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Hasn't had as much success as Craig or Connery or Moore in the film industry outside of James Bond, but he's still one hell of an individual and my favorite Bond..
He is a good actor and I actually feel a bit sorry for him to be honest but, lets face it, he hasn't really "made it" in the way he probably thought he would. Watching him on the Terry Wogan 1989 interview he seemed to be lapping it up. I suspect he thought he'd at least do a few more Bond films and would get more attention than he did.
I can't say for certain whether Dalton was popular or not because obviously I was too young to remember first hand. BUT I have had indications - I remember Haphazard for instance describing himself as being in "the disappointed minority" when he found out Dalts wasn't coming back. There have been others too.
As a Brit who was 4 when LTK was made I can't say whether the same was true here but I definitely get the sense that, even in the UK, he wasn't loved as much as Moore or Brosnan were during their era's. Even in the recent exhibitions I've been to there was a bit more emphasis on the likes of Connery, Moore, Brosnan and Craig.
And I have to admit watching clips of each Bond actor on large TV screens next to eachother (as was the case in the Barbican the other day) Connery, Moore, Brosnan and Craig (possibly even Lazenby) do look a little bit cooler on camera than Dalton does. Dalton looks ok but not as sleek as the others (and that includes Craig). I found my eyes being drawn to them for the most part.
Perhaps I'm being a little shallow but there we are.
I feel bad for Dalton but part of me can kind of see why he's often seen as "underrated" or "under-appreciated".
http://specsavers.com/
Seriously though, I think Dalton was cool. He jumped out of planes onto tanker trucks, watched coldly as a guys head explodes, escaped Russian police on a cello, killed a henchman while dangling from the back of a cargo plane, and was the only Bond who went rogue. Sounds cool to me.
It doesn't matter what anyone says, I'll defend Dalton until the day I die :P
:)) at the link. My eyes aren't the greatest (I had surgery on them when I was young but have managed to escape wearing glasses for the most part) but I can only say what my experiences were :p
That's fair enough. In many ways I like Dalton too and he did do some cool stuff like you said but he just didn't have the "swagger" the others had.
Anyway, I think he did have swagger and showed it at times, but he preferred to be a harder edged, no sh*t Bond, instead of one who uses his charm all the time. He did something risky and left his mark on the series, so I really admire him for that.
I think @BAIN123 is right on the money here. Swagger is the one thing that Dalton didn't have. And don't get me wrong, he is right up there for me with Connery and Craig in terms of favorites. I love Dalton. Even back when he was James Bond. He had class, he moved well. But he didn't have swagger. It's such a simple yet crucial element.
@thelivingroyale, you must remember however that Dalton wasn't the only rogue Bond. Craig was rogue in the last film, as was Brosnan in part of DAD. But he was the first, I'll give you that.
Craig wasn't rogue in QOS, I thought he was at first but some people on here corrected me (I couldn't really tell alot of what was going on in QOS at all tbh). Brosnan went rogue in DAD, but it wasn't the same. He was still classic Bond. When Dalton went rogue, he was pissed off Bond, we'd never seen Bond be this emotionally driven before.
This.
That was good - I'll give you that. Especially since I've noticed a fair share of stunt doubles for both Moore and Brosnan. Also Dalton wanted to take it back to Fleming and for that he can only deserve credit.
I've used these two examples before on Mi6 but hopefully you'll see what I mean when I refer to Dalton's lack of "swagger":
Which actor moves in a cooler way? ;)
Brosnan did have better Moneypenny scenes I'll give you that. Brosnan did have more charm than Dalton, but I think Dalton did have charm, he was just more subtle. Plus, Bliss isn't a very good Moneypenny (by which I mean, she was crap), while Bond was pretty good.
Why? She is the better MP :p
What was it is, ten seconds in License to Kill? - poor girl
Dalton did have charm but I'm not sure if he had quite as MUCH charm as some of the other actors (at least on film).
Better at sitting on M's lap like a good little lapdog, joining in at verbally castrating Bond? Then yes, she was good at that. And don't get me started on that horrid VR scene from DAD.
If anything, I think Bliss was underused.
That's what's odd. He was quite funny in that interview with Terry Wogan. I've always thought Dalton was hilarious in Hot Fuzz too.
If anything, I think Bliss was underused.
No offence but Bah!! :))
I've shown those clips to both family members and friends and everyone agrees the Brosnan/Bond scenes are more convincing.
I think the point that some of us are making here is that he didn't have magnetism, the way say that someone like Connery did. When approaching the ladies he didn't seem at as much ease as some of the others. And that's what the whole swagger thing is about.
None taken, in fact I know that feeling.
I'm working on something Dalton Bond related at the moment, it still needs tweaking before I can reveal it though.
Thanks @Wildboonjive. That's what I mean.
I'm sure he is a nice man and I think it would be very interesting and insightful to have a chat with him
Its strange. That is quite a sweet scene but to me they both look a little bit uncomfortable. Kind of like how I would when I'm about to kiss a girl (not that that happens very much :p ). Connery or Moore wouldn't be like that (heck neither would Brosnan, Laz or Craig) [-(
Kara I can understand but Bond should be confident.
>:P
I wouldn't pass that up :p
Kara's great but a tad too "puppy like" for me.
Agreed. Pam was a better Bond girl and a perfect fit for Dalton's Bond.