40 replies to this topic

[JimmyBond]

As it stands, Caroline Bliss is a mere footnote in Bond history: "The girl who played Moneyepenny in two Dalton films and didnt get much to do." She has some decent scenes in Daylights but the flirtations arent really handled all that well, it's nothing along the lines of the Connery/Maxwell scenes. The less said about her role in Licence the better, one mere scene and not even with Bond!

However, what if the producers werent caught up in the legal wranglings, what if Dalton went on to make at least 2 or 3 more films? Would Bliss have gotten more interesting scenes to play? Perhaps they would have wrote her a real Moneypenny Bond scene (you know, Bond walks into Moneypenny's office and has a little banter before seeing M).

So, would she have been more memorable? Do you like her now?

[tdalton]

I think that Caroline Bliss could have turned out to be a fantastic Moneypenny had they actually given her scenes that were anywhere close to the quality of those that were given to Lois Maxwell. I thought that, in the limited amount of screen time that she had, that she had a very good chemistry with Timothy Dalton, and I thought that she had that endearing quality that had made Maxwell a success as Moneypenny for the bulk of the franchise.

[Mr Malcolm]

I too have a soft spot for Caroline Bliss' Moneypenny, and believe she could have gone on to great things. I actually prefer her over Samantha Bond, who I like, but is a bit too mousy in comparison with Lois Maxwell. Was there any particular reason Ms Bliss wasn't asked back for GE?

[JimmyBond]

Was there any particular reason Ms Bliss wasn't asked back for GE?

Never thought of that. I just figured they didnt bother to ask any of the actors (save Desmond) back.

[Blofeld's Cat]

It's interesting that IMDb indicates that she hasn't done anything since 1996. Except for the two Bonds she hasn't done all that much at all.

Anyway, I'm guessing that "new Bond = new Moneypenny" as far as Eon were (are?) concerned.

[JimmyBond]

I had a thread on this ages ago. But when I was in the theaters (honest to god) I expected Robert Brown and Caroline Bliss to be the MI6 regulars. I hadnt followed any behind the scenes stuff nor did I pay attention to the opening credits much either.

[Qwerty]

Was there any particular reason Ms Bliss wasn't asked back for GE?

Never thought of that. I just figured they didnt bother to ask any of the actors (save Desmond) back.

Me as well. Although I do recall reading an article in one of the 007 Magazine issues where Samantha Bond recalled calling Caroline Bliss to let her know she had secured the role in GoldenEye.

[Pam Bouvier]

The interaction between Dalton & Bliss felt alittle like kid sister/ older brother, or maybe kid sister/friend of brother, to me. It's too bad she didn't get a chance to play it longer. The relationship between Bond & Moneypenny could have been fun to watch as it developed over time.
I thought she did a nice job with what she was given to work with.

[Tiin007]

She was definitely a great Moneypenny, but with Goldeneye they (particularly Martin Campbell) were trying to reinvigorate the franchise and they needed new faces.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I liked her much more than Samantha Bond; Samantha's Moneypenny was a homely brat with no charm. Bliss was cute and kinda nerdy, in a really sweet and endearing way. I think she was fantastic! The second best for sure. bring her back Eon!

[Double-Oh Agent]

Caroline Bliss is my least favorite of the EON Moneypennys (but better than Pamela Salem in Never Say Never Again). I believe she could have been a more memorable Moneypenny if she had done more films (much as George Lazenby would have been more memorable as 007 to the general public if he had been Bond longer). Bliss was fine in The Living Daylights but had next to nothing to do in Licence To Kill and, as a result, wasn't memorable at all in that film. Still, she had potential as evidenced by the scene of her tempting offer to Bond of listening to her Barry Manilow collection together.

[tdalton]

I liked her much more than Samantha Bond; Samantha's Moneypenny was a homely brat with no charm. Bliss was cute and kinda nerdy, in a really sweet and endearing way. I think she was fantastic! The second best for sure. bring her back Eon!

Agreed

[Turn]

She was okay. But to be honest, I couldn't care less that there is no Moneypenny in Casino Royale. When they turned the character into some feminazi during the Brosnan era more interested in busting Bond's chops than flirtation, that was the end. Then they make it all the worse with that cheap VR scene at the end of DAD.

[Tiin007]

Then they make it all the worse with that cheap VR scene at the end of DAD.

Oh, don't even remind me.

[JimmyBond]

Then they make it all the worse with that cheap VR scene at the end of DAD.

Oh, don't even remind me.

I might be biased as I enjoyed DAD, but really, what's wrong with the VR scene? I thought it was a cute way to finally pair up Bond and Moneypenny without actually doing it. The audeince seemed to get into it too as they all laughed when it was revealed she was just in the VR room.

[Turn]

Then they make it all the worse with that cheap VR scene at the end of DAD.

Oh, don't even remind me.

I might be biased as I enjoyed DAD, but really, what's wrong with the VR scene? I thought it was a cute way to finally pair up Bond and Moneypenny without actually doing it. The audeince seemed to get into it too as they all laughed when it was revealed she was just in the VR room.

