Uncovering Timothy Dalton's Lost 3rd Bond Film

[@R1ch4d8]

"I am now become part of a rather wonderful history". The way Dalton said that with real fondness and enthusiasm really warmed my heart.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Same here

[@cinemaarts8795]

Gotta give Dalton respect for turning down the role at first because he felt he was too young. His dedication to the character was very admirable.

[@R1ch4d8]

@@cinemaarts8795 Aw absolutely. Genuinely putting the character first. And him a young, hungry actor looking for big opportunities too.

[@markedlitz7703]

He is a wonderful ambassador of the series. He doesn't go on many chat shows to discuss it. But when he does, he does it with reverence.

[@HandofOmega]

According to Sylvester McCoy (the seventh Doctor Who), he and Dalton were both young, out of work actors sharing a flat at one point! Then, their fortunes turned, and each wound up with one of THE most iconic roles in British fiction...😁

[@blowfishes]

It amazes me how Dalton’s take on Bond was so many years ahead of its time. A different decade and he would be lauded for his portrayal. License to Kill is still my favourite Bond film to date, though many are extremely close.

[@adriansherman3290]

I thought Roger Moore retired because they wanted to take the franchise in a different direction, and his age of course. Bond died after Tomorrow Never Dies.

[@hafabee]

Licence to Kill is my favourite Bond movie as well. It's excellent 80's cheese and I love all the characters in it, most of all Dalton's portrayal of a James Bond gone rogue.

[@bartsullivan4866]

I really enjoyed both his films as Bond just to bad he didn't get 1 or 2 more before Brosnan.

[@adriansherman3290]

Dalton was a very good actor. If all had gone to plan he'd have had 2 more Bonds. As it was there was a 6 year hiatus. Living Daylights is like a modern FRWL.@@bartsullivan4866

[@manoman0]

Dalton? Best Bond ever. Hands down.

[@GuyWebz]

I have a soft spot for Timothy Dalton as James Bond, he was a faithful embodiment of the true cold-blooded James Bond as per Ian Fleming’s original vision for the character. He was very much of a precursor to Daniel Craig in a way

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

💯

[@jaymcd8577]

Yea Dalton played it straight, Brosnon played it Rodger Moore style which made a nice segway back to a serious Bond again with Craig

[@Mark-lj1dj]

Both of his are in my top 3 favourites. Never made a bad one. All other Bonds made at least one (except Lazenby)

[@jinoziniosti5633]

Craigs a fine actor but his Bond movies are shite.

[@zigbingham6086]

Licence to Kill is one of my favourite bond films.

[@Zamppa86]

That third Dalton Bond would have been a blast to see. Dalton is criminally underrated as a Bond actor, I really liked his much more serious minded and coldblooded style to play the character after the much more humoristic Moore version. Add Anthony Hopkins as the villain and that movie would definitely have been a big success.

[@user-yl1xy5eg7b]

Definitely underrated. Definitely.

[@markedlitz7703]

There are actually two different versions of his third. One is an action comedy and the other is a techno thriller.

[@MissR-hn8be]

💯💯💯

[@KimBailey-w2g]

Missed opportunity😢

[@ILKEFLOZ]

Anthony Hopkins was offered a role as villain Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies but he refused, stating he's not interested. Funny thing is Anthony Hopkins once played a spy in movie which is set to replaced Bond series but the movie failed. One of the best spy thriller of the 70s.

[@ericcorley1160]

Nice video. Dalton's Bond films were ahead of their time. Fans didn't care for a serious Bond at the time. Skip 20 years later, and Fans loved the Daniel Craig Bond films.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks and agreed. Fans I guess weren’t ready for it then.

[@mikekaraoke]

You say that, but The Living Daylights + Licence to Kill were both hits at the box office, then rentals on VHS/Betamax + LaserDisc, and then later to buy etc so some were ready!

[@ysthafellgynghori8423]

The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill tanked at the box office. Stop rewriting history please. I'm a Bond fan and I hated the Daniel Craig films.

[@gb1967.]

@@ysthafellgynghori8423they did not tank, they may have been among the lower earning films of the series, but they both still made a fairly hefty profit, many tens of millions worldwide, bearing in mind this was 30 odd years ago, so when adjusted for inflation that figure would look pretty dam good

[@juliangrant9718]

It happenes when you marathon the series. I can't explain it. There's something that happens when you arrive at License to Kill. It just feels so different. You really didn't know you wanted Bond vs Scarface until they give it to you. There's just something about the series when it arrives at that film. Not so much Living Daylights for another reason I can't explain. Maybe because it has a bit of villain issue and gets a bit messy with Afghanistan, maybe it just feels like there's too many ideas. License to Kill is very contained. They pull their punches and try to keep it insular to this one story.

[@RichardM-kv4uu]

I do wish we'd had another Dalton Bond film, but can't blame him for not wanting to do another 5! Great video as always!

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks!

[@thelostadventuresofjamesbo5182]

That wasn't totally his decision. MGM also wanted a new face. But Cubby was loyal and wanted him back for a third.

[@willdobson7351]

"In a word - No" Absolute gold. Dalton was hugely underrated, and far more like the Fleming character than Rog or Pierce.

[@prussianpolydactyl836]

Licence To Kill is one of my 2 favourite Bond films. Can't really spit it with Diamonds Are Forever.

[@jackwest3282]

I always saw Roger Moore's Bond as the Adam West Batman of the James Bond series of Films. Cheesy goodness, that you just never took seriously, but also enjoyed all the eye candy he brought to the screen via the femme fatales as well as lovers of the character. Two different characters yet same level of cheesiness, when I go back and watch Moore's bond...I have expect him to start doing the Bat-toosey. lol

[@markedlitz7703]

I like that different actors bring different energy. It would grow stale if they were all cut from the same cloth.

