LIVE AND LET DIE is a 1973 film, the eighth in the James Bond series to be produced by Eon Productions, and the first to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond.

Live and Let Die is a 1973 British spy film, the eighth in the James Bond series to be produced by Eon Productions, and the first to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond.

Produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, it was the third of four Bond films to be directed by Guy Hamilton.

LIVE AND LET DIE Facts

  • Back to Jamaica for Live And Let Die with a new Bond, Roger Moore.
  • Jamaica became the fictional island San Monique.
  • 14 November 1972 marked the first day of filming with director Guy Hamilton on location in Jamaica on the coast just beyond Reynolds Aluminium on the road from Ocho Rios to St. Anne’s Bay. The second location on the same day was the Int/Ext Hotel Reception & Tarot Card Shop: Sans souci Hotel, Ocho Rios.
  • When scouting locations, Syd Cain saw a sign ‘Trespassers Will Be Eaten’. The owner of the Kananga’s Swamp Safari, Ross gave Syd a tour. Scenes here were then written into the script. The producers liked Ross’ name enough to change Mr. Big’s alter ego after him. The character’s original name Jakata was changed to Kananga.
  • Ross Kananga agreed to double for Bond for the stepping stone crocodile scene. The scene required Ross to run across the backs of a line of real crocodiles. On the third attempt one of the crocs whipped around and bit the heel of his shoe off. Ross commented ‘They’re expecting me.’ And Director Guy Hamilton said ‘It’s getting too dangerous now.’ Ross asked to try it one more time. They got the shot.
  • For the double decker bus chase scene – the bus was converted for the stunt in London and shipped to location in Johnson Town, Lucea, Jamaica. Bond is required to drive the bus under a low bridge, so the top deck rested on a sliding mechanism that enabled it to slice clean off when it hit the bridge. Not only was the bus customised, but the bridge was also purpose-built. Syd Cain designed it and Leon Davis supervised the construction around a steel framework. Everything worked will in the first take and the results looked both amusing and spectacular.
  • 15 November 1972 – Rosie Carver (GLORIA HENDRY) and Roger Moore have their first kiss at a picnic in a clearing – Ruins, Ocho Rios.  The picnic scene with Bond and Rosie Carver marked the first interracial romance in a Bond film.
  • 27 December 1972 Last day of filming on location in Jamaica with Ross Kananga at the Jamaica Swamp Safari, Falmouth.
  • The scarecrow mannequins that spook Rosie in the picnic scene were designed by Derek Meddings and built by Peter Biggs and his team. Derek Meddings is known for his miniature work on Fireball XL5, Stingray, and Thunderbirds. Live And Let Die marked his first venture on Bond films followed by The Man With The Golden Gun, 1974, The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977, Moonraker, 1979, For Your Eyes Only, 1981 and GoldenEye, 1995. (Peter Lamont)
  • Bus instructor Maurice Patchett who drove the bus in the chase sequence, rehearsed in Jamaica for 6 weeks before filming. (James Bond Archives, Taschen)