Farewell, Mr Bond – nice of you to drop in
FANS of Sir Roger Moore are mourning his passing at the age of 89 and recalling one of his last public appearances – in Southport.
The man with the raised eyebrow played James Bond in a record seven Bond films including Live and Let Die and the Spy Who Loved Me.
He entertained fans during a special evening at Southport Theatre last November where he revealed secrets of his life including his favourite Bond girl, and his best Bond movie.
It was at the start of what was to be his last week of public appearances.
Sir Roger’s children Deborah, Geoffrey amd Christian released a statement last Tuesday (May 23) which said: “Thank you Pops for being you, and being so very special to so many people.
“With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated.”
“The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone.
“Our thoughts must now turn to supporting Kristina [his wife] at this difficult time.”
Last November hundreds of people packed into Southport Theatre for an opportunity to enjoy an evening with Sir Roger Moore, part of a nationwide tour.
But it wasn’t Sir Roger’s first visit to Southport – he revealed that his first wife’s parents used to live in the resort.
Which was his favourite Bond film? Which was his favourite Bond scene? Who was the greatest ever Bond actor (with the exception of himself)?
These were just some of the questions from members of the audience to the man who played James Bond in a record seven films, over 15 years – the longest of any 007.
Bond was at the forefront of most of the questions, but not all – the decade and a half for which Sir Roger Moore became most famous was just over a fifth of a stellar 71-year career which also saw him gain fame on popular TV series such as The Saint, Ivanhoe and The Persuaders.
He also starred in numerous Hollywood films, including The Wild Geese, North Sea Hijack, The Sea Wolf, Escape To Athena, Shout At The Devil, The Cannonball Run, and The Man
Who Haunted Himself.
The Man Who Haunted Himself, he said, was the one film that he was really proud of as it was his greatest chance to “really act”, rather than always playing the hero who won every battle he fought.
The evening at Southport Theatre gave an insight into Sir Roger Moore’s early career, how he started out as a cartoon illustrator during World War II before being spotted while working as an extra on a film set, and earning a place at the RADA drama school in London.
His early days, in 1948 and 1949, also saw him spend some time in Southport, where the parents of his first wife lived.
He talked of working with a young Donald Sutherland on The Saint, helping him to get his big break in The Dirty Dozen. And also of working with a young Oliver Reed.
He talked with great fondness about working with Tony Curtis in The Persuaders, as the American ad-libbed his way through scenes as he saw any chance of a laugh from the audience.
He was less fond of former Bond co-star Grace Jones (in A View to a Kill) – asked what his favourite Bond scene was, he replied: “The one where Grace Jones gets blown up!”
Asked who he thought was the best Bond star except for himself, he said Sean Connery was superb in the role as, without his early success, the Bond franchise would never have grown to have become so successful.
But he said his best Bond was Daniel Craig.
“Sean Connery as Bond looked as though he could kill someone,” said Sir Roger. “Daniel Craig, you looked at and thought – he probably would...”
He revealed his favourite Bond film was The Spy Who Loved Me, because of the great fun he had making the film.
Sir Roger spoke most passionately at the end of the evening, as he talked of his long association with UNICEF, for whom he was an ambassador.
Audrey Hepburn encouraged him into the role at a time when 40,000 children a day around the world were dying through preventable reasons – a situation he said was becoming bad again due to developments in places like Syria and Iraq.
It was a moving end to a very entertaining evening.
Rest in peace Mr Bond.