Roger Moore's "My word is my Bond"

Dutchfinger

Has anyone read his book? - If you have, is it an intresting book? Are there some intresting tidbits in it etc?
I'm curious to know if it's worth reading...

Golrush007

I read it pretty much when it came out. I found it a very interesting and enjoyable read. I can't really remember what interested Bond tidbits there were though.

I recommend you check it out, especially if you are a Roger Moore fan, or enjoy his sense of humour.

Thunderpussy

It's that long since I read it, Can't remember to much of it either. Although I do
remember finding it funny and interesting.

Thomo

I've got on audio book and was ok - worth a read (or listen too)

Peppermill

I read it and I think it is a great book. I have both the English and Dutch version, both signed by sir Roger.

Napoleon Plural

It's okay, in the same mold as David Niven's The Moon's a Balloon. Doesn't really dish the dirt on the greats, but reveals some of their mannerisms and jokes, in particular Richard Burton. Does reserve big scorn for Niven's second wife, a notorious lush and quite cruel, though Niven himself was no paragon of virtue.

Moore seems to be talking into a dictaphone for much of it. It's an easy read, but a bit like a padded out interview or one of those An Evening With... shows, where they might cut to a song then take a sip from a glass. No real atmosphere or depth in the prose, no masterful comic narrative skills, but all quite amiable enough.

Peppermill

You are right, "great" might be too much praise for this book, but I have some great memories of the time I got the books signed so I'm a bit biased.

Polar Bear 0007

I remember Sir Roger really taking a run at Van Damme. Apparently, he was very unprofessional to work with and getting paid was an aggravation.

I enjoyed the book but was hoping to read a liitle more about his "Bond" days.

Peppermill

Polar Bear 0007 wrote:

(...)
I enjoyed the book but was hoping to read a liitle more about his "Bond" days.

I believe there is a Book by/about Roger Moore that deals with just his Bond days. I've read it years ago but I can't remember the title. It was a very nice read.

Peppermill

It is called 'Roger Moore as James Bond: Roger Moore's Own Account of Filming Live and Let Die'

Napoleon Plural

Yeah, quite a lightweight account but very readable. It only deals with his location work however, if I recall. Not much on Pinewood filming, or his relationship with other actors. I understand he didn't get on great with Yaphet Kotto, but no mention of it here.

Of course, his new book on Bond is coming out this year, albeit a tad ghostwritten, as is his autobiography. Should be interesting.

chrisno1

I think I wrote about this before somewhere just after it was published. I agree with the posters above who say it's lightweight, Moore rather dodges the issues - he never really has a bad word to say about anyone, if he does it is always tempered by their great talent, humour, wife, etc etc. The stuff about UNICEF is more interesting than the Hollywood gossip. A rather inconsequential autobiography sadly.

Mark Hazard

Peppermill wrote:

Polar Bear 0007 wrote:

(...)
I enjoyed the book but was hoping to read a liitle more about his "Bond" days.

I believe there is a Book by/about Roger Moore that deals with just his Bond days. I've read it years ago but I can't remember the title. It was a very nice read.

I think the title you're looking for is "Roger Moore - His Films and Career" by Gareth Owen, his current co-author. Good book, haven't read it since in print, but did proof read it.

Blood_Stone

I'm glad Roger killed the rumor that he was the original choice to play James Bond (or had been approached for it) in Dr. No

Agent_M

i was surprised how badly he thought of David Niven's wife, through the whole book his usual approach is "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything" but after the death of "Niv" he launches into quite a tirade, very unlike him and show's how strongly he felt towards the whole thing

Napoleon Plural

Yeah, odd that though she clearly wound people up. I think in turn she regarded all Hollywood actors as smarmy social climbers and to be fair Niven did fit that bill someone in spite of or because of his charm, and Moore would have had a dash of that at the time too. All actors are freelancers who have to be liked to be employed, especially if they're not great actors, and neither Niven or Moore were.

Moore also seems to have disliked Tanya Roberts off AVTAK but not sure why.

jetsetwilly

I believe both Tanya Roberts and Grace Jones were divas on the set of AVTAK - I suspect there was a bit of jealousy from Tanya in that she was the "leading lady" but Grace Jones got all the attention (as she should). Wasn't there a story about Roberts insisting on a boiler suit that made her look incredibly sexy during the mine sequence, hence Moore quipping "pity you couldn't find one that fits?" about the incredibly snug outfit?

Tobias

He has a new book out i have seen it on Amazon and Waterstones looks like something i wouldnt mind for christmas

Predator

And for those in the UK with Kindles (or devices with Kindle on), it is available today (28th Oct 2014) for 99p:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Word-Bond-Autobiography-ebook/dp/B002V0WU5A/ref=sr_1_1?

Thunderpussy

Thanks for the information Predator. {[]

superado

I read bits of this book, or it might have been "Bond on Bond" while I was in the bookstore I think last year. I should have bought it and it cost around $5 I think, but I managed to read so much of it already...it was one of those situations of killing time, about a couple of hours waiting for my daughter come back from the movie theater. I do remember how classy Sir Rog was in his writing, very humble and grateful for the opportunities given to him throughout his career.

Peppermill

I have downloaded the Bond on Bond audiobook read by Sir Roger from audible. I think Moore is a great ambassador for Bond. There is also an abridged audiobook version of My word is my Bond.

The Domino Effect

It's funny, but every time I read the title "My word is my Bond", I can hear Roger Moore's velvety voice saying it in my head.

Blackleiter

I read Moore's "Bond on Bond" some time ago, but I have been skimming through it again recently. It's a charming book, and I like Moore's quips and insights. However, on this go round I have been noticing more and more that Rog occasionally gets the facts wrong. For example, at one point he says that Goldfinger was the first villain whose name is used as the title of a Bond film. Dr. No, anyone? He also says that it was Tom Mankiewicz who came up with the "daring" idea to use black villains in Live and Let Die. I always thought it was Ian Fleming who came up with that idea in the novel! And in his discussion of the Bond Girls, Moore mentions that Bond marries Tracy and then he says "the second to wed was Vesper Lynd". Well, unless I missed the after-credits sequence in which Vesper is resurrected and she and Bond tie the knot..........I'm not bashing Roger, because frankly things like that should be caught in the editing process, but these and other errors really jumped out at me this time.

Thunderpussy

) It been a long time since I read it, so must have missed those ! )
Although, you'd think they would have been spotted in a proof reading.

Mark Hazard

Thunderpussy wrote:

) It been a long time since I read it, so must have missed those ! )
Although, you'd think they would have been spotted in a proof reading.

The problem being, unlike the books that I proof-read, this would have been done by someone working for the publishers and checking for grammatical (etc) errors, and not by a fan who may pick these errors up.