Home › Bond Movies › Actors
Reporting For Duty
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Categories
Roger Moore CAN act
Poor Sir Roger Moore seems to get bashed alot from both film critics and fans alike. He's been parodied on television shows for his lack of acting skills and even had a song named after him called "One Emotion" referencing the constant moving of his eyebrow. With him being the first Bond I was exposed naturally this hurt alittle. I started to believe it and even mentioned Moore in an acting class where where the Prof jumped to Moore's defense. And damn it he was right. Typecasting in Hollywood can be ridiculous. People loved Moore when he played towards the lighter side of things so he stuck to what worked and gave audiences what they wanted. Afterall no one was forcing people to pay to see his Bond films and his outings, adjusted for inflation, were consistently the second highest grossing behind Connery's. Now let us Moore fans unite and provide examples of Sir Roger doing some more serious acting. Feel free to go outside the Bond films.
-Bond explaining to Anya why he had to kill her lover in TSWLM. A very somber scene with a dead-serious delivery by Bond. Moore did an excellent job with this. I don't think Connery, Lazenby, or Brosnan could've pulled it off any better.
-Bond nearly escaping death inside the centrifuge in Moonraker. Say what you will about Moore's Bond being invincible but in this particular scene, Bond seriously looks like he's shit out of luck. Then as Bond escapes and Holly Goodhead tries to help him Moore sort-of nudges her off like an after-though. That's pure Bond coolness being added a very well done scene.
-Bond warning Melina about the possible consequences of her seeking revenge in FYEO. Yes this might have been alittle out of character for the ruthless spy but never-the-less Moore is effective as an experienced professional trying to help this grieving woman.
-Bond forcing himself on Octopussy in her palace in OP. Moore proves that he can pull a Connery and show off some sexual aggression/dominance. Only he doesn't have to beat her up to do it.
-Bond's confrontation with General Orlov on the train in OP. For a Bond who constantly regarded as never being serious Moore is all business here and believable in doing so.
-Bond defusing the Bomb at Octopussy's circus in OP. I won't ignore the pink elephant in the room. Yes, Bond is dressed as a clown. People have a field day with this. But set your minds objectively for a second. Even though he's dressed as a clown it's one of the more serious scenes in a Moore film. It's a very Hitchcockian concept were a man knows there's a bomb hidden in the cannon and tries to warn the people but no one believes him because he's dressed as a clown. Moore looks legitimately scared, concerned, and even desperate at times in this scene.
-Bond explaining to Anya why he had to kill her lover in TSWLM. A very somber scene with a dead-serious delivery by Bond. Moore did an excellent job with this. I don't think Connery, Lazenby, or Brosnan could've pulled it off any better.
-Bond nearly escaping death inside the centrifuge in Moonraker. Say what you will about Moore's Bond being invincible but in this particular scene, Bond seriously looks like he's shit out of luck. Then as Bond escapes and Holly Goodhead tries to help him Moore sort-of nudges her off like an after-though. That's pure Bond coolness being added a very well done scene.
-Bond warning Melina about the possible consequences of her seeking revenge in FYEO. Yes this might have been alittle out of character for the ruthless spy but never-the-less Moore is effective as an experienced professional trying to help this grieving woman.
-Bond forcing himself on Octopussy in her palace in OP. Moore proves that he can pull a Connery and show off some sexual aggression/dominance. Only he doesn't have to beat her up to do it.
-Bond's confrontation with General Orlov on the train in OP. For a Bond who constantly regarded as never being serious Moore is all business here and believable in doing so.
-Bond defusing the Bomb at Octopussy's circus in OP. I won't ignore the pink elephant in the room. Yes, Bond is dressed as a clown. People have a field day with this. But set your minds objectively for a second. Even though he's dressed as a clown it's one of the more serious scenes in a Moore film. It's a very Hitchcockian concept were a man knows there's a bomb hidden in the cannon and tries to warn the people but no one believes him because he's dressed as a clown. Moore looks legitimately scared, concerned, and even desperate at times in this scene.
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
how many times in his seven movies can you say that he (appeared to) actually took the part seriously, not many if you think about it
I don't want to castigate the man but scenes such as the hot tub/shower scenes in A View To A Kill, the air blimp ride and the Golden Gate bridge finale always leaves me with doubts, and that's just for starters
that movie was his bond swansong and he just appeared to be hamming it up and having a fun of it, Octopussy for the most part too, although For your eyes only was a credible performance, many people see Moonraker as the worst Bond film ever, can't argue that, and well, Moore was lead role in that, the cable car scene in Rio was just cringeworthy, and Jaws becomes a 'good guy' at the end, oh dear
never said not a fan of Moore, but you can't argue that most of the pictures he was in were as silly as hell, should of quit the role in 1979 after Moonfaker
never had an issue with the man but some bond watchers do think he was their least favorite of all the actors to portray the lead role
I watched half of Live and Let Die the other night and did enjoy what he brought to the part, but as the years went on before he quit it really was approaching amateur night
to add to the examples above...
when Bond is found out by Zorin - and Bond tells Zorin that "killing Tibbett was a mistake" - this whole little exchange between Rog and Walken was serious and cold - and really showed Rog's serious side as Bond..
i also really liked Rog calling out Rosie Carver with the Queen Of Cups card - and when she starts "freaking out" - and he coldly cocks his PPK and says "make your choice" - damn! - that is ice cold :)
And you must be increadbly cool if you play someone who plays you, as he did in one of those gumball films.
