11 replies to this topic

[Lady Templar]

I've found it today and was quite surprised about he said (or rather not said) about Roger Moore ...

Interview Yaphet Kotto

[moorebond82]

Well it did seem that he got some unfair treatment for awhile during the promotion of that film but i guess he and roger don't get along then? I don't recall roger saying anything bad about him on the UE dvd.

[Number 6]

Of course 30 years ago, racial speculations were abit more obvious then; no excuse but they just were. Kotto's a great actor and if this is true then it's quite sad. It's that old school mentality of the producers and or "the powers that be" I'm afraid...


If this were just white on white, it would amount to no more than personality conflicts, but this is magnified because it's a black/white thing...again.

In this present time some of these mannerisms are clearly as evident and just as distasteful. Whatever negative vibe that Moore or Kotto may have had for one another, they managed to put that aside and act professional when it counted.

[Qwerty]

Wow. Surprising for me as well. I never would have guessed his responses would be of that nature, judging previously from his appearances on the Bond DVDs and other 007 specials.

Pretty bad treatment in regards to the promotion of him in the film (he is right too, Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big is indeed one of the most overlooked Bond villains in my opinion).

[Number 6]

Pretty bad treatment in regards to the promotion of him in the film (he is right too, Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big is indeed one of the most overlooked Bond villains in my opinion).

I agree...

[moorebond82]

I also concur Kananga had a good combination of charm and ruthlessness just what it takes to be a good Bond villain.

[Spurrier]

Race does seem to dominate his interview. Maybe he indeed has a chip on his shoulder.

[Lady Templar]

This is what Roger Moore exactly wrote in his Diary:

"When Yaphet Kotto came to New Orleans and gave the Black Power salute there were those who said he had a chip on his shoulder. As a black actor in a predominantly white industry perhaps he believed he had to assert himself. One thing I do know is that he need have no chip on his shoulder about his acting ability because today he showed himself an actor of extraordinary depth and power. Today was not B-Day 57 but K for Kotto Day."

(...)

"The scene between Bond and Mr. Big in his hideout was a complicated one with many camera moves and ran for four minutes which is a long time in movie terms. Inevitably a scene of this length is carried by one actor and in this case it was Yaphet. My part called only for the odd interjection. For me this is worse because when the scene is going well I sit and sweat hoping I won't blow it when it comes to my line. Yaphet was magnificent, pulling all sorts of tricks from his bag that he hadn't shown in rehearsal and I was so open-mouthed at his performance I did what I dreaded I would do and blew my tag line."

[triviachamp]

Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big is indeed one of the most overlooked Bond villains in my opinion

That's because the character sucks. I still don't understand what his character is about. He is the Prime Minister of some Caribbean nation but I don't see him acting like one and he for some reason masquerades as a drug dealer. Or he is one, hard to tell. So why the disguise? His scheme is dubious. It seems they were so worried about upsetting anyone that they forgot to make him interesting.

[Spurrier]

This is what Roger Moore exactly wrote in his Diary:

"When Yaphet Kotto came to New Orleans and gave the Black Power salute there were those who said he had a chip on his shoulder. As a black actor in a predominantly white industry perhaps he believed he had to assert himself. One thing I do know is that he need have no chip on his shoulder about his acting ability because today he showed himself an actor of extraordinary depth and power. Today was not B-Day 57 but K for Kotto Day."

(...)

"The scene between Bond and Mr. Big in his hideout was a complicated one with many camera moves and ran for four minutes which is a long time in movie terms. Inevitably a scene of this length is carried by one actor and in this case it was Yaphet. My part called only for the odd interjection. For me this is worse because when the scene is going well I sit and sweat hoping I won't blow it when it comes to my line. Yaphet was magnificent, pulling all sorts of tricks from his bag that he hadn't shown in rehearsal and I was so open-mouthed at his performance I did what I dreaded I would do and blew my tag line."

Perhaps Kotto should have read the diary himself rather than have it interpreted by a 3rd party. He would have then seen that Roger was an admirer. In Kotto's recent interview though, he comes across as a jerk and still sounds like he has a chip on his shoulder to me.

[killkenny kid]

Thank you, lady Templar. I just read this interview on another site. And I was some want upset about this Roger/ Yaphet thing. And Spurrier, you didnt live Mr. Kotto's life. So, why call him a jerk. He may have a VERY good reason to be mad. But, not in this case.

[Spurrier]

Thank you, lady Templar. I just read this interview on another site. And I was some want upset about this Roger/ Yaphet thing. And Spurrier, you didnt live Mr. Kotto's life. So, why call him a jerk. He may have a VERY good reason to be mad. But, not in this case.

Killkenney Kid, for the same reason that you yourself admit that Kotto has no reason to be mad in this case, yes...he comes off as a jerk in the interview. I agree with The Liparus who says that Kotto has no reason to still be mad, especially after 33 years. Because of that, Kotto does indeed sound like a jerk.