Defending Dalton - Is Timothy Dalton the ULTIMATE James Bond?

[@sarathb4602]

Living Daylights is my favorite bond. I love the sound track, amazing cold war espionage story, and the way Dalton switches from a lover boy, to cold calculated assassin... Just perfect..

[@chester-v8w]

You are so right ! Chester ( Philadelphia, Pa. - USA )

[@alanstein3394]

“You earned it. You keep it, old buddy!” For me, TD’s best moment as JB. Intense, dangerous and very believable.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

You are so right.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Those of us who've loved Dalton's Bond for years are enjoying the mass redemption arcs going on lately. Welcome to the club.

[@gocanuckurself1]

I love Dalton! It’s a shame he didn’t get a longer run.

[@DarinDmarkovic1]

he was filling in for Pierce, they had Pierce on reserve.

[@markjones-gu2fj]

@@DarinDmarkovic1 Well if he was a "reserve" why did cubby broccoli chase Dalton for 20 years to play Bond . He was first asked in 1968 but he was only 19 and Dalton felt he was to young , he was asked again in 1970 & 72 but he still felt he was to young. When Moore said he was quitting Bond in 1980 he was asked again but was to busy with Branda Starr & Flash Gordon in 86 he finally got his man . Broccolli descrobed Dalton as "the perfect Bond" not bad for a "reserve".

[@spaceodds1985]

Amen to that👍

[@dalebaker9533]

Roger Moore was the worst.

[@sipope70]

I was 7 years old when The Living Daylights came out and or though i'd seen Bonds before. This was the first new one i noticed. I took Dalton to heart as my Bond i didn't see Licence To Kill for a while after and i wore out my VHS of TLD. I've been Defending the Dalton to anyone who would listen for years. 35 years on he's finally getting the recognition de deserves.

[@birdsteak9267]

Same experience, I was around 7 as well but 3 years after Goldeneye. I watched Goldeneye before TLD. My father had the entire classic collection, TLD was the last one in his collection, the VHS box set bought in 88. My father was a huge Moore fan, he liked that playboy stuff. So when I was playing Goldeneye, and all my friends was all about Brosnan, which I was too, the day came, the one day i was bored, looked through the collection, I figured TLD to be a For Her Majesty Actor failure, but I watched it anyway (It's hard sometimes when one have biases, why bot watch a movie i know i like) Dalton went to the top 1 spot from just that one movie, I remember having to defend him to people who never even seen any other movies than Brosnan, it was "Oldies" and therefore bad. I liked that James Bond was more serious, that it was more espionage, that he would trail people, he would sit at Sniper position, chase a car and jump on it and was very hands on, be it action and information gathering. He was having an actual growing romance with a girl, who was believable, a girl who just got tagged along on a adventure above her league, I liked the innocence, I was always a bit traditional that way, even compared to my father. I cared about genuine connections, even at 7. I liked the Car sequence, with the Military chasing them, the cello. I even understood the plot at that age and I am unable to comprehend when people can't understand it, I can't relate. The more realistic a movie try to be but yet keep it within movie magic, the better. I like From Russia, Goldeneye and For your eyes only and Licence to kill, to be honest, all other movies fall shorter and shorter for me, especially after years in the Military. It is the most underrated James Bond movie.

[@kristinmarie862]

I was 8 and same :)

[@howardweinstein2009]

Why does Timothy Dalton need defending? He was a great Bond.

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

Dalton doesn't. Content just needed provocative title.

[@MemphisFlash84]

Agree - best Bond between Connery’s original run and Craig. Two great turns as Bond - should’ve made more!!

[@jtl9283]

He doesn't but there's a lot of people that don't like him or overlook him

[@josersandoval]

That was my reaction when I read the title! 😂

[@evonneokafor]

@@jtl9283 Because they probably wasn't alive when he was Bond and thinks he is copying Craig too much for their tiny minds to have the capacity to understand.

[@1223jamez]

Timothy Dalton was extremely underrated! Loved both of his films!

[@TheBdavis231]

Timothy Dalton is a great actor and action star, he is mad underrated. License to Kill and The Living Daylights are two of the best Bond films ever.

[@jeffmelchior8573]

I really hope they find a Dalton type for the series re-reboot. He hit all the right character notes but did it so naturally we barely noticed he was the perfect combination of suave and dangerous.

[@ennesshay5040]

Aidan Turner ? He's my choice. Checkout scenes from 'And Then There Were None.'

[@joegrimes9232]

I forsee Henry Cavill, but if it's a 60s throwback. The Orient Express, old school gadgets and a bit more tongue in cheek, but not zaney either. A kind of mystery affair wher something is travelling eastward and Bond needs to track it down. 39 steps meets Bond

[@gregorsamsa2271]

@@joegrimes9232 I find that interesting. I'm a huge fan of the Fleming novels, and therefore a dalton fanboy. I think Henry Cavill has the perfect look, he would fit very well. I just hope he brings something new to the role, since every Bond actor brought something fresh. The next bond movies need more suspense again, I wanna see a real spy thriller espionage, like From Russia with Love, or The Living Daylights.

