11 replies to this topic

[00Kevin]

I found myself watching the Arnold Schwarzenegger action comedy 'Last Action Hero' this evening. Later I learned from wikipedia that Timothy Dalton had a cameo in the film. It struck me as odd that i could miss it, as the film has many celebrity cameos which are made pretty evident to the audience.

 

the scene in question is a film premier and Dalton only appears for a moment and he is obscured behind Jean-Claude Van Damme

 

 

We do not get a very good look at his face or outfit.

 

I found it odd that a film which makes its cameos so obvious (keep in mind that all of the other cameos in that scene either have speaking roles and/or interact with the main characters) would hire a big star like the current James Bond and not give the audience a better look at him . True, Dalton probably wouldn't have been as well known to American moviegoers as some of the other celebrities in that scene, but it occured to me that it may be something else. If memory serves, active James Bonds have a clause in their contract that forbids them from appearing in other films wearing a tuxedo (can anyone confirm that Dalton had this in his contract?). Perhaps keeping Dalton and his tuxedo obscured is the film's way of including Dalton's cameo without breaching his contract.

 

Still, it's not too far fetched to think that sitting somewhere in an archive of footage, or maybe just in a landfill somewhere, is footage of Timothy Dalton wearing a Tuxedo for a film in 1993, a year when he was officially James Bond. Not something we're ever going to get to see though, unfortunately.

 

Hope you all found this as interesting as I did.

[Hansen]

Great catch.

My guess is that production used the audience of the 1993 New York Film Festival at which Tim attended for "Framed".

That would explain the Tux

[mr ling]

Not convinced that is Timothy Dalton. Unless as Hansen says it was filmed at an actual premier. Van Damm would have received a fee for his image to be used however brief. If it is Timothy then maybe they had to ensure he was not in the shot.

[Royal Dalton]

It's Dalton alright. There's no doubt about that.

[00Kevin]

Great catch.

My guess is that production used the audience of the 1993 New York Film Festival at which Tim attended for "Framed".

That would explain the Tux

 

New York FIlm Festival eh, thanks for info. it had occurred to me last night that those scenes may be from an actual premier but i didn't post abut it because:

 

according to two different websites (including imdb) the premier was filmed at RKO Twin Theater in Times Square, although I found nothing to specify if these included both the interior or exterior. The thing that is really mind boggling is that the RKO Twin Theater was supposedly demolished in 1987, which makes me question the validity of those sources.

 

I feel like doing a little research, I wish i could find a photo set or tv footage of the '93 new york film festival so we could match up the outfits and confirm your theory.

[freemo]

It's him.

 

It may have been that he made a more "proper" cameo, but that it was cut from the final film. Hence only this very slight appearance.

[ggl]

Interesting! I had no idea!

 

I don't know how they managed this kind of "cameos"...

Edited by ggl, 15 August 2014 - 08:48 AM.

[RufusCobb]

Post deleted.

Edited by RufusCobb, 16 August 2014 - 10:59 AM.

[thecasinoroyale]

I can't even call this a 'cameo'...I mean, I know it IS, I think...but...meh. His eye and nose...not REALLY a cameo I wanted to see from a legend like Dalton in a film with Arnie.

[Chemateo]

I believe I may have brought this up before. Or was it on another board? My memory is failing me. I recall also missing Dalton's cameo the first time and being surprised when I read his name on IMDb. I went back to watch LAH just to catch Dalton. And I did! Althought I was disappointed that it was just a bit of Dalton's profile.

 

I also assume that Dalton had extended cameo that got cut. It really doesn't make sense to have Dalton get credited for just a sliver of his face.

 

I loved Charles Dance as Benedict. Everyone now knows Dance as Tywin Lannister. But to me, he was first & will always be known as Benedeict!

 

You know after Alan Rickman turned down the role of Benedict it was offered to Dalton. Dalton would have gotten paid a pretty penny, had been a high profile film in 94, and could have been immortalized alongside The Austrian Oak! I wish it had happened! Dalton could have also been magnificent as Benedict.

 

Sadly, I think the script went over Dalton's head or under his nose. Dalton dismissed Last Action Hero in an interview, as a generic action film he had no interest being involved in. Too bad. LAH is much smarter action film then it gets credit for. Sure, it underperformed. But I think LAH could have done Dalton more good than bad.

 

Dalton would have his profield raised in the 90s when he was flying under the radar doing no signifigant filmwork after The Rocketeer. The connections & networking by working with Ahnuld & Joel Silver could have been invaluable. The amount of money he could have made, perhaps could have led to him developing his own production company. Being involved in such a big vehicle would have led to more film offers. I see more pros than cons.

