Behind-the-scenes footage of Live And Let Die's crocodile jump stunt shows just how dangerous it really was. Live And Let Die was the eighth film in the James Bond franchise, and arguably one of the most important for one key reason. Original star Sean Connery departed the series following clashes with producers over his level of compensation, and while George Lazenby was swiftly brought on as his replacement for On Her Majesty's Secret Service, that outing met a mixed response. OHMSS is now considered a classic amongst the fanbase, but not only was the film the least successful at that time, Lazenby swiftly ditched the character after only one film.
Connery was lured back to Diamonds Are Forever to stabilize the series with a large payday - a fee he later used to establish the Scottish International Education Trust - in addition to two movies of his choice being greenlit. It was clear Connery would be tempted back no further, so Live And Let Die had to establish that not only could a new Bond star work, but the franchise would still be as successful. Roger Moore - who was actually a little older than Connery - took over the role, and played it with a lighter note than his predecessor.
Moore wound up playing 007 a total of seven times, ending his run with 1985's A View To A Kill. Live And Let Die - which Anthony Hopkins passed on - was a strange blend of spy thriller and blaxploitation film, and its success proved there was life after Connery. One of the most memorable scenes finds 007 stranded by the bad guys on a tiny island to be eaten by crocodiles. After a failed attempt to use his magnetic watch to pull a boat towards him, the quick-thinking spy leaps across the backs of the crocs back to land. In a pre-CGI era, the brief shot of Bond's stunt double leaping over the crocodiles is spectacular but behind-the-scenes footage reveals it took five increasingly dangerous attempts to pull it off successfully.
Live And Let Die's Crocodile Stunt Failed A Lot... And Makes The Final Version Better
This Live And Let Die - featuring Bond's only supernatural foe - stunt was performed by Ross Kananga, who owned the farm where the scene was filmed. Kananga had a long history with crocodiles and alligators, with his father - the previous owner - having been killed by one of the animals. In the making of documentary Inside Live and Let Die, Moore recalled Kananga pointing out the exact crocodile that had eaten his father. For the stunt itself, Kananga had the feet of the crocodiles tied, but left their jaws and tails free. Behind-the-scenes footage shows him failing to make the jump four times, including one where he lands on the middle crocodile and waits until the snapping animals calm down.
His penultimate attempt sees a crocodile catch his foot in midair, and tearing at the leg of his trousers until it pulls free. Adding to the stress of this Live And Let Die - which cut Dali's tarot cards - scene is that the crocodiles are fully expecting the jump in the following takes, having gotten used to Kananga's failed attempts. Their heads automatically turn when he leaps into the air, so if he had landed in the water in front of them, he would have been in serious trouble. Thankfully, he completed the jump on the final take, and one of Live And Let Die's most famous sequences was complete.