I couldn't have said it better, Audioquest. I enjoy TMWTGG for the same reasons, especially Britt Ekland must have been incredible by 1974s standards and even today. I admit, her role was one of the dumbest 007 girls in the entire series, only Rosie Carver could top this!
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I watched this just now and I have to admit that I really liked the film, though not as good as LALD. The biggest problems I had was, like most of you, the silliness in some parts of the movies. Other than that it didn't bother me much. Moore felt more comfortable in the role IMO and his performance was great. And of course Christopher Lee was a great villain, and the duel in th end is the highlight of the movie, along with the 2 Roger Moore fights in the Karate-school :007)
Yeah, that 'slide whistle' was awful, but that wasn't the only flaw of the scene- having Sheriff Pepper 'whooping and hollering', so to speak, was just as embarassing, imho. In a documentary on the Bond themes, John Barry speaks of his acute embarassment about the main theme- I seem to recall he said it's the worst he'd ever been involved in, but he definitely said it was 'plain bad'. I definitely agree with that- the lyrics are cringeworthy, imho.:s
I'd like to see some John Barry interviews, are there any with him on the DVDs?
I think there's much to enjoy in TMWTGG. I like the Far East setting and the borrowing from the 70's kung fu genre. Christopher Lee is one of the very best villains. Maud Adams one of the most beautiful Bond girls. Britt Ekland is not too shabby either, although her character is a bit annoying. And Moore is a leaner, tougher Bond than he would be in his later films.
- Why is Sherrif Pepper shopping for a car in Thailand?
I thought it was rental.
LazenbyThe upper reaches of the AmazoPosts: 606MI6 Agent
I watched this just the other day, thinking I was going to hate it. I actually quite enjoyed it-- a lot more than I did my recent viewing of LALD. The music, the villain, the far-eastern feel...are all wonderful. Where this film loses points with me is with its leading man. They seemed to be trying a little to turn Moore into Connery with this one, however Moore (to me) is utterly unconvincing as a man's man tough guy. I am not a Moore hater per se, but I enjoy him more when he's playing to his own strengths, as in TSWLM, MR and OP. Now, if George Lazenby had been Bond in this movie my suspicion is that it would have been one of the greatest Bond films ever (the far-eastern setting and Lazenby's martial arts prowess would have meshed very well). Oh well, I suppose we'll never know.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,984Quartermasters
With you 100%, Laz {[] This could have been George at the apex of of his six-picture run...
B-)
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
LazenbyThe upper reaches of the AmazoPosts: 606MI6 Agent
With you 100%, Laz {[] This could have been George at the apex of of his six-picture run...
B-)
Cheers! {[] I'm glad I'm not the only one on this. OHMSS, DAF (Peter Hunt directed of course) and TMWTGG (possibly LALD as well) with Lazenby would have been Bond films, in terms of hard-edged coolness, on par with the masterpieces of the 60s. Lazenby was a martial arts instructor with the Australian special forces for crying out loud, as well as a model-- face it everyone the man was Bond, it's just too bad nobody realized it in time.
Lazenby...this is not the first time you have speculated on the possibilities of a Lazenby/Hunt run in the series.
And, once again, you are 100% right!
I, for one, consider this "what-if" the greatest heartbreak of the series.
George in TMWTGG? With Hunt directing? An action-film for the ages might have been made. Alas.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the film (all Bond movies are enjoyable.Period.) but, no question, it is not a worthy contender.
Roger (surprisingly sharp) and Christopher Lee (terrific, as usual) make it memorable and there are great scenes scattered throughout, but...
Guy Hamilton, why, oh why, would you make a movie about Bond versus the world's greatest assassin and NOT commit to making the greatest duel in the series ?!?
Still, flaws aside, TMWTGG needs its defenders. Its nowhere near as bad as its detractors claims it is.