[@bonddude7]

Like many have already pointed out, a 50's era take would be awesome. I doubt it will happen though. I want to seem him smoke again, but they will definitely never allow it again.

[@bonddude7]

Dan Stevens also gives me Dalton vibes

[@CountCrane2065]

All hail Timothy Dalton, the most underrated James Bond. Love both TLD, my 8th favourite Bond film, and LTK, my 3rd favorite Bond film.

[@thaistomp]

Yeah he had the most swag out of all the Bonds imo.

[@harambeepstein8009]

License to kill had a grittiness and madness an Indiana Jones movie would have

[@spaceodds1985]

Yes… Dalton brought an intensity and contradiction to the role, a cold hearted assassin akin to a blunt intrument, whilst at the same time bringing in a human touch to the role. His two Bond films showcased a flawed man who at times despises his job, whilst at the same time takes pride in his methods. Bond is a man who operates in a filthy bankrupt world that ultimately doesn’t give a damn for its operatives and collateral damage, and yet he as a man does care. Dalton’s Bond cares for his friends and allies (Kara in The Living Daylights) and wouldn't hesitate to get payback when they were wronged (Felix and Sharky in License To Kill) I mean just look at Saunders’ death scene, the rage that Dalton displays, the way he goes after whom he assumes is Necros, and the conversation he has with Kara afterwards, the way he tries to keep himself in check without succumbing to the rage and anger he feels and the way he shows his hurt that Kara is naively mixed up with Whittiker. The best characterisation scene in a Bond film to date IMO. Dalton’s Bond is a man who is cynical about the world, yet he tries to grasp that little thread of naivety and normalcy, as shown in his relationship with Kara in TLD. He knows the relationship will not last, but he still wants to experience the affection. Dalton was a major inspiration to Craig's interpretation, but IMO Dalton inhabited the role and made it his own. This is the closest we ever got to Fleming's Bond and Dalton delivered on the role.

[@almcluckie2625]

Having read the Fleming books and 12 years of Moore's Bond , I was shellshocked after TLD . And the scene you described , with Bond and Saunders coming to a mutual respect after being at each others throats , then the assassination stands as the most nuanced best acting in the entire series .

[@spaceodds1985]

@@almcluckie2625 Could not agree more. I too grew up on the Moore Bond films, and at the age of 10 I was pumped for seeing Goldeneye and Bond on the big screen for the first time. But… a week before seeing Goldeneye, I saw the Dalton films back to back and I was completely blown away. It changed my perception on Bond forever more. It was then that I started reading the Fleming novels and right from Casino Royale’s opening passage and Fleming’s cynical description of Bond’s thoughts and state in life… I knew Dalton was the guy.

[@dtuk22]

@@spaceodds1985 The look of rage on Bond's (Dalton's) face after Saunders is slaughtered....You know you're watching a very different much more serious, no nonsense incarnation of Bond.

[@Love-Sensibility]

Totally~Dalton's Bond was out of this world! He really made the role his own. That's how I feel about Dalton's Bond. His James Bond is the closest we get to Fleming's idea, yet Dalton's is so different. Much greater Bond than I thought it would be

[@jmstar2029]

So glad you've seen the light! I have loved Dalton since the reveal on the cliff at Gibraltar. He gave what I wanted from Bond. The first scene of him with Saunders is incredible. It really sets the tone that "Hey, we're not screwing around anymore." Amen! I was lucky enough to run into Dalton on the Strand during my first visit to the UK in the 90s. Lovely experience. Even better looking in person.

[@dtuk22]

Dalton Yeah....He was a more realistic Bond, if that can be said for a fictional character in a fictional world. He really looked the part too. A Bond fans favorite for sure & rightly so. But sadly overlooked by general cinema audiences & as a consequence he's movies aren't highly regarded. But they are certainly up there with the best in the series. Imo Dalton's Bond is every bit a crucial part of the history of the character on film as the other actors....He deserves recognition & celebrating.

[@Spook291]

Dalton was the most realistic bond from the books over every other actor Sean included. Fun fact in License To Kill (1989) that was the last time bond wears a Rolex.

[@danielschaeffer1294]

And the last time he smokes cigarettes.

[@darianbeuten]

Always loved Timothy Dalton. Especially License To Kill. I loved the revenge story, and always thought it was before it’s time. My son is named Dalton in part after him being one of my favorites.

[@berkborke]

I like The Living Daylights more than Licence to Kill, Maryam d'Abo and Timothy Dalton has such a unique chemistry and seeing some occasional genuine smiles on Timothy's face throughout the film makes it so cool. Still, Dalton is sooo good in both films for sure.

