58 replies to this topic

[The Krynoid man]

I know a lot of fans hate this character with a passion, but personally he cracks me up. Anyone else feel this way?

[AMC Hornet]

I liked him in LALD and his first scene in TMWTGG, but he outstayed his welcome after that. After a few Holiday drinkies, however, I'm willing to forgive anything.

[glidrose]

He's fantastic in LALD. Godawful in TMWTGG.

He was the straight man to Bond's comic foil in LALD. But they make him the comic foil in TMWTGG. Big mistake.

[tdalton]

He was passable in Live and Let Die.  A totally unnecessary stereotype of a character, but they slightly got by with it in that film. 

 

He was totally out of place in The Man With the Golden Gun, although he's nowhere near the worst thing about that terrible film.

[Guy Haines]

J W Pepper - or "Deputy Dawg" as I always think of the character -  was fine in LALD, but it was a mistake to bring him back for TMWTGG. But that's the way film makers go sometimes. They test audiences, apparently they liked the red-neck sheriff in his own backyard, so they decide to have him co-incidentally meet 007 halfway across the world in the next film. As if.

 

On another topic, I think bringing Jaws back for a second film didn't work. In TSWLM he was a menacing if clumsy henchman. In MR they made him into a bit of a buffoon, and a love struck one at that. Was he brought back because of audience reaction? I wouldn't be at all surprised.

[Grard Bond]

I Always liked JW Pepper. Ofcourse when I first saw LaLD and TMWTGG I was a teenager and his scene's made me laugh.

But even now (I'm 46) he pulls a smile on my face. I watched LaLd last week and I still think he's a fun character.

 

Ofcourse Jaws was brought back mainly because audience (he was very populair among kids) liked him so much in TSWLM.

Was it not a kid from the Broccoli family who asked Cubby: "Please can the big Jaws guy come back in the next Bondfilm?"

[Messervy]

He almost ruined LALD, and clearly contributed to the poor TMWTGG overall quality.

Ludicrous.

[plankattack]

 

He was totally out of place in The Man With the Golden Gun, although he's nowhere near the worst thing about that terrible film.

 

Perhaps if Goodnight and Pepper switched roles - he the secretary, she the tourist?????  Think about the broad comedic opportunities. Pepper stuck in the closet when whats-her-face comes to Bond's hotel room. Pepper v Nick-Nack on the boat at the end? Goodnight getting pushed in the water by the elephant???

 

Or perhaps this post should be appearing in the "If only" thread.........    

[S K Y F A L L]

What the HELL is going on?

 

He was totally out of place in The Man With the Golden Gun, although he's nowhere near the worst thing about that terrible film.

 

HELL NO!

 

J W Pepper - or "Deputy Dawg" as I always think of the character -  was fine in LALD, but it was a mistake to bring him back for TMWTGG. But that's the way film makers go sometimes. They test audiences, apparently they liked the red-neck sheriff in his own backyard, so they decide to have him co-incidentally meet 007 halfway across the world in the next film. As if.

 

 You gotta set of wheels that just won't quit, boy! If they's yours that is...

 

I Always liked JW Pepper. Ofcourse when I first saw LaLD and TMWTGG I was a teenager and his scene's made me laugh.

But even now (I'm 46) he pulls a smile on my face. I watched LaLd last week and I still think he's a fun character.

 

I'm with you all the way!

 

He almost ruined LALD, and clearly contributed to the poor TMWTGG overall quality.

Ludicrous.

 

Get your cotton-picking schnoz out of my pants, y'know!

[Mr. Somerset]

My favorite line is :"Now you call my wife at the Neri Hotel and tell her I'm on a mission! I've been deputized! Right?"

As ridiculous as his appearance in TMWTGG is and makes no sense, makes me like it all the more. When compared to Jack Wade, though, I think JW comes off like Sean Connery.

[Double Naught spy]

Sheriff J.W. Pepper should have been in every one of Roger Moore's 007 films! 

 

TSWLM - Relaxing on the beach with his wife when the Lotus emerges from the water.  Have 007 hand Sheriff Pepper the fish as he drives by.

 

MR - Incorporate him into the "Jaws goes through airport security' scene, with Sheriff Pepper complaining about the hold up in the security line... only to have Jaws turn around and smile at him.

 

FYEO - Sheriff Pepper is next in line atop the downhill jump and 007 cuts in front of him in an effort to elude capture by Locque and his men. 

