Live and Let Die (1973)

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Kananga: “I was hoping you would join me to a drink to the future.”

Overview: Roger Moore trades in his halo for a Walther PPK. James Bond deflates Dr. Kananga’s plans to flood the United States with free heroin. 007’s traditional drink goes into hibernation, while a beverage of the future makes its first appearance. For the first time in the series, James Bond is not seen taking a single drink.

What does Bond drink?

• When M visits Bond’s flat in London, a decanter and some empty glasses are seen on the coffee table. As they move to the kitchen, six various bottles of liquor and champagne can be seen on the counter (including a bottle in an ice bucket). A second decanter and some glasses can be seen on a desk in Bond’s living room.
• At the Fillet of Soul in Harlem, Bond asks the barman “Bourbon and water, please.” The bartender replies “First booth will do.” Bond then asks a nearby waiter, “Tell him neat, would you?” The puzzled waiter says “Huh?” and Bond explains, “No ice.” The waiter replies, “That’s extra, man!” Later, as the waiter brings the order, Bond’s table flips around into a secret room. The waiter turns around and takes a sip from Bond’s bourbon as he walks away.
• In his hotel suite in San Monique, Bond calls room service, asking “I’d like a bottle of Bollinger, please. Slightly chilled, two glasses, thank you.” A little while later, Whisper, posing as a waiter, brings the order to Bond’s room. He announces, “Your champagne, sir.” Bond tells him to put it on the table, and Whisper asks “Shall I open it?” Bond replies, “I can manage, thank you.” Bond hands him a signed room service receipt and a tip. We never see Bond open or drink the champagne. Considering it was brought to the room by one of Kananga’s henchmen right before 007’s encounter with the poisonous snake, it’s possible Bond decided not to risk drinking it.
• When Bond and Rosie are having their picnic by the river, a bottle of champagne and two glasses can be seen behind her. The champagne appears to be Dom Perignon.
• A waiter wheels a serving cart into Bond’s room at the Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. There is a bottle of champagne (possibly Bollinger) in an ice bucket on the cart. While it seems unbelievable that Bond and Felix Leiter would not drink the champagne, there is not much of a time lapse before their arrival at the Fillet of Soul.
• In the Fillet of Soul in New Orleans, Bond asks for a “Bourbon, no ice, please.” Leiter changes the order, saying “Two Sazeracs. Where’s your sense of adventure, James? This is New Orleans, relax.” Later, after Felix has left to take a phony phone call, Bond and his table disappear down an elevator shaft. Three waiters quickly set up a new table and chairs in the same location, and place the two Sazeracs (complete with coasters) on the table before Leiter returns.
• When Bond encounters Kananga in his secret underground complex in San Monique, the villain is holding an elaborate gold-rimmed crystal glass of champagne. Kananga says “Whisper, two more glasses for our guests. What shall we drink to, Mr. Bond?” 007 replies, “How about an earthquake?” Later, Bond takes a glass of the champagne from a silver tray and replaces it with his gun and holster. Bond tells Whisper, “Keep the change.” Solitaire already is holding a glass. Although Bond carries the glass around for several minutes, he never takes a drink.
• When Bond and Solitaire are playing gin rummy on the train, they both have small empty wine glasses in front of them. The most likely candidate seems to be white wine, but since there is no other supporting evidence, we’ll call this an undetermined drink.

Other people’s drinks:

• In Kanaga’s residence in New York City, two decanters and some glassware can be seen on a side table.
• When Mr. Big walks out of his conference room in Harlem, three bottles of liquor can be seen on the table, one of them a bottle of Jim Beam bourbon. When he enters the outer room, one of his henchmen immediately hands him a drink with ice (the thug is holding a similar drink).
• During the speedboat chase, when Bond cuts across a neck of land near a wedding ceremony, one of the boats driven by Kananga’s henchmen takes out the wedding cake and goes into a tent, noisily knocking over several bottles of champagne.

Other observations: It’s obvious that Roger Moore is trying to distance himself from his predecessor. Because of this, the traditional vodka martini will not reappear until The Spy Who Loved Me.

Product placement: Bollinger makes its series debut. When Bond receives his room service order in San Monique, a Bollinger label is clearly visible on the ice bucket. A bottle of Jim Beam bourbon can be seen in Mr. Big’s conference room.

By the book: Based on Live and Let Die (1954).

• Bond has a drink in Mr. Big’s nightclub in Harlem, although it’s a scotch.
• Bond and Solitaire have drinks together on a train, but in the book, they’re martinis.

Total: Three. Two glasses of champagne, and an undetermined wine drink.