[@codpro627]

So do I. TLD has better pacing and romance.

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

Dalton was so romantic in TLD!!!! OMG Kira you were so lucky! #WhistleSound

[@danielwebb9188]

I just rewatched daylights and thought dalton was creepy and had to lie to get the girl . Reminded me of the way Biden sniffs ppl .

[@PrincessSolitaire]

I've been a Dalton fan since before he was cast as Bond. I thought of the Roger Moore films as comedy/action films - never anything to take seriously, and after Dalton, I felt the same way about Pierce Brosnan. Neither one of them looked terribly dangerous, although both looked as if they could have gone to public school. I think Dalton did have that edge of menace, that you were glad he was the good guy, because heaven help you if you were on his hit list. His preparation was legendary as befits an alumnus of RADA, and when Desmond Llewellen called him the Bond most like Fleming's Bond, that was all I needed to hear. Quite frankly, he's my number one.

[@pr-tj5by]

Just could never warm to him when he turned up, I think Brosnan is the complete Bond with Moore my 2nd favourite but it's down to the individual perception of what you think Bond should be

[@petersmithyy4556]

Are you serious about Brosnan? There were numerous upon numerous times where he was clearly a deadly adversary and killed in cold blood. brosnan had the humor and the deadliness of Sean Connery, the quips of Moore and the coldness of Dalton. Perfect Bond. You have to have that combination, not too serious or too jokey.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Thank you for the revelatory information-l didn’t know that Desmond Llewellyn judged Dalton to be the most like 007 as described by Ian Fleming.

[@larrybilinski9350]

After years of Roger Moore, the coming of Timothy Dalton had me in a frenzy with the promise of a harder, Fleming-esque portrayal. In those pre-internet days, I remember scrounging everywhere for ANY scrap of information on the impending releases. I'd blindly go to films, hoping to catch a new trailer. I still vividly remember the films that yielded gold: The Witches of Eastwick for the Teaser and Roadhouse for the awesome second trailer. Please forgive this nostalgic rant, but this excellent video triggered a whole series of terrific memories associated with Dalton and his brief tenure as Bond. Thanks for brightening my Saturday morning!l

[@codpro627]

Moore was great. Dalton too.

[@paulquantumblues3599]

Great story. Thanks for sharing it! I'm a bit jealous that you got to see Roadhouse on the big screen, and also a flick with Michelle Pfeiffer in her prime! Go you!

[@michaelleary9233]

Roger Moore's run was ridiculous like the Batman TV show in the 60s, and Dalton brought in the more serious Batman of the 80s movies. Wish he had stayed longer, cause Brosnan was almost another Moore.

[@laba3423]

@@michaelleary9233 moore's portrayel was comic

[@codpro627]

The Living Daylights is a top 5 Bond film. My top 5: 1. The Spy Who Loved Me 2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3. From Russia With Love 4. The Living Daylights 5. Goldfinger

[@markd2555]

I was 18 when Living Daylights came out and Dalton immediately became my favourite Bond. I loved both Roger and Sean but Dalton and the grittier tone from the books just nailed it for me. License To Kill further solidified him for me. Daylights and License rank 4&6 on my rankings. To this day at 52 Dalton is still my favourite Bond. I thought Craig might take the title after Casino Royale but sadly his has been a Bond of diminishing returns for me.

[@asifkhan4822]

Timothy Dalton was a great underrated Bond, the dude never gets much respect. He laid the groundwork for the Daniel Craig era.

[@robertadamcik9179]

The Living Daylights came out when I was a college sophomore who had just finished reading all the Fleming novels in order, so I was more than ready for the harder edge Dalton delivered in TLD. For me, he was a breath of fresh air from the doldrums that were the end of the Moore era.

[@Cest_Moi]

Living Daylights has always been one of my favorites. Soundtrack is so good, it brought the music into the 80's upbeat style, yet had great orchestra moments. Dalton was serious, and you felt the action. I was grounded at the time it came out. Huge Bond fan and my brother wanted to take me to see it but my Dad said no, I was grounded. Then my Dad says, if the whole family goes, then I could go. My brother pays for the entire family to go, just so I could see it. And it was amazing! He was 19 and I was 16 at the time. This is my go to Bond film.

[@thewickerman4083]

I wish there were a couple of Timothy Dalton Bond films between License to Kill and Goldeneye. If he had four films under his belt it would have helped him to be looked upon as one of the best Bond actors. I think he does a great job in both of his Bond fims.

[@speedracer1945]

Dalton earned respect in time like Lazenby .

[@GregJamesMusic]

He's said he would have liked to have done _Goldeneye,_ but Cubby Broccoli insisted on contracting him for more movies after that, and Dalton didn't really want to do that. Given that he would have turned 50 the year after _Goldeneye_ came out, it's hard to blame him.

