The TIMOTHY DALTON Appreciation thread - Discuss His Life, His Career, His Bond Films

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  • Posts: 526
    I read that Dalton’s third film would have been ‘Property of a Lady.’ Is this true, and does anyone know the plot, details, etc.? I believe I read this on Screen Rant (not sure). As I’ve said before, what a shame he didn’t get to keep the role until DC took over.
  • Posts: 2,887
    For more on the scripts proposed for Dalton's third and fourth films, consult The Lost Adventures of James Bond: Timothy Dalton’s Third and Fourth Bond Films, James Bond Jr., and Other Unmade or Forgotten 007 Projects by Mark Elditz. He provides summaries of the screenplays.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    Happy birthday, Timothy Dalton! Enjoy your day. Know you have fans.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    c05a4a413ab4b4b7f637b91c9ef403af.jpg
    Happy Birthday, Tea-Dalt.
  • Posts: 6,727
    Happy Birthday to Timothy Dalton, still the Best James Bond!
  • GadgetManGadgetMan Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 4,247
    Happy Birthday, TImothy.
  • Happy Birthday Timothy!!!
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,687
    I got into a discussion on FB about Christopher Nolan publicly saying that Tim was the best Bond, and some (almost half) idiots were disagreeing. Can you believe it? One post made me laugh- "He was definitely the best Neville Sinclair."
  • Posts: 1,879
    chrisisall wrote: »
    I got into a discussion on FB about Christopher Nolan publicly saying that Tim was the best Bond, and some (almost half) idiots were disagreeing. Can you believe it? One post made me laugh- "He was definitely the best Neville Sinclair."

    It's certainly an adventure on Facebook groups, isn't it? So much different than here. But for some reason I continue on. I got into it with one who says he's been forgotten to history and we later ended up agreeing we both like him.
  • edited March 2022 Posts: 2,887
    Dalton remains second only to Connery in my book. One of the most intelligent and thoughtful actors to play Bond, with a profound grasp of Fleming. In a way he was the unluckiest of all the Bonds.

    Lazenby got only one film, but it was the one of the best and most special in the entire series, and he got to be identified with it. Dalton was neither a one-hit wonder nor a Bond who lasted long enough to make a great mark with the public. Nor did he get as many films as he deserved (four at the very least!).

    He had the misfortune to play Bond at a time when the public had tired of Moore's approach but wasn't fully ready for a darker Bond. By the time of LTK the series had to make do with budgets that hadn't changed in a decade, along with an incompetent marketing campaign and ill-chosen release date.

    Like Moore, Dalton had a successful debut and a sophomore film that underperformed--unlike Roger he never had the chance to come roaring back with a crowd pleaser. One of the most agonizing missed opportunities in the history of Bond films are the lost Dalton movies we might have received if United Artists had been stable during the early 90s. The biggest Bond villain of the Dalton era was not Sanchez but Giancarlo Parretti.
  • Posts: 1,879
    Revelator wrote: »
    Dalton remains second only to Connery in my book. One of the most intelligent and thoughtful actors to play Bond, with a profound grasp of Fleming. In a way he was the unluckiest of all the Bonds.

    Lazenby got only one film, but it was the one of the best and most special in the entire series, and he got to be identified with it. Dalton was neither a one-hit wonder nor a Bond who lasted long enough to make a great mark with the public. Nor did he get as many films as he deserved (four at the very least!).

    He had the misfortune to play Bond at a time when the public had tired of Moore's approach but wasn't fully ready for a darker Bond. By the time of LTK the series had to make do with budgets that hadn't changed in a decade, along with an incompetent marketing campaign and ill-chosen release date.

    Like Moore, Dalton had a successful debut and a sophomore film that underperformed--unlike Roger he never had the chance to come roaring back with a crowd pleaser. One of the most agonizing missed opportunities in the history of Bond films are the lost Dalton movies we might have received if United Artists had been stable during the early 90s. The biggest Bond villain of the Dalton era was not Sanchez but Giancarlo Parretti.

    Well said. I'd add in addition to the late '80s timing, the new breed of action hero - Indiana Jones, Schwarzenegger, Rambo, Lethal Weapons and Die Hards - made a suave, tuxedoed hero seem out-of-date and wanted new ones for that generation.
  • DeathToSpies84DeathToSpies84 Haydock, England
    edited March 2022 Posts: 254
    Revelator wrote: »
    Dalton remains second only to Connery in my book. One of the most intelligent and thoughtful actors to play Bond, with a profound grasp of Fleming. In a way he was the unluckiest of all the Bonds.

    Lazenby got only one film, but it was the one of the best and most special in the entire series, and he got to be identified with it. Dalton was neither a one-hit wonder nor a Bond who lasted long enough to make a great mark with the public. Nor did he get as many films as he deserved (four at the very least!).