[@sporkfindus4777]

Roger Moore was fantastic

[@YtuserSumone-rl6sw]

Entertainment value, no.1: Roger Moore Close to original character, no.1: Timothy Dalton As interesting and with the depth of Barbie's Ken, no.1: Pierce Brosnan

[@afterhourscinema782]

Imagine being offered the role of a lifetime and turning it down multiple times because you're too young and respect the character. Now THAT'S a dedicated actor.

[@chris56269]

Dalton is probably my favourite Bond. Nothing against the other Bond actors, writers, directors or producers but Dalton's Bond was the first Bond that felt serious and had real depth, yes he could be charming but he was a dangerous man doing a dangerous job. I'd have loved to have seen more films with Dalton in the role.

[@johnnyjensen8805]

Agree

[@rohanmarkjay]

Me too Dalton was far better than Brosnan in the role. If truth be said, Dalton and Lazenby were the best Bonds in the entire franchise because they were the only two actors who wanted to play Bond faithful to the Books. While the others decided to ditch the Bond of the Books. Dalton and Lazenby bravely decided to play the serious Bond of the Books knowing full well. Audiences might like the Books interpretation of Bond. Shame that Dalton and Lazenby only got few Bond movies to do.

[@chris56269]

@@rohanmarkjay I'll be completely honest. I own a few of the Bond books but have never found the time to read them. That said, I've had a lot of conversations with those that have and I've seen several video essays and I agree with you that Dalton definitely seems the closest to the books. I've never had a problem with books differing from what ends up on screen so long as it's entertaining and even though Dalton is my favourite, I like the Bond movies, they're often great entertainment. I really enjoyed Goldeneye and still want that to exist but I definitely wanted more Dalton.

[@rafaelsays175]

Dalton is the best Bond so far and very true to Ian Fleming’s creation. Licence to Kill is seriously underrated.

[@starsiegeplayer]

License to Kill was what Man with the Golden Gun should have been.

[@nathanjames1142]

Love Dalton. His two films are in the five Bond films I'll still watch.

[@jf_c137]

He's my favorite Bond: the tortured one.

[@decimustv4257]

What better than Connery? LOLLLLLLL are you real!!!! Dam I have seen some stupid comments in my life, but this one has to take the cake. LOL, Dam you are funny dude.

[@rafaelsays175]

@@decimustv4257 lol it's obvious you haven't read any of Ian Fleming's books. In fact, Fleming was appalled that Connery was selected and called him the opposite of Bond. Ps...read some books....it's good for you.

[@powerwagon1897]

Dalton has always been my favorite Bond......would love to have seen more 007 movies with him

[@brianegendorf2023]

I never understood why people didn't like Timothy Dalton as Bond. I actually liked the idea of a grittier Bond. And in License to Kill he was brutal in his revenge quest. That was a side of Bond I was "all on board" for. The funny thing is, I was in Israel on vacation when the Living Daylights came out..and while everyone else on my tour went to Disengoff Street that day.. I went to see the movie, and loved it!

[@nuntana2]

He was really good. Put him second to Craig.

[@sleepinggorilla]

When I was a kid I did not understand Daltons take on Bond. Now License to Kill is one of my favorite Bond films and I wish Dalton had done more. Dalton in general is a great actor.

[@thelostadventuresofjamesbo5182]

I think that has to do with when you were introduced to the films. People initially resisted Moore because he wasn't like Connery. Then they resisted Dalton because he wasn't Moore. But I'm with you. Dalton is great.

[@philipgriffiths3106]

​@thelostadventuresofjamesbo5182 I think you have said something that hits the nail on the head. I grew up with Roger Moore & struggled to appreciate Dalton until I was older. Then I found Moore's take almost childish compared to Dalton. Connery will always be on a pedestal with many, because he was the first but that doesn't mean he was really the best portrayal against the books. For me Craig & Dalton are the best portrayals, but Moore & Brosnan will be the best for those who rate the humour side over grit. So my rating would be Dalton & Craig in top spot, followed by Moore, Connery & Brosnan joint second. Then below that is Lazenby... in my view, way below.. great plot but I have never felt he portrayed the role well enough for either grit or humour

[@winny8420]

I think one reason people weren't overjoyed with Dalton as Bond is because he wasn't womanizer like Connery & Bond only slept with one per each film, of course both his films were great. I suppose they had to tone down the sexual element of the films because of AIDS Epidemic at that time.

[@findJLF]

Dalton is possibly my favourite Bond - I think with a third movie, Dalton would have broken the ice and make a fourth and fifth. It's our loss that the third Dalton movie was never made. This was a wonderful summary of the movie that "could have been". I really wish we could get a copy of this screenplay as well. I can't believe Dalton didn't want to do more.... what a shame. Brosnan did a great job with most of his movies... however some production aspects let him and the franchise down.

[@mohammedashian8094]

He did want to do only one more but cubby said you have to do more because of the time gap but he didn’t want to make that commitment because he didn’t want to overstay his welcome (unlike Roger who REALLY looked way out of place in the 80s) which honestly I applaud him for that and I would’ve done the same thing I would only do it for 3 movies and leave so it be something that I love doing and not that I have to do it because my contract says I have to

[@Curarkaig]

I always felt Timothy Dalton was the best Bond of the pre-Craig era, the audience just wasn’t ready for his interpretation. I wish we got one more movie with Dalton but I wouldn’t have liked such a dramatic tonal shift as this script.

[@fletchbg]

I agree. As a big fan of the two Dalton films, I'm glad this third film didnt get made considering how silly it sounds like it wouldve been. If we couldnt have gotten a third film with the same tone as the first two, dalton's legacy is best left standing on the two we got.

[@KnifePhD73]

This script sounds wild af. I cannot even imagine Dalton getting caught up in such a mess.