[@KimBailey-w2g]

@@GregJamesMusic because gold, and I just wrote for him

[@donjames7647]

licence to kill is my favourite bond movie . I love licence to kill , the most violent bond movie ever made . James Bond , scarface , Miami vice all in one . It’s full of action , a dark bond thriller .

[@HEATSEEKER00]

I was born in the early 80's so I was just coming to the age for movies when Dalton was bond... even though he was only in 2 movies his impact was huge. Aiden Turner for Bond 2024 **** Lets make it happen.

[@simonrichards6739]

The scenes when he finds Felix and Dellah still break my heart and he decides to go proper bad ass! “He disagreed with something that ate him”

[@DafyddBrooks]

true :)

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

The wedding entrance was spectacular!

[@lynneheather9661]

Recently have found Timothy again..in the film ''Jane Eyre'...He was marvellous in this role as Mr Rochester....I think he's a great actor & we never saw him as much as we should over the years...Gd bless Timothy, hope to see you on the screen again soon...

[@fletchersykes1660]

Always been a Dalton fan, particularly his first outing. TLD is quintessential Bond for me. I don't find LTK to be as good but Dalton was at his most badass in that film and a string argument could be made LTK is Bond at his most badass out of all 25 films.

[@RolandHulme]

I remember watching The Living Daylights at my friend's house when I was 10 or 11. I had only really known Roger Moore in the role up until that point and we watched the Gibraltar chase trying to guess which of these strangers would say the immortal line: "Bond, James Bond." (I was a kid, so didn't watch the limited news we had in those days, so didn't know who the new Bond would be.) It was a really great movie - one of the most 'pure' James Bond movies, and it's been a favorite of mine ever since. Dalton was terrific. Those Welshman might be soft-spoken, but they have the blood of dragons coursing through them.

[@jaquesravalec242]

The scene with Pushkin is the best in the series history in my opinion. Dalton's acting was outstanding, look at how he interacts with M, in particular "No!...Sir" I love his films now I'm older and understand acting. Being classically trained makes a difference.

[@graycav56]

Have to thank you for this vid. Dalton was always my second favorite Bond and would have loved to see him continue in the role. He brought a menacing physicality to the role that was needed to get the character back on track. Bravo.

[@GhostWolf141]

I’ve said for a long time, severely underrated. For me personally, second to Sean Connery but he is up there.

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

Totally AGREE

[@jaimerandle8909]

Why on earth does he need defending? He was a brilliant bond! In my humble opinion.

[@nehiyawgolf4272]

Timothy Dalton is my favorite Bond! The first Bond film I ever watched was The Living Daylights and I was immediately hooked. Definitely one of the more grittier Bonds and just effortlessly cool. Dalton and Craig are up there for me.

[@sortehuse]

It's hard for me to call Timothy Dalton my favorite Bond, because he only did two movies, but definitely one of my favorites.

[@GKram13]

Always been a big Dalton fan, glad to see a lot more people are recognizing just how good he was. Damn shame he didn’t continue on into Goldeneye, but at least we have TLD and LTK.

[@macaulaygallacher1995]

Looking forward to this! Dalton is my favourite Bond.

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

7 a.m. though? 😆 LOL Early call.

[@royludwick1308]

Dalton was certainly ahead of his time. In the years leading up Goldeneye my favorite Bond film was TLD (it now ranks #2). The primary thing I loved was Dalton’s portrayal of Bond, he was no nonsense from frame one, his intro in the pre-title sequence maybe my favorite of all Bonds, and he lived up to the slogan of the film- the most dangerous Bond, ever. I like to think that the Craig era brought a greater appreciation of the Dalton films since a darker, grittier version of Bond is so much more accepted in modern times than it was in the 80’s when he played it.

[@jwa007]

I was sad when it was announced that Dalton would not returrn after the long hiatus to the next Bond adventure in 1995. I remember how thrilling it was to watch Dalton as James Bond in "The Living Daylights." it was a breath of fresh air after the years of a light-hearted Bond, although I do thing Moore did a great job in "For Your Eyes Only." For me Dalton, since he first appeared, has been my favorite Bond. I read all the novels in the early 70's after seeing "Live and Let Die" and "The Man With the Golden Gun." in theaters. I was a teenager at the time. I spent a large part of a summer around 75-76 sitting in my backyard reading Fleming's novels and for me Timothy Dalton really IS James Bond. Glad to see your opinion on him evolving. As far as "License to Kill" that movie blew me away and cemented all that I loved about Dalton from his first effort.

[@pmeloun]

I'm glad I found this channel. Dalton is my favorite Bond and it's hard to imagine anyone topping him.

[@sartanawillpay7977]

I have been a Timothy Dalton fan since the release of Living Daylights. I had read all the Fleming novels and seeing Dalton appear on the screen after Moore's spoofing approach was like seeing Fleming's original character return from the dead (or at least from a medically induced coma). I was a little disappointed with License to Kill when I saw it in theatres but that was because it seemed like Bond dropped into a Miami Vice episode. However, I was never disappointed with Dalton's portrayal. Once drug South American narcos stopped being the villains in every show, the setting no longer seemed such a draw back and I enjoy it more on every viewing.

