35 Publicity Photos of Roger Moore and Jane Seymour in “Live and Let Die” (1973)

Live and Let Die is a 1973 spy film, the eighth film in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, and the third in the series directed by Guy Hamilton. The film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, while Tom Mankiewicz wrote the script.

This is the first film with Roger Moore starring as MI6 Secret Agent James Bond 007, where he is sent to New York to investigate the mysterious deaths of several British agents. There, he discovers that the self-producing heroin addict Dr. Kananga (Yaphet Kotto) is linked to the case and as Bond tries to unravel his master plan, he meets Solitaire (Jane Seymour), the beautiful Tarot card reader whose magical gifts are reluctantly crucial to Kananga. What follows are some nice action sequences involving voodoo and witch doctors.

Moore’s Bond was witty, stylish, and less physically aggressive – traits that came to define his tenure as the iconic spy. He gave his own unique personality and charm to the character, but also kept Bond’s iconic characteristics of suaveness, womanizing, deadpan humor and funny one-liners. His acting was charming and comedic, which helped him engage in all the action scenes and provide touching chemistry between him and the beautiful Jane Seymour.

Tom Mankiewicz did a pretty nice job on the screenplay, providing us with a story that is interesting, and Guy Hamilton did a pretty good job directing. Much of the movie delved on Bond and his partners roaming around the streets of New Orleans and the Caribbean Island, looking for clues leading to Kanaga and his scheme.

The dynamic between Moore’s charismatic Bond and Seymour’s ethereal Solitaire was a major highlight of the film. Seymour, only 22 at the time, held her own opposite Moore, who was 45, and their romantic scenes became some of the most memorable in Bond film history.

The film was a commercial success and helped redefine the Bond franchise for a new decade. It’s also notable for its blend of voodoo themes, 1970s blaxploitation influences, and one of the best Bond theme songs, “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings.