Trivia: On a previous scouting mission for the film, the team passed a roadside sign on a gate which read "Trespassers Will Be Eaten" – this transpired to be a Jamaican crocodile farm, owned by one Ross Kananga. His father had been eaten by one of these beasts – he was always quick to point out which of the 1500 or so – and with his disregard for the dangers involved with his profession, he was widely regarded by the crew as being a lunatic. He obviously made an impression, though, as it was decided that his farm would be written into the script and even his name was used for that of the villain. Most of the stunts performed with these crocodiles in the film were done by Kananga himself. For one shot, however, Moore was required to stand on an island, surrounded by hungry reptiles. The actor suggested that a nice touch would be for him to wear crocodile shoes for the scene. The live animals were removed and replaced with fakes, and Moore placed on the island. Once the cameras started to roll, some of the fake crocodiles began edging towards the actor.
Trivia: With so many black actors, most of whom were cast as villains in the film, producers wanted to write in another character, a comedy part, to draw attention away. New York actor Clifton James was cast in the role of "Sheriff J. W. Pepper" (he was so popular that he would turn up again in the next Bond film).
Trivia: Part of Roger Moore's contract for "Live And Let Die" allowed him an unlimited supply of hand-rolled cigars.
Trivia: During the boat chase, Bond slides over an island on which there is a wedding ceremony. One of the other boatmen following Bond slides into the wedding cake, destroying it. The bride grabs onto her husband and bursts out crying. You may notice that the groom begins to laugh just as the shot ends.
Trivia: Roger Moore and Jane Seymour caught dysentery while making this film.
Trivia: Bond uses a Smith and Wesson Model 29, .44 "Magnum" revolver when rescuing "Solitaire" near the end of the film, the same type of gun used by Clint Eastwood in the film "Dirty Harry".
Trivia: Before the film went into production, and when the filmmakers still thought Sean Connery would come back, the initial idea was to ask Ursula Andress to also come back as Honey Ryder (from the first Bond film, Dr No). When Roger Moore was instead cast, the idea still stood until a few weeks/months later when it was scrapped, after they decided not to "saddle" Roger Moore with leftovers from previous films.
Trivia: The first attempt at jumping the crocodiles in this film had to be re-shot four times (the fifth shot was used). Although they were all drugged, with their legs tied to sandbags, the last crocodile was a bit more alert than the rest and snapped at Roger Moore's double (Ross Kananga, the owner of the crocodile farm) and caught his shoe. After a couple of nerve-wracking seconds, his shoe came loose and he got away.
Trivia: Timothy Dalton was offered the part of Bond in this film but turned it down, feeling he was too young, being only in his late 20s at the time.
Trivia: During the high-speed chase using the speed boats, one of them performed a jump which set what was then a world record.
Trivia: Roger Moore cracked his teeth and twisted his ankle during the filming of the boat scene.
Trivia: Gayle Hunnicutt was the first choice for Solitaire, but had to pull out when she became pregnant and the role went to Jane Seymour.
Trivia: The first James Bond film to not be scored by John Barry.
Trivia: Before Roger Moore even got to say his first line as 007, he had to be rushed to hospital due to a kidney stone attack.
Trivia: Bernard Lee was very ill during filming, causing the producers to consider replacing him as M with Kenneth More.
Trivia: When Tee Hee is feeding the crocodiles at the crocodile farm, he points to one of them and says "That's Old Albert". This crocodile was named after the film's producer, Albert R. Broccoli.
Trivia: Sir Sean Connery turned down $5.5 million to play James Bond in this movie.
Trivia: Clint Eastwood was offered the lead role in this film but he turned it down, believing that Bond should be played by an Englishman.
Chosen answer: One assumes that the card that 'foretold' that Rosie was a double-agent was either sent by Felix Lighter of the FBI/CIA or by Solitaire herself. But, more than likely, it was Bond's faithful sidekick Quarrel, Jr. (the fisherman/boat captain on San Monique).
CCARNI ★