16 replies to this topic

[SecretAgentFan]

What a delightful surprise:  This fall Sir Roger will publish another autobiographical look back on his experiences as an actor.  

 

Might offer more on his Bond films than his "Bond on Bond"-book.

 

 

http://www.amazon.co...rds=Roger Moore

[ChickenStu]

Sounds good to me! I read My Word Is My Bond not long ago and it was a very entertaining autobiography. I own a copy of Bond On Bond but I've not looked inside it yet. It has Roger Moore's signature. I picked it up when I went to see An Afternoon With Roger Moore last year. Awesome! 

[Turn]

I don't want to be the wet blanket, but how much more is there to say that hasn't already been said in My Word is My Bond, Bond on Bond and his DVD commentaries? I have a copy of Bond on Bond but haven't read it, but have heard numerous comments it repeats things from the earlier bio and the commentaries.

 

I appreciate Sir Roger as he's the most talkative former Bond, but how much more is there to say without thinking money grab?

[SecretAgentFan]

IMO, "Bond on Bond" was just a very superficial, yet amusing look back on all the Bond films, with only a few, already well-known anecdotes - in the good spirit of celebrating the anniversary.

 

The new autobiography (while certainly done for monetary reasons) could delve much deeper, like the "Making of Live and let die"-book.

[Simon]

Well, the blurb says he will be talking about his impressions and stories from other actors...  I guess these will have to be actorsw with whom he has worked otherwise erm, what would be the point?

 

Whether this will act as third hand reporting I wouldn't dare to say,

[thecasinoroyale]

Sounds like it could be a fun read - a nice ironic title too! Look forward to it.

[scaramunga]

Hopefully there is a US printing of the book as well?

 

Looking forward to reading it!

[ChickenStu]

I actually think it's really cool that Moore is writing these books and doing the speaking tours. My Word Is My Bond was a wonderful memoir. I've not even looked inside my copy of Bond On Bond yet (and probably won't until around the time of the November marathon) - but it's nice that he's taking the time to do these volumes to pass it all on. One gets the feeling that he's really rather aware of his mortality and wants to leave something behind. I feel like these books are a wonderful footnote to the twilight of his career. Considering the man is in his mid 80s it's refreshing that he has still so much to give. 

 

If Roger Moore writes it and publishes it - I buy it and read it. Simple as! 

 

I'd like to see the guy do a book focusing solely on his work with UNICEF. It might be a tough read in places - but I think he should do it - not hold back and name names. 

[Messervy]

As a matter of fact, I just read "My word is my Bond" some weeks past.

 

Although it's a nice read, I must say I was quite disappointed: it's really only a collection of facts, and mainly a "I did this. Then I went there. Oh, here's an anecdote by the way" kind of autobiography.I was expecting something more analytical, where he would actually tell us how he approached such and such things, what he thinks about what he did, what he wanted to do with his take on Templar or Bond, etc. But unfortunately we get none of that.

[Hansen]

As a matter of fact, I just read "My word is my Bond" some weeks past.

 

Although it's a nice read, I must say I was quite disappointed: it's really only a collection of facts, and mainly a "I did this. Then I went there. Oh, here's an anecdote by the way" kind of autobiography.I was expecting something more analytical, where he would actually tell us how he approached such and such things, what he thinks about what he did, what he wanted to do with his take on Templar or Bond, etc. But unfortunately we get none of that.

Quite the opposite to me. I extremely enjoyed the book and especially the fact that Moore does not take himself very seriously. A truly refreshing reading

[Guy Haines]

I bought Sir Roger's new book yesterday. Haven't started it yet but flicked through it. The first paragraph made me chuckle:-

 

"Due to the phenomenal worldwide success of my first published autobiography My Word Is My Bond namely sales of two softback copies and one hardback in Burkina Faso - my publishers, poor misguided people with big hearts but short purse strings have commissioned me to attempt to pen another pack of near truths."

 

I think that gives an indication of the tone of the book. I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Messervy]

 

As a matter of fact, I just read "My word is my Bond" some weeks past.

 

Although it's a nice read, I must say I was quite disappointed: it's really only a collection of facts, and mainly a "I did this. Then I went there. Oh, here's an anecdote by the way" kind of autobiography.I was expecting something more analytical, where he would actually tell us how he approached such and such things, what he thinks about what he did, what he wanted to do with his take on Templar or Bond, etc. But unfortunately we get none of that.