The problem was it was a cheap laugh. Could you have seen a woman of Lois Maxwell's class stooping to something like that 35-40 years ago? The series went from being about class to stooping to new lows in that sense.

[JimmyBond]

I think it had more to do with the tone of the Bond films at that point than anything else. The Brosnan era was full of "Cheap laughs" and stuff of that nature. I didn't mind it because it fit the tone of DAD, which in itself was celebrating the forty year history of the franchise.

I mean look at it this way, many of us Bond fans (many, not all) look at Moonraker now and enjoy it's excess and over the top humor, because we know the film's got back on track. Looking back we can enjoy Moonraker as a detour into this type of territory, I wonder if in ten years we'll look back on DAD as fondly?

[Stuff_My_Orders]

I like Caroline Bliss...but I don't like Samantha Bond. Samanth is too uptight, uncharming and unfunny to play Moneypenny.

Edited by Stuff_My_Orders, 02 May 2006 - 10:40 AM.

[TortillaFactory]

I really hope poor Samantha doesn't read this board.

The truth? MP is a throwaway character, always has been, always will be. As long as there's a bird behind the desk for Bond to flirt with, the audience is happy. I've enjoyed Bond's reactions to each - after all, these are movies about Bond, not about his secretaries. I will admit I could never forgive Bliss' incarnation for liking Barry Manilow, though.

Just...ew.

[Turn]

Looking back we can enjoy Moonraker as a detour into this type of territory, I wonder if in ten years we'll look back on DAD as fondly?

Not if CR and the Daniel Craig era does what we hope it can do.

[Alex Zamudio]

The Samantha Bond scenes in GE and TND were quite good and witty, never cared for Caroline Bliss, quite forgettable IMO, although she was Moneypenny for a fantastic Bond actor.

[Flash1087]

I agree with the sentiment that Bliss could've used more time to develop; had Dalton gotten one or two more after LTK, she would've worked out alright.

I still prefer Samantha Bond, truth be told. I think she's the best-looking of all the Moneypennys.

[tigerheart]

I agree with the sentiment that Bliss could've used more time to develop; had Dalton gotten one or two more after LTK, she would've worked out alright.

I still prefer Samantha Bond, truth be told. I think she's the best-looking of all the Moneypennys.

I think it's a case of potential unrealised, to a certain extent - she was fun and attractive but had very little to work with dialogue-wise.

Samantha Bond was a great Moneypenny - will be interested to see down the line who takes up the role. I can't immediately think of anyone to pair up with Danny boy...

[Double-0-Seven]

I always thought that she was a decent Moneypenny. Even though they didn't give her much to work with in either film, I thought that she played the part well. She probably could have gone on to become a memorable Moneypenny if she was given the chance.

[JimmyBond]

It always struck me odd that they couldnt write her a "traditional" Bond/Moneypenny scene for her first outing. You know, Bond walks into Moneypenny's office and does the playful banter before going on to M's office.

[Donovan]

Last year I started a topic on Caroline Bliss. She is quite a footnote to the series.

[I Like Sharks]

Caroline Bliss was great as Moneypenny in The Living Daylights.Attractive charming not in the sense of being able to compete with Bond girls. A nice 1980s update on the character. I think that if she had the chance, she could have competed with Louis Maxwell as the definitive Moneypenny. Samantha Bond was just made to poke fun at Bond a lot of the time. If you were Bond would you look forward to flirting with her in the office? No offence to Samantha Bond but I just wasn't all that keen on how the character was written.

Then they make it all the worse with that cheap VR scene at the end of DAD.

Oh, don't even remind me.

I might be biased as I enjoyed DAD, but really, what's wrong with the VR scene? I thought it was a cute way to finally pair up Bond and Moneypenny without actually doing it. The audeince seemed to get into it too as they all laughed when it was revealed she was just in the VR room.

Yeah lots of people laughed in the cinema the 3 times I saw DAD but it raises all sorts of questions about the whole VR thing. It's based on the assumption that Q can build a VR world with VR people in it who can get off with the real people using the machine. Not realistic at all. And on that sole scene I'm glad that Samantha Bond won't be returning.

[BondReader 007]

Caroline Bliss was very good as Moneypenny in "The Living Daylights", except for perhaps her choice in music, 'Barry Manilow records', I shudder at the thought! How did that get by her SS vetting? She was no Lois Maxwell, but I enjoyed with brief visit to the Bond world.

[DaveBond21]

Caroline Bliss could have been a good Moneypenny if they had given her a decent amount of screen time and script.

I liked Samantha Bond, and my favourite Bond-Moneypenny dialogue in the Brosnan era was the one at the beginning of TWINE - it was classic flirtation along the lines of Connery-Maxwell.

"I know exactly what to do with that..."

[Harmsway]

I never liked Caroline Bliss. Sorry - she just didn't strike me as what my image of Moneypenny was. I honestly prefer Samantha, though Samantha's material as Moneypenny was consistently shoddy (she only got some good material in DIE ANOTHER DAY).