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Comments
I think it’s part of GE’s charm.
In comparison to Brosnan, no doubt about that.
The Brozzer was great in that scene. Very understated and Bondian.
However, I'd also guess that I'd be drawn to and very much like a Timothy Dalton GE over PB's GE (a film I have yo-yo'd on, and my last viewing depressed me, lol). I think it could have been quite a strong 007 adventure. We know by this point that Glen wasn't coming back, so there would have been a new director no matter what. Dalton was off the charts in TLD and some of his most subtle and exciting scenes during his tenure were vs Robert Davi's Sanchez.
I would have liked to see Tim Dalton being betrayed by an old 00-agent-turned-enemy. I think this type of story would have been up his alley.
(the script as is would have to more tailored to fit him, but the basic premiss seems something TD would knock out of the park).
I have been wondering, though how much truth there was that the new heads of MGM decided they didn't want Tim in the role, and thus he was booted out, but made to look as though he resigned?
I tended to believe Tim only wanted to do the one film, and Cubby wanted him to commit to more. But now I wonder.
Might also be because Babs and Dalton were rumoured to be an item at one point.
I do think Cubby would have stuck by Dalton tho if Dalton had been willing to commit to 3 more.
It's absolutely true that the studio didn't want Dalton. It was confirmed by former MGM/UA executive Jeff Kleeman in the book Some Kind of Hero and in a recent interview in MI6 Confidential.
The second thing -- Dalton only wanting to do one more film -- is probably also true. I believe Cubby would have changed his mind and allowed Dalton to do the one film had MGM/UA been keen on bringing the actor back.
https://anchor.fm/the-james-bond-complex/episodes/Daltons-Fourth-Reunion-With-Death-e2oeh7
This is an incredible podcast. Thanks for posting @Escalus5 ... This "fourth" Dalton film has an amazing outline. This would have been awesome.
Always a relief to know there are others out there who don't share the unadulterated admiration for GE that (totally inexplicably to me) seems to be the default on these threads.
That's it right there, first draft. There would have been who knows how many drafts afterwards.
The thought of T-Dalts going up against Hopkins is too much. Dammit, we missed out on something special.
I did find that PB was over-powered by too many strong actors in GE, and he/Bond felt second-fiddle. If I wanted sexual charisma, I got that from Onatopp/Jansen, masculine ruggedness was delivered by Alec/Bean; all 'round stellar character work in M/Dench, Mishkin/Karyo, Ourumov/Gottfried.
I found PB at his very best, and effortless in his next outing. He was fun and light and whimsical and excelled-- at least to me.
I'm not in love with France's handling of the action -- his pre-credits scene was too ridiculous even for Bond -- but he nailed the dialogue, and he totally understood how to write to Dalton. When one character reminds Bond that Trevelyan has legal immunity, Bond gives a "dark laugh" and replies: "For that bastard?" There are a couple of little moments like that where you can hear Dalton saying the lines. They're perfect for him.
It's also nice to see General Pushkin again, returning from TLD.
Absolutely correct @Jordo007 ; GE with TD would have to be altered (but I don’t think too much). The idea of having Dalton Bond betrayed by a friend (something which is few and far between in his world), opens up a lot of possibilities. I think in an alternative universe, this GoldenEye would be a darker suspense/thriller film.
Perhaps that's why some reviewers said Bean would have been a more convincing Bond than Brosnan (though certainly less suave). I think Brosnan was rather stiff in GE and improved with each subsequent film--in DAD he'd finally relaxed in the role and gave his most assured performance. Poor Dalton never got the opportunity to follow a similar trajectory. Curse the interregnum of the early 90s!
I thought Pierce was good in GE but he seemed cautious - as though he was feeling his way about. The pressure must have been immense given the long gap, the fact that LTK didn't light the box office on fire, and the fact that there were rumours circulating about Bond being irrelevant in a post-Cold War era. Having said that, he nails quite a few scenes in this film and is uber cool. The supporting cast really elevate that film, and I feel similarly about SF.
I personally think The Tailor of Panama, which gave him an opportunity to play a spy type character without the pressure of Bond, helped him to find his groove. Once he'd done that (brilliantly imho), he then brought the same flippance, slight arrogance and indifference to DAD. He had it in him all along, but it took a while for him to bring it out.
.... I have to disagree. All new 007 actors have sickening pressure. Having a gap would have been an advantage-- especially knowing that the actor before you was "unpopular"...;
Lazenby had to follow King Connery two years after his retirement (perhaps GL was too naive to realize the weight on his shoulders? He kinda went with the flow (which worked for the film)).
Connery comes back and;
Moore hasta continue the legacy two years after the the legacy retired for a second time. Lots of pressure to follow Connery (but LALD is arguably one of his best films);
After 12 years of hijinks, Timothy Dalton had to re-make the image of James Bond. My Dog, this was a tough assignment; I bet if Dalton had the five or six year lay-off Brosnan had between actors, his interpretation of James Bond would have been more successful.
He and DC had the worst and toughest transitions; DC at the very bottom considering the vitriol thrown his way thanks to the internet backlash.
I'm convinced there are some on this site that still dislike DC, one in particular because he's threatened by an alpha male.
Saying that, there will always be pressure to be James Bond. One must rise to meet a challenge and get on with it.
Most did.
I would of been fine with that especially if his era was like this
The living Daylights 1987
Licence to Kill 1989
The property of a lady 1991
Goldeneye 1995 (have Ouramov be the main villain and 006 “killed halfway through the film)
Risico 1997 (have Carver work for Janus and the paper titled Risico)
The world is not enough 1999 ( the Goldfinger of the era)
The Diamond Smugglers 2002 (have it revealed that 006 is Janus and have Bond Kill him)
A good era in my opinion
I would have been fine with him doing four films -- the two that exist plus the Bond 17 Osborne/Davies script and GOLDENEYE. I think four films is perfectly respectable.
Having said that I personally believe the circumstances in 1995 brought added pressure. As I mentioned earlier, despite great anticipation among some members of the public, there was also a school of thought that Bond was old news and a dinosaur - that newer heroes of the day were needed now that the Cold War was over. That concern extended to the studio which only greenlighted a limited budget for this film. In addition they also had an essentially entirely new crew at the helm for GE (writers, director, producer transition etc.), so there was less continuity. Most importantly however, Brosnan had to deal with the public's expectations of being an anointed Bond in waiting for almost a decade. Review of his film output at the time indicates that his career may have floundered a bit, except for a few hits here and there such as Mrs. Doubtfire.
I personally think all 6 actors have stepped up and delivered, and I also believe Brosnan did just fine in his first performance as Bond as I noted above with some excellent moments - just a bit cautious in my estimation. I also believe he truly came into his own for his last kick at the can, and I personally wish he had been given a chance to make another one.
Thank goodness that didn't come to pass!
+1
Wouldn't you have liked to see Dalton films out in 91 and 93 at least?