou rendered in humid greens and murky water, and Harlem streets glowing in glossy, slightly dated 1970s colour. Director Guy Hamilton favours brisk cuts, wide establishing shots and sweeping camera moves over the slow stillness of quieter spy films, and the score swells with brassy funk and a jaunty theme that keeps the mood buoyant even as bodies pile up. The vibe is breezy, tongue-in-cheek escapism: a comfortable Saturday-afternoon watch, or easy company for a long-haul flight, where the pleasure lies in set pieces like boat chases and a bus-stunt-and-swamp sequence rather than in deep character study. The pacing is brisk and episodic, and Roger Moore's Bond is an unhurried, wry figure who mostly keeps his cool while others fall around him. Violence is frequent and stylised, with gunfights, explosions and a few deaths played for spectacle rather than grit; there is some sexual innuendo and a brief racial stereotyping that dates the film, while gore is limited. It suits fans of classic action-adventure who don't mind a light, playful tone and some outdated attitudes.
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