 

OP - J.W. is a spectator under the big top while 007 is desperately trying to get to the bomb.  Modify the script so that J.W. is the one who convinces the military brass that 007 is not some raving lunatic in a clown outfit. 

 

AVTAK - Rewrite the script entirely and have him replace Tibbett's role as 007's chauffer/man servant while at Zorin's estate.  But instead of killing him off in the carwash, have Sheriff Pepper survive to be the one who heroically sacrifices his life and pushes the bomb cart out of the mine shaft.

 

TLD - With a new actor in the role, open the film with 007 (shades of FYEO) laying flowers at Sheriff Pepper's gravesite.  007's wistfully silent remembrances are suddenly cut short by a call to report for duty for the Gibraltar training mission.  

 

 

From bigoted redneck sheriff to single-handedly saving... of all places!... San Francisco?   If done properly, his redemption story could have rivaled that of Darth Vader's. 

[glidrose]

That makes painful reading, thinking and potential viewing. Of course if you don't kill him off, guess what part he plays in LTK? Dario and his men now have their way with Maybelle.

[Double Naught spy]

Glidrose,

 

Instead of having her brutally gang-raped (!?!) by Benicio del Toro and his men, I sort of had in mind a happier fate for the widow Pepper.  After her husband died heroically in AVTAK, 007 certainly would've felt the obligation to take care of Maybelle.  Perhaps she could have been the film-version variation of his housekeeper May.  And just like the obligatory 'visit to Q Branch' scenes that are played up for humor, there'd would be an obligatory scene (at least during the Dalton & Brosnan years) in each of the ensuing films where poor 007 would be at home packing for his mission and politely fending off her doting offers to make him a bowl of grits before he leaves or bag up some homemade pork rinds for the trip.   

[The Krynoid man]

Sheriff J.W. Pepper should have been in every one of Roger Moore's 007 films! 
 
TSWLM - Relaxing on the beach with his wife when the Lotus emerges from the water.  Have 007 hand Sheriff Pepper the fish as he drives by.
 
MR - Incorporate him into the "Jaws goes through airport security' scene, with Sheriff Pepper complaining about the hold up in the security line... only to have Jaws turn around and smile at him.
 
FYEO - Sheriff Pepper is next in line atop the downhill jump and 007 cuts in front of him in an effort to elude capture by Locque and his men. 
 
OP - J.W. is a spectator under the big top while 007 is desperately trying to get to the bomb.  Modify the script so that J.W. is the one who convinces the military brass that 007 is not some raving lunatic in a clown outfit. 
 
AVTAK - Rewrite the script entirely and have him replace Tibbett's role as 007's chauffer/man servant while at Zorin's estate.  But instead of killing him off in the carwash, have Sheriff Pepper survive to be the one who heroically sacrifices his life and pushes the bomb cart out of the mine shaft.
 
TLD - With a new actor in the role, open the film with 007 (shades of FYEO) laying flowers at Sheriff Pepper's gravesite.  007's wistfully silent remembrances are suddenly cut short by a call to report for duty for the Gibraltar training mission.  
 
 
From bigoted redneck sheriff to single-handedly saving... of all places!... San Francisco?   If done properly, his redemption story could have rivaled that of Darth Vader's.

Why is it that I really want this to happen.

[Iceskater101]

He is way too annoying for me to enjoy his humor. 

[dtuba]

I thought he was great in LALD, and would have enjoyed his appearance in TMWTGG if it made a lick of sense. Why is an American tourist test driving an American car while vacationing in Thailand?? 

 

As for Jaws, I think MR would have been a little bit better if he'd actually met his end falling onto the circus tent in the PTS. A nice little cameo, a brief chuckle, and then...poof! end of character. But no. They had to turn him into Wile E. Coyote, getting killed over...and over...and over...

[Guy Haines]

Two good points made there, duba. I know people who have had holidays in Thailand for all kinds of reasons, but going out there to test drive an American sports car isn't one of them. And Jaws in a cameo would have had more of an impact. Audiences remembered that he didn't die in TSWLM and would have wondered whether he would turn up in MR. Having him appear in the pre credits only would have worked. Either that or leaving him out of the PTC scene and have him appear later in the movie - the carnival scene, or the cable cars? - in a one off battle royale with Bond, which would have been more memorable. As it is, you're right - Bond -v- Jaws in MR became like Wile E. Coyote -v- The Road Runner. (In fairness to MR, it was a bit like that in TSWLM as well!)

[tdalton]

 As it is, you're right - Bond -v- Jaws in MR became like Wile E. Coyote -v- The Road Runner. (In fairness to MR, it was a bit like that in TSWLM as well!)

