19 replies to this topic

[Blofeld's Cat]

It was very interesting to read on a website that one of the special features on The Living Daylights DVD is something called

[Roebuck]

I was disappointed Neil never got a crack at 007.
Around that time he auditioned for TLD Sam did a mini-series called Hostage, in which he played a sort of freelance security specıalıst. A lot of it is very much in the Bond style.

Incidentally Neil was apparently a good friend of James Mason who was also at one time considered for the part of Bond.
Can't help but wonder what Mason's interpretation of the part would have been. Probably more in line with the books.

[rafterman]

Neil's a fine actor, but I'm happy Dalton got the shot and not him....

[Byron]

I wasn't. His acting but looking at the screen tests he did
not appear very convincing as Bond.

If he was chosen, chances are that he would have got stuck
in the legal wrangling and shared Dalton's fate.

Taking the legal problems out of the picture, by 1992/3 i believe
there would have been a push by MGM hacks to get their favourite
son Brosnan into the role.

If Brosnan never existed, Dalton would have most likely have
stayed for Goldeneye and perhaps one more. After that
i can't even imagine what may have happened.

[Mister Asterix]

Sorry. Can't see it. He's too smarmy and too wide faced. Just doesn't look like Bond to me.

[Dr. Tynan]

No, I don't think I'd like him as Bond.

[Blue Eyes]

I have to agree, he doesn't look like Bond in those pictures either. But then, what does Bond look like. If Sean had never played Bond would we as fans say "oh he looks like Bond". And had Neil played him, I'm sure we'd all agree that he looked like Bond. It's just one of those things.

I'd really love to get the chance to interview Neil sometime about the whole Bond affair.

[IrishCrown]

I think Sam Neil would have made a good Bond. He just needed a better movie to try out for as Bond than The Living Daylights. BTW, I don't care if it was a Fleming title, it still sucks.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

I really don't think Sammy could have pulled off being Bond. Not for very long, anyway. His head is a wee bit too large and round, I think.

[zencat]

I like Sam Neil, but I feel his fate would have been the same as Dalton's and for much the same reason. He would have

[freemo]

I think he would have been pretty good and wouldn't have had too much trouble being accepted as Bond by the wider audience.

http://www.ibiblio.o...ures/index.html

Looking at that page, I can spot a number of shots where he "looks like Bond".

[marktmurphy]

One thing that I always wanted to see from that documentary was Brosnan's screen tests- although we got pictures we never got to see him in action. I always have trouble imagining him in TLD- would he have been any good?

[Blue Eyes]

Got to agree with you completely Mark. I'd love to see Pierce's 80's screentest, and presumably his 90's too.

[marktmurphy]

I've heard of those ads for Pepsi(?) that Pierce did around that time in a Bond fashion. Does anybody know if there are any stills or movie files available of these on the net?

[Solex Agitator]

I think Brosnan would have been too lightweight and wimpy in the mid-80's to be believeable as Bond. Look at those REMINGTON STEELE episodes - HE WAS A SKINNY LITTLE GUY. I thought he was too lightweight in GOLDENEYE as well. It was not until TWINE that I thought Brosnan had physically grown into the role.

[freemo]

Yeah I tend to agree that he was a bit of a lightwieght back then, he's better off now having not gotten the part then.

[Mourning Becomes Electra]

Originally posted by marktmurphy
I've heard of those ads for Pepsi(?) that Pierce did around that time in a Bond fashion. Does anybody know if there are any stills or movie files available of these on the net?

Mark,

You can find an avi of one of the Diet Coke commericals he did in the 80's here:

http://www.websteele.../elr/movies.php

As fo PB being too light weight in '86/87, he was more than convincing as a killing machine Soviet agent in The Fourth Protocol, that came out the same year TLD did.

Oh and Neill was excellent in Reilly Ace of Spies, he's a wonderful actor and I've enjoyed him in many things over the years from My Brilliant Career to Dead Calm, but I'm not sure he would have made a great big screen Bond.

MBE

[JimmyBond]

I've watched the Living Daylights doco twice so far, and both times I've seen Niels screen test he just does not work. If he got the role, he might have grown into it, but judging from the screen test he does not convince me as Bond.

[marktmurphy]

Thanks for the link, MBE! It was a hoot- I recommend everyone has a look- especially for the ending. I think the Brosman could have played Bond then- he looks okay (although his voice could do with breaking!). Anyone seen the ad where he's on top of a train? I'd love to take a peep.

[IrishCrown]

I just saw The Fourth Protocol the other day after not having seen it for a number of years. Brosnan is a mean mo-fo in that movie.