[FILM] The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Moore second outing is far superior to the rather dull and annoying LALD. It's generally considered to be one of the weakest ones, yet I would rate it my second fav Bond film of the 70's, after TSWLM.

Roger Moore feels far more at home in his role. I'm guessing the script was specifically tailored to his persona. Which really helps. Also the largely American locations of the previous two are exchanged for the orient. Thailand, Macau and Hongkong are far more interesting places to visit then Vegas, or Louisiana.

Only a few aspects of the script are taking from Flemings last, and least novel. The story is basically about Bond tracking down Scaramanga, the Man With The Golden Gun. A world class assassin who sent a golden bullet to MI6 engraved 007. Along the way a side plot develops dealing with a McGuffin that can help solve the energy crisis.

While TMWTGG generally maintains the light touch of the Moore era, it isnt nearly as campy as DAF or LALD. Though naturally some of the humor does swing towards the juvenile. Why on earth Sheriff John Williams Pepper was brought back is a mystery to me. And Bond dealing with the midget villain by putting him in a suitcase is beyond class.

But Moore isn't, he really plays the rle with penance and is this time in good company as the Bond villain is played by the legendary Christopher Lee.

One of the most developed Bond villains, his Scaramange possesses a genuine charm while at the same time being convincingly menacing. Moore and Lee have several fine scenes of verbal sparring together. In particular the memorable lunch table scene spoofed decades later in The Trip.

The first Bond film to feature two Swedish Bond girls. With Maud Adaams as the one who dies.

Adams gives quite a credible performance here as a woman trapped between 007 and Scaramanga. The predicament of her Andrea Anders is pretty much the same as that of Severine in Skyfall. Both put 007 on the trail of the villain, and both die for it (both even set foot in a Macau casino).

Anita Ekberg plays the main Bond girl, Mary Goodnight. Pretty much a clumsy, comic foil throughout most of the film, but Ekberg actually performs very convincingly. Has real charisma and chemistry with Moore and looks great in a bikini. It's a light weight role, but very well filled in.

There are a few good stunt in the film. And enhanced by the fact that the usually all to obvious use of back projection seems to have been used to a minimum. The signature stunt is of-course the amazing car flip. Sadly ruined by John Barry in a rare display of bad taste.

Special effects are also first rate. The miniatures in this film, ranging from Scaramanga's flying car to the exploding lab and island are amazing.

The Thailand locations for Scaramanga's hide out are also fantastic. With Bonds flight to the hide out being one of the series more memorable journey's to the enemy lair. Complate with excellent John Barry music.

Barry re-uses the oriental flavor in his score, written in just a few short weeks. It's a step up from Diamonds are forever IMO, but overall lacking when compared to his 60's Bond scores. But there are a few real highlights. In particular this one.

Barry himself admitted that he considered the theme tune and score to be among the weakest of his contributions to the series: "It's the one I hate most... it just never happened for me."

The song is indeed a bit of a misfire. Going for that Bassey/Don Black feel but never really getting there.

This is probably the first Barry/Bond score to almost completely step away from the jazzy sound of his 60's scores. Later Moonraker would improve on that enormously.

I might be more then a little biased towards this film. It was the first one I owned on VHS. At the time we had a video player but not a recorder and I had to ask our neighbors to tape it. The thought of actually buying these films on tape seemed like a distant dream back then. It was the only one I had. So I watched it a lot in my early teens. I still have an enormous fondness for it and suppose I'm quite immune to the shortcomings that this film does have.

*** out of ****

[Oskar 77]

Britt Ekland plays the main Bond girl, Mary Goodnight.

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