[@aaronleverton4221]

It would have been toned down in the filming and editing of it. After all, they filmed the magic carpet escape for Living Daylights, but cut it out of the final print.

[@КурочкаКрашена]

I think his two Bond entries are the best ones - I can't believe that Licence to Kill is the lowest grossing Bond film - it's easily one of the best. To think that Diamonds are Forever, Octopussy, Quantum of Solace and any of the Brosnan ones after Goldeneye did better than it is such a poor reflection of the cinema-going public.

[@andybrady2964]

LtK was a 15 certificate in UK. I had seen Moore's last 3 and TLD at the cinema but was too young to see this one. It's probably a big reason why the box office was lower and no other Bond has had 15 certificate before or since. It wasn't a family friendly film. The original cut was rated R for America, and even with editing of some violent scenes was still PG13. Dalton was awesome and I'm glad he didn't do what sounds like a very poor third film.

[@jonathancampbell5231]

Licence to Kill suffered from a more adult rating as well as serious competition at the box office that summer (Batman, Leathal Weapon 2 etc), plus reportedly poor marketing on the part of a studio executive who didn't care for Bond, and that's the main reason it failed- a lot of fans have since come round and consider it one of the best Bond movies in terms of actual quality, and definitely the most intense. I'm glad this movie wasn't made to be honest- Dalton deserved a third movie, but this one sounded silly.

[@JayTemple]

Viewed by itself as just A movie, Licence was a good movie. I just didn't care for it as an entry in the Bond film, precisely because he's not on a mission.

[@fletchbg]

Oh he was on a mission all right, it just wasnt given to him by M.

[@j.st.jamesesq.9599]

I can attest to the lack of marketing for LTK . I worked at an ABC television affiliate in a major U.S. market that summer, and there were only 4 (4!) commercials that aired to promote the film. I don’t think the other movies released at the time hurt Bond’s chances for better success. Bond shouldn’t worry about “Batman,” or “Lethal Weapon,” etc. Those movies should worry about Bond.

[@juliangrant9718]

The marketing was gross on License to Kill. I'm still sore about that photoshop poster. Minimal effort possible. Worst Bond poster to one of the best Bond films.

[@juliangrant9718]

@@JayTemple he's on a personal mission. Mission of revenge. What makes it awesome is that he doesn't have MI6 at his disposal. He has to use his wits. And what makes it hard is how much Bond starts to respect the villains ideals on loyalty while MI6 kinda screwed him. He can identity with a scumbag.

[@Embur12]

Brosnan getting older and not looking like a skinny kid was perfect, plus he got the Golden Eye script which is one of the best plots in the series. I liked Timothy Dalton and thought he did a great job as Bond.

[@southlondon86]

When did he look like a skinny kid in the Remington era?

[@Embur12]

@southlondonguy1986 The entire run on the show, he was maybe a size 42 jacket.

[@SyndicateSuperman]

Brosnan actually was both the lightest and heaviest actor (body weight wise) during his time as Bond. He weighed 165 lbs during GoldenEye and 225 lbs during Die Another Day.

[@Aspectus]

So many people feel they need to choose a favorite Bond. I feel lucky to see so many wonderful interpretations of Bond.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Good point! Lots of great interpretations.

[@sporkfindus4777]

Yeah, nicely said 👌

[@ahlads]

I love Roger Moore and Timothy Daltons Bond movies because I grew up in that era. I think that's the key to everyone's favourite Bond.

[@Saltybuher]

I love Dalton’s speech patterns and voice. A great Bond.

[@1967SPAWN]

Whenever I read a Bond nocel, its always Dalton I see in my mind. He nailed it. The problem is that the books and films became two separate entities with different expectations.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Yeah many don’t realize this but a bunch of the iconic stuff from the movies was changed from the books

[@AndyJay1985]

Dalton said it best in the Everything or Nothing documentary, "This is terrible. I can't bring my 6 and 7 year olds to see this. Bond wasn't made for 6 and 7 year olds!"

[@clodualdobbeojr5744]

Perhaps like a true theater actor, Dalton was challenged to bring Bond to what Fleming originally envisioned. But after decades of making Bond a super spy caricature, it was difficult for EON to create a serious, realistic spy thriller. Worse is that due to Brosnan's popularity ( everyone being familiar Brosnan's similar type of genre) there is an expectancy and urgency for Brosnan to succeed the Bond Connery and Moore has created.

[@Norvik_-ug3ge]

​@@AndyJay1985That's true, in terms of the books, but the movies were marketed to those kids, and to teens as much as adult men. And the books were read by all too. I went to see Moonraker, aged 7, and loved it, for example. Fleming did not like his books being read by young boys and teens and wrote The Spy Who Loved Me novel deliberately as something they would hate, he thought. As an adult I see lots of things 'wrong' with James Bond as a character, and there's also the weirdness of making an early 1950s character, who is essentially still a pre war sort of person fit into the contemporary world. Bond looked so out of place in Harlem in Live and Let Die because that social history was totally absent from the Bond movies. I shall shut up now.😂

[@simonbutterfield4860]

@@Bulletsandblockbusters this! The scene in Licence to Kill where Bond finds Felix with the note saying "he disagreed with something that ate him" was lifted from the Live and Let Die book.

[@markgarrison7722]

I always assumed Goldeneye was written with Dalton in mind, given its somewhat darker tone and the running theme of Bond starting to get older. Interesting to see what might have been.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

An early draft of goldeneye was for dalton.

[@AnkitSingh-xl6pt]

GOLDENEYE was indeed written with Dalton in mind. The plot was much more darker and personal. The film's main antagonist was originally named Augustus Trevelyan, Bond's mentor when he was recruited into the MI:6 from the Navy. Trevelyan defected to the Soviet Union with secrets from the financial intelligence and just after the end of the Cold War he planned a cybernetic attack on the WTC in New York. Trevelyan in this script was originally meant to be played by Sir Anthony Hopkins

[@markedlitz7703]

He needed another film to be better established for the general public.

