37 replies to this topic

[Righty007]

Cec Linder Born 89 Years Ago Today

[Guy Haines]

If the film makers had treated the Leiter character with the same respect as the likes of "M", "Q" and Moneypenny we wouldn't be arguing about which one of two of the eight (is it eight, I'm not sure?) actors who played Leiter was the preferred choice. It's a pity they didn't stick with one actor over more than one film, with periodic replacements, but we are where we are.

Van Nutter looks like the Leiter of the books but the way he portrays him is as too deferential to Bond. The idea of a CIA agent saying "you're right, James" throughout didn't seem credible to me. Linder's version seems more of a back office man than someone capable of keeping pace with Bond in the field - even though, of course, in the Fort Knox scenes of GF he's there ready to step in and help Bond.

I think the best Felix Leiter was Jack Lord. But if the current screenwriters give him enough time on screen and decent dialogue, and assuming he returns, the best Leiter could be Jeffrey Wright.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

Which of these two 60s Felix Leiters do you like more?

Rik Van Nutter's Leiter. He wears his sunglasses at night.

I always get amused in the Miami sequence where Bond talks about the girls getting close to Leiter in Dr. No. Jack Lord's Leiter, yeah, I can see it, but Linder? Even his hat in that sequence is goofy.

Remember, Linder's Leiter does get some appreciative looks from the lovelies around the pool. I figure though with his suit and hat they probably thought he had some money and prestige. As for Van Nutter's Leiter I'd like to think he went out on a date with Paula since Bond had his hands full with Domino and Fiona in that scenario.

[Jackanaples]

Between Rik Van Nutter and Cec Linder I prefer Van Nutter. It's true that he's not given much to do other than agree in THUNDERBALL, but I find it difficult to picture James Bond's best friend in the CIA as Cec Linder. However old he might have been in reality, he seems much older than Connery in GOLDFINGER. Jack Lord was definitely my favorite Felix Leiter of the 1960s Bond movies.

I like Jeffrey Wright a lot as Felix. I wish they'd give him more screen time. It would be nice just to see Bond play off of him more onscreen.

[crheath]

I'm going to have to go with Rik van Nutter. Cec Linder was a little too old whereas van Nutter was in good physical shape and one of the closest matches to Fleming's description of Leiter we've ever had on film.

Couldn't have said it better ...

[DR76]

I would pick Rick Van Nutter. I'm sorry, but Cec Linder was the most boring Felix Leiter to me.

[mattjoes]

A good Felix Leiter has to be cool enough that if you were told a movie starring him was in theaters, you'd go see it. Would I go see a movie starring Linder as Leiter? Nope. Would I go see a movie starring Van Nutter as Leiter? Probably. Same with Lord, Hedison and Wright.

[elizabeth]

Linder all the way. I loved him in Goldfinger. I'd be embarrassed to tell my friends I'd gone to see a movie starring a guy whose last name is Nutter.

Edited by elizabeth, 12 March 2010 - 10:28 PM.