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16 October 2008
Sir Roger Moore rounded off a hectic week of publicity for his
autobiography ‘My Word Is My Bond’ by appearing to a sell out audience at
The National Theatre on London’s South Bank.
Interviewed by Emma Forbes, daughter of director and producer Bryan
Forbes, Sir Roger spent a short 40 minutes discussing his distinguished
career. Unfortunately after only 15 minutes, the questions were opened up
to the audience, which is always a recipe for disaster, particularly in an
auditorium the size of the Lyttleton Theatre.
Amid many references to “…then the man wearing a tie at the back,” “…the
man waving two arms in the air,” “…no not you sir, the man to your right,”
one inane question, “What was it like working with Maud Adams and Britt
Ekland?” One boring question, “What is your favourite Bond film?” or the
just plain silly, “Michael Caine calls you the big Knit (due to Moore’s
early career modelling knitting patterns), what is your nickname for him?”
followed the other! |
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Of course most people
were there to obtain Sir Roger’s signature in their prized copies of his
book, and here the organisers aimed high but fell somewhat short. The
drill was no photographs, no dedications just pass down the line, buy the
book (if required) obtain the signature and pass out the other side.
Simple, fast, and effective, but people eventually asked for a photo. Sir
Roger was too polite to refuse. His ‘PA’ did nothing and then more people
wanted photographs. Nevertheless, I estimate every one of the 300 or so
people in the queue received their autograph in the 90 minutes available
for signing.
There was a panic when the desk selling the books ran out, causing one
hapless staff member to rush downstairs to the foyer bookshop to bring up
a handful of copies, and whoever planned the layout of the signing area
made a real hash of it. A rope ran for about 50 feet in front of the table
Sir Roger was using for signing, and people entered at one end and exited
at the other, but it was only 5 feet from the table, so dozens of people
formed a scrum four deep along on the outer edge of the rope taking
photos. There should have been a second rope forming a horseshoe out in
front to keep everyone at a distance, thereby reducing the crush on Sir
Roger and allowing everyone to get a decent picture.
Whilst he gladly signed the books, it was obvious he was a little uneasy
at the crush and commotion; as well he might at his age.
A more experienced interviewer who could have probed his time in the
heyday of Hollywood would have made for a much better evening, but it was
still great to see that even after all these years, Sir Roger Moore is as
charming, polite, and funny as he ever was. |