[@markedlitz7703]

There were many versions of GoldenEye. Some were written with Dalton in mind and some were written with a generic Bond in mind. With the understanding that the final decision would be made later. Cubby wanted Dalton. MGM wanted to start fresh.

[@bofo85]

Damn shame we never got a third Bond film with Dalton. He was great as Bond and his films were ahead of its time. License To Kill is one of my favorite Bond movies

[@thelostadventuresofjamesbo5182]

They had plans for a third and a fourth!

[@YtuserSumone-rl6sw]

What made it even more sad was the decision to make Plastic Piece Brosnan into James Bond.

[@chaddelk3605]

Timothy Dalton's take on James Bond is more appreciated now than in the late 1980s.

[@kennyj43]

Agreed. I've always thought it was a pity that he did not get any more. This video explains why that did not happen but I think Dalton had the right approach to playing the character, and I think he did great job in both films. I guess he was ahead of his time because Daniel Craig's approach is quite similar, and properly celebrated for it, and I think he, too, is a terrific Bond, despite being blonde :)

[@JAY-JAY74]

I loved Dalton’s Bond because it was believable. The intensity of his acting and the storyline made his movies timeless.

[@dustingmyguitars]

Dalton is my favorite Bond!! Intimidating and charming at the same time

[@chloeirnes]

Me, too! He was and still is the best Bond! Looking forward to seeing who is next!

[@partyboi8773]

Dalton's Bond movies aren't my favorite Bond movies, but Dalton is my all-time favorite Bond. I think he captured the character better than anyone ever has, even though the scripts he had to work with weren't the best. The Living Daylights mainly suffered from having an unmemorable, uninteresting villain; he needed a Goldfinger or a Blofeld to play against, or a Jaws/Oddjob/Red Grant, and without the sparks of that type of clash he couldn't truly shine. The opening teaser of Living Daylights is probably my favorite part of the film, and maybe my favorite of all the Bond opening sequences. As for Brosnan, he's charming as hell, but when he's playing the harder-edged, scenes, to me he always feels like an actor trying to play a tough guy. When Dalton plays those scenes, I find the look in his eye utterly convincing. Dalton's Bond really was ahead of its time, laying the groundwork for the more hard-edged Bourne movies which then paved the way for Daniel Craig's grittier Bond. But during Dalton's era, audiences and critics were used to the cartoonish Roger Moore 007, or other more over-the-top 80s action heroes, and just weren't ready for it.

[@richardsculley67]

Watched Licence to Kill recently and you realise now how good Dalton was and how good that film was

[@KimBailey-w2g]

It’s just sad that now he’s getting the recognition that he deserves when he should’ve got a long time ago and as I say I’ve seen it recently and it is a Jem of a film. I would’ve loved to of seen another movie out of him, but it is what it is and when I watched it again, I was literally in tears because right then and there there is our bond.

[@iansands8607]

2 or 3 more Bond films with Timothy Dalton would have been great, he was the perfect as James Bond.

[@cooperwolfe5478]

I agree. Honestly he’s my favorite Bond and i find it said that it took people a long time to realize how great he was as Bond.

[@aaronleverton4221]

Three would have been stretching it. He was 43 when he made Licence to Kill. He'd have been 48 making 17/Property. At a two year gap between films that would have made him 52 come film 19, which is Roger Moore territory for FYEO, Octopussy and Dalton would have wanted to steer well clear of comparisons to A View to a Kill.

[@ER1CwC]

⁠@@cooperwolfe5478 I think Dalton was weighed down by the fans’ attachment to (what I see as the ridiculous) Roger Moore formula. My father came of age during the Roger Moore generation, and the general complaint I have heard amounts to “Dalton was not Moore - not confident, nonchalant, and suave enough.” There was also a complaint that the post-Cold War villains were not strong enough. My father loves the Brosnan Bond films because (I think) they effectively amount to the Roger Moore Era Part II. I hate both Moore eras.

[@KimBailey-w2g]

@@ER1CwC and the only reason why that more of a longer run is because he knew I in Fleming and broccoli and in my opinion, they should put their foot down and said no I mean 14 years is too much and you’re right about Brosnan

[@markedlitz7703]

If you're curious to learn more , I wrote a book on this. It's called The Lost Adventures of James Bond. It covers Dalton's 3rd and 4th unmade Bond.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Whoa! Thats amazing. Thanks for sharing!

[@thelostadventuresofjamesbo5182]

So many plans. They just scratched the surface of what they hoped to do with him!

[@KimBailey-w2g]

How can I get this book I would like to read it

[@davidgifford8112]

If you’re a purist (read at least a few Fleming novels) Dalton got closest to Bond as portrayed in the books. “Property of a Lady” was also a genuine Fleming story, which makes it authentic to me. As such I would have liked to seen it with Dalton. Bronson never felt right, simply not dark or ruthless enough for me!

[@Laukki]

Dalton 🤩 my absolute favourite! He truly was ahead of his time and should have had at least one picture more like in his contract but in these days I'm just glad he did at least two, which are excellent 👌 thx for this video!

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

My pleasure

[@cp070476]

Solid Bond. Timothy was class! Deadly serious, a change from Rogers comedy Bond.

[@CRITTERBUSTERS]

Timothy Dalton was a brilliant bond and his films stand the test of time better than most of Moore and Brosnan’s films. The third Dalton film had two completed scripts, one that was more comedic and another that was serious but not as serious as Licence to Kill. The latter one was written by Michael G Wilson and Alphonse Ruggerio, this one was the one I feel would’ve been the one that got the balance right and Dalton would’ve probably went out with a warmer reception. At least now he gets the credit he deserves.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

💯

[@fletchbg]

That Wilson/Ruggerio script I wouldve liked to have seen made, but it was good they didnt try to get 6 or 7 entries out of Dalton like they did with Moore.