 

In retrospect, they really ruined a great chance at a truly frightening henchman by giving Jaws to the Moore Era.  The idea of a giant man with steel jaws would be, while still bordering on ridiculous, rather terrifying if played completely straight.  A villain like that really shouldn't be involved in a Coyote vs. Road Runner scenario with Bond, as that kind of scenario could really be applied to any character they want, especially in a film as ridiculous as Moonraker.

[hilly]

He was good in LALD (due to Clifton James' delivery of his lines. I live for the day when I can look someone in the eye and say "And that means you. Smart-ass"), but bringing him back for TMWTGG was as big a mistake as crow-barring Jaws into Moonraker

[hilly]

 

 

Ofcourse Jaws was brought back mainly because audience (he was very populair among kids) liked him so much in TSWLM.

Was it not a kid from the Broccoli family who asked Cubby: "Please can the big Jaws guy come back in the next Bondfilm?"

 

Wasn't it Lewis Gilbert's grandson?

[S K Y F A L L]

I also enjoy the guy from TSWLM and MR who questions if he has been drinking to much.

[Janus Assassin]

Two good points made there, duba. I know people who have had holidays in Thailand for all kinds of reasons, but going out there to test drive an American sports car isn't one of them. And Jaws in a cameo would have had more of an impact. Audiences remembered that he didn't die in TSWLM and would have wondered whether he would turn up in MR. Having him appear in the pre credits only would have worked. Either that or leaving him out of the PTC scene and have him appear later in the movie - the carnival scene, or the cable cars? - in a one off battle royale with Bond, which would have been more memorable. As it is, you're right - Bond -v- Jaws in MR became like Wile E. Coyote -v- The Road Runner. (In fairness to MR, it was a bit like that in TSWLM as well!)

 

I love the idea of having Jaws appear later in MR. I would have been a lot better having him first reveal himself in the alley when he took off his costume head for Manuela. As far as Pepper is concerned, he was great in LALD because it was in his backyard, but TMWTGG was a mistake.

[Bourbon Woman]

I wish J. W. Pepper had appeared in every Moore film. In Octopussy, he would have been on the tourist boat that pulls Bond out of the water. In AVTAK, he would have been on an "officer exchange" in San Francisco. In Moonraker, he would have been one of the space marines, with a cowboy hat perched on top of his space helmet. 

 

[edit: I see that Double Naught Spy had the same idea. I salute you, sir.] 

Edited by Bourbon Woman, 24 May 2014 - 04:55 PM.

[Double Naught spy]

Ha!  I salute you back Bourbon Woman!   (And salute you a second time for your name!) 

 

I like your idea of Pepper as a space marine in Moonraker.  I think  it could have been an iconic image for the ages, sort of like Slim Pickens riding atop the bomb in Dr. Strangelove. 

 

But, one 'silver lining' to our ideas for Sheriff Pepper never having seen the light of day:  the wonderful Clifton James was free to play Sy Orlanski, who helped rally the crowd at the AstroDome into insisting that the Bears (between Kelly "Rorschach" Leak and Tanner Boyle, my all-time favorite fictional sports team!) be allowed to finish their game at the end of The Bad News Bears Breaking Training.   Not quite the redemption I had in mind for him in my take on AVTAK, but was a pretty cool movie moment none-the-less. 

Edited by Double Naught spy, 27 May 2014 - 07:51 PM.

[Colossus]

I also enjoy the guy from TSWLM and MR who questions if he has been drinking to much.

 

lol! THat guy is a riot

[dtuba]

 

I also enjoy the guy from TSWLM and MR who questions if he has been drinking to much.

 

lol! THat guy is a riot

 

The Disbelieving Italian Drunk Guy! He also made an appearance in FYEO.

[ChrissBond007]

I thought he was hilarious in both movies. Yes, him suddenly being on vacation in Thailand where he happens to sit in the passenger's seat of the car Bond just happens to steal doesn't make any sense, but it always cracks me up. 

[S K Y F A L L]

 

 

I also enjoy the guy from TSWLM and MR who questions if he has been drinking to much.

 

lol! THat guy is a riot

 

The Disbelieving Italian Drunk Guy! He also made an appearance in FYEO.

 

 

Where is he in FYEO? I can't seem to recall.

[The Krynoid man]

The Ski scene.

[Messervy]

J.W. Pepper reminds me of Rosco P. Coltrane from The Dukes of Hazzard. It's really a pain watching him.