Roger Moore played several roles on TV (The Saint, etc.) before becoming James Bond in 1973 for the first of seven film adventures. Whatever Moore’s humble beginnings in real life, he came off onscreen as patrician—an aristocrat with a mid-Atlantic accent and unruffled demeanor. Which makes it hard to take him seriously in 1974’s Gold as Rod Slater, a genteel rascal who woos the ladies and happens to be the rough-and-tumble general manager of a South African goldmine. Moore makes no effort to give the blue-collar character authenticity (aside from leaving his shirt open). The story revolves around an international conspiracy to flood a major goldmine and thereby drive up the value of available gold. Susannah York is largely wasted as Terry Steyner—wife of one of the conspirators (she doesn’t know he’s a bad guy)—who falls for Slater, despite his aggravating penchant for reverse psychology. Directed by Peter R. Hunt, long associated with the James Bond series as an editor and then as director of 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the film is full of quick cuts and rapid action, but it is ultimately more wearisome than exciting. Extras include an audio commentary by film historians Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson. Optional. (T. Keogh)
Gold
Kino Lorber, 124 min., PG, DVD: $14.95, Blu-ray: $29.95 Volume 33, Issue 6
Gold
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