Oliver, to me, is one of the OG's of TH-cam. A Retrospective Review is always a big deal, guaranteed to be the best of its kind. He makes these insanely hard-to-make videos look easy.
@@fredrikcarlstedt393 he was the first actor I ever wrote back in '99 , just random I wrote him first but im glad I did , later he refused more and more to sign Dracula pics
When it comes to James Bond retrospectives, nobody does it better than Oliver Harper. This was a fine 007 film elevated by the superb Christopher Lee. That car flip stunt was cool minus the slide whistle sound effect. And, I like JW Pepper.
I like JW Pepper. Yeah, he's a complete caricature and his only role in the script is to serve as a foil for Bond. Bond is charming and smooth secret agent while Pepper is a crass hick sheriff. However Bond never treat Pepper poorly (at most Bond is annoyed) and in later on we meet the CIA agent Felix Leiter who's also smooth and skillful, but not as much as Bond of course ;) Too bad CIA killed JFK!
@@jacobunderwood5206 I personally think Dutch Bond Fan is the best when it comes to retrospectives reviews of the James Bond films, but I also like Calvin Dyson and Oliver's review as well.
Honestly, I love this film! It was one of my favourites growing up, and I still love it today. Lee and Moore are great together, and the locations are stunning! It just hits all the right Bond spots for me.
Same here, I think it was the first Bond I saw back in early 80's as akid, not the best Bond movie but the one I love the most. Love the score and the use of the Bond theme through out the movie.
I rewatched this movie after watching this retrospective, and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. I feel like perhaps releasing it the year after live and let die might have not helped. Even though Roger had been accepted as the new Bond, he doesn't feel like himself. He really was able to carry the Spy who loved me.
I love this film. Primarily for Christopher Lee's Scaramanga who as an elite assassin is a perfect foil for Bond, another elite assassin. A terrific ride deserving of great praise.
Roger Moore was an excellent Bond even if he did have sillier movies most of the time. He brings a certain charm and charisma that always puts a smile on your face.
@@AB0BA_69 I'd say otherwise honestly. Sure he does come off as a British stereotype to some but to me Moore embodies Bond if he emphasized his charm while still being the badass we know and love.
Roger Moore was my James Bond I met Sean Connery at Gleneagles Hotel in possibly 1982. But Christopher Lee i remember vividly. I caddied for him at a pro celebrity golf match there in 1983. We talked movies, books, life and golf. I still have the photo of us together. Legend. Both him and Roger.
Not everyone's favourite Bond film, but Scaramanga was a very good villain. I always come back to it mainly because of Christopher Lee could easily have played Bond himself, and the final showdown on Scaramanga's Island still holds up very well. Great review!
He was on the short list for Bond at one point. Plus his step-cousin, the novelist himself, actually wanted Sir Christopher to be the title villain of “Dr. No” but Lee turned it down. When they came back to offer him Scaramanga, he didn’t turn them down again
I'd never call The Man with The Golden Gun boring, as I had laughed out loud the most out of all the Bond movies. Thanks to Roger Moore's performance as 007 he matches the increased wackiness of the movie.
This film is criminally under-rated and my favorite of the classic bond films. First, the cinematography and editing are absolutely perfectl from start to finish and among the best of 70s films. The film is gorgeous and refuses to compromise its pace. There is a unique, exotic and surreal quality along with pacing you dont see until skyfall. Christopher Lee is fascinating and almost a non villian. He's chivalrous to the point of fault. The flying car is silly, but there's a refreshing lack of gadgetry. Even the car chase is simple with no exotics. The miniature sets are flawless. Knick Knick is unusual, but count the times he out smarts bond. Bridgette Eklund is an idiot, but an 11 on the 1-10 bond girl boner scale. The score is haunting and superb. Its the highlight of Essential James Bond Soundtrack. I rest my case.
Agree about the score. So underrated. Wish they would release an extended version. I keep begging La La Records for it. Anyone want to start a petition?
I love this movie. I've also read the book, but aside from some of Scaramanga's backstory it's a borderline in name only adaptation. I prefer the film, honestly.
Man With The Golden Gun is my favorite Bond movie. It has its many problems, but the smooth charm of Roger Moore (with a few exceptions) matched against that of Sir Christopher Lee's really sells it for me. Not to mention Scaramanga has a pretty sympathetic background for *why* he became such a villain. Bond had too many villains that are just cartoonisjly evil and have been properly spoofed by, well, Dr. Evil. Scaramanga has a reason for being a bit of a bastard.
I have to say I do enjoy The Man With the Golden Gun, I've never understood why it gets so little love. Thanks for the video, behind the scenes details like these always help to give context to a film.
Because it is one of the worst Bond films in the series. The story is just so boring relies on too much on humour, Mary Goodnught is a terrible Bond girl, she is nothing more than dumb blonde, J W Pepper is just bloody annoying and is beyond belief that he happened to be holidaying in the same time Bond is there, the fight between Nick Nack and bond is just painful to watch and is not funny at all, The Deathmatch is so predictable, it is pretty obvious bond was going to switch places with the mannequin.
In 1974, things were changing, and this movie didn't feel fresh to American audiences. I remember getting much, much more excited about The Spy Who Loved Me.
Imo because many of the audience were still thinking Moore’s Bond would be like Connery’s tough guy Bond they had loved in the sixties. In the previous film ‘Live and Let Die’ there were some elements of previous Bond movies with Bond acting tough at times but introducing what would become Moore’s trademark, the lighter more chilled Bond. An agent who relies on charm and style, rather than cunning and toughness. Golden Gun was another step away from Connery and not everyone was ready for that.
My second favourite Bond movie . I can always watch this and on a rainy Sunday afternoon or a day where I’m on my own and maybe slightly hung over , what better comfort is there than this movie !! Love it !! Lee and Moore … you are the best !!!