[@TheFootyBoots]

Always been my favorite bond… Glad you’re finally seeing the light!

[@gavinmccullagh294]

Great news David. Very pleased you have embraced the TD era. For my money TD was 19 years to early. By that I mean displaying a raw and brutal Bond both in TLD and LTK. IMO both these movies weren’t only just great action pieces of their time, but also akin to a realistic viewpoint of Fleming’s original character.

[@alexyoung478]

100%

[@kirk1701]

Dalton is my favorite next to Connery and Craig. I like both of his films, but _License to Kill_ is my favorite out of the two.

[@2001Heywood]

Hey David, yes, Dalton grew on me. I was not a big Dalton fan at first. After the years have gone by I really appreciate Dalton, and especially 'The Living Daylights'. I traveled to Europe in 2011 and climbed around Gibraltar, went on a day trip to Tangier across the straits and fell in love so much with the pre-title opener in Gibraltar. Also visited later on in Vienna seeing the Schonbrunner grounds & the Reiserad in Prater Park. So I very much concur with you about the progression of locations used in TLD's and how well they all dovetailed together. As you said, it was obvious that some of the scenes were especially tailored for Moore; but Dalton made TLD's come to life. If this film had been done with Moore it would have lost a lot. In fact, I wanted to run by what you think about Dalton if he would be good in 'For Your Eyes Only' if reality could be manipulated to make that happen. Can you imagine Carole Boquet with Tim Dalton -I think Dalton would be a good fit in FYEO. Thank you David, I really enjoy your commentary and your debates. Mark.

[@nightmaster5593]

Dalton is awesome. Living Daylights is one of my favorite Bond movies, and Dalton is perfect for its more serious and grounded take on Bond. I grew up with Connery and Moore, but Living Daylights was my first theatrical Bond experience. Nostalgia may be adding to that appraisal, but as far as I'm concerned, the Cubby years encompass my strongly favored era. Special shout-out to OHMSS and Casino Royale, both of which are spectacular.

[@chester-v8w]

The Living Daylights with Timothy Dalton is a masterpiece in every way possible ! Chester ( Philadelphia, Pa. - USA )

[@PortobelloRd]

I was a big Roger Moore fan and then Living Daylights came along. (I was 22 at the time) The first time i saw the trailer and Bond in the v8 and he says optional extras i was blown away and thought God who is this new guy? he looks good! So i took to him immediately! He was good looking, serious, moody and i liked the change from Roger! Also in Licence i love the well acted relationship between Bond and Sanchez one of my favourite villains. I was surprised when you mentioned the optional extras glare Dave! You beat me to it!

[@uriahsteel]

Dalton is my favorite 007 too. He should have been Bond for many movies.

[@TankZane]

I like both Daltons and sometimes I like to watch GE and imagine it's Dalton, a slightly Moorized Dalton. I heard a story from James Belushi about Dalton breaking up a bar fight in the USA one time when they worked together. He succeeded.

[@DomArcher007]

Absolutely! Living Daylights was part of Volume 1 of the Ultimate James Bond DVD collection (I had the other 3 volumes), so I never saw it much growing up. Giving it a watch last night, it broke my top 10 Bond movie list! I was so glad to rediscover Dalton in this movie, where I think this truly is one of the best Bond films.

[@speedracer1945]

I bought the bluray a year ago and wanted to buy the steel book but too much .

[@kenrankin5814]

Yes. I love the Living Daylights, and I really do think he is the most like the Bond that Fleming saw in his own imagination. For myself I think I like Dalton's Bond more because I was serving in Germany when he became Bond. I saw TLD there, and as a signals intelligence collector during the Cold War, it added a bit of real world espionage and intrigue. Also a great theme song and the soundtrack is amazing! Fantastic review!

[@alexyoung478]

100%

[@NickTheStallion]

Yes, he is! In addition to everything we already know about him having read all the Fleming books and based his Bond on it, his duology is still perfect to this day, he gave a naturalness to his role where the only one close to it was Connery. Brosnan also had a lot of potential to be among them, but, unfortunately he was a great Bond in the wrong era.

[@bonddude7]

I give him credit for really going for that serious portrayal. It was such a bold direction to take after Moore's contrary approach. That being said, he never captured that full embodiment of "Bond" that his predecessors had created. His leaning on the true literary character definitely put off the casual fans.

[@HGates-hl4eq]

For me, Dalton is my favorite. In the Living daylights the best line I love that had Bond dry humor but also edge was this line spoken to General Puskin. "I take this is not a social call 007." "Correct. You should have brought lillies." Such a bad ass line.