Besides, it has Roger's single best fight ever when he tackles the 3 thugs in the dressing room. Take a close look at this fight and realize that Roger was capable of serious mayhem.
"Jealous husbands. Outraged chefs. Humiliated tailors. The list is endless."
Add me to being a convert to this film. I picked up the DVD (not having seen it in many years) and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. There are many great scenes here along with great direction. The first half is very strong, but the second half falls apart at times. I really could have gone without the car chase scene. Overall, the locations, and the acting by Moore (he scored some points with me) and Lee make this film one of the better Moore films, and better than YOLT IMO. Knick Knack is a great henchman and Maude Adams did a great job. I wish she was not killed off so quickly. If you haven't seen this movie lately, do yourself a favor and take a look.
I really could have gone without the car chase scene.
The more I am learning how difficult the spiral jump has been, I enjoy the scene, I have watched the jump without the silly noise and it appears much more impressive, even by todays standards.
Additionally, I think, the beautiful locations are THE pro for watching the movie plus Britt Ekland must have been one of the most desirable women of these days. I admit, her role has not been really smart, again, I turn the noise off...
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Just scouring these forums reading pieces on TMWTGG and I notice you have 3 questions unanswered. Here are my two cents:
- Why does Anders treat Bond so poorly when he breaks into her hotel room considering she was the one that sent him the bullet in the first place? Doesn't she want his help?
She's a traumatised lady who is isn't expecting Bond to break into her room while she is in the shower. She probably panics seeing Bond thinking that if Scaramanga knows about her and Bond meeting, she will probably be the next target (which evidently comes true later in the film). She obviously realises after the altercation that her best option is to help Bond which is why she goes to his hotel room later on.
- Why is Sherrif Pepper shopping for a car in Thailand?
Maybe he was interested in the model and wanted a test drive. When he returned to the USA he could talk to his buddies about this great new car he got to test drive already. He would eventually possibly buy the same model once he got back to the USA if he liked it enough.
- How does M know that Bond and Goodnight are aboard Scaramanga's Junk at the end of the movie and how does he know the phone number? Is Scaramanga's number listed?
When Bond leaves the room, he evidently goes up on deck to tie Nick Nack to the mast. Goodnight is still in the bedroom. She could have worked out that there was a communication device in the room which could connect with one of MI6's switchboards to send a message to M that she and Bond were safe and could be reached on the same line.
My big issue with this one, apart from it not paying out on the concept of Bond vs. the greatest assassin in the world (why is there no assassination?!), is that arguably Scaramanga doesn't do anything wrong, not enough to warrant 007 being sent after him anyway.
Andrea frames him for the inciting incident of wanting to kill Bond (he makes it quite clear he respects Bond and is happy to part ways with no harm done to 007). Baines goes and works for Scaramanga and Hi Fat, apparently of his own free will, and whilst with them develops the Solex- there's no suggestion that it's been stolen from the British- it seems to be the legitimate property of Scaramanga and Hi Fat. But Bond's mission is to kill Scaramanga and steal it.
Yes, he obviously is not a great guy and a murderer, but he kills his employee and his own business partner- the grounds for the UK Government getting involved seem a little shaky. And his evil plan is... to build green energy plants. Yes, to the highest bidder; he's not giving them to the world out of the kindness of his heart... but it's hardly the most dastardly plan we've seen. I'd say arguably this as close to a Bond film in which Bond is the baddie that we've had, even if you ignore the bit where he puts a woman in a cupboard and makes her listen to him shagging someone else! 😄
He's a bad guy, there's no doubt of that; but what he actually does to deserve MI6 coming after him is a bit more questionable. He kills people and blows stuff up, sure, but plenty of people do that without 00s getting involved. Don't forget that Bond kills a lot of people and blows stuff up too, so he's on that international arrest list as well. His main crime against the British probably is the murder of Fairbanks 002 and the (pointless) kidnap of Goodnight, yes. But that makes him pretty small fry for a Bond villain.
stealing the solex agitator - it was in Gibson's possession and he was the one who created it
We're told Gibson was working for Hai Fat at the time in Bangkok; to me the inference seems to be that he made it for Hai Fat and was paid, and part of his bargaining for immunity to return to the UK was stealing the Solex from Hai Fat. Judging from M & Q's surprise that he had developed a Solex, he clearly hadn't made it whilst he was in the UK - so nothing had been stolen from the British.