I was playing in a friends garden when his mom came out and asked if we wanted to go and see the film at the cinema. Of course we said yes and I ran home to ask my mom for permission to go and for some money. Unfortunately by the time I got the money and began to run back to my friend’s house they had just left (his mom was impatient) and I ended up walking home a very sad disappointed 10 year old 😔. I never did see it at the cinema and had to wait until it appeared on tv in the late seventies.
Thank you for giving this under appreciated film it’s due. It’s a brilliant work full of amazing ideas that was set off the rails by UA rushing the production for a Christmas ‘74 release and everyone going along with it. They all acknowledged this after the fact and Hamilton describing being like a drained battery is spot on. Mankiewicz got burned out and he and Hamilton fell out a bit. The major issues are three: the rushed schedule, the extreme disjointed quality of the two writers work being thrown together without the time to fuse them together properly as on DAF and especially the end of the Broccoli-Saltzman partnership. However it is a film of immense riches and the last to have any of the Harry Saltzman spark of wildness in spite of it being one of the films Broccoli was the lead producer on. Each of the writers had genius concepts that remain in the film just not always hitting their full potential. It is a subdued film that does reflect Bond’s pissed off nature at being hunted and the roughness manages to actually match the novel’s tone in some ways. The HD masters from Lowry digital are a garbage mess which doesn’t do this film any favors. The switch in cinematographers causes some flatness in spots as Morris didn’t get to do his usual style and Ted Moore wasn’t around to work his magic. Yet when you get past the Lowry image crud there are some really interesting subtle uses of color and I have a great fondness for the few spherical Bond films. The 5.1 remix is just as putrid as all the MiCasa studios remixes with all kinds of new effects and awful changes. The original mono is fantastically punchy like LALD’s mono. Barry’s score is vastly underrated and as always he nailed the tone of the film.
Scaramanga is amazing! The world's greatest assassin. He's not a complicated villain. He's a blunt instrument. But he's the best blunt instrument there is. I love how the titular weapon is so disadvantageous by design because he wants it to be a challenge to use it. It says something about how good he is that he deliberately makes it difficult for himself to win. And of course he is masterfully played by the legendary Christopher Lee. Seriously, has Lee ever given a bad performance? Even when he has been in bad movies, he was good in them.
Thank you, Mr Harper. I remember these movies were absolutely spectacular when they came out. Film critics of the day seemed to be the ones lacking any imagination or personality. You had to be pretty self-absorbed and obtuse not see how great these films were, then and now. I didn't know anyone who didn't go to see these films at least twice when they came out; it was great to drag friends with you who hadn't seen them yet, and relive the great lines and cinematography! I often wonder how critics even made a living being such bad judges of films in those days, lol! Here's what I have gotten out of the whole Bond series over the decades: The action, mood, and rhythm changes from film to film as one's life experiences change. Each has it's own flavor and appeal, making the entire series intriguingly unpredictable, without leaving me bored or complacent.
The first "Retrospective/Review" of 2023. Excellent work Oliver! I mostly caught bits of this movie when it was shown on TV, as I did other James Bond movies. I can't really say a whole lot about this installment, but looking at the footage here, I would consider giving it a watch, mostly for the late and great Christopher Lee.
Can't believe people criticized Christopher Lees performance at that time, his character was the shining light in the whole film, certainly among the top 5 of all Bond villains, a far cry from the simple thug in the book.
Speaking of Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland, have you ever considered doing a retrospective on The Wicker Man? Love to hear your thoughts on that especially with its troubled production history.
I was about to say. One of my all time (so long as it’s either of the extended versions) favourite films, I would love to see Oliver do a retrospective on it!
I love these Bond retrospectives. I had the DVD of this one and no internet in my first apartment, so I saw it a lot! Also, at 4:17, the newspaper "looses" its grasp of how to spell when lambasting Bond.
Your reviews are the best. I love James Bond and this reviews are so nostalgic. Good job. This movie is so iconic, when I think about Sir Roger Moore as Bond I always remember this, and Moonraker, but my favorite is The Spy Who Loved Me.
First bond film I’d ever seen still one of my favourites, bond on a more artistic level, slow drawn out less action but one of the best villains and actor within that role, bond vs his alter ego one on one rather than against an army, im hoping you will eventually cover the rest keep up your brilliant reviews 👍
Wonderful retrospective! I'm always amazed at how much information you put into your videos! Such impressive research! (I had that issue of Cinefantastique magazine back in the day!) I haven't watched the film in many years, but remember the scenery ... the humor of Sheriff Pepper... the car stunt (hated the slide whistle sound effect)... and the legend that is Christopher Lee! I enjoyed it although the scale felt a bit small... maybe because the bad guy wasn't trying to rule or destroy the world.
Just a minor correction, "James Bond Island" (Koh Tapu) is in Phang Nga, not Phuket. Unfortunately it's overrun with tourists these days, just like "The Beach" (Maya Bay, on Koh Phi Phi Lee). Still worth seeing them both, but don't expect any kind of isolated & private experience anymore. Virtually impossible to capture a photo without other people in frame. The Man with the Golden Gun is still one of my favourite Bond movies (my favourite is Live and Let Die), because I've spent the majority of my time in Thailand over the last 23 years in the areas between Phang Nga and Krabi. Can highly recommend it to anyone.
Another great episode Olivier. I just recently rewatched this one felt the same way. Whenever I get a notification that one of your videos are available, i drop everything to watch it. Good job
Great to see yet another Bond review. I remember first watching this Bond instalment on itv when I was in school. Christopher Lee was brilliant as Scaramanga. Thanks for the review, Oliver.
I watched it a couple years ago, and I was impressed... I've never seen an all around fun and decent film be rendered completely unwatchable to me by a single whistle before.
