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Favourite Guy Who Played FELIX

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  • ShakenNotStirredShakenNotStirred
    Posts: 1,395
    David Hedison for me. Liked both performances in LALD and LTK!
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    The Normam Burton Felix was quite annoying to me. All of his lines are wooden and non-characteristic, not to mention his disapproval of Bond's behavior. Since when did Felix become Bond's mentor? With Burton, there was no real friendship with Bond. Everything was so nagging and irritable with him. I appreciate the portrayal of Felix from Jack Lord, Cec Linder (yes, I actually do), and David Hedison.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,561
    The Normam Burton Felix was quite annoying to me. All of his lines are wooden and non-characteristic, not to mention his disapproval of Bond's behavior. Since when did Felix become Bond's mentor? With Burton, there was no real friendship with Bond. Everything was so nagging and irritable with him. I appreciate the portrayal of Felix from Jack Lord, Cec Linder (yes, I actually do), and David Hedison.
    That swimming lesson line Burton gives when Bond takes Bambi and Thumper for a dive always makes me cringe. So poor in an otherwise universally well-acted film.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    @DarthDimi: Exactly! That one line sums up Burton's whole role as Felix in DAF.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    I just about busted out laughing when I noticed that Terry's Felix Leiter has no votes in the poll. Does that reflect anything as to his role in TLD? Haha, it should! I enjoyed seeing Felix back again after his absence from TMWTGG-AVTAK, but Terry didn't do anything except guide him through Whitaker's mansion, a total of two scenes with his introduction. Wasted potential? I think so!
  • JBFan626JBFan626
    Posts: 1,497
    Seriously, no love for Bernie Casey? He was the <i>coolest</i> Leiter. B-)
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,331
    1.) Jeffery Wright: Reintroduced the character in my generation and I liked his portrayal. (I love that Brotha from Langley line too. it's perfect for 2006.)

    2.) Jack Lord: First Felix, perfect double to Connery. like Wright is to Craig, shame he didn't stick around for any more.

    3.) Bernie Casey: Like JBfan said. he's the coolest.

  • NSuszczykNSuszczyk
    Posts: 15
    David Hedison all the way! The only one you'd really believe he shared a friendship with Bond besides the line of duty.
  • Signed_By_RogerMooreSigned_By_RogerMoore
    Posts: 643
    I really like Norman Burton in DAF, plays off against Connery's lighter Bond and does it very well.

    Wins it on the Bond "giving breaststroke lessons" quote alone. Burton is the best Leiter for sure.

    Just my humble opinion but think Brosnan's Bond could have done with more of a Burton's Leiter portrayal figure in his film to keep him in check. Jack Wade was awful and too jokey. A Norman Burton type of figure would have done wonders
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    Signed_By_RogerMoore wrote:
    I really like Norman Burton in DAF, plays off against Connery's lighter Bond and does it very well.

    Wins it on the Bond "giving breaststroke lessons" quote alone. Burton is the best Leiter for sure.

    Just my humble opinion but think Brosnan's Bond could have done with more of a Burton's Leiter portrayal figure in his film to keep him in check. Jack Wade was awful and too jokey. A Norman Burton type of figure would have done wonders

    NNNOOO! Jack Wade is awesome, he's possibly the greatest Bond ally of all time!
  • Signed_By_RogerMooreSigned_By_RogerMoore
    edited May 2012 Posts: 643
    00Beast wrote:
    Signed_By_RogerMoore wrote:
    I really like Norman Burton in DAF, plays off against Connery's lighter Bond and does it very well.

    Wins it on the Bond "giving breaststroke lessons" quote alone. Burton is the best Leiter for sure.

    Just my humble opinion but think Brosnan's Bond could have done with more of a Burton's Leiter portrayal figure in his film to keep him in check. Jack Wade was awful and too jokey. A Norman Burton type of figure would have done wonders

    NNNOOO! Jack Wade is awesome, he's possibly the greatest Bond ally of all time!

    You think? Your reasons? Don't understand why they cast JDB in the role?

    Btw @00Beast, you ever have your Goldeneye marathon at Goldeneye or you waiting until summer? ;)
  • TopGearJB007TopGearJB007
    edited May 2012 Posts: 624
    I've always wondered why they just didn't call Jack Wade Felix Leiter.

