Sheriff Pepper: The Jar Jar Binks of the 1970s

A product of the times and I love the character. He does move the story along in an entertaining way.

I'm motivated by my Duty.

Clifton James performance as Southerner Sheriff Pepper was a huge crowd favorite when LALD hit the American cinemas. Laughter erupted with all his comedic, but realistic lines and antics getting more and more pissed and unhinged as 007 continued his escape from the thugs on water. He was by no means a "Jar Jar Binks". In those days there was more cheering and clapping along with laughter in the cinema experience with these types of films. People talked about the movie excitedly afterwards and I overheard many reciting Pepper's lines when leaving the theater.

I'd also like to add that out of all the main villains Bond had to contend with in the 70's, Kananga was the only one he actually had to physically fight with near the end. Even though he blew up like my second ex-wife after slamming too much Thanksgiving Turkey in the end. TMWTGG? Too coincidental being in the same place as 007 and not as near as fun. Christopher Lee and John Barry's score saved that film for me. Along with some beauties.



"Bring me the head of George Soarass"

The fact that Bond and Pepper turned up in the same place at the same time in TMWTGG is not too much of a coincidence for me. I've encountered coincidences just as great on more than one occasion in the real world.

Besides, in GOLDFINGER, Bond encountered a rich American at an airport who had sat close to him in the casino on the night he had battled Le Chiffre. This led to his first encounter with Auric Goldfinger. So coincidences are not completely unknown in the world of James Bond.

ant-mac

Speaking as a Southerner (and as someone who saw LALD during its original theatrical run in '73), the Pepper character was indeed a popular crowd pleaser who got plenty of laughs.

But he never should have appeared again in TMWTGG... He's not funny there, just irritating. His completely unnecessary presence drags the film down. (Lt. Hip should have been riding shotgun with Bond during the car chase.)



Send her to the snakes!

Except for being a Northerner (Northern Germany) myself and "only" having seen the movie in '74 (it came out at Christmas '73 over her), I subscribe to every word you said.

--
Ceterum censeo OCTOPUSSY esse delendam.

"But he never should have appeared again in TMWTGG... He's not funny there, just irritating. His completely unnecessary presence drags the film down. (Lt. Hip should have been riding shotgun with Bond during the car chase.)"

I absolutely agree.

ant-mac

You gotta love his doomsday machine line though.

Pepper is hilarious in LALD and makes the already entertaining boat chase even more entertaining.

Pepper in TMWTGG is kinda pointless though.