[@CRITTERBUSTERS]

@@fletchbg Dalton should’ve gotten 2 more or at the very least 1 more, it would’ve been a tidy trilogy. Upon reading the outline that Ruggerio wrote I am convinced it would’ve been great, maybe they could’ve dropped the idea of the female cyborg and it would’ve been perfect.

[@CRITTERBUSTERS]

@MagicCarpetRideShareProject Yeah, in a way both Dalton and Brosnan were kinda wasted in different ways. Dalton was given a raw deal with his contract and Brosnan was given a bad deal with his scripts.

[@dc8rdecoded]

Great video! The only thing is that I recall reading that Dalton was asked before Brosnan was, he said no, they went for Brosnan, the Remington Steele fiasco happened and we landed where we were. While the hiatus prevented us from having another Dalton film, I think it helped revitalize Bond for the modern era as the crew was still the same one that made the Moore films, so fresh blood was needed all over the production, which enabled Goldeneye to succeed.

[@jamesrael9557]

Really great visual accompaniment to your description of the proposed film. A++

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thank you very much!

[@mitrooper]

Dalton will always be to ultimate Bond.

[@FloridaTrailStompers]

Great video. Just watched both Dalton films this past week. Still love them. Always wanted more from Dalton. Never knew there was a 3rd one in the works. Hoping the filmmakers go back to the original “universe” of Bond and not do another reset.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks! Rumour has it Nolan is going to do a period piece

[@Norvik_-ug3ge]

I don't know if you have read the Anthony Horowitz Bond continuation novels, but he said when interviewed about his last book, that he would like to see the Bond movies remade but set in their original time period. Interesting, but I don't think it will happen.

[@FloridaTrailStompers]

@@Norvik_-ug3ge yeah don’t think it will happen too. I’m a huge fan of the franchise. I accepted Daniel Craig, and I understand why Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson went the route they did. Cheesy as it would be, and a slap to intelligence and the movie going audience, they could open up the next Bond as he was doing a VR training and the last 5 films were training materials and he failed the training by dying. Wishful thinking. So the filmmakers have two ways of going, well they could go three ways, but two are their only options now, one, have a new 007, James Bond is now a “code name.” That would carry on the Daniel Craig timeline. Two, totally reboot the franchise, again. New timeline, new Bond altogether. Or three, make it like these 5 movies were part of a VR training and reestablish the original timeline, or four, just ignore these 5 movies altogether and pick up from Brosnan’s timeline or Bond, but with a new actor in place. All just my two cents

[@johnwells5414]

Timothy Dalton was always a favorite of mine! If a View to a Kill was his first Bond film it would have been a much better movie!

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

I agree, if Timothy Dalton had become James Bond sooner, and Licence To Kill was his third movie I think that audiences would have warmed up to him.

[@jimmydyne]

I think Lewis Collins should have been Bond for VTAK.

[@BezoRazo]

Based on his Bond performances, I used to think that Timothy Dalton just couldn't do comedy, but that opinion changed when I saw him many years later in Hot Fuzz :)

[@basscot17]

Thanks for the video! I do want to point out some errors: the movie was never going to be called Property of a lady, that's just an internet myth. Secondly, this screenplay is the first version of a 3rd Dalton movie. However, they scrapped this script and started doing a completely new one which turned into Goldeneye. Goldeneye was originally meant to feature Dalton. Officially, Dalton deopped out by early 1994, and Brosnan was hired 2 months later in April 1994. The Bond of Goldeneye certainly has many tropes of Dalton's version, even if Goldeneye is slightly more outlandish than License to kill

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks! And you’re absolutely right which is why in the video I made a point to say “tentatively” titled as they were throwing around a bunch of different titles at the time and certainly hadn’t settled on one. And the story I discuss in the film is the third draft of Bond 17 that would’ve been made before the production stalled due to legal disputes. When things picked up again they began developing what would become the GoldenEye script.

[@basscot17]

@@Bulletsandblockbusters fair! It's very hard to condense an unmade movie to 10 minutes and I understand the need to explain things concisely, I appreciate what you guys are doing

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

100% and thank you!!!

[@nick6var]

​@@BulletsandblockbustersI do remember that there was a delay in Goldeneye's production due to similarities between the script and True Lies. Was this true? Maybe there's enough material for another video. Great job!

[@davidjames579]

​@@nick6var Seeing the True Lies clip here as Bond uses the jet to kill the villain in a skyscraper makes me wonder if that would also have been in GoldenEye.

[@buchanan8624]

License to Kill was easily one of the best Bond films. In the top 5 for sure. The Dalton films had a tough, gritty realism to them. Brosnan's films' plots were somewhat over the top, and from what I recall relied too much on action scene after action scene, explosions, special effects, etc. Became a bit tedious after a while and I found myself tuning out. I grew up with the Roger Moore films. They provided a kind of pleasing familiarity and were products of a simpler time. Moore was always fun and enjoyable to watch, if not an outstanding actor or the most realistic Bond.

[@cinemaarts8795]

I would've loved to see Timothy Dalton in a straight-up adaptation of an Ian Flemming book. As much as I appreciate what he tried to do, I feel that Dalton came in too little too late, the audience (and I get the sense the people behind the scenes) weren't ready for a gritty Bond at the time.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Or possibly too early

[@cinemaarts8795]

@@Bulletsandblockbusters I meant Dalton's age when I said too late.

[@markedlitz7703]

His fourth film would have been pure Fleming. Not an adaptation but clearly inspired.