Each Bond actor seemed to have their own way of portraying the character, and Moore's slant on the Bond role was more comical. As a child of the 80's who was young and introduced to the series through Moore's Bond, I hold a certain fondness for his films and their comedic extravagances. The Man with the Golden Gun is a favorite of mine, not just for that era of films but the entire collection. Loved Christopher Lee as Scaramanga!
It's unfortunate that Bond films have become so SUPER SERIUS just because (allegedly) the producers did not want to be conflated with the Austin Powers movies. A bit of humor is always the pinch of pepper on a Bond film.
@@AB0BA_69personally I think the whole Blofeld character has been screwed up in the Craig era with the brother thing not working in the way they have written it.
@@nigeh5326 Blofeld in the Craig era? Whaaat? That's crazy man. I can't imagine that happening. Ever... Serious talk: that movie was shit. It's the reason I stopped watching Bond. The old movies and the franchise legacy will always be there when I want it. They can't take that away from us.
"The Man with the Golden Gun" is one of my favorite Bond movies. It's the first Bond movie I saw in a theater. It was at a black theater and was one of three movies playing that Saturday afternoon. It tells a lot about how unsuccessful the movie was because United Artists practically never released their Bond movies to small independent chains like black theaters were in the 1970s. But other than first seeing it in a theater, I just tend to like the goofier Bond movies like "The Man with the Golden Gun", "Thunderball", "Moonraker" and "Tomorrow Never Dies". Outside of "The Living Daylights" I find the notion of a deadly serious and realistic Bond movie preposterous. So I can only enjoy them as fun popcorn flicks.
Growing up in the 1970s, there was a theater in my predominantly white neighborhood which could show three movies at one time. I think they called it three “houses.” I saw Capricorn One at this theater the Summer of 1978. And I graduated from high school in ‘81 just to give you an idea of my age. And I agree with you. I like the more “over the top” Bonds, too. For example, Moonraker was great! 😃
@@madams3478 I dont think TB is goofy tho , that could actually have happened back then......wouldnt surprise me if an artificial quake could happen too if someone tried to trigger one
Really good video - thank you! I always felt that, despite John Barry's dislike of his own work on this picture, this film was rescued from oblivion by the Barry touch.
I saw this on release as a kid. Been in love with Thailand ever since. I have been to Ko Phing Kan (Scaramangas Island). Intrestingly its like an islet within an island (its very small) and despite being commonly referred to as Phuket as you say, that is actually the island the tours tend to leave from.
The analysis, editing and narration in this retrospective are close to your best work. I was momentarily distracted by how efficient and excellent it is compared to your already masterful body of work. Thank you. I lived through the 70s, saw this movie at the time of its release, and was surprised by your review. Brilliant, Oliver.
*The Man With The Golden Gun* is easily the most enjoyable, rewatchable Bond film in my opinion. In 15+ years since childhood I've never tired of this film.
Mired by a few dodgy scenes and one stupid sound effect, yet still one of my favorite Bond flicks. Love the over the top theme song and score. Great villain. Highly under-rated and overly maligned. Love it.
I was lucky enough to travel to Phuket back in 2011. I've been a fan of the James Bond for decades, so I intended to visit the island. But the weather just didn't cooperate while I was there. I did one boat tour in Maya Bay, but it was cut short when we sailed into a storm and nearly capsized. Didn't feel like going out on the water again after that.
I get why people don't like Golden Gun much but I love it. Christopher Lee is terrific and Scaramanga's island is one of my fave bond locations. For me it's Moore's 2nd best Bond after Spy who Loved Me.
I quite enjoy this film. It has a certain panache I guess. Christopher Lee is excellent, and makes an excellent foil for Bond. The locations are beautiful, and most of all, Roger Moore is really getting into Bond, and having fun. There are some downsides, such as JW Pepper (and I love Clifton James!) and the slide whistle, but overall, I find it a fun watch.
I like this movie. I thought Moore played a compelling Bond in this. Britt Eckland was absolutely stunning. And you can tell Christopher Lee is totally enjoying himself chewing up the scenery. And that car jump (sans whistle) still holds up after almost fifty years. Personally I prefer this to The Spy who Loved Me.
Yeah, this film is better. The Spy Who Loved Me is good, but I don't like the end sequence. I prefer For Your Eyes Only to the Spy Who Loved me. Underrated film
Problem was people still wanted Connery’s Bond with its harder edge. Live and Let Die the first Roger Moore Bond was halfway between Connery’s tough assassin Bond and Moore’s laidback charmer Bond and worked as a transitional film, whereas golden gun played up the lighter side too much for audiences still expecting the 60s tough guy Connery Bond films.
@@nigeh5326 Ah I see. Ironic cos dad is around his teens that time and he prefers Roger over Connery (to this day I have been trying to get him to see Connery era bond and he still insists he likes Roger Moore better), I'm a 90s child so this film is just cozy as Oliver describes lol!
@@regidio5083 Sean Connery was my favourite until Daniel Craig took over. When he took the role the press were very negative but personally I felt Daniel Craig would make a great Bond as I had seen him in earlier roles and I’ve been proved right 😊
I think this might by the Bond favourite of mine I struggle to find people defending. I don't know if it was the characters, locations or action scenes, but it's a lot of fun.
I never realised this film got so much negative press, along with live and let die, this is is one of my fave moore era bond films. I'd put it in my all time top five.
This is a wonderful video. Especially like hearing about the critical reception of it at the time. It's not in my top 5 but it has some great moments and Christopher Lee is great.
Premium research and editing as usual. This is quality film education. Always nuts to remember how dangerous stunts were before the regulations and technology today. Thank you for all your hard work.
I don't know if you take requests for retrospectives, Oliver, but, in case you do, have you ever thought about doing a retrospective on Schindler's List? It's a classic movie that definitely deserves a retrospective 30 years after its release.
It's a shame about the troubled production, but all in all I think it came out good given the amount of complications. This is still one one favorite Bond movies the dynamic between Bond and Scaramanga reminds me of the dynamic between Zaroff and Rainsford in The Most Dangerous Game.