[@birdsteak9267]

I also enjoyed: Salt Corrosion, what made it so good is that he actually tries to sell it, having fully profiled Kara as rather very naive, which is her personality and I am not a fan of that "Strong Women" as I like wholesome women, she is a innocent girl dragged into a business she should never have been in and that was interesting idea. Her character arch could of been a bit better fleshed out towards the end, but the dynamic felt believable, I like the courting bond above the playboy bond.

[@jameswilson2267]

Dalton was superb, taking inspiration from the Fleming books (imagine that!) and making a 1950's hero work in the late 80's. He was always good...it's just audiences had to LEARN that, rather than dismissing him because he wasn't an impossible flirt or weighed himself down with gadgets. The Living Daylights is still my favorite as it showed his Bond could go off the rails (drawing down on the kid and its mother at the Prater? Wonderful!). The spy world could still be crazy, but Dalton navigated through it with a panther's deliberateness and (essentially) the relentless stubbornness the role requires.

[@michaelpoplawski2998]

Dalton is always good. look at some of his more classic historical films in the late 60's and 70's. Then his comedic roles, though with some seriousness, as in Flash Gordon and The Rocketeer. He is always on top of his game.

[@paulthomas3247]

He is brilliant in Flash Gordon. He and Topol bring that bit of method acting into a movie of high camp that makes it believable.

[@horatiocarrillo2176]

He made Penny Dreadful great, with 2 other Bond movie alums, Eva Green and Rory Kinnear.

[@paulthomas3247]

@@horatiocarrillo2176 I rewatched No Time to Die last night. I am kinda amazed they didn't do more with Rory Kinnear in the series. He plays a great Henry IV (Bolingbroke) vs Ben Wishaw's Richard II in Hollow Crown. Waste of a great actor, except maybe the speedboat scene in Spectre.

[@CarolinaCharles777]

I know I'm very late, but Living Daylights was my favorite 007 movie since I first viewed it in 1987...and Dalton my favorite Bond. Now, having said that, I wasn't a big fan of Licence to Kill because I just wasn't ready for it. I was very much into "tradition" when it comes to the plot, and L2K was VERY different. I also thought L2K was a bit reminiscent of action fil.s of the 80's at the time. But several years later, I can separate it from its era and really appreciate that it IS a separate and different film than the rest of the series. I've grown to appreciate that memorability is so important now. I used to hate that Dalton made only 2 Bond films and one of them was so "different". Now I think both films are absolutely ideal for what Timothy Dalton brought to the role.

[@jayxavier6930]

I can think of no higher praise than to say that Dalton is the Brando of Bonds... Just as, in acting, there is before and after Brando (before: Gable, Grant, Stewart, etc.; after: De Niro, Pacino, Hoffman), Dalton is the turning point and the yardstick when everything changes, and from which point on, every other Bond can be measured. He brought grit and brooding to Bond -- there's plenty of that in Craig, but even some of that in the otherwise Moore-ish Brosnan... from Dalton onward, nothing else can ever be the same...

[@jukeboxjeffrey9102]

1988. I am a junior in high school. The last Bond movie I'd seen was Never Say Never Again. I take The Living Daylights on VHS home from the grocery store where I worked and all I can say is "Wow" that was quite a change from what I was used to. I loved the grittiness and edge that Timothy Dalton brought. I recognized that as a 17 year old. It was just different. And I liked it. Plus, a-ha did the theme song. So totally 80's. Love it.

[@MichaelBakerFilmmaking]

Dalton is a brilliant Bond. I think the best moments in the living daylights are better but I think license to kill has more consistency across the whole film

[@BrozzaBond4007]

Dalton brings and is the business at hand no games no glib remarks he gets down and dirty and gets the job done without question tough as nails I love TDaltz!!

[@mitchcugnet9]

I love both Dalton films and the more I watch them , the more they rise in my rankings. Especially TLD. License to Kill is a great piece of action, but I love the pacing and story of TLD

[@codpro627]

Agreed. TLD is brilliant.

[@Apanblod]

The concert/sniper part is probably my favourite sequence of scenes in the entire series.

[@lonenut2000]

I know I'm pretty much in the minority, but Licence to Kill has always been one of my favorite Bond films, specifically because it WAS a departure from the previous entries. Bond has to evolve with the times, & in 1989, the Cold War was winding down; some of the world's most powerful real-life supervillains were the drug lords who essentially ruled Central & South America. Bond going after one of them was topical, satisfying, & VERY exciting! As much as I enjoyed Pierce Brosnan in the role, I always felt cheated that we didn't get more of Dalton as Bond. I was 16 the summer it came out, & from the time I first saw it in the theater, I've always sung its praises...

[@thisiswhereweare9006]

Great post. Heartily agree.

[@agent_meister477]

Dalton has always been my favourite. I wish he did more.

