Live and Let Die (1973), PG, 2 hr 1 min

Live and Let Die (1973), PG, 2 hr 1 min
Franchise: James Bond
Franchise #:  8 (Release Order: Eighth film in the official Eon Productions James Bond series)

Tagline: Roger Moore as James Bond 007. His new enemies: the masters of murder, the voodoo killers of Harlem and the Caribbean.

Main Cast
Roger Moore as James Bond
Yaphet Kotto as Dr. Kananga / Mr. Big
Jane Seymour as Solitaire
Julius Harris as Tee Hee
Geoffrey Holder as Baron Samedi
David Hedison as Felix Leiter
Bernard Lee as M
Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny
Clifton James as Sheriff J.W. Pepper
Gloria Hendry as Rosie Carver

Reviews
Synopsis
Bond investigates the murders of three British agents, which leads him to New York, New Orleans, and the Caribbean. He discovers a drug-trafficking operation led by the mysterious Dr. Kananga, who also moonlights as the gangster Mr. Big. With tarot cards, crocodile farms, voodoo cults, and boat chases galore, Bond’s first Moore-era adventure is wild and unpredictable.

Overview
Live and Let Die marks a new tone for Bond: lighter, quippier, and funkier. Roger Moore brings charm and wit, and the plot leans into 1970s style with blaxploitation influences, supernatural imagery, and wild stunts. The theme song by Paul McCartney & Wings is one of the best in the series.

Family Friendliness
More suggestive than earlier films, with implied intimacy, innuendo, and stylized violence. The voodoo and occult themes may be unsettling for younger viewers. It’s PG but parents should be cautious—some elements are intense or culturally insensitive by today’s standards.

Christian Perspective
This entry includes occult imagery, tarot, and voodoo motifs, which Christians should approach with caution. While Bond’s character remains morally ambiguous, viewers can explore themes of deception vs. truth and power vs. justice—though these are buried beneath spectacle and style.

Critics Rating
My Rating: 8/10
The Dove Foundation: Not Approved
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 65%, Audience 64%
Metacritic: 55/100

Notable Scenes
Bond escapes by jumping across the backs of live crocodiles

The high-speed boat chase through the Louisiana bayou

The eerie appearance of Baron Samedi rising from the grave

Solitaire’s tarot reading and loss of "gift"

Mr. Big’s true identity revealed



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