My Word Is My Bond

by Roger Moore and Sir Roger Moore

Book Overview

One of the most recognizable big-screen stars of the past half-century, Sir Roger Moore played the role of James Bond longer than any other actor. Beginning with the classic Live and Let Die, running through Moonraker and A View to a Kill, Moore brought his finely honed wit and wry charm to one of Hollywood's most beloved and long-lasting characters. Still, James Bond was only one in a lifetime of roles stretching back to Hollywood's studio era,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061673889
• ISBN13: 9780061673887
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: It Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Hello Mr. Bond

An engaging read about Roger Moore and his childhood in London, dodging the Blitz. He visited the hospital several times. Spent time in Hollywood in the '50's and '60's. He shares a sad tale how a couple had to go about to get a divorce, he has been married four times. He starred in 'The Saint' 'The Persuaders' then... became Mr. Bond, my favorite one. He talks about 'The Spy Who Loved Me' 'Moonraker' 'For Your Eyes Only' and View to a Kill', his time with Grace Jones and more. In his later years he has worked with UNICEF for the betterment of society. Nobel I think.

A MUST for Moore Maniacs

I'm just about at the halfway point, and thought I'd be bored until the Bond chapters came. NOPE---it's great from the get go, and who knew Moore was this funny? Very insightful and so far I've learned more about one of my favorite actors than I had expected to considering the 007-centered title.

Sir Roger Moore - the man behind the double entendres of 007.

Throughout my life, whenever someone mentions James Bond, I immediately think of Roger Moore. His singular wit and mastery of the double entendre never cease to entertain me to this very day. When I had the chance to read & review "My Word is my Bond", I didn't jump - I leapt at it! From the beginning, Moore makes it plain that he wouldn't be bringing up recycled scandals or mudslinging anyone...and if he couldn't say anything nice, he'd prefer not to say anything at all "...unless pushed to say a few words by my editor!" No, the book holds true to his promise of telling funny stories and recalling events and friends that have shaped his life. It was a relief to see that Moore didn't jump right away into Bond stories...no, he talked quite a bit about his beginnings - childhood illnesses, a fledgling worker in the Publicity Picture Productions, enrolling in the Association of Cinema Technicians (which helped immensely when he decided to direct years later), wartime relocations, and the birth of his acting career as an extra at Denham Studios. We get to experience the joys and pitfalls of his early Hollywood jobs, his marriages, and the success of his two tv shows, The Saint and The Persuaders. The saga of James Bond doesn't come around until chapter nine, but it's well worth the wait. There's no shortage of humorous stories, both on and off the set. I can't reveal all of them, but there is one exchange with a special effects technician that never ceases to make me laugh: "Now Rog, there'll be a few explosions..." "It always unnerves me when the man who says this type of thing holds up his hand to reveal two missing fingers." Comedic gold! Moore had interactions with celebrities such as Christopher Lee, Michael Caine, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, and several others...but his most important was with Audrey Hepburn; as she began his involvement with UNICEF. The latter half of the book describes his journey to several countries with a genuine desire to help impoverished and disadvantaged children all over the world. Roger Moore started each chapter with some type of in-joke that couldn't be deduced until it was completed. It made each section a treasure hunt that kept me wanting to read more. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Roger Moore's life before and after the Walther PPK. He promised to provide an entertaining book... ...and his word truly is his bond. Highly recommended.

I often wonder whatever became of him!

Uncle Roger came to spend a few days with us recently. (We're not related, of course, but if we were, he would be my mother's youngest brother -even if he is quite a bit older than she is!) Every night he would entertain us with stories from his life, from his early childhood in London up to now. He told us about his various illnesses as a child, his having to be separated from his parents due to the Blitz in London, his early career as an animator (!) and film extra, his acting work on tv, first in England, then in LA,... his first films, the Saint, The Persuaders...and then something about a John (or was it James?) Bond or something... Kidding aside, I pre ordered this book the moment I heard about it. Roger Moore was my first James Bond (The Spy Who Loved Me) and has always been my favorite famous person whom I have not met...yet. Something I definitely enjoyed about this book was how little scandal he was involved in, no heavy drug use, no alcoholism, no falls from grace to overcome. This is NOT your usual 'True Hollywood Story" memoir! In fact, you'll find him to to be some kind of real life Forrest Gump, floating from one amazing situation to the next, surrounded by the biggest stars of the time (Elizabeth Taylor! Audrey Hepburn! David Niven! Frank Sinatra! The Spice Girls!) who all seem to like him and make him their friend. His stories are all light-hearted, never mean and usually quite funny. He never takes himself too seriously nor tries to hog the spotlight, instead he allows us to see these events as he himself saw them. He does get serious when talking about his health scare (although he is the first to admit that he is a bit of a hypochondriac) and when he talks about UNICEF (for which he has done some wonderful work). But basically, this is the story of a very charming, self-effacing film legend, who unlike the majority of other stars, knows exactly how lucky he has been with his lot in life and would love to share it with us. We miss you already, Uncle Roger, Please come back with more stories for us!

Bond is Back, Baby!

"Guy [Hamilton] wanted to toughten up my Bond a little. I think it's most evident in the scenes I had with Maud Adams, where I twisted her arm and threatened - rather coldy - to break it unless she told me what i wanted to know. That sort of characterization didn't sit easy with me, but Guy was keen to make my Bond a little more ruthless, like Fleming's. I suggested my Bond would have charmed the information out of her by bedding her first. My Bond was a lover and a giggler." Yep, Roger Moore gives commentary, behind-the-scenes stories and it's a wonderful read. Every Bond had their own distinct style. Daniel Craig presently has a habit of tossing things like door knobs and car keys aside as if he doesn't care about anything. Moore's style is just as pleasing in this read. Too many autobiographies focus on personal life and too little of the films they did (which readers really want to read anyway). Guess what? Moore goes through his personal life briefly, then focuses on his early films, followed by The Saint, The Persuaders, and finally Bond. And yes, almost half of the book is centered about his Bond personna. So do yourself a favor and grab this book. The stories and views of Roger Moore is wonderful. Thank you, Sir.