ROGER MOORE - THE 007 DIARIES...

Copyright relevant owner

Just a little over five years ago, I managed to acquire a replacement for a paperback book I'd first bought back in 1973 - ROGER MOORE As JAMES BOND 007.  In America, I believe it was called The 007 DIARIES, and aside from that US edition, I don't think the book was ever reprinted - until last year that is.  Bearing the title of the US printing, it was issued in a limited edition hardback volume (and in paperback) by The HISTORY PRESS, with a touching foreward by actor DAVID HEDISON (who was the best-ever screen incarnation of FELIX LEITER in my opinion) who talks about his friendship with Roger.

The 1973 PAN paperback featured exclusive colour photographs (and stills from the film) by Roger's then-wife LUISA, but all are absent from the 2018 printing and one can only guess at the reason.  However, the book has other photographs, two of which are extremely similar to a couple in the '73 edition.  One was taken from a slightly different angle (presumably by another photographer) and the other (of the boat chase) looks like it was taken on a different day, but all photos are from when the film was being shot.  It's a shame that the originals weren't also included, but the 'new' photos fill their place admirably and are just as interesting.

The cover photograph always confused me slightly;  was Roger standing on the other side of a glass pane he'd just put a bullet through, or was it a mirror?  If the former, then the '70s paperback had the image the right way around - if the latter, the wrong way.  The new edition regards it as a mirror image, hence Roger's parting is on the right and not the left, but it's a fine, luxuriant head of hair either way.  (So like my own.)  It's great that this book has been reissued in such a durable format, and if you've never read it, now's the time to do so.  Even if you have read it, it wouldn't hurt to reacquaint yourself with Roger's own day-to-day account of filming LIVE And LET DIE, as it's a wonderfully witty and eminently entertaining tale.

(I'm lucky enough to have Roger's autograph on three books I own, but it would've been nice to have an autographed copy of this book too.  Sadly, he passed away before it was reissued.)

You can see the cover to the 1973 Pan paperback by clicking here.

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