[@Des_Zee]

Nice video. Having grown up watching the Roger Moore Bond films, they were starting to get a little silly and goofy so the Dalton films seemed to bring them back to a more serious tone. I love both Dalton Bond films with 'Licence to Kill' being my favorite.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks!

[@TrentPruitt1997]

Nice work, now could you do George Lazenby’s Diamonds Are Forever?

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Eventually!

[@TrentPruitt1997]

@@Bulletsandblockbusterscool. Looking forward to it, whenever that happens.

[@brandonspain12345]

Oh wow! A perfect video to upload on my birthday! 😊

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Happy birthday!

[@reznik232]

I don't know if it's your way of describing things mate but every one of your videos since day one makes the "what could have been" sound so much more interesting than what we actually got!

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks!

[@Man-From-Another-Place]

I agree. The third Dalton Bond film sounds like it would've been ridiculously entertaining.

[@bensneb360]

Timothy Dalton is the most underrated James Bond, and I would have loved to see him get a third film, especially if Anthony Hopkins was the villain... at least we got Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye, not a bad substitute

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Agreed

[@johnclements6070]

My personal favourite Bond. I've read and own all the original Fleming books and TD was the most accurate and cold.

[@partyboi8773]

Yep, seems like a a lot of people who have read the books (myself included) prefer Dalton's Bond over any of the others.

[@markadams7597]

Dalton was the best bond ever! "Property of a Lady" would've been brilliant!! Thanks for posting... ("Living Daylights" was the best Bond film of all time...)

[@asifkhan4822]

Nice video of what could have been with Dalton's final Bond movie. Timothy Dalton provided the template for the serious Bond as played by Daniel Craig many years later. But Audiences weaned on the Roger Moore years just weren't ready for it in the 1980's. How ironic that audiences tastes changed when Craig played Bond as they were now ready for a more serious take on the character. Dalton was years ahead of his time, the fact that Dalton did want to reprise the role for a 3rd dispels the myth for years that it was because his contract was up and the legal dispute holding the film meant he wasn't interested. Dalton revealed recently years later in 2017 or 2018 that when he said he'd like to return that Cubby told him he would have to commit to 4-6 films at it had been to long a gap since 1989's Licence to Kill. This is what really turned Dalton off and he declined the offer to return leading the door open for Pierce Brosnan, who was originally the leading candidate to replace Moore initially but lost out because CBS producers renewed their 60 day option on his show Remington Steele

[@saladoc]

I freaking love your editing, you can almoust watch how the movie could be with how you fill the gaps with multiple movie scenes in a hilarious way like the freaking robot in rocky 4.😂

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Haha thanks!

[@TheUltramarine762]

Timothy Dalton was my favourite Bond, his films were much more grounded, darker and felt real. Too bad he never got to play another Bond film, but the script for this one sounds so goofy and Roger Moore style that I dont think Dalton could have pulled it off anyway. Him suddenly becoming a goofball in a totally bizarre and unrealistic plot from a darker, violent and more dynamic Bond with more realistic storylines would have also been awkward. But to date, Dalton's portrayal remains the best one.

[@buddylove346]

Good job on the video and that's coming from a BIG 007 Bond fan who's name is James.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks!

[@zacharyburau6657]

Good video, was curious if you’d do a bond video. Not sure if you’d ever do comedies but I remember reading they almost did a wedding crashers 2, Vince vaugh and owen Wilson were competing against Daniel Craig to crash weddings, might be an interesting video

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

I’ll look into it. Loved the first one!

[@ak47marx16]

This is the first time ever I have subscribed to a channel after it was asked in the video. For some reason, that was one of the best videos I have seen this year on youtube.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Welcome aboard! And thank you!!!

[@blowfishes]

I would love Dalton to return as the villain in a very gritty and intelligent Bond film. Hell, the whole Hong Kong concept could be brought back. I know they have already done the previous 00-Agent goes rogue in Goldeneye and Skyfall, but a truly calculating villain who despite having his plans foiled, manages to escape and continue to plan to destroy the Bond character would be perfect.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

I was thinking that too.

[@robotanv]

Great video. I loved the Timothy Dalton Bond Movies and am thoroughly relieved this third movie never happened!

[@Mark-lj1dj]

6:25 Hopkins as Trevelyan 😨 I really can't picture that. It would have been a very different character. Sir Anthony is great but he was never really an athletic actor. Sean Bean was perfect in Goldeneye 👌

[@markedlitz7703]

There was another version. A sort of prequel where Bond would have been paired with a senior agent. If you're curious, check out The Lost Adventures of James Bond. My book about unmade and forgotten Bond.

[@ractsninjas]

Dalton was a great bond. License to kill was great!

[@flashtheoriginal]

You state Licence to Kill (the most realistically violent Bond at that point) produced low profits adjusted for prevailing high inflation. Yes, it did at the time; because Dalton was dragging Bond out of expensive buffoonery into the genre of a dark, hardened, driven, killer. The Bond audience was looking for gadgets, big budget sensationalism and fun....but they got solid acting, plot and drama. I loved Dalton as 007. Born to play it, in the way Fleming had written the character. Casino Royale still stands as the best Bond movie, the best debut, with DC as the best Bond, but The Living Daylights is up there with the best of them all

[@MBDyson829]

I grew up in the Moore era, but I was a fan of Remington Steele. I wanted to see Brosnan as Bond when he had the near miss, and when he finally became Bond, it was perfect timing. He will always be my favorite Bond. "No more foreplay..."

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Same here

[@thereismoretothestory]

Excellent video. As a fan of the books I enjoyed Dalton's darker take on the character and felt it was closer to Fleming's concept. Some of the humor in the Moore series had almost become too cartoony. I was very disappointed when Dalton didn't come back, but now that I know the circumstances, I fully understand why he didn't. Having said that, I would not be at all put off if he came to the role as an old Bond, dealing with the effects of age. They could even take the humor of the age further by casting an older actress - someone in their sixties - as a "Bond girl". I would love to see them take the series back to Bond's origins, being recruited out of the Navy following world war 2, and have it take place in the fifties. It would also give them a chance to give smaller origin stories to both Q and M. Doing this would give the character of Bond the opportunity to be awed by the technology he is going to be using.