One night I was supposed to stay at home with my grandfather while my parents were going to the movies and my grandfather was unavailable...So my father said : " It's okay, you can come to the movies with us...After all, you're 8 and that movie is not really violent or inappropriate..." I remember standing in line in front of the movie theater looking at the movie poster and thinking it looked cool, I knew Roger Moore from the Persuaders TV show that was on French TV back then but I had no idea what the movie was about... Except that it looked like an action movie... When the lights went down and the gunbarrel came up I was completely wowed because I had never seen anything like that before... And two hours later my world had completely changed 😁😁😁 That was the first Bond movie I had watched... Before that I had no idea who James Bond was... After that my father ( who was a member of the American Library in Paris ) brought me all the Ian Fleming books and told me about the previous movies... That was in the mid-70's way before videotapes or internet but thankfully some movie theaters had Bond festivals from time to time... There will always be a special place in my heart for this movie and for Roger Moore because this was my introduction to James Bond even though I have always liked the other actors too... As for the Bond movies my father saw Dr.No when it came out and the following movies after that and going to see the new Bond movie has been a family tradition since 1974... 🙂🙂🙂
For the pre-Lazar scene with Q and Colthorpe, as a kid, I always thought Q called Lazar by his first name, Japu, but Major Boothroyd actually said "the chap who" instead. Ha! Low on my list of Bond films, but I still love it, nonetheless. Great video, Oliver!
One of the few excellent reviews on TH-cam. Yes it's kind of like a TV show. Never occurred to me. Instead of building up to a climax it kind of just scatters with different plots going different ways. But it is not bad. It's not Diamonds are Forever or Die Another Day.
Please don't ever stop doing these retrospectives, Mr. Harper.
Bless you!
I concur. Especially on the Bond movies. I don’t always agree with your analysis, but respect how you draw your conclusions.
MORE…..QUICKER….LONGER….FOEVER!
Yeah should be doing at least 1 a month
I also love these. I appreciate Oliver very much.
Oliver, to me, is one of the OG's of TH-cam. A Retrospective Review is always a big deal, guaranteed to be the best of its kind. He makes these insanely hard-to-make videos look easy.
Have to say that Sir Christopher Lee was one of a kind. RIP, the Gentleman with the Golden Gun .
Sir Christopher Lee would have made a good James Bond himself.
@@danielwilliamson6180 Agreed .
Sir Christopher Lee is simply royalty in acting in my humble opinion.
@@nicholasdickens2801 He truly was in his own special class of greatness .
@@fredrikcarlstedt393 he was the first actor I ever wrote back in '99 , just random I wrote him first but im glad I did , later he refused more and more to sign Dracula pics
When it comes to James Bond retrospectives, nobody does it better than Oliver Harper. This was a fine 007 film elevated by the superb Christopher Lee. That car flip stunt was cool minus the slide whistle sound effect. And, I like JW Pepper.
I like JW Pepper. Yeah, he's a complete caricature and his only role in the script is to serve as a foil for Bond. Bond is charming and smooth secret agent while Pepper is a crass hick sheriff. However Bond never treat Pepper poorly (at most Bond is annoyed) and in later on we meet the CIA agent Felix Leiter who's also smooth and skillful, but not as much as Bond of course ;)
Too bad CIA killed JFK!
Well, Calvin Dyson does it best, but Harper’s a sporting second
@@jacobunderwood5206 I personally think Dutch Bond Fan is the best when it comes to retrospectives reviews of the James Bond films, but I also like Calvin Dyson and Oliver's review as well.
Hmm no, Calvin Dyson does it better. But Oliver is no slouch.
Calvin Dyson is a better James Bond youtuber. Oliver is a better movie reviewer, with a consistent style.
Honestly, I love this film! It was one of my favourites growing up, and I still love it today. Lee and Moore are great together, and the locations are stunning! It just hits all the right Bond spots for me.
Same here, I think it was the first Bond I saw back in early 80's as akid, not the best Bond movie but the one I love the most. Love the score and the use of the Bond theme through out the movie.
Same! Watched it a lot as a kid and never knew it was considered "problematic" until youtube came along :))
Holds a legit spot in my heart!
I rewatched this movie after watching this retrospective, and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. I feel like perhaps releasing it the year after live and let die might have not helped. Even though Roger had been accepted as the new Bond, he doesn't feel like himself. He really was able to carry the Spy who loved me.
I Just Saw This BOND 🎥 Film On 📀 DVD Just A Few Days Ago 💕 Love It And ROGER MOORE Saw It In A 🎭 Theater When It Came Out!
CHRISTOPHER LEE IS Great As The Villain. Of Course!!
I love this film. Primarily for Christopher Lee's Scaramanga who as an elite assassin is a perfect foil for Bond, another elite assassin. A terrific ride deserving of great praise.
It’s scary to think there’s elite assassins out there.
Roger Moore was an excellent Bond even if he did have sillier movies most of the time. He brings a certain charm and charisma that always puts a smile on your face.
My fave Bond
He's joyful in a way where you envy him
I wouldn't call Moore's Bond as "charismatic", but he appears as the quintessentially British stereotype, "stiff upper lip" and all.
I thought Moore had a charm to him but he lacked the hard edge of Sean Connery.
@@AB0BA_69 I'd say otherwise honestly. Sure he does come off as a British stereotype to some but to me Moore embodies Bond if he emphasized his charm while still being the badass we know and love.
Roger Moore was my James Bond I met Sean Connery at Gleneagles Hotel in possibly 1982. But Christopher Lee i remember vividly. I caddied for him at a pro celebrity golf match there in 1983. We talked movies, books, life and golf. I still have the photo of us together. Legend. Both him and Roger.
That’s great. Would have loved to have met the man.