 

With Dalton skipping out on GoldenEye and doing no other prolific work (not that he did nothing or terrible material--I quite enjoy Framed, Tales from The Crypt, and Rocketeer) only hurt his film career in my eyes. In fact, Dalton did himself no favors abandoning his burgeoning film career back in 69. After Lion in the Winer, he was in HOT demand. Dalton killed all the momentum because he felt insecure but he was actually being offered all these roles on the justified talent.

 

/end rant.

[glidrose]

Or was it on another board? My memory is failing me.

The amount of money he could have made, perhaps could have led to him developing his own production company. Being involved in such a big vehicle would have led to more film offers.

Unlikely.
 

With Dalton skipping out on GoldenEye and doing no other prolific work (not that he did nothing or terrible material--I quite enjoy Framed, Tales from The Crypt, and Rocketeer)

I guess you didn't see "Salt Water Moose" or *gasp* "Time Share".

In fact, Dalton did himself no favors abandoning his burgeoning film career back in 69. After Lion in the Winer, he was in HOT demand. Dalton killed all the momentum because he felt insecure but he was actually being offered all these roles on the justified talent.

Not true at all! Dalton did several films in fairly quick succession. What *seems* to have killed his career was the unfortunate incident of "Lady Caroline Lamb". Dalton was dropped at the last minute. There was litigation. Dalton apparently grew disgusted with the industry and so returned to the stage.

[Chemateo]

 

Or was it on another board? My memory is failing me.

The amount of money he could have made, perhaps could have led to him developing his own production company. Being involved in such a big vehicle would have led to more film offers.

Unlikely.

 

What is unlikely? My memory fading me? Or the other points? A rumored $10 million payday sounds like plenty of seed money. Dalton was paid handsomely for Bond and I am sure The Rocketeer as well. I do not see why appearing in LAH would not lead to more offers. In sight in mind.

 

 

 

With Dalton skipping out on GoldenEye and doing no other prolific work (not that he did nothing or terrible material--I quite enjoy Framed, Tales from The Crypt, and Rocketeer)

I guess you didn't see "Salt Water Moose" or *gasp* "Time Share".

 

 

You are right. I did not see Salt Water Moose. I did finally see Time Share. *Gasp* I enjoyed it. It was typical family fare like something from Disney. Definitely not Dalton's best work but I enjoyed it just the same as I enjoy bad action movies.

 

I was referring to that time period of when Dalton was Bond of Record. Between 1990-1994. In that time Dalton was in The Rocketeer, The King's Whore Framed, Tales from the Crypt, Lie Down with Lions,  Scarlett, and Naked in New York. I enjoyed The Rocketeer, Tales from The Crypt and Framed. Fun stuff but lower profile projects. I have the King's Whore on DVD but have yet to watch it. Naked in New York was dull and Dalton had a bit part. I have not seen Lie Down with Lions but Ken Follett (the author) claims Dalton came up to him at a party and admitted it was a shite representation. So, while Bond was stuck in legal wrangling Dalton managed to keep busy with some fun projects. Post-Bond left a lot to be desired. But I hear great things about The Informant.

 

Like I have said before, bowing out in 69/70 from films & leaving Bond in 94 did no favors for Dalton's film career. Momentum lost.

 

 

 

In fact, Dalton did himself no favors abandoning his burgeoning film career back in 69. After Lion in the Winer, he was in HOT demand. Dalton killed all the momentum because he felt insecure but he was actually being offered all these roles on the justified talent.

Not true at all! Dalton did several films in fairly quick succession. What *seems* to have killed his career was the unfortunate incident of "Lady Caroline Lamb". Dalton was dropped at the last minute. There was litigation. Dalton apparently grew disgusted with the industry and so returned to the stage.

 

 

I am aware of the Lady Caroline Lamb litigation. I realize now I am off by a year or two. As Dalton did not depart immediately after TLITW but it was not long after.

 

I go by what Dalton has said in numerous interviews. That it was not disgust with the film industry but in fact insecurity. Dalton was being offered film roles left & right after Lion in the Winter and being labeled as a film hunk after Wuthering Heights. Dalton carried a lot of disdain for the idea of matinee idol early in his career. Dalton would later on revise the idea of contempt toward being a movie star. Dalton said, he did not feel he deserved all these roles or that he was ready for them, something to that effect. He felt it was too much too soon. With hindsight he realized he was being offered roles for the right reasons.

 

So Dalton returned to the stage to hone his craft. But returning to the film industry some 7 or 8 years later and Dalton was forgotten and lost all that momentum on his side. Re-establishing himself proved to be no easy feat. In fact, Dalton has admitted that he would probably never have been "rediscovered" were it not for Bond.