Live and Let Die is the eighth official James Bond film and the first to feature Roger Moore as the iconic 007. Directed by Guy Hamilton, the movie blends spy action with a heavy dose of voodoo mystique, making it one of the most unique entries in the Bond canon.
Detailed Summary
Opening: Three Murders, One Mystery
The film opens with three seemingly unrelated killings: a British agent is murdered during a UN session in New York, another in New Orleans during a jazz funeral, and a third in the Caribbean nation of San Monique. All three deaths are linked to Dr. Kananga, the prime minister of San Monique. Bond is sent to investigate.
Meeting Solitaire and the Caribbean Connection
Bond travels to San Monique and meets Solitaire (Jane Seymour), a beautiful tarot reader who can see the future—so long as she remains a virgin. Kananga uses her visions to stay ahead of his enemies. Bond begins to unravel a plot involving Kananga’s dual identity as Harlem drug lord Mr. Big.
The Harlem and Louisiana Chases
The investigation takes Bond through Harlem, where he’s captured by Mr. Big’s henchmen, and then to Louisiana, where the film’s famous speedboat chase sequence unfolds. Here, Bond faces off against the memorable Tee Hee Johnson, a henchman with a prosthetic arm that doubles as a deadly weapon.
Kananga’s Scheme
Bond discovers that Kananga plans to distribute massive quantities of heroin for free, wiping out the competition and creating a monopoly once addicts are hooked. The poppy fields for heroin production are located in San Monique. Solitaire eventually switches sides after Bond seduces her, causing her to lose her psychic abilities.
The Voodoo Cult Threat
Kananga’s operation is guarded not only by armed men but by the fearsome voodoo-inspired figure Baron Samedi, who blurs the line between superstition and reality. Bond must navigate both real and staged supernatural dangers.
⇢ VIRAL RIGHT NOW
Movie Ending
In the climax, Bond infiltrates Kananga’s lair in San Monique with Solitaire. He’s captured and tied up near a pool containing sharks and crocodiles. Kananga decides to feed Bond to the animals, but Bond manages to escape. This leads to a fight where Bond forces Kananga to swallow a compressed-gas bullet from his shark gun. The gas causes Kananga to inflate grotesquely before exploding—one of the series’ most bizarre villain deaths.
Solitaire is rescued, and the poppy fields are presumably destroyed, foiling the drug empire’s plans. On a train ride afterward, Tee Hee attempts to kill Bond in his cabin. Bond manages to trap Tee Hee’s mechanical arm in a window and throws him out of the moving train.
The final scene shows Baron Samedi laughing from the front of the train, suggesting that either he somehow survived or the legend of his supernatural powers endures.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Live and Let Die does not feature a post-credits scene. Like other classic Bond films, it ends with a “James Bond will return” title card.
Type of Movie
This is a spy action film with strong adventure and thriller elements, mixed with blaxploitation influences and supernatural themes.
Cast
- Roger Moore as James Bond
- Yaphet Kotto as Dr. Kananga / Mr. Big
- Jane Seymour as Solitaire
- Julius Harris as Tee Hee Johnson
- Geoffrey Holder as Baron Samedi
- David Hedison as Felix Leiter
- Clifton James as Sheriff J.W. Pepper
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by George Martin (famed producer for The Beatles). The theme song, “Live and Let Die”, was performed by Paul McCartney & Wings and remains one of the most popular Bond themes of all time.
Filming Locations
- Jamaica – doubled as the fictional island of San Monique.
- New Orleans, Louisiana – home to the jazz funeral sequence and boat chase.
- New York City – Harlem scenes and UN headquarters exterior.
- Pinewood Studios, England – for interior shots and controlled set work.
Jamaica’s tropical scenery provided the exotic backdrop essential to Bond’s travels, while New Orleans added a cultural and atmospheric twist with its jazz and voodoo motifs.
⇢ KEEP UP WITH THE TREND
Awards and Nominations
- Nominated for Best Original Song (Live and Let Die) at the Academy Awards.
- Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance (Paul McCartney & Wings).
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Roger Moore wanted to distinguish himself from Sean Connery’s Bond, opting for a lighter, more humorous approach.
- The crocodile farm sequence was performed by real-life stuntman Ross Kananga, whose name inspired the villain’s name.
- Jane Seymour was only 22 and filming her first major movie role.
- Geoffrey Holder (Baron Samedi) choreographed his own voodoo dance scenes.
Inspirations and References
The story is loosely based on Ian Fleming’s 1954 novel Live and Let Die, though the film updates the setting to the 1970s and incorporates blaxploitation influences popular at the time.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No alternate endings have been publicly confirmed, but some of the more violent or suggestive scenes were trimmed for censorship in certain countries.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The novel features Bond battling a smuggler named Mr. Big in Jamaica and Harlem, but without the voodoo supernatural edge. Kananga and Mr. Big are separate characters in the book, not the same person as in the film. The heroin plot in the movie replaces the book’s gold coin smuggling.
⇢ MOST SHARED RIGHT NOW
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The jazz funeral assassination in New Orleans.
- The boat chase through Louisiana swamps.
- Bond’s escape over the crocodile farm.
- Kananga’s explosive death.
Iconic Quotes
- Bond: “Names is for tombstones, baby. You got your ticket?”
- Solitaire: “Is there time before we leave… for lesson number three?”
- Kananga: “Mr. Bond is indeed a very dangerous man.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The crocodile sequence used real crocodiles owned by Ross Kananga, who was paid extra for the dangerous stunt.
- Sheriff J.W. Pepper was so popular he returned in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974).
- The tarot cards used in the film were custom-made and later sold as collectibles.
Trivia
- This is the only Bond film where Q does not appear.
- Roger Moore reportedly wore his own watch in some scenes.
- Paul McCartney insisted that if his band performed the title song, it had to be used over the opening credits.
Why Watch?
It’s the start of Roger Moore’s era as Bond, mixing thrilling action with exotic locations and a dose of supernatural intrigue. The music alone is worth it, and the crocodile stunt is one of the most daring in Bond history.
Director’s Other Movies
- Goldfinger (1964)
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
- Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)