    He had the misfortune to play Bond at a time when the public had tired of Moore's approach but wasn't fully ready for a darker Bond. By the time of LTK the series had to make do with budgets that hadn't changed in a decade, along with an incompetent marketing campaign and ill-chosen release date.

    Like Moore, Dalton had a successful debut and a sophomore film that underperformed--unlike Roger he never had the chance to come roaring back with a crowd pleaser. One of the most agonizing missed opportunities in the history of Bond films are the lost Dalton movies we might have received if United Artists had been stable during the early 90s. The biggest Bond villain of the Dalton era was not Sanchez but Giancarlo Parretti.


    Dalton deserved a quartet, headed up by a fresh production crew, writers and director that could have helped his character adapt to the 90’s.

    Aside from Parretti, John Calley and Alan Ladd Jr were two other big villains of the Dalton era. A 63 year old snake and his deputy who thought Dalton hadn’t "proved his credentials as Bond." and refused to greenlight GoldenEye unless someone else was cast, despite Dalton having the backing of Cubby Broccoli.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,882
    A belated happy birthday to my favourite Bond. There has to an alternate Earth, where Dalton had two more films, in 1991 and 1993, or 1993 and 1995.

    Just like there is an alternate Earth, where the 1996 Doctor Who film is build around the Sylvester McCoy Doctor, with Dalton as The Master.
  • BirdlesonBirdleson Moderator
    Posts: 2,161
    My favorite non-Bond Dalton role (first film for both Dalton and Anthony Hopkins).


  • DeathToSpies84DeathToSpies84 Haydock, England
    Posts: 254
    A belated happy birthday to my favourite Bond. There has to an alternate Earth, where Dalton had two more films, in 1991 and 1993, or 1993 and 1995.

    Just like there is an alternate Earth, where the 1996 Doctor Who film is build around the Sylvester McCoy Doctor, with Dalton as The Master.

    I’d part with a kidney to go to that alternate Earth and see Dalton get the chance to solidify himself on the role, with two in 1991 and 1993 before Brosnan takes the reins with GoldenEye.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,882
    A belated happy birthday to my favourite Bond. There has to an alternate Earth, where Dalton had two more films, in 1991 and 1993, or 1993 and 1995.

    Just like there is an alternate Earth, where the 1996 Doctor Who film is build around the Sylvester McCoy Doctor, with Dalton as The Master.

    I’d part with a kidney to go to that alternate Earth and see Dalton get the chance to solidify himself on the role, with two in 1991 and 1993 before Brosnan takes the reins with GoldenEye.

    That way, everybody wins.

    7520170_orig.jpg

    Dalton facing off against Anthony Hopkins...
    omg-leonardo-di-caprio.gif

    That would have been something.
  • DeathToSpies84DeathToSpies84 Haydock, England
    edited March 2022 Posts: 254
    A belated happy birthday to my favourite Bond. There has to an alternate Earth, where Dalton had two more films, in 1991 and 1993, or 1993 and 1995.

    Just like there is an alternate Earth, where the 1996 Doctor Who film is build around the Sylvester McCoy Doctor, with Dalton as The Master.

    I’d part with a kidney to go to that alternate Earth and see Dalton get the chance to solidify himself on the role, with two in 1991 and 1993 before Brosnan takes the reins with GoldenEye.

    That way, everybody wins.

    7520170_orig.jpg

    Dalton facing off against Anthony Hopkins...
    omg-leonardo-di-caprio.gif

    That would have been something.

    What could have been....
  • DwayneDwayne New York City
    Posts: 2,598
    Birdleson wrote: »
    My favorite non-Bond Dalton role (first film for both Dalton and Anthony Hopkins).


    The Lion In Winter (1968) was also scored by John Barry. Great film....and a lot of fun too!!!

    John: Poor John. Who says poor John? Don't everybody sob at once! My God, if I went up in flames there's not a living soul who'd pee on me to put the fire out!

    Richard: Let's strike a flint and see.

    =))
  • DwayneDwayne New York City
    Posts: 2,598
    It is probably just my memory of those days, but maybe if EON had delayed TLD until 1988 and allowed more hype to build around Dalton? I've always felt that the two-year film cycle kind of steam rolled over him.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,882
    What if... Dalton in No Time To Die


    "I mean this in a friendly way, I don't like you very much." :))
  • What if... Dalton in No Time To Die


    "I mean this in a friendly way, I don't like you very much." :))

    I like Dalton but this is just wrong.
  • hoppimikehoppimike Kent, UK
    Posts: 290
    So... people really didn't like Timothy Dalton at the time? That's so strange to me.

    TLD is one of my favourite Bond movies. Maybe #4. LTK... probably not in my top 5 but I do like it.

    People are strange. XD
  • Posts: 2,752
    hoppimike wrote: »
    So... people really didn't like Timothy Dalton at the time? That's so strange to me.

    TLD is one of my favourite Bond movies. Maybe #4. LTK... probably not in my top 5 but I do like it.

