The "Ick" Factor of James Bond
James Bond has been a cultural icon for almost 65 years, but that doesn't mean there isn't cringe in the franchise. This one is too much though.
I am admittedly a huge fan of the Bond film franchise. And while I am sort of "meh" on the Timothy Dalton/Pierce Brosnan era Bonds, I can say that I enjoy even those ones (even though I never bought physical copies for my collection.
Recently, my wife and I watched a 5 part series titled "Icons Unearthed: James Bond" that was a fabulous traipse through the series, with a lot of the behind-the-scenes insight and intrigue.
Even if you are a glancing fan of the Bond flicks, I can recommend this documentary. It is witty, interspersed with iconic scene clips, and it does provide insight into the directing, the casting, and even the details of the books by Ian Flemming.
Out of watching this, my wife and I are on a mission. Once a week, I cook a nice meal, we crack open a bottle of wine, and we watch a Bond movie in sequence.
From the very low budget Dr. No that was the first installment with Sean Connery, to the later Connery era that sorta sucked (You Only Live Twice was mega cringe), and the singleton Episode with George Lazenby, who played opposite my favorite Bond girl, Dame Diana Rigg.
Lots of cheese, what were cutting edge effects at the time, and a lot of soft (and not so soft) misogyny are the name of the game.
Viewing these films from 50-60 years on reminds me of how bad the gender relations were in that era.
But that isn't the ick I referenced in the title.
No, that distinction goes to the inaugural Roger Moore episode, Live and Let Die.
First, being released in 1973, it was a US/UK venture with Bond starting in the 'hood. Harlem to be precise. And as this was the era of Blacksploitation, it is just gross to watch.
But that isn't the ick factor.
The Bond girl in this episode is the character "Solitaire" a Tarot card reading seer that is the advisor to the leader of San Monique, a Carribean island, that is using his island to produce tons of heroin, to flood the market for free, to drive the Five Families out of business before he raises the price to be the drug kingpin of the USA.
Like I said, it fits the public mood at the time.
Now, Solitaire is played by a very young Jane Seymour, aged 21 during the filming.
In contrast, Roger Moore was 43 when this was shot. She was literally half his age, and the implication was that her "powers" of perception were dependent upon her being "pure". So Roger Moore's Bond takes her virginity.
Yeah, that is the ick, mega-ick.
Not worth the amazing Louisiana Bayou boat chase, and the epic title track provided by Paul McCartney and Wings.
No, this is icky, cringe, and shouldn't have happened.
That said, Jane Seymour went on to a very successful career, and her latest, "Harry Wild" is an exceptional tale of a retired professor of literature in Ireland who happens to be good at solving cases. And her character is a HOOT. Do check it out if you get Acorn streaming...
A late edit. I just found this killer Lucas Brar jam to the James Bond theme, and had to add it:
