Would Goldeneye have been a success with Dalton?

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  • Posts: 5,634
    I saw the Rocketeer once, and from what I remember Dalton had a very small part in that, hardly saw much of him. I concentrate solely on the fact that he was an ex-James Bond, that's where the interest lies, first and foremost

    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..

  • edited July 2012 Posts: 11,189
    Yeah, but how much attention he's gotten doesn't bother me either. Like I said, I think he was the best Bond and a great actor, so I really don't care how popular he is or how big a star he is (and he was popular when he was 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.
  • Posts: 12,837
    He never made it the way some of the other Bonds did, no (he's still more successful than Lazenby though). But at the time, most people I knew liked him, even in the 90s with the gap between films.
  • Posts: 299
    I have to disagree with this. As much as it pains me to admit, he was not very popular at all during this time. People just got used to the idea of him being the current Bond, but he really wasn't loved the way Moore was, or even Brosnan later. The average moviegoer/fan didn't like Dalton at all, and most critics echoed that sentiment. At least here in America that's how it was. I remember it clearly. I was definitely in the minority at the time.
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 11,189
    I have to disagree with this. As much as it pains me to admit, he was not very popular at all during this time. People just got used to the idea of him being the current Bond, but he really wasn't loved the way Moore was, or even Brosnan later. The average moviegoer/fan didn't like Dalton at all, and most critics echoed that sentiment. At least here in America that's how it was. I remember it clearly. I was definitely in the minority at the time.

    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".
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 12,837
    BAIN123 wrote:
    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 the others for the most part.

    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
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 11,189
    BAIN123 wrote:
    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 the others for the most part.

    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.
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 12,837
    I was impressed when I heard he did alot of his own stunts, because his films (well, all the 80s films), had imo, the best stunts of the series.

    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.
  • To me Dalton had charisma but it was more subtle. He was not like the other Bonds who had sly pick up lines, but rather one who let his actions dictate his charm. I think that works better if you are attempting an Ian Flemings Bond approach.
  • Posts: 299
    BAIN123 wrote:
    BAIN123 wrote:
    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 the others for the most part.

    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

    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.

    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.
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 12,837
    @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.
    To me Dalton had charisma but it was more subtle. He was not like the other Bonds who had sly pick up lines, but rather one who let his actions dictate his charm. I think that works better if you are attempting an Ian Flemings Bond approach.

    This.
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 11,189
    I was impressed when I heard he did alot of his own stunts, because his films (well, all the 80s films), had imo, the best stunts of the series.

    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? ;)


  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Posting a clip of Sam Bond's Moneypenny really wont help your cause. ;)
  • Posts: 12,837
    BAIN123 wrote:
    I was impressed when I heard he did alot of his own stunts, because his films (well, all the 80s films), had imo, the best stunts of the series.

    That was good. Especially since I've noticed a fair share of stunt doubles for both Moore and Brosnan.

    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.
  • Posts: 11,189
    Posting a clip of Sam Bond's Moneypenny really wont help your cause. ;)

    Why? She is the better MP :p
  • Posts: 5,634
    Caroline Bliss wasn't crap, she simply wasn't given enough time to show her potential, the same can be said for George Lazenby

    What was it is, ten seconds in License to Kill? - poor girl
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 11,189
    BAIN123 wrote:
    I was impressed when I heard he did alot of his own stunts, because his films (well, all the 80s films), had imo, the best stunts of the series.

    That was good. Especially since I've noticed a fair share of stunt doubles for both Moore and Brosnan.

    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.

    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).
  • It is werid, but Dalton seems extremely charming in real life.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited July 2012 Posts: 13,978
    BAIN123 wrote:
    Posting a clip of Sam Bond's Moneypenny really wont help your cause. ;)

    Why? She is the better MP :p

    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.
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 11,189
    It is werid, but Dalton seems extremely charming in real life.

    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.
  • Posts: 299
    He's probably a very nice man in real life.

    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.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited July 2012 Posts: 13,978
    BAIN123 wrote:

    If anything, I think Bliss was underused.

    No offence but Bah!! :))

    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.
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 11,189
    He's probably a very nice man in real life.

    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.

    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
  • Posts: 5,634
    The romance scene with Milovy on the ferris wheel at the Prater fair in Vienna just leaves me cold actually, there's no chemistry and just feels a whole lot of unbelievable, maybe I just didn't like the Milovy character, but did pick up a bit later on once they reached Afghanistan...
  • edited July 2012 Posts: 11,189
    The romance scene with Milovy on the ferris wheel at the Prater fair in Vienna just leaves me cold actually, there's no chemistry and just feels a whole lot of unbelievable, maybe I just didn't like the Milovy character, but did pick up a bit later on once they reached Afghanistan...

    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.
  • Posts: 5,634
    as for 'would you like another ride' (with d'Abo) - no thanks..

    >:P
  • Posts: 11,189
    as for 'would you like another ride' (with d'Abo) - no thanks..

    >:P

    I wouldn't pass that up :p
  • Posts: 12,837
    Kara is my favourite Bond girl. Hot, and can handle herself in action but doesn't get in Bonds way.
  • Posts: 11,189
    Kara is my favourite Bond girl. Hot, and can handle herself in action but doesn't get in Bonds way.

    Kara's great but a tad too "puppy like" for me.
  • BAIN123 wrote:
    Kara is my favourite Bond girl. Hot, and can handle herself in action but doesn't get in Bonds way.

    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.

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