If Scaramanga steals it from anyone it's Hai Fat (although HF actually gives it to him), but they seem to be in on the scheme together so it's arguable that the Solex isn't partially Scaramanga's property anyway; either way it's an internal dispute between two gangsters which doesn't involve the UK, apart from the guy who was stealing it had offered it to them. MI6 end up basically acting as another set of gangsters, muscling in on the scheme. I'm not sure they're on any sort of moral high ground, which is unusual for a Bond movie.
Don't forget this line of Bond's:
"The oil shiekhs will pay you just to keep solar energy off the market"
At the end of the film Bond retrieves the Solex and, presumably, takes it back to M. And yet by the next film there's little sign of a solar energy revolution; Bond's Lotus certainly sounds like it's still running on petrol. So who precisely did those oil shiekhs end up paying off...? 😉
I'd just like to say that I thought this was a new topic, and it turns out to be one dredged up from years ago. This is like a time machine...I'm seeing some names I haven't seen in a long, loooong time!
TMWTGG is somewhat unique as based on what you say Bond doesn't have a clear assignment from Her Majesty's Government. The film is also unique in that Bond only kills one person.
I find trying to define Bond as a clear "goodie" is difficult throughout the series. Beginning with Dr No, there was no real reason for Bond to kill Professor Dent. He was technically unarmed and Bond could have got the Superintendent's men to watch the house until Dent showed up and then simply arrested him.
You're absolutely right he's bit edgy at times (and in fact in Dr No I'd say he does much worse: he gets Quarrel killed and shows no remorse, and then on the way into No's lair in the swamps he comes out of hiding to kill a guard for no apparent reason at all; it seems worryingly close to murder), but he's always on the side of the angels even if his methods are a bit dark at times.
But in TMWTGG I'm not entirely sure he's on the moral high ground: MI6 are basically stealing this thing they want, which looks set to improve the world and which they appear to have no particular rightful claim on. It's all a bit grubby.
I must admit TMWTGG is one of my fav bonds and my 2nd fav Moore Bond only behind LALD. I just love the standoff between Bond and the brilliantly played Scaramanga. It feels Bond has finally met his match. Some great scenes. The Bond and Scaramanga banquet, the death of Scaramanga. I'm not sure why it's always ranked so lowly.
I actually quite like this Moore film despite it not being too popular amongst most bond fans, yes it dosent perhaps have the high octane energy nor a strong cast outside the main characters but I think Christopher Lee does a great job as scaramanga and is a genuine threat nick nak is a breath of fresh air when it comes to a bench man and Maude Adam’s is also fantastic. I don’t mind sheriff pepper in the film but the loop noise on the car jump is a big let down! I think the locations are great the music is really good. although not the greatest bond film it’s certainly nowhere near the worst
Comments
That, my friend, is the million dollar question.
(Agreed on all points.)
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I'd like to see some John Barry interviews, are there any with him on the DVDs?
In a way. They interviewed him for the 2001 releases, and theyre all still in there (the inside documentries) but nothing besides that.
Well, there's a Bond music documentary on one of the DVDs
I thought it was rental.
B-)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Cheers! {[] I'm glad I'm not the only one on this. OHMSS, DAF (Peter Hunt directed of course) and TMWTGG (possibly LALD as well) with Lazenby would have been Bond films, in terms of hard-edged coolness, on par with the masterpieces of the 60s. Lazenby was a martial arts instructor with the Australian special forces for crying out loud, as well as a model-- face it everyone the man was Bond, it's just too bad nobody realized it in time.