    Maybe it's because they would have had to cut off one of JDB's legs.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    Signed_By_RogerMoore wrote:
    00Beast wrote:
    Signed_By_RogerMoore wrote:
    I really like Norman Burton in DAF, plays off against Connery's lighter Bond and does it very well.

    Wins it on the Bond "giving breaststroke lessons" quote alone. Burton is the best Leiter for sure.

    Just my humble opinion but think Brosnan's Bond could have done with more of a Burton's Leiter portrayal figure in his film to keep him in check. Jack Wade was awful and too jokey. A Norman Burton type of figure would have done wonders

    NNNOOO! Jack Wade is awesome, he's possibly the greatest Bond ally of all time!

    You think? Your reasons? Don't understand why they cast JDB in the role?

    Btw @00Beast, you ever have your Goldeneye marathon at Goldeneye or you waiting until summer? ;)

    I'm waiting until the summer, for sure! Only 8 more school days until paradise! <:-P
    As for Jack Wade, he's just amazing. That opening scene between he and Bond at the St. Petersburg airport is enough to sum up the whole of his awesome character. He's hilarious, reliable, good-natured, and will become a classic as the years go by, I'm sure of it!
  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    Just now reading through the books, its odd that I picture Wright. But I do. Actually.. I suspended this thought throughout Live and Let Die. Its impossible to picture Wright in that story. Haha
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    i think the only Lieters I dont really care for are the ones from Goldfinger and Living Daylights... the rest are good..

    my favs though would have to be:

    Lord
    Van Nutter
    Hedison
    and, Wright.
  • barryt007barryt007
    edited May 2012 Posts: 19,339
    DUPE - IGNORE
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,506
    I do like David Hedison who really is a nice guy if you are ever get to meet him? But i am now a big fan of Jeffrey Wright's Felix Lieter.
  • SirHenryLeeChaChingSirHenryLeeChaChing
    Posts: 3,494
    I'd go Lord, Wright, and Hedison.
  • LeChiffreLeChiffre
    Posts: 1,548
    As much as I like Jeffrey Wright, Jack Lord is the quintessential Felix although Dave Hedison was good in LTK
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    I have to say I dont think anyone has really nailed Flemings Leiter. In the books his wit is on a par with Bond and he seems to have a more positive outlook on life than Bond. I get the impression he hasnt got his hands as dirty as Bond over the years and doesnt suffer from the same demons. I see him as an eternal optimist with his glass half full, whereas Bond is prone to glass half empty moments from time to time. Even when he loses his arm and leg hes still the same guy.

    In the films hes just a yes man though and never really gets involved in the action. Why have we never seen Felix and Bond fighting side by side? .

    I would say Jack Lord and Bernie Casey came closest to getting Flemings mix of capable ally and banter with Bond. Although Lord is too serious he gets a good amount of screentime and develops a good relationship with Bond.
    Casey does pretty well on the banter front for me but doesnt get enough scenes to make a mark. However he does get stuck into the final battle which is what Flemings Leiter would do.

    Of the rest:

    Linder - Rubbish. Looks like the guy was just an extra they asked to do a few lines, and the character is written with the same lack of interest. In the final battle the old git is hiding way behind the front line.

    Van Nutter - probably the closest to the look of Flemings Leiter but comes across as nothing but Bonds valet. The bit at the end when hes handing him the oxygen tanks is embarassing when you recall Flemings Leiter was right in the thick of it. Also 'On you everything looks good' has to be the most homoerotic line in all of Bond.

    Burton - Looks like hes sits behind a desk all the time eating doughnuts and has just been told to help Bond out with some minor administrative duties. And for a film with one of the wittiest scripts, I dont think he has a single decent line whereas Flemings Leiter was always coming out with gems.

    Hedison - Functional in LALD and does a reasonable job of building a relationship with Rog but in LTK hes too old and I'm not convinced by his friendship with Dalton. Also 'Aagh. Hand me that picture of Della would you.' has to be the most overacted line of the series. Worse even than 'Kill Bond. Now.'

