Roger Moore's Fear of Guns Almost Cost Him 007 Role

[Drizzt]

Roger Moore's Fear of Guns Almost Cost Him 007 Role

Roger MooreFormer James Bond star Roger Moore almost never got to play the suave superspy because he's terrified of guns. Ever since a rifle exploded in his hands during his National Service in the British military, the actor has suffered involuntary blinking whenever he hears a bang and feared it would cost him the 007 role.

He recalls, "A gun blew up in my hands, which deafened me for a few days. It caused me to blink before I squeezed the trigger of any gun. Anything that went bang made me blink."

However, Moore was so desperate to play the fearless British agent he learned to beat his phobia: "I used an old Gary Cooper trick, which was to clench my eyes."

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/07/17/roger_moore_s_fear_of_guns_almost_cost_h

 

[statelineblues]

James Cagney was another actor who was scared of guns (or maybe he just didn't like the noise); in many of his movies you can see him shut his eyes as he fires the gun.

 

[Crosshair]

When I read the headline I was thinking he was some anti-gun moron, but after reading it I can see how having a rifle blow up in your hands could cause that kind of thing to happen. Good to see that he got over his fear.

 

[whm1974]

When I read the headline I was thinking he was some anti-gun moron, but after reading it I can see how having a rifle blow up in your hands could cause that kind of thing to happen.

At least he has a good reason.

-Bill

 

[mrmeval]

He conquered his fear. The new more effeminate actor for the bond films 'doesn't like guns'.

 

[ChestyP]

Love them

sensitive, New Age guys (SNAGs)!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

That is interesting about Moore given the fact that there were guns in the TV program "The Saint" in which he was the star for quite some time before becoming 007.

 

[flatdog]

I smell the same rat as Double Nauhgt. Never saw Moore blink either and I've seen most of the Saint episodes and movies.

If I remember correctly all of the actors who played 007 have made very public anti-gun statements.

With the exception of George Lazenby, the least known Bond. He only made one Bond film, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Which many think was the most accurate portrayal of Bond in the movies. His bio states he was Australian Special Forces.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I cringe when I see Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon (the first one). In the scene where the two cops are at the shooting range, he closes his eyes everytime the gun goes off.

 

[Creeping Incrementalism]

Ever since a rifle exploded in his hands during his National Service in the British military

Was it an SA80?

 

[Diomed]

What the devil was he doing to have a rifle blow up on him? National Service used various flavors of Enfields, you have to work to blow one of them up.

 

[whm1974]

I cringe when I see Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon (the first one). In the scene where the two cops are at the shooting range, he closes his eyes everytime the gun goes off.

I have to go watch that again. Was it the 2nd or 3rd movie where they had that BS about "AP" pistol rounds?

-Bill

 

[Limeyfellow]

Roger Moore was a Second Lieutenant serving military intelligence in the later 40s due to national service.

 

[warrior23]

I thought Roger Moore was Anti gun....

 

[50 Freak]

Always wondered about blinking when you shoot. Personally when I see that, I think it means the shooter is someone who's either never shot before or lacks training.

But then I watched FutureWeapons on the discovery/military channel. The host is supposedly a 10 year SEAL vet. But in all the clips of him shooting a AK or AR, he's closing his eyes before he shoots. Is that some new SEAL way of marksmanship?

 

[sterling180]

thought Roger Moore was Anti gun....

He probably is,but at least he seems to respect the pro shooters,unlike Connery,Sting,Trudie Styler,etc,etc.

As for Daniel Craig,well he is a total dork anyway,if Keira Knightley can use a pump-action shotgun in one of her movies,why can't he make his muscular hands hold one?

Or was it Layer Cake,throwing up at the sight of them.

 

[Cosmoline]

Would it have been a bad thing? Personally I really liked Lazenby as a Connery replacement.

Craig is one of the worst actors in recent memory. He has a single expression on his face the whole time.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Did you really just revive a 3 year old thread to complain about a James Bond actor?