Leslie Charteris - A Saintly Centennial (2007)
Original air date: 31 July 2007 (BBC Radio 4)
2007 marks the centenary of the birth of popular fiction writer Leslie Charteris, best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias The Saint. In this special programme, actor and Saint portrayer Roger Moore explores the life and legacy of Charteris and reveals a world of adventure, torment, insecurity, failed marriages and enormous success as a thriller writer. The adventures of The Saint have appeared continuously since 1928, making Simon Templar the longest-running character in contemporary detective fiction. But there was more to Charteris's literary acuity than The Saint alone. He was fluent in several languages; he had a monthly column in the epicurial delight, Gourmet magazine; and he devised a pictorial sign language which he called "Paleneo" and wrote a book about it. He was also one of the earliest members of Mensa. Despite his film-star looks, with a hint of exoticism, Charteris suffered from a long-standing insecurity about his appearance, arising from his mixed racial origin. In later years he dated some of Hollywood's most beautiful women, among them Marlene Dietrich and Jean Harlow. It wasn't until 1963, when Lou Grade cast Roger Moore and filmed the first television series of The Saint, that Charteris at last felt he'd received the final seal of approbation that had eluded him for 30 years. Among those exploring the world and psyche of Charteris are Dan Bodenheimer, who runs the official Saint website; Burl Barer, author of "The History Of The Saint"; and Charteris's biographer Ian Dickerson. The show's author is Barbra Paskin.
Lew Grade: The Greatest Of Them All (2006)
Original air date: 24 and 25 December 2006 (BBC Radio 2)
A 2-part BBC Radio special on the life and times of Lew Grade and the TV shows his company - ITC - produced. The show was narrated by Sir Roger Moore and also features interviews with Patrick McGoohan, Tony Curtis, Gerry Anderson, Lew Grade's nephew, Michael Grade, and entertainer Bruce Forsyth. The show wasn't released officialy as for early 2007. However, promotional copies surface from time to time on eBay.
Catching Life By The Throat. How To Read Poetry And Why brought together by Josephine Hart (2006)
Original release date: 27 October (audiobook)/2 Nov 2006 (book)
Publishers: Time Warner AudioBooks/Virago Press Ltd.
This audiobook is an anthology of poems by W.H. Auden, T.S. Eliot, Philip Larkin, Emily Dickinson, Marianne Moore, Rudyard Kipling, Sylvia Plath and W.B. Yeats, introduced by Josephine Hart and read by a cast of famous actors: Ralph Fiennes, Edward Fox, Ian McDiarmid, Helen McCrory, Sir Roger Moore, Harold Pinter, Elizabeth McGovern, Harriet Walter, Sir Bob Geldof, Sinead Cusack, Grey Gowrie, Rupert Graves and Juliet Stevenson. "The idea is simple," says Josephine Hart as she introduces the poets and takes us through their life and writings, "an understanding of the life and philosophy of the poet illuminates the poetry and therefore makes the experience of reading or listening to each poem more intense." Whether you believe, like Robert Frost, that poetry is a way of catching life by the throat or, like Eliot, it is one person talking to another, nobody does it better than the poets whose work and life will feature in this publication.
The Children's Audiobook Of Virtues (1995)
Original release date: December 1997
Recorded: 1995
Publisher: Dove Books
Timeless teachings, allegorical readings, and inspirational poetry - by Hans Christian Andersen, Aesop, and others - share unforgettable examples of ideals, virtues, and ethical behavior for children. Read by various celebrities (Ben Kingsley, Glenda Jackson, Dudley Moore, Michael York, etc.). Roger Moore performs "Windy Nights" by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Windy Nights
Whenever the moon and stars are set,
Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by.
Late in the night when the fires are out,
Why does he gallop and gallop about?
Whenever the trees are crying aloud,
And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud,
By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.
Thunder Point by Jack Higgins (1993)
Original release date: 1993
Publishers: Penguin Books (1994), Dove Books
ISBN 0140862986
Running time: 180 minutes (2 cassettes)
Version: Abridged
Story of a British intelligence agent diving on a mysterious U-boat found in the Caribbean. The commander's briefcase, believed to hold incriminating documents listing prominent families supporting the Nazi party, is believed to be on board. As with all Jack Higgins novels it is fast-paced, and this one makes you want to go search for the sunken boats! A movie of the same title was made a few years later.
