Happy Birthday Timothy Dalton! ….Day 80 of Bond 365

It’s Saturday and it’s Timothy Dalton’s birthday today! He was the fourth actor to portray James Bond, if you don’t count the 1967 comedic version of Casino Royale. What do you think of Dalton as James Bond? 

Dalton in Jane Eyre

Timothy Dalton

Born this day in 1944 or 1946

James Bond in The Living Daylights and License to Kill

Timothy Dalton is under appreciated as James Bond. There, I put it out on the table. I think however that the timing was against Dalton in three ways when he put on the tuxedo. 

First, when Dalton was initially approached to play Bond was when Eon Productions was looking for a replacement for Sean Connery for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Dalton had been working in theatre and films, starring opposite Malcolm McDowell, Peter O’Toole, Anthony Hopkins, Marcello Mastroianni, and Virna Lisi. Eon Productions approached Dalton and he tested for the role, but he felt he was too young (he would have been around 25 at the time) so he turned down the role. A 25-year-old Bond does seem young; George Lazenby who did play Bond in OHMSS was just around 30 at the time. However, I think that his serious portrayal would have fit very well with the OHMSS storyline.

Secondly, when Dalton did come on board as Bond, it was right after Roger Moore’s more lighthearted interpretation of the British secret agent. While I think we can all agree that sometimes things went just a little too light (for example, sound effect noises that accompanied stunts), asking audiences to move from fun to deep, dark serious was too much to ask of Bond audiences at that time. Following up after Connery rather than Moore would have been better for Dalton. Obviously audiences like serious Bond – Craig’s era – which I think was more palpable as a follow up to Pierce Brosnan’s Bond.

Third, the long wait between License to Kill and Goldeneye (6 years) was unfortunate especially since there has been criticism regarding the strength of the Bond stories that Dalton starred in. If filming could have started sooner so that Dalton would have portrayed Bond for the third of three films he signed up for, I think Goldeneye would have provided audiences the opportunity to nod and agree that Dalton was made for the tuxedo. It was sad that Dalton made the decision to walk away, but you have to respect him for deciding to move on. And, it’s not like Dalton could not find work. He has been one very prolific and successful actor over the years!

I am glad that he got his shot at James Bond, even if timing wasn’t on his side. We got to see another side to Bond and Dalton did pave the way for Brosnan, who blended into a middle-of-the-road Bond (which really would have eased audiences in a post Moore era), and later Craig, who brought serious Bond back in a huge way.

Timothy Dalton and Bond Girl alum Eva Green in Penny Dreadful

© Copyright. Michele Brittany. 2011 - 2015. All rights reserved. All text, graphics, and photos are protected by US and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without written permission.

Wilde About First Day of Spring….Day 79 of Bond 365

It’s Friday and it’s the first day of Spring! Living in SoCal, springtime has already sprung and some days felt almost summery. Anyway, it has been an intense week at the day job, so I feel like I earned my weekend. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and do stop back by at some point and catch with Bond 365.

Brian Wilde (center)

Brian Wilde

Passed away this day in 2008

First Policeman in You Only Live Twice

Bond alum Brian Wilde’s career was probably not defined by his portrayal of an uncredited role in the 1967 You Only Live Twice as the first policeman, however he did have a long career acting on film and British television. He started out in 1952 and finished up in 1997 with 131 acting credits to his name. He was known for being able to deliver convoluted dialogue with ease. I watched clips of his work in one of his most notable roles, Foggy Dewhurst, in the series Last of the Summer Wine. As expected, he exuded that wonderful dry wit that the British are known for that I quite enjoy.

According to IMDB, he had a bad fall and unfortunately did not recover from. Seven weeks later, he passed away in his sleep.

© Copyright. Michele Brittany. 2011 - 2015. All rights reserved. All text, graphics, and photos are protected by US and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without written permission.

Happy Birthday Ms. Andress….Day 78 of Bond 365

It’s Thursday and almost through another week. My day job has been rather intense this week, so I am anxiously looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Well, as relaxing as possible since I’m writing a presentation to give at WonderCon in two weeks and have a number of articles to write on the comic book front. For the moment, I hope you have a wonderful evening!

Andress on Dr. No set

Ursula Andress

Born this day in 1936

Honey Ryder in Dr. No (voice dubbed by Nikki Van der Zyl)

Vesper Lynd/James Bond 007 in Casino Royale (voice dubbed by Nikki Van der Zyl)

It’s an entrance that has been copied by many in the decades since, but it was magical when Ursula Andress strolled out of the tropical waters and up onto the sun soaked sandy beach inspecting the shells in her hands as she sang ‘Under the Mango Tree’. That moment made her the single most iconic Bond Girl – a young woman that exuded a certain amount of detachment, independence, and innocence – and the measurement for all Bond Girls after her. Hence, it is not a surprise that she became the single most iconic Bond Girl and continues to top the best Bond Girl and iconic Bond images. Yet, behind the face, Andress believed that she was faking the art of acting; even her voice was dubbed in a few of her most famous roles including Honey Ryder because of her strong accent. She has even said “the bikini made me into a success.”

Andress at 19 with James Dean

The Swiss born beauty had a restless spirit and before she was out of her teens, she had a contract with Columbia Pictures (thanks to Marlon Brando) and the admiring eye of James Dean. In fact, Ms. Andress was linked with several high profile men such as Dean, Marcello Mastroianni, and Dennis Hopper; she married famed photographer and actor John Derek (he would later marry Bo Derek) in 1957. They divorced in 1966 but remained friends until his death. She met Harry Hamlin (you may remember him as a hot attorney in the 1980s LA Law television series) in Clash of the Titans. ‘Aphrodite’ found love and companionship in Hamlin and in 1980, they had a son, Dimitri, her only child. Unfortunately, her relationship with Hamlin ended in 1983.

Andress in Casino Royale (1967)

Andress scaled back on her work to concentrate on raising her son. Since she was fluent in English, French, German (and Swiss-German), and Italian, Andress’ acting centered on film and television projects in Europe, especially since she was living in Rome. In 2000, she was diagnosed with osteoporosis and retired from acting in 2005 as well reduce the number of entertainment events she attends.

And, some Bond trivia from IMDB: Andress is the only actress to appear in an Eon Productions’ Bond film as well as a non-Eon Productions’ film, as well as have her character appears in a Bond novel, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

© Copyright. Michele Brittany. 2011 - 2015. All rights reserved. All text, graphics, and photos are protected by US and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without written permission.