Not everyone's favourite Bond film, but Scaramanga was a very good villain. I always come back to it mainly because of Christopher Lee could easily have played Bond himself, and the final showdown on Scaramanga's Island still holds up very well. Great review!
He was on the short list for Bond at one point. Plus his step-cousin, the novelist himself, actually wanted Sir Christopher to be the title villain of “Dr. No” but Lee turned it down. When they came back to offer him Scaramanga, he didn’t turn them down again
He’s easily one of the best parts of the movie
Probably my favourite Bond villain thanks to Lee, I just wish he had a better film.
It's my favourite Bond film.
The henchman Nick Nack played by Herve was absolutely brilliant, especially at the end where bond puts him into the suitcase after a brief skirmish.
He was indeed a very memorable henchman and thus one of the best.
I'd never call The Man with The Golden Gun boring, as I had laughed out loud the most out of all the Bond movies. Thanks to Roger Moore's performance as 007 he matches the increased wackiness of the movie.
Its damn unfortunate you get such low views, your work is quality, consistent and reliable, great reviews
This film is criminally under-rated and my favorite of the classic bond films. First, the cinematography and editing are absolutely perfectl from start to finish and among the best of 70s films. The film is gorgeous and refuses to compromise its pace. There is a unique, exotic and surreal quality along with pacing you dont see until skyfall. Christopher Lee is fascinating and almost a non villian. He's chivalrous to the point of fault. The flying car is silly, but there's a refreshing lack of gadgetry. Even the car chase is simple with no exotics. The miniature sets are flawless. Knick Knick is unusual, but count the times he out smarts bond. Bridgette Eklund is an idiot, but an 11 on the 1-10 bond girl boner scale. The score is haunting and superb. Its the highlight of Essential James Bond Soundtrack. I rest my case.
Fun Fact: Knick Knack has a twin brother called Paddy Whack.
Hey, Maud Adams is very sexy too‼️
Agree about the score. So underrated. Wish they would release an extended version. I keep begging La La Records for it. Anyone want to start a petition?
She looks great in her bikini!! 😘 😍
It cracks me up that Pepper is in Thailand. Seems like one of the last places he would want to take a vacation .
I might be in the minority as far as Bond fans go, but this movie is in my top 5 bonds. I absolutely love this movie!
Watch it and then watch Skyfall. So many similarities....in a complimentary way.
I think it’s my #001
I love this movie. I've also read the book, but aside from some of Scaramanga's backstory it's a borderline in name only adaptation. I prefer the film, honestly.
I have read the book as well. I also prefer the film but it's slim pickings between the two.
Yeah. The book doesn’t have the charm of this story. They did a very smart adaptation-if we ignore the sheriff scenes.
@@gokhanersan8561 In Flemings defense he died before he finished the book
Man With The Golden Gun is my favorite Bond movie. It has its many problems, but the smooth charm of Roger Moore (with a few exceptions) matched against that of Sir Christopher Lee's really sells it for me. Not to mention Scaramanga has a pretty sympathetic background for *why* he became such a villain. Bond had too many villains that are just cartoonisjly evil and have been properly spoofed by, well, Dr. Evil. Scaramanga has a reason for being a bit of a bastard.
I have to say I do enjoy The Man With the Golden Gun, I've never understood why it gets so little love. Thanks for the video, behind the scenes details like these always help to give context to a film.
This!
Because it is one of the worst Bond films in the series. The story is just so boring relies on too much on humour, Mary Goodnught is a terrible Bond girl, she is nothing more than dumb blonde, J W Pepper is just bloody annoying and is beyond belief that he happened to be holidaying in the same time Bond is there, the fight between Nick Nack and bond is just painful to watch and is not funny at all, The Deathmatch is so predictable, it is pretty obvious bond was going to switch places with the mannequin.
In 1974, things were changing, and this movie didn't feel fresh to American audiences. I remember getting much, much more excited about The Spy Who Loved Me.
Imo because many of the audience were still thinking Moore’s Bond would be like Connery’s tough guy Bond they had loved in the sixties.
In the previous film ‘Live and Let Die’ there were some elements of previous Bond movies with Bond acting tough at times but introducing what would become Moore’s trademark, the lighter more chilled Bond. An agent who relies on charm and style, rather than cunning and toughness.
Golden Gun was another step away from Connery and not everyone was ready for that.
Love these videos! They're the best in-depth bond videos!
Interesting little tid bit, one of the martial arts ladies is played by a young Qiu Yuen, the kickass Landlady from 'Kung Fu Hustle'.
My second favourite Bond movie . I can always watch this and on a rainy Sunday afternoon or a day where I’m on my own and maybe slightly hung over , what better comfort is there than this movie !! Love it !! Lee and Moore … you are the best !!!
This is one of my favourite Bond films…mainly because it’s the first I saw at the cinema.
I was playing in a friends garden when his mom came out and asked if we wanted to go and see the film at the cinema. Of course we said yes and I ran home to ask my mom for permission to go and for some money. Unfortunately by the time I got the money and began to run back to my friend’s house they had just left (his mom was impatient) and I ended up walking home a very sad disappointed 10 year old 😔.
I never did see it at the cinema and had to wait until it appeared on tv in the late seventies.
I just googled Clifton James out of curiosity and was amazed to find he was a highly decorated WW2 veteran.
several 007 in ww2 : Lee , Don P , Telly , Frobe.......Patrick Bauchaus dad was in the french resistance
Thank you for giving this under appreciated film it’s due.
It’s a brilliant work full of amazing ideas that was set off the rails by UA rushing the production for a Christmas ‘74 release and everyone going along with it. They all acknowledged this after the fact and Hamilton describing being like a drained battery is spot on. Mankiewicz got burned out and he and Hamilton fell out a bit. The major issues are three: the rushed schedule, the extreme disjointed quality of the two writers work being thrown together without the time to fuse them together properly as on DAF and especially the end of the Broccoli-Saltzman partnership.
