bernard lee

A little early for a drink…

 

James Bond (Roger Moore) answers the door late night at his home only to find M (Bernard Lee) on the other side in Live and Let Die (1973)

Roger Moore’s “This never happened to the other fella” Moment

James Bond (Roger Moore) answers the door late night at his home only to find M (Bernard Lee) on the other side in Live and Let Die (1973)

James Bond (Roger Moore) answers the door late night at his home only to find M (Bernard Lee) on the other side in Live and Let Die (1973)

Moore’s first on-screen appearance as 007 in Live and Let Die (1973) could have borrowed Lazenby’s famous quip from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) – it would’ve fit perfectly with his stunned look!

From Trump With Love

Bernard Lee as M in Live and Let Die (1973)

Buzzkill

Bernard Lee as M in Live and Let Die (1973)

Bernard Lee as M in Live and Let Die (1973)

Live and Let Die (1973) - Bond the Barista

Bond the Barista

An impromptu early morning visit by M at Bond’s home leads to a funny scene in Live And Let Die (1973). Moore’s first on-screen appearance as 007 doesn’t start out great. After bedding an Italian agent Miss Caruso at his place, he bumbles and fumbles as he tries to distract M (Bernard Lee) from running into the woman. Bond makes M some coffee, and knows his way around an espresso machine, much to M’s surprise and a test of his patience.

The personal visit by M is warranted, of course, as the murders of three MI6 agents (Baines, Dawes and Hamilton) make it an urgent matter. But who knew Bond could moonlight as a barista? And it’s pretty cool we get a glimpse into his personal home. Yes, it’s the 1970’s – and I still can’t get over the atrocious kitchen wallpaper, but Bond’s vintage orange sandwich maker on the counter looks pretty sweet!

Live and Let Die (1973) - Bond the Barista

Live and Let Die (1973) – Bond the Barista

Keeping the British end up, sir…

This all=time one-liner at the end of The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) gets me every time. As Bond (Roger Moore) and Triple X (Barbara Bach) are caught in the act in an escape pod, a stunned General Gogol (Triple X’s boss), M (Bond’s boss) and Sir Frederick Gray (Bond’s boss’s boss) can’t believe their eyes.

The exchange is legendary: “Bond!” “Tri-PULL X!” “Bond! What do you think you’re doing?” make the men sound more like disappointed parental figures rather than government intelligence. A speechless Q can only watch in awe, almost jaw-dropped.

And then 007 quickly quips a legendary James Bond line of lore. It ends with a celebratory-sounding chorus line version of the movie’s theme, declaring “nobody does it better” in a hilarious double entendre. HA! So awesome!

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) - Keeping the British end up, sir...