[@markedlitz7703]

The origin story idea was floated for Dalton's first. If you're curious, I get into it for my book The Lost Adventures of James Bond.

[@nfsm654]

I like to imagine the events of License to Kill really took it out of Dalton's Bond's soul, and following the "codename theory" he decided to retire and become a supermarket owner/manager in Sandford, Gloucestershire. Unfortunately, in this timeline, PTSD destroyed his better judgment and "Bond" (now Skinner) used the skills he learned at MI6 to facilitate a conspiracy with other like minded residents.

[@gungfugilman586]

It's a shame Dalton didn't get a trilogy he was really good in the role.

[@Johny40Se7en]

That's so cool. Timothy Dalton is my all time favourite Bond, with the Living Daylights being the respective film. Such a classic. And I truly love how John Barry's *Afghan Plan* is playing at 1:17, which fitting enough is my favourite track from the score of the aforementioned film. Gives me goosebumps everytime 🙂😊🥰 It's great how you put in clips from Broken Arrow and Chappie too, another couple of gems.

[@JLvatron]

I loved Living Daylights, the main cast and theme song were spot on. But License to Kill was too sad, with Felix and Teri from 3’s Company. I think Property of a Lady would have been a great Timothy film.

[@big_lolo_01]

Im glad we got Goldeneye over this movie. It doesnt seem like it would have been as good of a movie as we got. It also seems that it also over corrected Daltons seriousness by leaning into comedy too much.

[@tancreddehauteville764]

Dalton was my favourite Bond. Him and Lazenby were hugely underrrated.

[@Anthonycheesman2024]

I still wish he got a third bond movie . This movie sounded interesting anthony Hopkins as a Bond villain would have been amazing

[@davidl9507]

Very true, he did play the role like it was written in the Ian Fleming novels, that's why Timothy Dalton is my favorite James Bond

[@j.st.jamesesq.9599]

This is an excellent report. I’ve read Broccoli’s autobiography and this video is factually correct. (btw… Dalton’s Bond movies didn’t do well at the box office because the director, John Glen, was a third-rate director). He had also directed the 3 previous Bond films to Dalton’s, and the series had grown stale by then.)

[@lukasnummer1]

John Glen is absolutely perfect for Bond, and I would even bring him back now. Richard Maibaum called Glen the "greatest action director in the world".

[@eazye619]

I love Dalton and know two things about this plot in relation to him: 1. He’d never have made this movie 2. He’d have changed numerous things to make it less funny and better

[@edwardlees4585]

I believe Dalton was the best, was the closest to Fleming's vision and sadly underrated.

[@shane5110]

Fascinating!! This is the 1st time I've heard of this unused screenplay.

[@changbeerbeer]

Great video, a lot info I never knew! I always liked Timothy Dalton as Bond, maybe because The Living Daylights was the first Bond movie I ever saw, but thought he played a great roll, thought his second bond appearance wasn’t the best script and not Timothy’s fault! You have my sub! 👌

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks! Welcome aboard

[@changbeerbeer]

@@Bulletsandblockbusters Thanks! 👍

[@samuelmoulds1016]

yeah, I liked George playing James Bond. he had no acting experience, and he gave a new refreshing Bond, while I 'pined the loss' of Sean. still can't figure out why he left the 'Bond Franchise'! especially after I saw the first movie he stared in after leaving James Bond 007.

[@roderick8167]

Wow I thought Die Another Day was goofy but this unmade movie Property of a Lady sounds just as goofy if not more than Die Another Day and that's saying something 😂, also I didn't know Pierce Brosnan was almost Bond long before Goldeneye I found this very interesting too

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Yeah, that’s probably because many of these ideas were reused for die another day. Earlier versions of this script also had more robots and goofy tech stuff too. Bullet dodged!

[@roderick8167]

@@Bulletsandblockbusters yeah we all dodged a major bullet Lol

[@markmurray567]

Sean connery will never be beating as the best ever james bond the goat

[@HGates-hl4eq]

Dalton was Craig's Bond before Craig. Love Dalton's movies.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

100% he was definitely ahead of his time.

[@MrDublin2]

Really wish Dalton had done Property of a Lady - He was brilliant as Bond.

[@Statsy10]

I think Dalton was underrated. The Living Daylights is actually an excellent movie, though I remember License to Kill being pretty underwhelming. Interestingly, I once saw an episode of Charlie's Angels with Dalton as the guest star, playing a suave jewel thief. This portrayal was prime Bond and I have to think it's something the producers once came across to put his name on the list in the first place.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Possibly!

[@Zan_Jayna]

Weird how the villain in License to Kill played by Robert Davi had a bunch of little huts on his island with white and blue stripes on them.

[@Sp33gan]

Having read (and still have) the original Ian Fleming novels, I loved Timothy Dalton's Bond. Part of the problem, to me, is that the writing was still trying to show Bond as the goofy comedy version of Roger Moore. Looking further back to the best Bond of all, Sean Connery would put out funny one-liners but never stooped to the low comedy the Moore movies did. To me, Dalton was a return to who James Bond really is, a ruthless spy who did what he needed to do to get the job done, yet still maintained enough of a lighter tone to entertain. As for Brosnan, while I loved him in some of his early movies, I hated Remington Steele and felt cheated when he was cast as Bond. He wasn't bad, but he never thrilled me. That said, Brosnan got what Dalton didn't get - better writing. I saw the first Daniel Craig one. The heavy violence without the humour made him just another action hero, and the retroactive rewriting of the the main series' characters left me cold. I've never watched another Bond film since. Never even been tempted.

