The Man with the Golden Gun is a 1974 spy film and the ninth in the James Bond series and the second to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond, a loose adaptation of Ian Fleming's posthumously published 1965 novel of the same name
The Man with the Golden Gun has Bond sent after the Solex Agitator, a breakthrough technological solution to contemporary energy shortages, while facing the assassin Francisco Scaramanga, the "Man with the Golden Gun". The action culminates in a duel between them that settles the fate of the Solex. The film was set in the face of the 1973 energy crisis, a dominant theme in the script; Britain had still not yet fully overcome the crisis when the film was released in December 1974. The film also reflects the then-popular martial arts film craze, with several kung fu scenes and a predominantly Asian location, being set and shot in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Macau.
The theme tune was performed by Scottish singer Lulu and composed by John Barry. Tony Bramwell, who worked for Harry Saltzman's music publishing company Hilary Music, wanted Elton John or Cat Stevens to sing the title song. However, producer Albert Broccoli rejected Bramwell's suggestions. The lyrics to the Lulu song were written by Don Black. Alice Cooper wrote a song titled Man with the Golden Gun to be used by the producers of the film, but they opted for Lulu's song instead. Cooper released his song on his album Muscle of Love. The Man with the Golden Gun was the first time the distinctive plucked guitar was dropped from the theme heard over the gun barrel opening.
