Since the release of Casino Royale in 2006, Daniel Craig’s gritty portrayal of the world’s most famous superspy has received almost universal acclaim.
“He's made the part his own, every inch the coolly ruthless agent-cum-killer, nursing a broken heart and coldly suppressed rage,” writes Peter Bradshaw, reviewing Craig's second outing Quantum of Solace in London's The Guardian.
Twenty years ago, in 1989, another actor playing 007 was also pretty good at supressing rage, as he set out on a mission for revenge.
The First "Realistic" Bond
Timothy Dalton was born in Wales in 1946. After attending the famous RADA acting academy, he went on to appear in numerous plays and films, developing a reputation as a fine Shakespearian actor. He had turned down the role of 007 three times, for various reasons, before finally accepting it in 1986.
His first film The Living Daylights, released in 1987, was a huge success, with many critics crediting him for saving a franchise that had arguably begun to look tired.
“After the camp super-heroics of Roger Moore's run, The Living Daylights is refreshingly down-to-earth… A pure back-to-basics action-adventure spy drama which mostly delivers,” writes Tom Coates on the BBC film website.
Whereas Moore had played Bond with a light-hearted touch, Dalton returned to Ian Flemming’s original novels to create a darker, more brooding character, a man-on-the-edge.
The follow up to The Living Daylights would see an even tougher portrayal.
Ahead of his Time?
Many fans and critics disliked 1989's Licence to Kill because of its serious tone and lack of humour. James Berardinelli, critic for Real Views writes: "Licence to Kill may be taut and gripping, but it's not traditional Bond, and that, as much as any other reason, may explain the public's rejection." The idea of revenge was later used as the basis of the plot for Quantum of Solace.
Give the People What They Want
The poor box-office showing of LTK is perhaps part of the reason why the next four films included more traditionally "Bondian" elements, such as tongue-in-cheek humour and exagerrated, over-the-top stunts.
Who could imagine Timothy Dalton straightening his tie underwater, like Pierce Brosnan did in The World is not Enough? for example, or driving an invisible car, like the Irishman did in Die Another Day?
The World is Ready
Fast forward to 2006 and the Bourne films have completely revolutionised the spy genre. Unbelievable storylines and over-the-top set pieces have been replaced by gritty, bone-crunching fight scenes and credible plot-twists.
Now, the post-9/11 world was ready for a more "human" James Bond. The opening secene of Casino Royale where Daniel Craig's pumped-up action hero ruthlessly disposes of a man in a toilet showed that this Bond meant business.
The reviews for Casino Royale were similar to those of The Living Daylights, crediting Daniel Craig with "saving the franchise" just as Dalton had supposedly done 20 years earlier.
Although Dalton's Bond continus to be unpopular (in a recent poll on http://www.jamesbondwiki.com/page/Poll+Results?t=anon, he received just 4.3% of the vote, second to last behind George Lazenby, who finished on 2.4%), there are people who are starting to re-evaluate his role in bringing the series back to reality.
Time for Re-Evaluation?
A quick search on Facebook, for example, leads to a wealth of pro-Dalton groups. "Timothy Dalton: the Best James Bond," "Timothy Dalton: the Most Underrated James Bond," they proudly proclaim.
Totally unsuitable as James Bond, or hard realism 20 years too soon? Pour yourself a Vodka Martini, watch Dalton's two films back-to-back and decide for yourself.
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