[@Laukki]

Dalton, my absolute favourite 🤩 Christopher Nolan said lately that Dalton is his favourite too. Most realistic and true Bond. Most book-accurate. Thx for this video!

[@bencool5823]

Being let go after only two wonderful bond films 🚬 is the ultimate crime of Cinema 🎰 Timothy Dalton you are the best 🥂

[@SolitaryWolf]

I've always love Timothy Dalton's version of Bond. He does Bond different but don't they all? Each actor brings a different style to match the era it's made in. I love them all. Even the 1967 Casino Royale with David Niven because it's its own style. So long as these films continue to entertain me, I'm on board.

[@GordonSmithsmersh71]

It's great to see someone in this day and age evolve and change opinion. Touché. Life long Timothy Dalton fan. I was 15 when this movie came out and it was my real coming of age bond experience. Only the second Bond movie I went to see on my own without a parent (AVTAK being the first) and it really left its mark. So much so I went to see it 3 more times in the theatre. One of the best things for me was the soundtrack. Possibly John Barry's finest work. The way it weaves the title song and the Pretenders Where Has Everybody Gone throughout. Exquisite. I think one of the reasons some people overlook this and LTK is purely the fact that Dalton only made 2 movies. I would have loved to have seen him do 2 more. Great video as always, keep up the good work, as Bond keeps the British end up.

[@LittenMandrake]

New Bond fan. Recently watched the entire series for the first time during the pandemic. I started at Dr. No went straight through without looking up any info or watching any trailers so I didn't even know which movies had different actors. When I watched TLD for the first time, I legitimately thought Timothy Dalton was the villain being introduced in the opening scene as he watched someone plummet from the mountain. He had a ruthless intensity that no one, not even Craig, come close to. I would say Casino Royale is objectively the best movie of the series but License to Kill was by far the 2nd best for me. Glad to hear you had a change of heart

[@Apanblod]

I remember seeing that scene for the first time thinking the first 00-agent who gets shot was Bond. And in The Spy Who Loved Me I thought Anya's lover, the Soviet agent, was Bond.

[@ImYourHuckleberry_29]

Objectively? Because you say it is?

[@crimsonorc]

Welcome to Team Dalton! Been a fan ever since Living Daylights. I like both films but sway towards Living Daylights due to the more traditional elements like the Vantage car chase. Dalton has the part nailed and makes me wonder what his version of Goldeneye would have been like. His Bond ages very well and I revisit these films time and again much more than any of the later Bond films.

[@alexyoung478]

100%

[@billmmckelvie5188]

When I look at an illustration of Bond in Ian Fleming's book, the actor, in my opinion, who closely resembles that image is Timothy Dalton!

[@CodyTheDragonSamurai]

Love Dalton, and I also love his final bond film “License to Kill”

[@dennischristenson911]

Timothy Dalton is always my favorite.!

[@gazmini81]

Timothy dalton is the best bond ever I loved the harder edge 007 stuff in his portrayal . He should have done more than 2 films

[@thisiswhereweare9006]

He should have done 5 starting in 1985. Octopussy should have been Moore's swansong.

[@peeblesartschannel1573]

Timothy is a great actor, I was excited to hear he was going to be Bond( at the time I though Pierce was too young), I wish he had done a third. I grew up reading the books, loved the movies but was excited that Tim went back to the books. Not for everyone, perfect for me!

[@SuperGrumpyDaddy]

They all come around in the end, David. Glad to hear you’re on board. Dalton has always been my fav since seeing TLD in the cinema on release. And I had been a Bond fan for about 16 years by then, but one who had read the Fleming books a fair few times. After the Moore era it was a welcome return to the Bond of old.

[@RyanHeafner]

The Living Daylights is among my favorite Bond movies, just behind the Craig movies and Goldeneye

[@thisiswhereweare9006]

Licence to Kill is my all-time favourite Bond film. It just grew and grew on me. I wish Dalton had started in 1985 and bowed out in 1993 (5 films), rather than just 1987-89.

[@NH1973]

The two Dalton movies are like a series in their own right. They show a very wide spectrum of the character. It's like TLD belongs to the 80s, and LTK is part of the 90s. They also bring different scales. TLD is a classic big, global Bond movie and feels like one of the bigger novels. LTK feels smaller and more intimate, like one of Fleming's short stories.

[@nilgiridreaming]

Timothy is my favourite bond because of his acting skills and his authenticity.

[@shahzadajan9792]

Timothy Dalton. Best literary representation of Fleming's Bond on screen. It's high time Dalton got the critical appreciation he so richly deserves. The Living Daylights has aged well and it's a great story. I do think License to Kill suffered from being too much like an 80s action flick and also watching at Indiana Jones over its shoulder. But despite the shortcomings of the films Dalton still lifts the character up. He should have had a longer run as I would have been fascinated where he would taken the character. We were robbed by the changing cultural climate of being PC and also the usual studio politics that delayed any Bond film coming out.