[@nihits]

watch diamonds are forever

[@Sp33gan]

@@nihits I first saw it as part of an all night Bond showing at a drive-in theatre way back around 1974. It's far from Connery's best but I honestly don't think his heart was into the movie as he'd already quit being Bond once before. And, yeah, the writing isn't great in that one. The book is a lot better.

[@cityhunter557]

Same here ....my father is diehard bond fan but dont like craig how much he does action

[@Sp33gan]

@@cityhunter557 I agree with your father. Not to personally knock against Craig, but modern moves have generally become more dependent on CGI and action and far less on story, plot and character development. Not a great trade in my humble opinion.

[@unfazedreview3000]

I remember your early videos this year thinking man… this content is SO GOOD. Only a matter of time until this channel blows up. Happened fast and well deserved!!! Keep it up 👍

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thank you! I really appreciate it

[@ezravanmelle4333]

Don't get me wrong, GoldenEye is great, but Dalton's portrayal of Bond is overall the closest to Ian Fleming's creation, and it would have been wonderful to see a few more films in the style of License to Kill.

[@AndyJay1985]

I do give Pierce credit, though. He was able to come back after getting the shaft.

[@johnpittsii7524]

Always ❤ Timonthy Dalton as James Bond

[@controversialconservative2010]

The difference between the two wasn't whether or not Bond was quick to tell jokes it was how they told the jokes. Pierce had the look on his face like 'I know this is a bad joke but I'm going to say it anyway'. Where is Dalton said the jokes as if it was just a line he had to get off his chest. Quick but mostly for his sake not to get a laugh. Very similar to Sean Connery's James Bond.

[@robertbeckman2054]

At the time Pierce Brosnan seemed like a wonderful, refreshing choice (I don’t share this sentiment). However, in hindsight he became the most milk toast of all the bonds, and Timothy Dalton the most underrated. A film that should have been…

[@partyboi8773]

Yep, I agree. Brosnan was never as funny as Moore, not as charismatic as Connery, and not as hard-edged as Craig or Dalton. He was a kind of lukewarm hybrid of all those.

[@awavey]

I thought Brosnan was excellent in Goldeneye, I think the quality of the scripts thereafter went downhill and he was lumbered with some pretty awful films. Dalton is underrated, though I think Licence to Kill pushes the limits of what a Bond film should be

[@AustronesianMullet]

"Property of Lady" sounds like a 007 movie that needs to be made.

[@solmann8441]

He was a great 007. I liked both of his movies. Too bad he didn’t continue.

[@philipgreen8227]

He was a great bond unfortunately the general public was not ready He has one of the best reveals of a bond in daylights Its a shame

[@chheinrich8486]

Can you do a Video on the original tristar godzilla script from 1994 by the speed director

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

I’ll look into it

[@chheinrich8486]

@@Bulletsandblockbusters i at least had a far lore faithfull godzilla Design 🤣

[@DummyYEEEAAHHHHH]

Timothy Dalton is my number 3 Bond....License to Kill is a very dark noir film... very underrated in my book

[@sporkfindus4777]

Actually, despite Dalton and Brosnan having different acting backgrounds, approaches to the character and styles, they seem somehow interchangeable in some ways. Brosnan is a little younger than Dalton, but I think they could've made each other's films.

[@captainAlex258]

now that plot would be great for the next bond film I mean the script is perfect and the settings is just spot on

[@thewierddood]

You should do one on 21 Jumpstreet and Men jn Black cross over movie

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

That’s my dream movie. It’s on my list but not sure enough info ever leaked about it to do a video on.

[@davidjames579]

@@Bulletsandblockbusters Sony had a thing for crossovers. They also considered doing a Barbie crossover with He-Man, and a Men In Black crossover with Ghostbusters!

[@BeDangerousGroup]

I don't know if anybody commented before this, but your use of other movie clips to tell the story was phenomenal. I feel like I just watched the movie Property of a Lady! Great job 👍👍👍

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Wow, thank you!

[@BilSande4]

I was a big fan of Dalton's Bond. I never really liked all the corny stuff from the older movies. Dalton played the character more serious and grounded, and I thought that was the right way to go. I guess that's why my favorite James Bond films are the ones with Daniel Craig. But after those, License to Kill and Living Daylights are my favorite Bond movies. It's too bad Dalton didn't want to continue in the role. Because once Pierce Brosnan took over, the movies went back to the silly over the top corniness, like Bond wind surfing a tidal wave. Cringe.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

I thought goldeneye struck a good balance of humor and seriousness. They got progressively sillier tho until die another day which was awful.

[@joergzabbee3921]

Same here. Brosnan in my eyes was just a hollow Plastic-Dandy-Bond.

[@JRRob3wn]

@@joergzabbee3921Brosnan’s Bond had no edge or menace IMO. Even Moore’s Bond could flip from goofy to steely cold killer in the blink of an eye. Brosnan just couldn’t capture that. Goldeneye is overall great, but I find the early 90’s women’s lib routine that was shoehorned into it to be embarrassing. Of the Brosnan films it’s the only one I rewatch though, the rest are pretty forgettable IMO.

[@i-love-space390]

Sometimes I think most people that watch Bond on screen never read the books. In the books he was tougher with the villains, and remarkably more tender with the ladies. He seemed to view himself as a modern day knight. It often burned him, when the women turned out to be working for the other side. Also in the novels, he made a number of bonehead mistakes that female allies sometimes saved him from. After all, it was Pussy Galore that actually got Bond's message out about Goldfinger. Without her, Goldfinger would have been successful. I liked Dalton especially well. His two movies were superior to a number of Roger Moore outings.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

I’m pretty sure like 90 percent of fans haven’t read the books and that’s being generous