Let's not kid ourselves, Rog is and always will be remembered as gentleman charmer rather than a great actor. Even Rog himself admits that he isn't the best of actors but he's taken a lot of rather harsh criticism over the years.
In terms of more serious acting in other films, I havent seen it but ive heard he's good in The Man Who Haunted Himself. It's a performance which apparently Rog cherishes.
His reaction to the killing of Tibbet
The scenes in Howes office
He does up his game alongside Walken in general.
Completely agree with those scenes in OP also, it's a pity that the throw away moments overshadow what has always been a great all round experience when watching the era.
One other scene I could site would be the dinner table with Scaramanga. Great delivery. "when I kill....etc"
Rog comes from the same stable as Caine. Essentially playing himself but making sure that when it matters he delivers on the serious side.
We can't blame him too heavily for his scripts although it has to be said that he shows a good ability for comic timing love it or loath it.
"Quintessential Englishman" to quote Alan Partrdige.
Love you Sir Rog.
Summing up his great moments as Bond would take me around 14 hours, if you get what I'm hinting at. But just a minor few examples of moments that I love: lecturing XXX on the risks of the job, removing the clown mask to reveal himself to Octopussy and the American general, working the Indentigraph with Q, ...
Roger was the gentleman Bond, very polished, sweet and charming. But I never read incompetence in his acting. He's no Sean Connery, people say. So? Sean Connery is no Roger Moore! The logic is pretty thin there. Whether you like Roger as Bond or not is a different matter. But Roger being a poor actor is a statement that holds absolutely no truth.
It's always difficult as we all have such a vested interest in Bond that it is hard to detach ourselves, but TMWHH is definitely a curio I would encourage anyone to check out.
Roger is also not shy from poking fun at himself, jars a bit with Bond but Cannonball Run springs to mind,, there is nothing wrong with acting and having fun with it, its quite refreshing and more personable. Good on ya Rog
Roger Moore can act, he's just not very good at it. I find him to be one of the most limited actors I can think of. God knows he's tried to be serious in films, but I can't can't buy him in serious mode.
I have nothing against him as a person, but as an actor, he's about as heavyweight as a souffle.
^ That's me in about... 5 minutes time.
I never said the man was Daniel Day Lewis but he's certainly more capable than ypu give him credit for. The problem is most people have never given his other work a chance. Fans and producers. I guess it was just a case of him being too damn good at what made him famous in the first place.
And DC I agree. Roger Moore is an extreamly kind, generous, cultured, and well-natured man. His countless efforts as a the UNICEF goodwill ambassador have proven that. Plus I've never heard any actors, directors, producers, etc have anything bad to say about him and in a backstabbing self-serving business like Hollywood, full of scumbags, how many people can lay claim to that.
It is easy to forget that he had a very successful career before Bond playing on TV (Maverick, The Saint, Ivanhoe) and he did some movies during his Bond tenue.
We should all drink a pint to Sir Roger.
When he wants to.
Moore was a RADA-trained actor who found a niche, a persona that got him work. He had a screen presence that appealed to the public. His own self-deprecation played up to the 'Moore can't act' stereotype. This didn't seem to bother him one little bit. Why should it? He was working, he was having fun, he was fulfilled in what he was doing. There was nothing pretentious about Moore. Enormously popular with cast and (more tellingly) crew, he brightened up the sets, and the screen.
Of course the man could act. The Man Who Haunted Himself as already stated, was a superb performance, and it is easy to see why it is a favourite of his. Nobody is claiming he was Laurence Olivier, but he was a far more effective technical actor than his fiercest detractors give him credit for. Not that Moore would care. He would be the first to mock his own abilities.
His 'James Bond' was a suave, sophisticated, debonair playboy of an agent, who hated killing, and masked it all with humour, as a self-defence mechanism. This does mean, that when the ice shows through this facade, it is all the more striking and effective. Moore's Bond is just as deadly as all the others. He might kill you with an accompanying quip, but you'd be just as dead.
There's a reason why Roger Moore is the longest reigning James Bond. It's an unsentimental business (as Pierce Brosnan could tell you) and to survive you have to have something really rather special.
Sir Roger Moore is really rather special. A great man. A decent actor.
As mentioned Roger Moore has played to a certain persona for most of his career and he has made a good career from it, but he has put in great performances in smaller films such as The Man Who Haunted Himself, Naked Face and Bed and Breakfast. He is a decent actor but has always played this down himself.