However it is a film of immense riches and the last to have any of the Harry Saltzman spark of wildness in spite of it being one of the films Broccoli was the lead producer on. Each of the writers had genius concepts that remain in the film just not always hitting their full potential. It is a subdued film that does reflect Bond’s pissed off nature at being hunted and the roughness manages to actually match the novel’s tone in some ways.
The HD masters from Lowry digital are a garbage mess which doesn’t do this film any favors. The switch in cinematographers causes some flatness in spots as Morris didn’t get to do his usual style and Ted Moore wasn’t around to work his magic. Yet when you get past the Lowry image crud there are some really interesting subtle uses of color and I have a great fondness for the few spherical Bond films.
The 5.1 remix is just as putrid as all the MiCasa studios remixes with all kinds of new effects and awful changes. The original mono is fantastically punchy like LALD’s mono.
Barry’s score is vastly underrated and as always he nailed the tone of the film.
Yar, produced in 74 and released in 74. Great film
Scaramanga is amazing! The world's greatest assassin. He's not a complicated villain. He's a blunt instrument. But he's the best blunt instrument there is. I love how the titular weapon is so disadvantageous by design because he wants it to be a challenge to use it. It says something about how good he is that he deliberately makes it difficult for himself to win. And of course he is masterfully played by the legendary Christopher Lee. Seriously, has Lee ever given a bad performance? Even when he has been in bad movies, he was good in them.
Would have been good if Scaramanga had been brought back and reinvented. in the new Bond movies.
@@danielwilliamson6180he couldn’t have been any worse than Blofeld who imo they totally messed up by writing him as they did.
same with another Chris , Chris Walken usually delivers even if the films themselves arent perfect
Thank you, Mr Harper. I remember these movies were absolutely spectacular when they came out. Film critics of the day seemed to be the ones lacking any imagination or personality. You had to be pretty self-absorbed and obtuse not see how great these films were, then and now. I didn't know anyone who didn't go to see these films at least twice when they came out; it was great to drag friends with you who hadn't seen them yet, and relive the great lines and cinematography! I often wonder how critics even made a living being such bad judges of films in those days, lol! Here's what I have gotten out of the whole Bond series over the decades: The action, mood, and rhythm changes from film to film as one's life experiences change. Each has it's own flavor and appeal, making the entire series intriguingly unpredictable, without leaving me bored or complacent.
The first "Retrospective/Review" of 2023. Excellent work Oliver!
I mostly caught bits of this movie when it was shown on TV, as I did other James Bond movies. I can't really say a whole lot about this installment, but looking at the footage here, I would consider giving it a watch, mostly for the late and great Christopher Lee.
Can't believe people criticized Christopher Lees performance at that time, his character was the shining light in the whole film, certainly among the top 5 of all Bond villains, a far cry from the simple thug in the book.
Seen this years ago and all I remember is how good Christopher Lee was in it.
I always liked this one because of Lee's performance and the martial arts in it.
I was born in ‘79. Seeing this on VHS growing up, it was my favorite Bond film.
Great review thanks TH-cam for recommending this, roger Moore is my favorite bond
Speaking of Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland, have you ever considered doing a retrospective on The Wicker Man? Love to hear your thoughts on that especially with its troubled production history.
I was about to say. One of my all time (so long as it’s either of the extended versions) favourite films, I would love to see Oliver do a retrospective on it!
GREAT, GREAT film…
Roger was an excellent Bond. He was suave and funny.
I love these Bond retrospectives. I had the DVD of this one and no internet in my first apartment, so I saw it a lot! Also, at 4:17, the newspaper "looses" its grasp of how to spell when lambasting Bond.
Since I'm 57, I grew up with Sir roger as my bond. Love every single movie
Your reviews are the best. I love James Bond and this reviews are so nostalgic. Good job. This movie is so iconic, when I think about Sir Roger Moore as Bond I always remember this, and Moonraker, but my favorite is The Spy Who Loved Me.
First bond film I’d ever seen still one of my favourites, bond on a more artistic level, slow drawn out less action but one of the best villains and actor within that role, bond vs his alter ego one on one rather than against an army, im hoping you will eventually cover the rest keep up your brilliant reviews 👍
The Man With The Golden Gun is one of the best. I love this movie. So much fun!
Wonderful retrospective! I'm always amazed at how much information you put into your videos! Such impressive research! (I had that issue of Cinefantastique magazine back in the day!) I haven't watched the film in many years, but remember the scenery ... the humor of Sheriff Pepper... the car stunt (hated the slide whistle sound effect)... and the legend that is Christopher Lee! I enjoyed it although the scale felt a bit small... maybe because the bad guy wasn't trying to rule or destroy the world.
Scaramanga was just a man who loved killing people.
Great Bond film, blessed with another appearance by the brilliant Clifton James as the hapless Sheriff. Great video, Oliver !!!
Roger Moore is my favorite Bond, Love all his Bond films and Golden Gun is certainly no exception. Another great retrospective Oliver!
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Just a minor correction, "James Bond Island" (Koh Tapu) is in Phang Nga, not Phuket. Unfortunately it's overrun with tourists these days, just like "The Beach" (Maya Bay, on Koh Phi Phi Lee). Still worth seeing them both, but don't expect any kind of isolated & private experience anymore. Virtually impossible to capture a photo without other people in frame.
The Man with the Golden Gun is still one of my favourite Bond movies (my favourite is Live and Let Die), because I've spent the majority of my time in Thailand over the last 23 years in the areas between Phang Nga and Krabi. Can highly recommend it to anyone.
Thank you for doing these, Oliver. Your retrospectives are always a joy.
Another great episode Olivier. I just recently rewatched this one felt the same way. Whenever I get a notification that one of your videos are available, i drop everything to watch it. Good job
Love the paper headline says "Bond Looses Golden Touch" instead of Loses. Really gives credence to their article lol.
