Roger Moore: ‘Skyfall’ is ‘best Bond ever made’

>>> we're back at 8:35 with a little bonding session. 2012 marks the golden anniversary of the 007 franchise. daniel craig dawns the famous suit for tomorrow's release of "sky fall." but back in 1972 , the franchise was in the capable hands of sir roger moore . he starred in seven films. so who better to write the book on bond? it's called "bond on bond" and sir roger moore , we're thrilled to have you here.

>> well, it's nice to see you again.

>> it's one the honor to play bond, but another to write the book on bond.

>> it just meant the memory had to start working again. and a lot of research.

>> you have a great sense of humor about the character and about yourself. do you mind i if read a little of the introduction of the book?

>> i'd be delighted.

>> can it really be 40 years ago? back then i could leap out of a chair without fear of my knees cracking, could chew on a toffee without fear of losing a filling or tooth. and as i swooned in front of the mirror proudly admire my bronze, slim torso. oh, yes, with the flex of my toned muscles with the twitch of an old eyebrow i sent pulses racing across the world they say. these days it's my pacemaker that keeps my pulse racing. did you love playing bond?

>> i had a great time. it was -- it was working with a family. every 18 months, i would go back to a studio, there'd be all my old friends, all the crews. and, of course, cubbie.

>> you knew the producers of this series well, they knew you from your work on "the saint." and when they came to you, you admit you had some trepidations taking over the role from a guy like sean connery . but you consoled yourself with the idea with a lot of actors have played hamlet in the past too.

>> a lot of them all played it very differently.

>> did you try to play the role differently? try to put your own stamp on bond?

>> i was not to say martini shaken, not stirred. all i was left with was, sean said was my name is bond, james bond .

>> you mention in the early days of the genre, travel in the 1960s was reserved for the wealthy and this movie allowed moviegoers to see the world .

>> it did. i think that's one of the big attractions that has kept it going. and apart from that, i think it's the fact that it will not disappoint audiences because they're not going to be cheated by the producers putting the money in their pocket. they put it all on the screen.

>> yeah. these are big-budget films. let me read one of the reviews of your time as bond. okay? in his seven outings as bond, more brought a light humor that set him apart from connery's more serious and at times sadistic manner. no other bond from timothy dalton to more recent pierce brosnan and daniel craig has made it as charming and endearing as moore.

>> well, that didn't take me long to write.

>> you like that assessment, though?

>> it's flattering.

>> there were a lot of great villains. you say you even admit that you had dreams of playing a bond villain at one time.

>> well, they have the best parts. bond goes around saying, you know, i'm james bond . the villains, this is the end of civilization, mr. bond. you are about to watch the world be depopulated by a new demonic democracy.

>> you like that guy we're seeing right now jaws. you thought he was one of the best.

>> oh, lovely guy. lovely man.

>> you admit that you had dreams of being a bond villain . you do not like to answer the question who's your favorite bond girl . let me pose it differently. so have you ever dreamed of one of the bond girls ?

>> uh -- well, no, i have not dreamed of them. you see, i married the perfect bond girl .

>> isn't that nice?

>> you're always the diplomat. you always do that well. what about the guy you say you miss more than anything else about playing bond? and that was desmond luellen.

>> well, desmond was a wonderful man and i could play the most terrible tricks on him. he took it all with a good humor. i would come into the studio and he had nothing but say but terrible things about how the parameter works and then the complex, and you tried to remember all this stuff. and i'd go to the script and say write this down. and she would type it and i'd give it to the director. and he'd say this is the new scene and poor desmond who spent months trying to learn this terrible dialogue is faced with something even worse , but he attempts and then looks up and sees me going --

>> you had pulled the rug out from under him. you have been asked the question many times who's your favorite bond, and you always say sean . you've said sean was the kind of iconic bond. has watching daniel craig changed your opinion at all?

>> yeah, i finished the book three or four months ago. i would like to have seen "sky fall" then because i would now write another chapter. i think it is just the best bond ever made. and i -- well, i called barbara and michael wilson who produced it now and said, you know, your parents will be so proud of you. you've given bond another 50 years of life.

>> that is high praise from one of the great bonds of all time. sir roger moore , it's always a pleasure to have you here.

>> thank you for talking with me.

>> it's my honor. again the book is "bond on bond" and "sky fall" hits theaters