    People are strange. XD

    I kind of get it. Moore was pretty popular in the role and had done it for a very long time. Despite how fatigued the films themselves had become there were viewers who literally grew up with him as Bond. It's not an easy act to follow.

    I also think that the series was in an odd place during Dalton's short tenure. I like TLD but for me it feels at times like it isn't quite able to shake off aspects of the Moore era. LTK feels darker but more mature (although I'm not sure if general audiences were quite ready for it at that time).

    Personally, I think a different director than Glen could have helped Dalton's films (the direction is the weakest aspect of LTK for me). A third film in the vein that they planned would have helped warm audiences to his Bond too I think, in the same way TSWLM helped the Moore era.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    edited May 2022 Posts: 4,053
    007HallY wrote: »
    hoppimike wrote: »
    So... people really didn't like Timothy Dalton at the time? That's so strange to me.

    TLD is one of my favourite Bond movies. Maybe #4. LTK... probably not in my top 5 but I do like it.

    People are strange. XD

    I kind of get it. Moore was pretty popular in the role and had done it for a very long time. Despite how fatigued the films themselves had become there were viewers who literally grew up with him as Bond. It's not an easy act to follow.

    I also think that the series was in an odd place during Dalton's short tenure. I like TLD but for me it feels at times like it isn't quite able to shake off aspects of the Moore era. LTK feels darker but more mature (although I'm not sure if general audiences were quite ready for it at that time).

    Personally, I think a different director than Glen could have helped Dalton's films (the direction is the weakest aspect of LTK for me). A third film in the vein that they planned would have helped warm audiences to his Bond too I think, in the same way TSWLM helped the Moore era.

    John Glen was overlooked at first for LTK. They approached John Landis, (after The Twilight Zone incident) but he said the script was awful. (Look who’s talking, with the amount of crap he put out), it’s not like EON would like him involved with the stunts. I’m not sure he was approached for Bond 17, but a change in crew is what Dalton’s Bond needed: no Richard Maibaum criticizing everyone for not getting his writing right, John Glen’s overstayed welcome, and Michael G. Wilson’s mixed bag of story ideas. Dalton deserves a video game. He was ahead of his time, and EON and Daniel Craig in particular owe him a big thank you.
  • Posts: 2,887
    No matter who was in the role or what approach they took, I think the Bond films would have experienced a downturn in the late 80s. GoldenEye came along at the right time, after the Schwarzenegger/Willis/Stallone cycle had peaked and audiences missed Bond again. Glen gets his share of flak around here, but I don't think anyone around would have done a better job with the action sequences in LTK, and the film's dramatic flaws have more to do with the writer's strike than Glen. Furthermore, a new director would have still confronted the same problem Glen did: making a Bond film with a budget that was the same it had been a decade earlier, in substandard studios in Mexico.

    If Dalton had the opportunity to make a third film, especially the Hong Kong set one detailed in The Lost Adventures of James Bond, it might have done better than LTK, if it had opened in the fall, with no competition from other franchises; had a better marketing campaign than LTK; and had a bigger budget.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,483
    TLD is one of my favourite Bond films, the first hour is near perfect Bond and a lot of that is down to Timothy. I'm not as keen on LTK, but there's no doubt Timothy saved Bond.

    Had it gone straight to Pierce in 1986, I don't think the series as we know it would have survived. It would have went too comedic and less of an action adventure film series

    Timothy understood what Bond is, better than any other actor. His interviews about Bond are fascinating
  • Posts: 1,879
    I think it had a lot to do with a new breed of action hero rising at the time - Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Gibson, Willis, Ford, etc. Where Bond used to rule that realm, now there was real competition.

    Also in getting to the Dalton era, people tend to overlook or dismiss that AVTAK didn't do that great in '85. Not saying it wasn't a success, but continued the slippage at the box office and Rambo: First Blood II came out at the same time and dominated. People liked the younger, ripped Stallone opposed to the aging Moore.
  • edited June 2022 Posts: 784
    Timothy Dalton was great!! I think they should have cast him earlier.

    LAD is brilliant apart from the charicature of Afghanistan and the cartoony villains. Plot was believable, Bond’s dynamic with MI6, his own investigative work and manipulations, and the unclear allegiances added to the previously flat black and white world building and depictions of intelligence work.

    LTK is an 80s american cop show that should have headed straight to tv.

    I am surprised that the first Mission Impossible didn’t have more of an influence on Brosnan’s bond who was a pure action hero, through and through.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    edited June 2022 Posts: 2,483
    Yeah I'm surprised it didn't have more of an influence, all that espionage stuff in Prague feels very Third Man, which would suit Bond perfectly.
    I think some of that influence from MI bled into Casino Royale, aesthetically at least, in the Miami airport sequence
  • edited June 2022 Posts: 784
    Bond should be more thriller than action in my opinion. And more suspense than drama. Casino Royale found a good balance.
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