Roger Moore's James Bond Diary

Roger Moore's James Bond Diary by Roger Moore

Roger Moore's James Bond Diary is an account of his filming the movie Live and Let Die and was published in 1973. The book opens with an acknowledgment to Sean Connery, with whom Moore has been friends for many years: “I would also like to thank Sean Connery – with whom it would not have been possible.”

This pun really sums Sir Rodge up and sets the tone for the rest of the book.

Being a big Bond fan, and also a big Sir Rodge fan (check out his recent books and autobiography, they're very good) I picked up this curiosity of a book from eBay for a couple of pounds. Its written in his usual dry and witty style and was thoroughly entertaining. There's not a great deal of depth to it, for example there were no profound insights into his acting method, characterisation, effect of working on location on relationships and family, etc rather its a straightforward account of filming a Bond movie; the day-to-day grind, pressures and frustrations. What I picked-up from the book is:

- Rodge knows everyone; to him networking and socialising is critical and he probably rather enjoys it
- He's a professional: he turns up for work, delivers his lines and is clearly doing a job which he loves
- He seems to be prone to illness both real and imagined
- He understands the value of money and how much he is worth
- He uses humour to try to put others, and possibly himself, at ease and he definitely doesn't take himself too seriously

You get the impression that Rodge was rather shocked at being cast as Bond, especially as he was in his mid-forties at the time (Bond is portrayed in his early to mid-thirties in the books) and in real life Sir Rodge is definitely not an action hero. So, in summary a light-hearted and easy read which records each day's shooting, and includes insights into the other activities which occur when the cameras stop turning.