Roger Moore Meets His Waxy Alter Ego

Roger Moore’s revamped James Bond, a character embodied by Sean Connery for years, was distinguished by the actor’s self-deprecating humor--a kind of slyness that seemed to nudge his audience and say, “This is all pretty silly, isn’t it?”

That half-laughing ease got him through some rough times in his seven 007 films and it helped him stroll through Movieland Wax Museum’s unveiling of its latest addition, a wax dummy (they call it a “likeness”) of Moore, before a gaping, camera-crazy crowd Wednesday.

Moore, looking sharp in a beige suit and perfect hair, hesitated a second when the figure was unwrapped, quipped that it was “too short” and then promptly worked it for laughs. As photographers tried to steer him into poses, Moore came up with a few of his own.

He stood behind the dummy, pretending to give it a push. He put the gun to its head and pretended to shoot. He stood in front of the dummy and complained that it wasn’t keeping its hands to itself. He even momentarily put one of the dummy’s outstretched fingers up his well-shaped nose.

Bad taste aside, the shenanigans were understandable. Moore, after all, has been trying to shake the Bond shadow ever since his last 007 movie, “A View to a Kill,” came out in 1985. He said at the time that he was tired of the role, was worried about getting typecast and, perhaps more significantly, was just getting too old for the character. Moore reiterated those points during a brief interview Wednesday.

“I really don’t miss it at all,” he said.

Moore, 60, lives with his wife and three children in Switzerland, where he is planning his next career steps. Despite offers to reprise Bond or develop a new spy personality, Moore said he is more interested in trying romantic comedy. A project is brewing, he said, but nothing is final.

“I’d like to try comedy but, actually, would look at anything without guns and explosives,” he said. “I wouldn’t consider another Bond; I’d be a very old James Bond.”

But if he’s so intent on casting 007 aside, why show up for such an obvious echo of the past? Moore dismissed the question by conceding that, no matter what he does, he will always be associated with the role. Besides, publicity is publicity.

“It’s not like being associated with something appalling,” he said.

Looking back on his Bond films, Moore said his favorite is the 1977 “The Spy Who Loved Me,” co-starring Barbara Bach. As for his favorite leading lady, Moore was ready with the stock answer: “My wife is my favorite leading lady.”

When told that he always seemed to be having a good time in the Bond movies, even when they were duds, Moore deadpanned: “Did it seem like I was having fun? That was just good acting.”

As for Timothy Dalton, the latest Bond, Moore said he isn’t familiar with his work and, in fact, hasn’t even seen “The Living Daylights.”

And what did he think of the wax likeness? He paused diplomatically, then said, “Well, it looks like me and probably moves a little faster than me, so it’s really pretty nice.”

A few in the crowd also seemed to think that artist Peter Carcillo, who said he began work on the figure about a year ago, did a good job.

Kimberly Richmond of La Habra thought it captured Moore’s “suave handsomeness” without being “too corny or stupid.” Richmond confessed to being a longtime Bond fan, although her favorite Bond “just has to be Connery, without a doubt.”

“Roger had some big shoes to fill, but he did it pretty well. They were very different,” she said.

Another Bondphile, Everly Pintain of Santa Ana, said he enjoyed Moore’s more comic interpretation and, for that reason, was disappointed by the dummy.

“It’s too serious--just look at it,” he complained. “It should have a glint of a smile (and) maybe a knockout woman at his side. . . . This guy just looks mean, and besides, the wax makes his face look lumpy.”

Movieland Wax Museum is at 7711 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Admission: $5.95 to $9.95. Information: (714) 522-1155.