Great to see yet another Bond review. I remember first watching this Bond instalment on itv when I was in school. Christopher Lee was brilliant as Scaramanga. Thanks for the review, Oliver.
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Hey Oliver, you're that TH-camr. That English TH-camr from England.
I watched it a couple years ago, and I was impressed... I've never seen an all around fun and decent film be rendered completely unwatchable to me by a single whistle before.
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Entertaining review there Oliverisco Scaraharper. The is one of the better Moore outings from the vintage cinema year of 1974...
Just in time for Goldeneye 007 release, huh? 😁
Love your work Oliver. Never stop making these. Still missing Roger Moore.
It's crazy to think how badly this movie did commercially considering how legendary it is today.
Each Bond actor seemed to have their own way of portraying the character, and Moore's slant on the Bond role was more comical. As a child of the 80's who was young and introduced to the series through Moore's Bond, I hold a certain fondness for his films and their comedic extravagances. The Man with the Golden Gun is a favorite of mine, not just for that era of films but the entire collection. Loved Christopher Lee as Scaramanga!
It's unfortunate that Bond films have become so SUPER SERIUS just because (allegedly) the producers did not want to be conflated with the Austin Powers movies. A bit of humor is always the pinch of pepper on a Bond film.
@@AB0BA_69personally I think the whole Blofeld character has been screwed up in the Craig era with the brother thing not working in the way they have written it.
@@nigeh5326 Blofeld in the Craig era? Whaaat? That's crazy man. I can't imagine that happening. Ever...
Serious talk: that movie was shit. It's the reason I stopped watching Bond. The old movies and the franchise legacy will always be there when I want it. They can't take that away from us.
Moore's Bond films are always watchable. I struggle to say the same for Craig and Brosnan's output.
Yar, only Goldeneye and Casino Royal are worth watching. Moore was the best
"The Man with the Golden Gun" is one of my favorite Bond movies. It's the first Bond movie I saw in a theater. It was at a black theater and was one of three movies playing that Saturday afternoon. It tells a lot about how unsuccessful the movie was because United Artists practically never released their Bond movies to small independent chains like black theaters were in the 1970s.
But other than first seeing it in a theater, I just tend to like the goofier Bond movies like "The Man with the Golden Gun", "Thunderball", "Moonraker" and "Tomorrow Never Dies". Outside of "The Living Daylights" I find the notion of a deadly serious and realistic Bond movie preposterous. So I can only enjoy them as fun popcorn flicks.
Growing up in the 1970s, there was a theater in my predominantly white neighborhood which could show three movies at one time. I think they called it three “houses.”
I saw Capricorn One at this theater the Summer of 1978. And I graduated from high school in ‘81 just to give you an idea of my age.
And I agree with you. I like the more “over the top” Bonds, too. For example, Moonraker was great! 😃
@@madams3478 I dont think TB is goofy tho , that could actually have happened back then......wouldnt surprise me if an artificial quake could happen too if someone tried to trigger one
I love Man With the Golden Gun and get tired of people bashing it. I love the film and love Britt Ekland.
Really good video - thank you!
I always felt that, despite John Barry's dislike of his own work on this picture, this film was rescued from oblivion by the Barry touch.
I saw this on release as a kid. Been in love with Thailand ever since. I have been to Ko Phing Kan (Scaramangas Island). Intrestingly its like an islet within an island (its very small) and despite being commonly referred to as Phuket as you say, that is actually the island the tours tend to leave from.
The analysis, editing and narration in this retrospective are close to your best work. I was momentarily distracted by how efficient and excellent it is compared to your already masterful body of work. Thank you.
I lived through the 70s, saw this movie at the time of its release, and was surprised by your review. Brilliant, Oliver.
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This and Live and Let Die are my favourite Moore films
I love how The Grauniard's review headline reads "Looses" rather than "Loses". 🤣
It wasn't called 'The Grauniard' for nothing.
Oliver! This is an underrated film - but, you are right that the Solex Agitator part was not needed and it should have focused more on the main plot.
Yeah, probably the only flaw with the movie.
Your channel is the only one that truly helps with my insomnia. Thank you so much for all these amazing re(views)trospectives..
This retrospectives need more attention! The channel more subscribers!
Mr. Harper always put great stuff and production details in it! Awesome! 🔥🔥🔥
I love these retrospectives from you,Oliver; I feel they're too few and far between
*The Man With The Golden Gun* is easily the most enjoyable, rewatchable Bond film in my opinion. In 15+ years since childhood I've never tired of this film.
Yep, so many great scenes
Mired by a few dodgy scenes and one stupid sound effect, yet still one of my favorite Bond flicks. Love the over the top theme song and score. Great villain. Highly under-rated and overly maligned. Love it.
I remember watching this movie and getting lost as to why a boots on the ground assassin would be cornering the solar market.
I was lucky enough to travel to Phuket back in 2011. I've been a fan of the James Bond for decades, so I intended to visit the island. But the weather just didn't cooperate while I was there. I did one boat tour in Maya Bay, but it was cut short when we sailed into a storm and nearly capsized. Didn't feel like going out on the water again after that.
that does sound scary , yes
Back when 007 was a rough and tumble man. Not a neutered, broken shell of a man.
Exactly! Bond hasn't been Bond since they fired Brosnan over the phone.
@@Rschr101 Over the phone? Ouch!!
Awesome work my man! Cheers!
I get why people don't like Golden Gun much but I love it. Christopher Lee is terrific and Scaramanga's island is one of my fave bond locations.
For me it's Moore's 2nd best Bond after Spy who Loved Me.
Thanks for all your work! i love watching it.
I quite enjoy this film. It has a certain panache I guess. Christopher Lee is excellent, and makes an excellent foil for Bond. The locations are beautiful, and most of all, Roger Moore is really getting into Bond, and having fun. There are some downsides, such as JW Pepper (and I love Clifton James!) and the slide whistle, but overall, I find it a fun watch.
