150 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

While not named Felix, I'd rank 1954's Casino Royale Leiter somewhere in the middle, near Cec Linder I suppose.

[Jamie007]

David Hedison was the worst, theres something about that guy I cant stand. Not only is it impossible to imagine him as a secret agent, he looks about as tough as an insurance salesman, he is not a good actor and he has a terrible voice.
Jack Lord was probably the best and all the rest were as forgettable as each other. I really dont think Leiter has been portrayed well in the movies at all, heres hoping that if he's in CR they do a better job with him.

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

David Hedison was the worst, theres something about that guy I cant stand. Not only is it impossible to imagine him as a secret agent...

In essence though, doesn't that make him a good secret agent?

[Colossus]

Jack Lord truly looked and acted as Leiter should be, CIA's American equivalent to Bond, unlike the later, older farts.

[Qwerty]

Was reading Benson's Bedside companion the other day and was surprised to see he didn't like Lord's Felix Leiter much at all.

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

Was reading Benson's Bedside companion the other day and was surprised to see he didn't like Lord's Felix Leiter much at all.

Really? What did he say about him?

I always liked him...but thought at times he didn't seem as easy going as Fleming had intended him to be.

[Colossus]

Well he was just his usual menacing self prior to meeting Bond, but always the one cracking jokes "Hey Quarrel if you see a dragon..."

[Byron]

Great thread. I haven't voted yet but so far its:

1) Jack Lord
2) David Hedison
3) Cecil
4) John Terry (awful)

On the audio commentary for Dr No, i think it was mentioned that certain production members were worried that Jack Lord would overshadow Sean Connery. Maybe this is why he didn't return in future films.

Cecil (GF) whilst not that bad, was a very odd choice. Like others have mentioned he seems far too old to have had a prior rappor with Connery's 007.

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

Well he was just his usual menacing self prior to meeting Bond, but always the one cracking jokes "Hey Quarrel if you see a dragon..."

True, but he still seemed a bit uptight to me. He's still my number 2.

[Righty007]

Maybe this is why he didn't return in future films.

He didn't return because Eon refused to pay him the same amount of money as Connery. I think Lord was a little full of himself.

[Colossus]

Like the same thing with Connery after YOLT
who cares he was the best Leiter and really if he were to be in more the only ones he could be in would be Goldfinger and Thunderball for better continuity

[Red Grant 15]

I like Jack Lord, but I think David Hedison was more like the Felix in the books.

[Qwerty]

Maybe this is why he didn't return in future films.

He didn't return because Eon refused to pay him the same amount of money as Connery.

Really?

[Michigansoftball#1]

Maybe this is why he didn't return in future films.

He didn't return because Eon refused to pay him the same amount of money as Connery.

Really?

I've also heard that Felix was played by different actors in subsequent movies (except in the case of Hedison) precisely so that he would not overshadow 007.

[Qwerty]

Not a single vote for Linder or Burton. I would have at least thought that Linder would have pulled a few.

[Turn]

Not a single vote for Linder or Burton. I would have at least thought that Linder would have pulled a few.

No surprise there, Qwerty. They are the two worst, IMO, because they seem to fit that stereotype somebody mentioned that older, heavier Leiters were cast sometimes to make Bond appear younger and better looking, which I suspect meant more in a film like DAF, where Connery wasn't looking his best.

[Michigansoftball#1]

Linder and Burton are usually referenced as the weakest of the Leiters....I read one reviewer refer to Linder as acting more like a friendly uncle than a buddy (I forget where). Personally I am surprised that John Terry pulled in a vote since it was such a small role in that film.

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]Having re-watched Never Say Never Again I realise that the Bernie Casey/Sean Connery combo is the only Leiter/Bond combo that truly captures the chemistry of the friendship. You truly believe these guys are old friends, not just guys who

[Michigansoftball#1]

[quote name='Mister Asterix' date='30 September 2005 - 11:27'][mra]Having re-watched Never Say Never Again I realise that the Bernie Casey/Sean Connery combo is the only Leiter/Bond combo that truly captures the chemistry of the friendship. You truly believe these guys are old friends, not just guys who

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

[quote name='Mister Asterix' date='30 September 2005 - 14:27'][mra]Having re-watched Never Say Never Again I realise that the Bernie Casey/Sean Connery combo is the only Leiter/Bond combo that truly captures the chemistry of the friendship. You truly believe these guys are old friends, not just guys who

[Flash1087]

Hedison and Burton are my favorites. Yeah, Burton.

Terry is my absolute least favorite, he really can't act, there's no chemistry between him and Dalton, and he looks like he's 20!

[Qwerty]

Not a single vote for Linder or Burton. I would have at least thought that Linder would have pulled a few.

No surprise there, Qwerty.

I would have expected John Terry to be at the very bottom too.

[Flash1087]

I fixed that. I'm the one Burton vote.

[Qwerty]

Gotcha.

[hartley_bond]

Hedison is the best by far.
Lord was pretty good too.
Linder wasn't that good, but I'll put him third because I loved him as Inspector Cramer
Bernie Casey
Rick Van Nutter
Norman Burton



























John Terry

[FelixLeiterCIA]

Felix Leiter is my favorite supporting character in Fleming's novels. He has been horribly underutilized in the films. I am very pleased that the CIA agent from Texas will re-appear in "Casino Royale." I have my own perfect casting for Felix in the new film (Chris Isaak)...But I was wondering who was the fan favorite Felix from the previous films....For me, it is Rik Van Nutter in "Thunderball." Good-looking, tough, competent, Bond's equal in looks and coolness. And I even like John Terry in "The Living Daylights." Dalton/Bond seemed genuinely glad to see Felix ("Let's talk shop.")

So, I submit this question to Bond fandom: Who was your favorite Felix from the films and why?


(P.S. Oops! I see my topic was merged. Sorry. I didn't realize that had been a previous thread. My apologies).

Edited by FelixLeiterCIA, 03 February 2006 - 02:40 AM.

[dunmall]

Jack Lord,
but equal second for Rik Van Nutter and David Hedison

[Qwerty]

Topics merged.

[Publius]

I like David Hedison the best as Felix, but prefer his LALD performance to that in LTK. I also like Jack Lord and Rik Van Nutter in the role, in their own respective ways.

[Double-Oh Agent]

Maybe this is why he didn't return in future films.

He didn't return because Eon refused to pay him the same amount of money as Connery.

Really?

I've heard this too.