Working with Bond, James Bond
An Interview with Living Daylights Actor, Frederick Warder
Sep 6, 2009
In the James Bond film, The Living Daylights, the character of 004 is sent plunging to his death while scaling The Rock of Gibralter. The MI6 training exercise, in which 007 and 002 are also participating, is cut short by a Russian assassin who sends a note down 004`s rope before ruthlessly severing it. The message was simple: "Death to Spies."
The expression on the face of classically-trained actor, Timothy Dalton, in reacting to the sudden demise of his colleague, is both believable and heartfelt and sets the scene for arguably one of the best and most convincing films of the entire series.
The Living Daylights
What does Mr. Warder remember about The Living Daylights?
"Well, before the 'Bond Circus', Tim and I worked on Flash Gordon," he replies, "so meeting up again on Gibraltar was great for me, having never met a James Bond."
"It was meant to be a huge secret who the next 007 was going to be," he continues," so the three of us were driven in a blacked-out limousine, one by one, up to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar on roads only suitable for jeeps. That's showbiz!"
The Pressures of Being 007
How did Timothy feel about taking over the role?
"He was more nervous about how to deliver those famous words...'the name's Bond, James Bond' than anything else," recalls Warder, "so he decided to 'throw it away',whilst doing some made-up action."
"Tim was in a great position to change 007 after Roger Moore" he adds. "Just by saying the lines seriously was a radical step forward."
Timothy Dalton's Legacy as James Bond
Why does Mr. Warder think that Timothy Dalton is constantly overlooked whenever the lists of the "best Bonds" are compiled?
"Unfairly, Timothy's Bond was labelled dull and lacking 'humour' and far too serious," he says. "After his second Bond film his portayal was deemed far too violent and 'unsuitable', whatever THAT means."
"Now that we have the killing machine portayal by Daniel Craig, you could say that Tim was ahead of his time, but he opened the door for the next two actors."
An Unforgettable Experience
How does it feel, 22 years later, to have been a part of something as popular as James Bond?
"I loved working on The Living Daylights and being on board the Bond Experience is something I'll always treasure, despite tumbling to my death in the first five minutes."
"Needless to say my attempts to persuade the director to film a rather dusty 004 shaking his fist up towards the Russian agent after falling 1500 feet failed miserably."
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