And, once again, you are 100% right!
I, for one, consider this "what-if" the greatest heartbreak of the series.
George in TMWTGG? With Hunt directing? An action-film for the ages might have been made. Alas.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the film (all Bond movies are enjoyable.Period.) but, no question, it is not a worthy contender.
Roger (surprisingly sharp) and Christopher Lee (terrific, as usual) make it memorable and there are great scenes scattered throughout, but...
Guy Hamilton, why, oh why, would you make a movie about Bond versus the world's greatest assassin and NOT commit to making the greatest duel in the series ?!?
Still, flaws aside, TMWTGG needs its defenders. Its nowhere near as bad as its detractors claims it is.
Besides, it has Roger's single best fight ever when he tackles the 3 thugs in the dressing room. Take a close look at this fight and realize that Roger was capable of serious mayhem.
"Jealous husbands. Outraged chefs. Humiliated tailors. The list is endless."
The more I am learning how difficult the spiral jump has been, I enjoy the scene, I have watched the jump without the silly noise and it appears much more impressive, even by todays standards.
Additionally, I think, the beautiful locations are THE pro for watching the movie plus Britt Ekland must have been one of the most desirable women of these days. I admit, her role has not been really smart, again, I turn the noise off...
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Just scouring these forums reading pieces on TMWTGG and I notice you have 3 questions unanswered. Here are my two cents:
- Why does Anders treat Bond so poorly when he breaks into her hotel room considering she was the one that sent him the bullet in the first place? Doesn't she want his help?
She's a traumatised lady who is isn't expecting Bond to break into her room while she is in the shower. She probably panics seeing Bond thinking that if Scaramanga knows about her and Bond meeting, she will probably be the next target (which evidently comes true later in the film). She obviously realises after the altercation that her best option is to help Bond which is why she goes to his hotel room later on.
- Why is Sherrif Pepper shopping for a car in Thailand?
Maybe he was interested in the model and wanted a test drive. When he returned to the USA he could talk to his buddies about this great new car he got to test drive already. He would eventually possibly buy the same model once he got back to the USA if he liked it enough.
- How does M know that Bond and Goodnight are aboard Scaramanga's Junk at the end of the movie and how does he know the phone number? Is Scaramanga's number listed?
When Bond leaves the room, he evidently goes up on deck to tie Nick Nack to the mast. Goodnight is still in the bedroom. She could have worked out that there was a communication device in the room which could connect with one of MI6's switchboards to send a message to M that she and Bond were safe and could be reached on the same line.
My big issue with this one, apart from it not paying out on the concept of Bond vs. the greatest assassin in the world (why is there no assassination?!), is that arguably Scaramanga doesn't do anything wrong, not enough to warrant 007 being sent after him anyway.
Andrea frames him for the inciting incident of wanting to kill Bond (he makes it quite clear he respects Bond and is happy to part ways with no harm done to 007). Baines goes and works for Scaramanga and Hi Fat, apparently of his own free will, and whilst with them develops the Solex- there's no suggestion that it's been stolen from the British- it seems to be the legitimate property of Scaramanga and Hi Fat. But Bond's mission is to kill Scaramanga and steal it.
Yes, he obviously is not a great guy and a murderer, but he kills his employee and his own business partner- the grounds for the UK Government getting involved seem a little shaky. And his evil plan is... to build green energy plants. Yes, to the highest bidder; he's not giving them to the world out of the kindness of his heart... but it's hardly the most dastardly plan we've seen. I'd say arguably this as close to a Bond film in which Bond is the baddie that we've had, even if you ignore the bit where he puts a woman in a cupboard and makes her listen to him shagging someone else! 😄
Scaramanga could have been arrested for:
I am sure Bond got a Christmas card from Interpol that year after taking out Scaramanga 😃
He's a bad guy, there's no doubt of that; but what he actually does to deserve MI6 coming after him is a bit more questionable. He kills people and blows stuff up, sure, but plenty of people do that without 00s getting involved. Don't forget that Bond kills a lot of people and blows stuff up too, so he's on that international arrest list as well. His main crime against the British probably is the murder of Fairbanks 002 and the (pointless) kidnap of Goodnight, yes. But that makes him pretty small fry for a Bond villain.