Quite the opposite to me. I extremely enjoyed the book and especially the fact that Moore does not take himself very seriously. A truly refreshing reading

 

Oh yes, the book as such was highly enjoyable, and I very much like Moore's tone. But I was nonetheless very disappointed by the lack of analytical retrospect. I find it's only a recollection of facts (very interesting, mind you) with no real hindsight.

[Grard Bond]

Something occured to me when I was visiting amazone just a couple of minutes ago.

On amazon.co.uk they now also have a different book from  Roger called "One Lucky Bastard: tales from Tinseltown". It also has a different cover (a close up of Moore drinking out of a wineglass).

Is this the same book, or is it part two? The first one is already out for a couple of weeks. This other one is released on october 21.

It's also mentioned as hardcover, so no paperbackversion.

Does anyone know what the story is about this?

Edited by Grard Bond, 27 September 2014 - 02:52 PM.

[Simon]

One Lucky Bastard is the American title for the same book.

[Grard Bond]

Ok, thanx for your reply.

I already ordered it, so I have to think this one over. Do I want both versions: yes, or no?

[David_M]

 

 

Although it's a nice read, I must say I was quite disappointed: it's really only a collection of facts, and mainly a "I did this. Then I went there. Oh, here's an anecdote by the way" kind of autobiography.I was expecting something more analytical, where he would actually tell us how he approached such and such things, what he thinks about what he did, what he wanted to do with his take on Templar or Bond, etc. But unfortunately we get none of that.

 

 

You know, I don't know that Roger even thinks in terms of "here's what I wanted to do with my take on the character."  He always seems more interested in what other people were doing.  Which is to say, I'm sure he did put thought and effort into his acting, but when he looks back, he always seems more interested in the work of the director or cinematographer or other performers, so that's what he talks about. Maybe it's modesty, maybe it's his generous nature or maybe he's just worried that if he says, "Here's what I tried to do," someone will come back with, "Yeah?  Well, you failed!"

 

I think it kind of hurts him, really, that he's created this impression that the extent of his craft is simply "hit your marks and say your lines," but if you read interviews, and especially if you listen to various DVD commentaries, you can't help but be impressed by the amount of detail he remembers from projects decades in the past.  He has a solid grasp of how shots are planned and executed, why this or that lens is selected, what's going on with lighting, and so on.  And he can tell you who was behind the camera or running the lights in most scenes.  I doubt there are many other movie stars who even know 2% of the technicians involved in making them look good, or are aware of anything going on outside themselves.

 

So in a way, I think it's cool that Roger doesn't focus on why he said this line this way, or what he wanted me to feel in this or that scene.  Hollywood is full of egomaniacs who are willing to discuss their performances at great length because, hey, they are their own favorite subject.  Mind you, I agree that when you buy a book by Roger Moore about Roger Moore, you do kind of hope for more insight.  But really, the nature of much of Roger's work is not all that awfully deep.  There aren't a million layers to his Templar or Bond, and if he has to explain what he was trying to do, then that means he didn't do it right.

 

To some degree, I was disappointed in My Word Is My Bond, too, but only because as a fan I'd heard so much of it before.  After decades of waiting for a(n entirely theoretical) Moore autobiography, it would've been hard to meet my expectations.  One can only wonder what that first effort, stolen years earlier, would have been like.  I still consider his LALD-centric "James Bond Diary" the best thing he's done, and one of the best Bond-related books, period.

[Dustin]

Roger Moore belongs to a generation when actors first and foremost delivered. They had to know their lines and mind the marks, true. But they also had to give a solid - really solid - performance. Because time is money and takes are precious. And only a very solid performer could afford to hijack the odd take down the silly lane - as Moore used to at times - because the team knew they were working with a professional who'd deliver just what is needed in the next take.

Moore's generation wasn't expected to play a major part in the creative process, although Moore of course contributed a lot of input. Actors in general back then used to be regarded as mere tools of the director's idea of the film and a positive creative rapport between actor and director wasn't the norm at all.

Moore always played ball with this basic understanding, and the degree to which he helped the series survive prior to TSWLM cannot be regarded high enough. He bent to all the basic needs when it was nevessary, and he was more than willing to give this best performance under ludicrous circumstances when the market demanded. But over all Moore remained a servant of the role, not vice versa.