    JT - The man. The legend. What else can be said that hasnt already a thousand times?

    Wright - Has done a good job so far building a relationship with Bond but is way too cynical to be Flemings Leiter.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    I do have to say that Bernie Casey's Felix Leiter was one of the best things about NSNA, and I do rank him highly on the Felix rankings. NSNA is really the only time that Felix actually goes into battle with Bond, actively participating in the battle instead of being the errand boy. I really enjoyed that part of Casey's performance, it was nice to see some true cooperation between Bond and Leiter. I think the only other time that Felix engaged in battle with 007 was during the oil rig attack in DAF, but he didn't do much except go along for the ride and at least risk getting blown up. Still, he wasn't in the thick of the action, so it doesn't make much of an impression.
  • ShatterhandShatterhand
    Posts: 25
    Felix leiter is the one character from the books that has never really been well cast in the movies.Rik van Nutter was about the closest.Felix is JB's'one true friend in the world and therefore plays an important role.Wrights portrayal is nothing like the original character as a brash Texan.i am still waiting for that comaraderie between the two on screen.LTK came closest to this.I think Kevin Bacon would be the closest visually to the original FL.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    1. Wright
    2. Hedison
    3. Lord
  • Jones_The_BondJones_The_Bond
    Posts: 344
    Hedison in LALD was very good, for me: relaxed, comfortable with Bond, as an old colleague should be. In LTK, however, he just makes me cringe: "see you in helllllllllll!"

    Jack Lord was great, but trying to get equal billing with Connery for the second film, was a bit of a cheek.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,490
    Jack Lord is most certainly my favorite, and right behind him is Jeffrey Wright.
  • largo2largo2
    Posts: 469
    Jack Lord for me - grew up watching him
  • sirseanisbondsirseanisbond
    Posts: 2,189
    Wright has the potential to be the best Felix because he's reprised the role over multiple films. I loved him in Casino Royale, (although I wish he had had a bit more involvment in the film) and while I think he was a bit too cynical in QOS, the way Wright related to Bond and managed to work against the corruption and get a promotion, I think it set's up a great oppertunity for Felix and Bond to have a great relationship in Bond 24. Personally, I hope Bond 24 sees Bond going to New York City where he and Felix can work together. Want to see more of Wright in the series.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,506
    sirseanisbond wrote:
    Wright has the potential to be the best Felix because he's reprised the role over multiple films. I loved him in Casino Royale, (although I wish he had had a bit more involvment in the film) and while I think he was a bit too cynical in QOS, the way Wright related to Bond and managed to work against the corruption and get a promotion, I think it set's up a great oppertunity for Felix and Bond to have a great relationship in Bond 24. Personally, I hope Bond 24 sees Bond going to New York City where he and Felix can work together. Want to see more of Wright in the series.

    Completely agree with all of this. I too am hoping for Leiter to return in Bond 24? Wright and Craig play off each other well, so it would be great to see that develop more?
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 5,984
    TheWizardOfIce wrote:
    Also 'On you everything looks good' has to be the most homoerotic line in all of Bond.

    "Wow. You've taken good care of your body."

  • JarrodJarrod
    Posts: 232
    Shatterhand wrote:
    Felix leiter is the one character from the books that has never really been well cast in the movies.Rik van Nutter was about the closest.Felix is JB's'one true friend in the world and therefore plays an important role.Wrights portrayal is nothing like the original character as a brash Texan.i am still waiting for that comaraderie between the two on screen.LTK came closest to this.I think Kevin Bacon would be the closest visually to the original FL.
    -You know what, I think Kevin Bacon would be perfect as well! Good call. But I for some reason imagine him wearing something like a check blazer with a straw pork pie hat. Not sure why? I agree that Felix has never been portrayed quite right. Though Jefrey Wright is a great actor, he really does seem too cynical and curmudgeon.

    Rik Van Nutter is probably closest, if you swap a Texan for a Californian. Interestingly, Van Nutter got his very own spy film after Thunderball, it was called Intrigue At Suez (1966) (aka: Un colpo da mille milliard, or A Stroke Of 1000 Millions) I'm a big eurospy film collector, and this one so far has eluded me. One day I hope to find it.

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