stealing the solex agitator - it was in Gibson's possession and he was the one who created it
We're told Gibson was working for Hai Fat at the time in Bangkok; to me the inference seems to be that he made it for Hai Fat and was paid, and part of his bargaining for immunity to return to the UK was stealing the Solex from Hai Fat. Judging from M & Q's surprise that he had developed a Solex, he clearly hadn't made it whilst he was in the UK - so nothing had been stolen from the British.
If Scaramanga steals it from anyone it's Hai Fat (although HF actually gives it to him), but they seem to be in on the scheme together so it's arguable that the Solex isn't partially Scaramanga's property anyway; either way it's an internal dispute between two gangsters which doesn't involve the UK, apart from the guy who was stealing it had offered it to them. MI6 end up basically acting as another set of gangsters, muscling in on the scheme. I'm not sure they're on any sort of moral high ground, which is unusual for a Bond movie.
Don't forget this line of Bond's:
"The oil shiekhs will pay you just to keep solar energy off the market"
At the end of the film Bond retrieves the Solex and, presumably, takes it back to M. And yet by the next film there's little sign of a solar energy revolution; Bond's Lotus certainly sounds like it's still running on petrol. So who precisely did those oil shiekhs end up paying off...? 😉
Is Bond definitely the goodie?
I'd just like to say that I thought this was a new topic, and it turns out to be one dredged up from years ago. This is like a time machine...I'm seeing some names I haven't seen in a long, loooong time!
This is my doing. I seem to resurrect old threads that have interesting comments in them 😁
TMWTGG is somewhat unique as based on what you say Bond doesn't have a clear assignment from Her Majesty's Government. The film is also unique in that Bond only kills one person.
I find trying to define Bond as a clear "goodie" is difficult throughout the series. Beginning with Dr No, there was no real reason for Bond to kill Professor Dent. He was technically unarmed and Bond could have got the Superintendent's men to watch the house until Dent showed up and then simply arrested him.
You're absolutely right he's bit edgy at times (and in fact in Dr No I'd say he does much worse: he gets Quarrel killed and shows no remorse, and then on the way into No's lair in the swamps he comes out of hiding to kill a guard for no apparent reason at all; it seems worryingly close to murder), but he's always on the side of the angels even if his methods are a bit dark at times.
But in TMWTGG I'm not entirely sure he's on the moral high ground: MI6 are basically stealing this thing they want, which looks set to improve the world and which they appear to have no particular rightful claim on. It's all a bit grubby.
No shade cast...I actually enjoyed going back in time!
I must admit TMWTGG is one of my fav bonds and my 2nd fav Moore Bond only behind LALD. I just love the standoff between Bond and the brilliantly played Scaramanga. It feels Bond has finally met his match. Some great scenes. The Bond and Scaramanga banquet, the death of Scaramanga. I'm not sure why it's always ranked so lowly.
Hey, if an American Tourist sees an AMC Shop in Thailand, he might look. Many people look for cars without immediately shopping a car.
I actually quite like this Moore film despite it not being too popular amongst most bond fans, yes it dosent perhaps have the high octane energy nor a strong cast outside the main characters but I think Christopher Lee does a great job as scaramanga and is a genuine threat nick nak is a breath of fresh air when it comes to a bench man and Maude Adam’s is also fantastic. I don’t mind sheriff pepper in the film but the loop noise on the car jump is a big let down! I think the locations are great the music is really good. although not the greatest bond film it’s certainly nowhere near the worst