9 replies to this topic

[erniecureo]

Some of my favorite moments in the Bond films are Bond's "friendly" scenes with professional equals. Kerim Bey, Tiger Tanaka and Felix Leiter come to mind. In the books, Bond's friendship with Leiter gives him humanity--whether they're arguing about cars, drinks, women...they're fun to read and enjoyable.

I know the Bond films aren't "buddy" movies, but should Bond's private relationships be shown more often? I think about the "punting" scene in FRWL with Sylvia Trench, or the golfing scene with Bill Tanner in the novel Colonel Sun, or the many Fleming/Leiter scenes. I'd like to see more of them--especially since we have a chance to, thanks to the "re-boot."

What do you think?

[Santa]

I certainly think we should see more of Jeffrey Wright. He's excellent in everything he does and I'd like to see the end of the revolving door policy with the Leiters. We've got a good one, let's stick with him and use him properly.

[MHazard]

I have always wanted the movies to use the Leiter character better. In fact, I even started a thread a few months ago expressing my annoyance. Leiter is an important part of the Bond novels and I'd like to see him used more and properly in the movies. Although I've also wished that they had made him a lanky, sandy haired Texan like in the novels, Wright seems to be a good enough actor that I can overlook this. I'd rather have no Leiter at all than the comic doofus Leiters of GF and DAF. I'm in favor of further use of the "brother from Langley" who is one of the few people Bond seems to allow into his world. I also wonder why Bill Tanner never appeared in the movies (I think they've had the Chief of Staff, but its clearly not Bond's best friend in the service). A long winded way of saying I agree with you Ernie.

[00Twelve]

Indeed, I too would love to see more personal scenes between Bond and Leiter. Some of my favorite times in the novels are their conversations before/after everything goes to hell. I think Craig and Wright could pull such a scene off together quite well. Whether Felix matches his original physicality or not, as long as he and James can have a believable friendship, it's all good. I personally never understood the mentality and method of having us surprised to see Felix along with Bond by putting a different man in the role nearly every time. Except this last time, as the character had more of a renaissance than ever before. Count me in, ernie.

[Loomis]

Given that the series is currently in reboot mode (aggressively going back to Fleming at the same time), and given that Wright is by far the biggest name to have played Leiter (and I'm wondering whether he signed up for CASINO ROYALE on the understanding that he'd have a larger and more important role in subsequent films), I suspect that something nasty may happen to Bond's old buddy Felix, a la Fleming's LIVE AND LET DIE and Eon's LICENCE TO KILL.

Again? Well, maybe. LTK was nearly 20 years ago, and Joe Public never paid it any attention even on release. Perhaps it won't be a shark attack this time, but let's ask ourselves:

Is nearly dying (and being avenged by Bond) part of Felix's essential character, as it were?

Eon obviously didn't think so, until LTK, 27 years and 16 films into the series, but then its treatment of Leiter had hardly ever been remotely serious (it's my theory that Leiter was always deliberately miscast, usually made avuncular and comic rather than a handsome American version of Bond with similar sex appeal, and given little screentime lest the actor in the role steal the show from the actor playing Bond). But Fleming had Felix disagreeing with something that ate him in only his second book. And if the Craig era is about one thing, it's about returning to those Flemingian roots.

That we now have an actor playing Leiter who's got as much talent, acclaim and charisma as the actor playing Bond.... well, is a major happening in BOND 22 staring us in the face?

[00Twelve]

Been hoping for your suggested hypothesis to happen in Bond 22 for a while, now...

[Loomis]

Seems to me that if (as seems likely) both Leiter and Mathis will be returning for BOND 22, they'd essentially be playing the same role (i.e. as Bond's ally in another intelligence service) unless interesting things were done with them. Otherwise, might as well combine the characters and save on an actor.

If the Craig era is going to be the "BOND BEGINS character arc" era, a tragedy involving Felix would be another reminder for our hero of the high stakes involved in his profession, and another loss (of sorts) for him to overcome and avenge. OTOH, maybe it would be superfluous - after all, BOND 22 will already involve a Bond anguished and out for revenge after the death of Vesper, which is something that Fleming's LIVE AND LET DIE doesn't deal with at all. Would all the doom and gloom be too much? Perhaps. Still, it seems more than probable that BOND 22 will be the darkest Bond of all, and I wouldn't necessarily bet against big trouble for Leiter.

[MarcAngeDraco]

Still, it seems more than probable that BOND 22 will be the darkest Bond of all

I certainly hope you're right about that Loomis.

As for Leiter, I would love to see more of him in 22.

[DaveBond21]

In the end, Felix wasn't in much of Casino Royale, was he?

[OmarB]

I've always been into the idea of bringing Felix more up into the foreground. Just like they met while working the same case from different angles in CR why not have that happen in a couple subsequent movies? That'll set up (for movie audiences) the relationship from the books funny drawn out and and Felix's injury (or however they deal with it) could be handle in a way that says "If this guy's the American counterpart to Bond and he can get hurt in such a way the stakes must be really high."