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Comments
Davi did bring out the best in Dalton, it's true.
I still can't help but think how she could have played a part in SP, however, beyond that video. It's hard not to, as she was such a familiar face in the franchise after twenty years of service in the role. To just have her gone hurts, and no matter how much I can enjoy SP there is that special something missing that Judi always provided.
This is why I give Dalton such Kudos. He elevated as best he could, when it was obvious that some actors were a weight pulling him down with them. If only Dalton was Bond in 2006-same age as he was in 1986- and history would be different.
But, I maintain he was a first-class choice for the role. Even Kevin McClory thought Dalton got a raw deal. Craig was damn fortunate that they cast all roles with serious consideration of him.
It would've been a real treat to see Dalton's take on Bond develop in a series from CR to TMWTGG without the forced nature of the one-liners and bad humor that EON shoved on him in the films. Dammit.
I got half of my wish eventually, at least!
I agree, he would have been good in something like that.
He just wouldn't be Bond,but he would be excellent casting.
That would interest me greatly. Ian Fleming is fascinating and no ordinary spy writer. I am attempting to go through the novels again. I love the detail and any serious fan should attempt to go to the source, as there is so much the movies leave out. It is the thought process Bond goes through and internal dialogue that is hard to convey on film.
I too am a slow reader. I over-analyse and imagine, which slows me down. As for Dalton's charisma, he underplays that in Bond. I think he followed more the books than the movies as far as Bond is concerned. He is capable of doing that and when you get a chance to see Framed, he is more akin to the stereotypical Bond of the films. He exhibits far more arrogance.
One thing he cannot be accused of, is copying other actors templates a la Brosnan. He explained that well in the Everything Or Nothing documentary.
I loved how he knew his facts and enthusiasm. He got a raw deal from the media to make Brosnan an easier sell to the public. Broccoli mentioned in his book, that Dalton captured new shadings of the character of Bond.
As much as I love Roger Moore, his tenure is responsible for making the public see Bond as a comic-relief character. That made Dalton's boulder all the harder to push up the mountain. Shame Dalton did not follow after Connery, although he did say that Connery was "Too good!!!".
Indeed sir! And he felt that taking over from Connery was madness. This is another side of him that I love. That is sincere humbleness and respect for the franchise. And one of the greatest compliments to Connery ever.
Incidentally, have you seen the 1961 film The Frightened City with Sean Connery? It puts to death the myth that he was some simpleton who had never worn a suit until the Bond producers trained him. An absolute gem of a film and terrific indication of the future Bond. Connery merits his high reputation and one of the finest British actors ever!
Sean's performances in Dr. No and From Russia with Love alone are some of the greatest performances in cinema, period. The way he transmits so much about Bond to us just with how he moves in a room or uses his eyes to let us into his head is masterful. The little character moments he'd give, like grabbing Ms. Taro by the hair and towel to mask his anger at her deceit as lustful foreplay, or the way he talked to Dr. No at dinner, feigning cordiality while fighting the urge to unleash himself on the man, are immaculate moments that reverberate with meaning and iconography. He and Shaw made the last act of From Russia with Love not only the best section of a Bond film ever, but one of the greatest cinematic moments of all time as they play a long chess game with each other that finishes with their explosive fight.
To this day no other actor has been able to hit the range Sean did, just as nobody has worn a suit like him, seduced a woman as he effortlessly could, or be as drop dead manly, intellectual in strategy, alluring, magnetic or formidable. If I had to have one Bond to protect me, he'd be my number 1 choice by a long, long way. When it came to his Bond you knew he'd always find a way out of it somehow, simply because he was that good.
Like it! What makes the Bond franchise great is that our tastes change with the rhythm of life. And Dalton always put the franchise first and never overstayed his welcome. He bowed out with dignity!
I do think there's a fine line to walk for a Bond actor between sticking to the book template and embracing the more flamboyant filmic iteration.
I have always felt that Dalton was too much to one side of the fence, and Brosnan conversely too much to the other side. I only believe Connery, early Moore & early Craig have nailed it personally. Laz I don't rate because the film was so unique.
Broccoli in his book made it clear Dalton wanted to be respected for his desire to be closer to the book Bond. I think the third planned film was where we would have seen some going back to the flirting and classic Bond. Dalton said that in some 1989 Bond fan magazine.
However, risk is where it is at. Some you win and some you lose, but, the series learned from it. The character of Bond can be enjoyed from different perspectives.
I rewatched TLD after the Mark Gattis Bond discussion and I had some new eyes. I love how Gattis pointed out some of Dalton's unique contributions.
I promise you this. Your taste will change over the years. Parts of Bond I hated in the past, I grew to love!
I agree with you on tastes changing as well. I couldn't stand LTK as a kid, but love it now, despite some of the awful acting by the supporting cast!
It is that curiosity as you say that compels me more to Dalton. The potential was there to further develop in the role.
I will say this, I am not holding my breath for the future of Bond. We live in an overly-sensitive culture where I suspect that eventually they will remove some scenes from the Connery films, like in DAF where he strangles the woman with a bra. A certain brigade I am sure has the knives out for cutting that!
I was just pondering the other day when watching QoS how EON could 'pull a Lucas' and edit the ending of the film so that Greene says 'Spectre' in the desert rather than 'Quantum'. They could even move his mouth in the right way given the digital technology we have now. Then I thought 'no'. Don't mess with the initial concept. Leave it as it is, warts and all.
That drags the film down a bit for me...the very hit-and-miss cast.
For as popular as Star Wars is, at least we as fans don't have to worry about our favorite franchise from being tarnished by their own creators. That's a blessing that seriously shouldn't be taken for granted, especially in the age we're in where filmmaking has lost a lot of its artistry and given way to nasty trends and rehashes.
Thankfully, no matter how much the times change Bond always stays the same. To borrow a phrase from Sherlock Holmes, he's the one fixed point in a changing age. No matter what villains rise to ruin us Bond will always be there as the maverick willing to cut through red tape and misbehave to make the decisions he knows need to be made, no matter what M or anyone else says.