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

My daughter has grown up watching Daniel Craig and has watched Connery but the other weekend we watched The Living Daylights and she really enjoyed it and so did I again. She said he looked a bit like Henry Cavill.

[@Ag3ntStrength]

I NEVER thought I’d like Dalton. His 2 movies were among the last ones I had to watch for the first time… And MAN did I enjoy both of these. It felt like a total refresher and another very unique take on the role. License to kill quickly rose to my top 5 Bond films. Love it! 💯

[@edwingatongomez7242]

Living Daylights…greatest title ever. Dalton was solid. He is a fantastic actor and brought gravitas to the role. The world was not ready for an ass kicking and ruthless Bond.

[@AGRC314]

That hard edge portrayal is emphasized as well in Hot Fuzz when he plays Simon Skinner. This was my introduction to him as an actor and it always left an impression on me.

[@RegnaSaturna]

I'm 52 and as a big Bond fan (Connery and Craig mostly) i just saw my first Dalton Bond movie, The Living Daylights, TODAY! Can you believe it? Man, i just loved it. My prejudices were shattered instantly. What a great actor. Mayram D'Abo is also superb and loced the chemistry between them. On to Licence To Kill i guess.

[@alexanderwells8951]

THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS is probably one of my favourite Bond films. When LICENSE TO KILL came out in the UK though, it received a 15 rating, and I was 12/13 when it was out. I'm STILL annoyed that I couldn't see it at the cinema, having seen the previous 80s outings theatrically with my parents.

[@skiptrace1888]

You have expanded your horizons, so your increased appreciation has resulted from your wider field of view! There was such a drought & Dalton brought a refreshing Ianesque realism to the role, I was enamoured from the Timothy get go

[@tashrif46]

Yes he is. He is straight portrait of what Ian Fleming envisioned in the novels. A man is who always on the edge, has a temper which can snap at any point, but also has a emotional side as well.

[@kosnikosni7626]

I love both films!Different kind of storytelling,different locations,different stakes but one great Dalton as 007!I agree with you!

[@neiltaylor6645]

I liked TD he was before his time it would have been interesting to see how he would have been if he did a 3rd film after what happened with LTK

[@frankb821]

Thx for the Dalton love! After watching The Living Daylights at the theater when I was 11, I wrote to him and he sent me an autographed photo! Been one of my all time favorite Bonds ever since. I'm for bringing him back for a one-off using the 3rd (abandoned) Dalton script before casting a new "permanent" Bond. He's 76, but old is in! Just ask Harrison Ford on the set of Indy 5. Dalton would be infinitely more watchable than some woke bloke of the week.

[@alanj.anderson2486]

I see so many comments on here praising Dalton and Craig … and pushing the “Dalton is a precursor to Craig” thing mostly because they were both hard-edged. I don’t love Daniel Craig, but I have two of his films ranked very high. I much prefer Timothy Dalton and also have his two films in the top ten. Dalton feels most like Ian Fleming’s Bond to me and the performance he gives particularly in Licence To Kill is probably the single best Bond performance there is of all 25 films. I wish I could see Dalton’s Bond in Casino Royale and SkyFall in an alternate universe.

[@jeromemanley7885]

Fan of both since the moment I saw them. After getting into Bond from Goldeneye, my dad told us to watch the Connery movies and move forward. Super blown away when we got to Daylights. Been a fan since 1997

[@JAY-JAY74]

The Living Daylights was amazing. Dalton was always mission focused. The one disadvantage of Licence to Kill was there were limited international locations like most Bond films, but the action in the movie made it great.

[@michaelmacleod6517]

Dalton was my first Bond. I caught TLD on video and I'd watch LTK endlessly. There were definite fun parts in Dalton's films that even i'd want to try. To me he was Fleming's version brought to screen. Timothy was the Bond that was ahead of his time and for me...that's innovation. Daniel was a great Bond, but he's the downer Bond. He'd never have a kickass semi chase or a cello case scene, or even try to perform a wolf's whistle. Timothy's Bond is the man. I just wish he would have appeared in Goldeneye.

[@alclark720]

Always been a huge Dalton fan. LTK was my favourite until NTTD came along. Just watched TLD again last night, so this video was uploaded at just the right time 😀

[@loganwb9894]

Dalton was such a breath of fresh air after RM. I was growing really tired of the constant gags and one liners. I grew up with Connery, so I loved Dalton bringing back some seriousness. Plus it was a great John Barry score, sadly his last 007 one. Just wish Dalton had his ‘third is the charm’ film.

[@quantumofbond0073]

Always loved Dalton as Bond! As much as I love Roger, Dalton’s more serious take was a much needed change at the time. I bought into his performance and believed this man, this Bond, was dangerous. If MGM had not had financial difficulties after LTK and put the franchise on hiatus, I believe we could’ve gotten at least 2 more films from TD. What might’ve been.