I finally watched it and I enjoyed it, too. Not the best Bond movie but hardly the worst. I gave it 8/10.
The music is great too.
GLORIOUS DAY A NEW RETROSPECTIVE/REVIEW HAS DROPPED!
I always remembered the school girls being total badasses. Way ahead of its time
The one w the curly hair is Lady Landlord in Kung Fu Hustle.
@@z1u12b the elephant boat boy is in poor health now
I like this movie. I thought Moore played a compelling Bond in this. Britt Eckland was absolutely stunning. And you can tell Christopher Lee is totally enjoying himself chewing up the scenery. And that car jump (sans whistle) still holds up after almost fifty years. Personally I prefer this to The Spy who Loved Me.
Yeah, this film is better. The Spy Who Loved Me is good, but I don't like the end sequence. I prefer For Your Eyes Only to the Spy Who Loved me. Underrated film
@@DanielCordone9 yes I concur. Moore really took it up a notch in FYEO.
@@rodneyclarke6477 Definitely. Apparently Moore said his favourite movie was the Spy Who Loved Me. I just prefer FYEO
I love how you use the ultra exposition in this movie to incorporate it in your 'trailer opening'. As it was made for that.
People hated this film back then? Damn this was a cozy film to chill and watch with.
Problem was people still wanted Connery’s Bond with its harder edge.
Live and Let Die the first Roger Moore Bond was halfway between Connery’s tough assassin Bond and Moore’s laidback charmer Bond and worked as a transitional film, whereas golden gun played up the lighter side too much for audiences still expecting the 60s tough guy Connery Bond films.
@@nigeh5326 Ah I see. Ironic cos dad is around his teens that time and he prefers Roger over Connery (to this day I have been trying to get him to see Connery era bond and he still insists he likes Roger Moore better), I'm a 90s child so this film is just cozy as Oliver describes lol!
@@regidio5083 Sean Connery was my favourite until Daniel Craig took over.
When he took the role the press were very negative but personally I felt Daniel Craig would make a great Bond as I had seen him in earlier roles and I’ve been proved right 😊
this was one of my favourite ones
I think this might by the Bond favourite of mine I struggle to find people defending. I don't know if it was the characters, locations or action scenes, but it's a lot of fun.
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Great video, one point is that the Solex is easily in the Top 5 coolest looking macguffins imo.
I never realised this film got so much negative press, along with live and let die, this is is one of my fave moore era bond films. I'd put it in my all time top five.
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The Whole Soundtrack is so Catchy.
This is a wonderful video. Especially like hearing about the critical reception of it at the time. It's not in my top 5 but it has some great moments and Christopher Lee is great.
Yeah, that "whistle sound " cheapened that awesome car jump scene. Reducing it to a Looney Tune cartoon moment.
Wicker Man 1973. Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland. Both available for work in the UK. Please send a CV to Bond 1974.
Probably a very unpopular opinion but I love this one - and Christopher Lee in it! 🎉
Premium research and editing as usual. This is quality film education. Always nuts to remember how dangerous stunts were before the regulations and technology today. Thank you for all your hard work.
I don't know if you take requests for retrospectives, Oliver, but, in case you do, have you ever thought about doing a retrospective on Schindler's List? It's a classic movie that definitely deserves a retrospective 30 years after its release.
Send him a cheque
or GODZILLA 1985 🔥
Fantastic video and really interesting. Bravo 👏 can't wait to watch more from you, I'll be going through the archive
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As a child, this movie taught me the definitive meaning of the word 'superfluous', and you best believe I've never forgotten it since
This channel understands my needs for custom programming suited for nerds like me :)
Legit two of the most gorgeous Bond Girls in the whole cannon, Maud Adams and Britt Ekland
It's a shame about the troubled production, but all in all I think it came out good given the amount of complications. This is still one one favorite Bond movies the dynamic between Bond and Scaramanga reminds me of the dynamic between Zaroff and Rainsford in The Most Dangerous Game.
I lost it at the straight delivery of "flying car" and then the image of it flying away 🤣
I hope we get a retrospective of the spy who loved me the best bond Moore flim there is
Overrated. The Man with the Golden Gun, For your Eyes only and Live and Let Die are better.
One night I was supposed to stay at home with my grandfather while my parents were going to the movies and my grandfather was unavailable...So my father said : " It's okay, you can come to the movies with us...After all, you're 8 and that movie is not really violent or inappropriate..."
I remember standing in line in front of the movie theater looking at the movie poster and thinking it looked cool, I knew Roger Moore from the Persuaders TV show that was on French TV back then but I had no idea what the movie was about... Except that it looked like an action movie...
When the lights went down and the gunbarrel came up I was completely wowed because I had never seen anything like that before...
And two hours later my world had completely changed 😁😁😁
That was the first Bond movie I had watched...
Before that I had no idea who James Bond was...
After that my father ( who was a member of the American Library in Paris ) brought me all the Ian Fleming books and told me about the previous movies...
That was in the mid-70's way before videotapes or internet but thankfully some movie theaters had Bond festivals from time to time...
There will always be a special place in my heart for this movie and for Roger Moore because this was my introduction to James Bond even though I have always liked the other actors too...
As for the Bond movies my father saw Dr.No when it came out and the following movies after that and going to see the new Bond movie has been a family tradition since 1974... 🙂🙂🙂
For the pre-Lazar scene with Q and Colthorpe, as a kid, I always thought Q called Lazar by his first name, Japu, but Major Boothroyd actually said "the chap who" instead. Ha! Low on my list of Bond films, but I still love it, nonetheless. Great video, Oliver!
One of the few excellent reviews on TH-cam.
Yes it's kind of like a TV show. Never occurred to me.
Instead of building up to a climax it kind of just scatters with different plots going different ways.
But it is not bad. It's not Diamonds are Forever or Die Another Day.
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