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What did anyone think of Barry Nelson's portrayal of James Bond?

kadeklodtkadeklodt Ottumwa, IA.
in Bond Movies Posts: 110
Back in the mid 1950's, a year after the book Casino Royale came out in Spring of 1953, I was wondering how you guys have felt about Barry Nelson's portrayal of James Bond, any questions and answers?

Comments

  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    Terrible. But that’s because it’s not James Bond at all, it’s some American called Jimmy Bond. The play itself is ok when considered in isolation. But you can’t have an American Bond, because it simply isn’t Fleming’s character, nor James Bond.
  • BT3366BT3366
    Posts: 1,917
    I've seen a lot of positive comments about this version of CR and can't say I feel that way. It doesn't feel like Bond at all, just a 1950s live for TV play set in a casino. I can't blame the limitations of the time, but it doesn't make up for what it is.

    Nelson's performance is appropriate to the time and place. But it's still cringey to hear lines like "Weren't you the fella who was shot at" and he replies "No, I'm the fella they missed," like a typical PI of the time. He's a gambler, not James Bond, closer to Evelyn Trimble of CR '67. It's a curiosity, nothing more.
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    Posts: 16,169
    I think Barry Nelson was great. I like his version of Bond, but don't really find it fair to compare him or this live TV performance to the film series.
    That said, I'm a big fan and do tend to rank it pretty high.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    I think Barry Nelson was great. I like his version of Bond, but don't really find it fair to compare him or this live TV performance to the film series X.
    That said, I'm a big fan and do tend to rank it pretty high.

    How can it even be counted as Bond? It’s an American card sharp called Jimmy Bond who doesn’t work for MI6?
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    I'm sorry to anyoneone that liked it, but I thought the portrayal of Bond, both in acting and writing, was awful. I know it came almost a decade before the films, but seeing Bond get huffy because Vesper hasn't been in contact with Bond...

    QD4Pl8o.gif

    If that wasn't enough, "Jimmy" is now American, felix is British. It's a curio at best, and not something I would recommend unless a potential fan wanted to be a Hardcore Tier Bond fan, and experience all facets of Bond.
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 7,438
    It's worth seeing once, but not very good, and Nelson is awful. But Peter Lorre was born to be associated with Bond!
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    MajorDSmythe wrote: »
    I'm sorry to anyoneone that liked it, but I thought the portrayal of Bond, both in acting and writing, was awful. I know it came almost a decade before the films, but seeing Bond get huffy because Vesper hasn't been in contact with Bond...

    QD4Pl8o.gif

    If that wasn't enough, "Jimmy" is now American, felix is British. It's a curio at best, and not something I would recommend unless a potential fan wanted to be a Hardcore Tier Bond fan, and experience all facets of Bond.

    Exactly. As a hard core fan I had to see it. But it’s a bastardisation of Fleming and the character.
  • kadeklodtkadeklodt Ottumwa, IA.
    Posts: 110
    You know, I thought the same as you. Haha.
    suavejmf wrote: »
    MajorDSmythe wrote: »
    I'm sorry to anyoneone that liked it, but I thought the portrayal of Bond, both in acting and writing, was awful. I know it came almost a decade before the films, but seeing Bond get huffy because Vesper hasn't been in contact with Bond...

    QD4Pl8o.gif

    If that wasn't enough, "Jimmy" is now American, felix is British. It's a curio at best, and not something I would recommend unless a potential fan wanted to be a Hardcore Tier Bond fan, and experience all facets of Bond.

    Exactly. As a hard core fan I had to see it. But it’s a bastardisation of Fleming and the character.

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