Short synopsis from the back cover:
A lone diver finds a German U-Boat, sunk three weeks after the end of World War II. Inside - final proof that Reichsleiter Martin Bormann escaped Hitler's bunker with the Third Reich's secrets - including the Windsor Protocol. For the sake of national security, the U-Boat must be destroyed - even if it means asking Britain's most wanted terrorist to take on the job...
A real Jack Higgins thriller - read by Roger Moore to make it even more exciting!
The Naked Face by Sidney Sheldon (1987)
Original release dates: 1987
Publishers: Dove Books (1987/1997/1999)
Running time: 132 minutes
Version: Abridged
Let master of suspense Sidney Sheldon capture you in this terrifying mystery of a man stalked by an unidentified killer. The cool voice of 007 Roger Moore narrates this nonstop thriller about a renowned psychoanalyst, Judd Stevens, who cannot convince the police that he is the killer's next victim - since Stevens himself is suspect. How can Stevens protect himself when he has no clues to the murderer's identity - or his motive?
Roger Moore's cool, intese reading captures the threatening mood of Sheldon's story.
If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon (1985)
Original release date: 1985
Publishers: Dove Books (1986/1987/1997)
Running time: 186 minutes
Version: Abridged
International adventure awaits the lovely and daring Tracy Whitney, a New Orleans computer technician, when she vows to avenge the untouchable crime lords who ruined her mother's life. The idealistic Tracy embarks on a series of dazzling escapades that carry her off to London, Paris, Madrid, and Amsterdam. Renowned actor Roger Moore, of James Bond fame, narrates this colorful, romantic, suspense-filled story.
...his dramatic reading brings to breathless life this colorful story of intrigue, adventure and romance...
The Story Of Aladdin told by Roger Moore (1963/6)
Original release date: Sometime between 1963 and 1966
Publisher: Lantern Records (UK): Lyn. 964
Format: Vinyl record, 45 r.p.m.
Accompaniment: The Sound Book Orchestra
Music creator and conductor: Woolf Philips
This was part of the series of soundbooks read by known actors and celebrities. Roger Moore also read the story of Snow White (see below). Here's the note from the sleeve: Over the last few years, children from eight to eighty have revelled in the adventures of Roger Moore. First in his portrayal of 'Ivanhoe', and now in the world-wide Television succes as Simon Templar in 'The Saint'. In this Soundbook Roger Moore pays a visit to the mysterious Orient to tell us the tale of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp. This record is an exciting story as only Roger Moore can tell. As far as I'm concerned, both Aladdin and Snow White soundbooks were also released as part of Golden Hour of the Best Loved Fairy Stories LP in 1965.
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs told by Roger Moore (1965)
Original release date: 1965
Publisher: Lantern Records (UK): Lyn. 1136
Format: Vinyl record, 45 r.p.m.
Little is know about this recording, except that it was also a part of a series of soundbooks performed by British celebrities. It was probably released at the same time as The Story of Aladdin. As far as I'm concerned, both Aladdin and Snow White soundbooks were also released as part of Golden Hour of the Best Loved Fairy Stories LP in 1965. A 6 double-paged book was added to the original release of the record.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas - 15 Great Christmas Favorites sung by Warner Bros. Stars (1959)
Original release date: 1959
Publisher: Warner Bros. Inc. (USA), B 1337
Arranged and conducted by Carl Brandt. Produced by Carl Engemann.
Vinyl record of Warner Bros. stars of then-current TV shows either singing or reading christmas carols. Names of performers as shown on the front cover of the LP: Poncie Ponce, Bob Conrad, Eddie Cole, Roger Moore, Ty Hardin, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, Peter Brown, Ray Danton, Dorothy Provine, Edward Byrnes, Connie Stevens. 32-year old Roger Moore, then starring in "The Alaskans" reads "Once In Royal David's City". The Warner Bros. record label was brand new at the time, and the company were putting out all sorts of interesting stuff like this LP.
Greetings! Warner Bros. Stars wish you the happiest kind of Christmas... one that everyone can join in celebrating! Let these popular personalities gather 'round your Yule tree and sing the season's happiest greetings with their favorite Christmas songs!
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