52 replies to this topic

[dee-bee-five]

One wants to say Dr. No, because the scene is iconic in so many ways. But my favourite is actually Dalton's in the pre-credits sequence of TLD. In lesser hands, the way he delivers the line meant it could have been thrown away. But Dalton didn't and his very casualness gives it terrific spin.

[BlackFelix]

Excluding "Dr. No" I too agree with Dalton in TLD..it came across with the right tone and pitch, and given Dalton's intrest in doing things the "fleming" way it came off natural. Also, I'd give Connery's NSNA "casino" scene 2nd place...Though it didn't posess the same macho tone from other films, it came off as very natural and non-contrived. I really belived that was his name, not just a shoe-horned "script-device".

[icecold]

Connery in Miami Beach from GF. Best of the series.

[Doubl07]

1. Dr. No

2. DAF pre-titles

3. Bond meets Carver in TND

4. TLD pre-titles

[DamnCoffee]

Very fond of the TND one

[bogard]

Roger and Sean delivery was sublime.
Brosnan was fine.

As for Dalton, I can believe the throwaway line for TLD, the cut off one for LTK, but it's a shame he never got the chance to give the classic delivery.

Lazenby: it was his first line for the entire movie. But boy did he blew it. When he said "Bond, James Bond" it really made my toes curl. Apart from that his performance was adequate, so I really think Peter Hunt was sleeping when that scene was shot.

[Spurrier]

Roger Moore said it naturally in a laid-back manner, as it normally called for in most situations. The way he said it, confidently and calmly, also fit the personna that is Roger Moore.

[Head of S]

Almost every Bond film has featured the famous line where Bond says his name as, "Bond, James Bond." Sometimes the deliveries have been boring and flat, other times classic and memorable. Which "Bond, James Bond" moments were the best and worst deliveries of that line.

What are your thoughts?

IMO, Best: DN, GF, LALD, TLD
Worst: DAF, GE
Honorable mention: OHMSS

1. Roger Moore (for consistency)
2. Timothy Dalton
3. Sean Connery (great when he's great, but like his overall performances, inconsistent)
4. George Lazenby
5. Pierce Brosnan

Edited by Head of S, 02 November 2006 - 07:20 PM.

[Yellow Pinky]

Connery in Dr.No
Connery in Goldfinger
Dalton in TLD
Lazenby's second delivery in OHMSS
Moore in LALD

Brosnan's was the only one that really never sounded very natural to me, although Lazenby's delivery of it in the OHMSS PTS is the absolute oddest of the bunch - almost like he's surprised to hear it himself.

However, as stated above by David Schofield, Lazenby's second delivery of the line on the phone to Draco is one of the absolute coolest of the series when it comes to making it sound totally natural and menacing at the same time.

[DaveBond21]

I think it is the most difficult line for a new Bond actor, because there is so much history & tradition attached to it, and of course, it has been spoofed so many times.

[roger_d]

Connery, without a doubt is the best.

[DamnCoffee]

I have to agree that Connery in Doctor No is by far the best. It's the way he says is what makes it cool. Lazenbys is a good one aswell, I prefer it the second time though, when he's on the phone to Draco.

I really dont know what to think of Craig's delivery, I love it and hate it at the same time, has anyone else got this. Craig is a brilliant actor but the way he delivers the line sounds too declamatory. He doesn't deliver it in the correct way, I can't put my finger on what's wrong with it, but it's just wrong. Though I'm not gonna hold it against him, because he's the best thing that's happened to the franchise in years.

[Aris007]

My favourite is in Dr. No. Connery saying it while lighting a cigarrete. So cool! And the way he speaks during that scene makes it the best.
Also in LALD, Moore says it well when he meets Solitaire for the first time. You know:"Names are for tombstones".

[Harry Fawkes]

My best are Connery in Dr No (Obviously), Goldfinger ('Who are you...' 'Bond...James Bond.), Diamonds are Forever, Roger Moore in Live and Let Die and Moonraker and most certainly Daniel Craig's delivery of those classic words at the end of CR. He was strong, confident. 'The namesh Bond....Jamesh Bond.'

[sharpshooter]

I like most versions of the classic line, but two stick out for me. Connery’s cool as ice delivery in Dr No is my favourite. I also like Dalton’s strictly business throwaway nature of the line in the TLD pre title sequence.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

The best for me was Connery in Dr. No, but every Bond has their own way of saying it which I like! I thought Lazenby's was a little bit rushed in that they squeezed it in to the beginning of the movie, but it still delivers. Moore's were adequate, I think he tried to play it cool like Connery, bt i think his Bond didn't ooze coolness as much as Connery's did, so it's less effective. Dalton has certainly the most unique way of saying it and I think this helps set him apart from the other Bond actors in that his first line is different and much more anti-social than the other Bonds. I love Brosnan's delivery in the Goldeneye casino as it mirrors that of Conery's in Dr. No, but his other deliveries were less sensational. Craig's? Fantastic! Given the context, it's perfect, and he doesn't delay as much as some of the other actors.

But still, it's Dr.No for me!

[dodge]

First time is still the best: First reveal in DN...the delivery's as immortal as Tarzan's jungle cry!

[vednam]

Most of the time, it's "Bond.......James Bond", as made definitive (and done second best) in Dr. No.

But for Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights, it was actually "Bond, James Bond", and delivered in such an "I'm busy using your phone here, so off" way that it palpably dripped with 007 coolness, making it the single best utterance to date.

I kind of agree with your take. The Dr. No utterance is the classic and best, IMO. But Dalton in TLD has always had great appeal to me, even though it's a little different than most deliveries.

To round out my Top 3, I'd take Roger Moore in LALD. The way he was walking around and paused gave it so much swagger.


I don't know that it makes much sense to rank it by actor, since they vary even with the same actor. For example, I'm not a big fan of the way Connery said it in DAF.

Edited by vednam, 23 June 2008 - 05:48 AM.

[DaveBond21]

To round out my Top 3, I'd take Roger Moore in LALD. The way he was walking around paused gave it so much swagger.

A very underrated selection. Bond seemed very sure of himself in this scene, even though he was in danger.

[tdalton]

I'd have to agree with those that are saying that Dalton's delivery in the PTS of The Living Daylights was the best. He delivers it as someone who was actually telling someone their name would deliver the line, rather than announcing it like it was supposed to make everyone in the room stop what they were doing and take notice, like the line often comes of as.

[dodge]

I believe I've chanced on the long shrouded secret behind Connery's immortal DN delivery:

The slow reveal helps by adding notes of mystery and suspense. But the dangling cigarette is more than just a prop (sexy for the time). It enables Con to achieve a percussive effect with the B...as if lashing a bongo drum's head with his tongue.

He never pulled it off again to quite the same degree. Perhaps his tongue never recovered.

[Royal Dalton]

Nah. The secret behind it is that he was sloshed at the time.

[john.steed]

Connery in Doctor No without a doubt.
I do love it though when, after Moore says the famous line in TSWLM, the guy says "What of it?"
.