Roger Moore, who died Tuesday at the age of 89, specialized in playing roguish, sophisticated characters who had fun while saving the day and, of course, getting the girl. He was rarely deep in his portrayals, but he was always entertaining.
Beau Maverick
Moore first became famous to television audiences when he appeared in the late 50s in the offbeat western, “Maverick,” as the English raised cousin of Bret and Bart, Beau Maverick. His character, it is alleged, had been shipped across the pond by “Pappy” for the crime of doing something heroic during the Civil War.
He returned to the American West cured of such pretensions, but still always winding up on the right side of things.
Simon Templar, aka ‘The Saint’ and Lord Sinclair
The next two TV shows Moore starred intended to typecast him. In “The Saint” he played a criminal who stole from other criminals, staying one step ahead of Inspector Claude Teal who was unimpressed by his selection of victims.
In “The Persuaders” Moore was a titled English lord who found himself paired with a decidedly plebian American played by Tony Curtis, traveling the world, solving crimes and righting wrongs. Both characters played to Moore’s good looks and boyish charms.
Bond, James Bond
Roger Moore will always be known as the Bond who followed Sean Connery.
Unlike his predecessor, More played the British super spy with a little bit of self-awareness, sometimes smirking at the camera as he prepared to deal with dangerous situations.
His Bond movies increased in their absurdity throughout the 70s until “Moonraker,” which saw Bond in space to battle evil doers. The best of the Moore Bond films, “The Spy Who Loved Me,” drew back from the over the top situations and told a taut story of Cold War intrigue.
Unfortunately, Moore continued to play Bond well into his 50s, past the time he could be considered credible as an action hero, the last one being 1985’s “A View to a Kill.”
Ffolkes, a different kind of hero
1981’s “Ffolkes” saw Moore try to play against type. The hero he played in this film, a mercenary, and security specialist, was an unpleasant, misogynist who had a weakness for cats.
He was just as ruthless as Bond putting down a group of terrorists who take over a couple of offshore oil platforms in the North Sea.
The scene at the end, when Ffolkes is awarded in a special way by a Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher character is priceless. The movie is something of an acquired taste for some, but well worth the look.
