Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
I was just wondering which Bond actor people see in their mind's eye when reading one of Fleming's Bond novels or short stories. I'm reading Devil May Care at the moment, and it's definitely Connery, probably because it was written in our own era, when most people's knowledge of Bond comes from the movies, but in a period setting, so I associate Faulks's Bond with the actor who played him at the time the novel is set. But with Fleming's Bond, I have my own mental image that's a sort of composite of Connery and Dalton. I was just wondering what other people thought.
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
He's not a Bond and never will be now but, oddly enough, reading Colonel Sun I found myself picturing Clive Owen around his Croupier period.
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- FormerBondFan
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
You meant DC?James wrote:He's not a Bond and never will be now but, oddly enough, reading Colonel Sun I found myself picturing Clive Owen around his Croupier period.
![Image](https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18221658_288833181542481_300067069096644314_n.jpg?oh=6f7d4a5cf8414c3f40c53b469fab20ce&oe=59AA0DA3)
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
No, I was just saying Clive wasn't cast as Bond and won't be now (not that he wanted the role) although I'd have certainly taken him over DC in 2005. There's an interesting 1999 British film called Croupier where he plays a character who works in a casino and he looks very James Bondian at times.
![Image](http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2000/12/07/croupier1.jpg)
![Image](http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2000/12/07/croupier1.jpg)
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
I never wanted Clive Owen to be Bond from the very beginning, regardless of his abilities to play the role well, but DC's casting and all those talk saying that he's the "best" made Clive look like Pierce.James wrote:No, I was just saying Clive wasn't cast as Bond and won't be now (not that he wanted the role) although I'd have certainly taken him over DC in 2005. There's an interesting 1999 British film called Croupier where he plays a character who works in a casino and he looks very James Bondian at times.
![Image](https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18221658_288833181542481_300067069096644314_n.jpg?oh=6f7d4a5cf8414c3f40c53b469fab20ce&oe=59AA0DA3)
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
I imagine someone who looks like Timothy Dalton with a few changes.
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
Definitely Dalton. I learned of Bond through the movies but upon reading the novels I began to picture Dalton as his performances are the closest to Fleming's Bond imo. I particularly thought of him while reading Moonraker. The only exception was when I was reading Dr. No, where I constantly thought of Connery, particularly that line about the poisoned banana! The scene in M's office and Bond's reaction to his assignment in Dr. No were very Daltonesque though.
I always picture James Villiers as Tanner for some reason on a related note.
I always picture James Villiers as Tanner for some reason on a related note.
"Dalton makes an effective Bond - lacking Sean Connery's grace and humor, and Roger Moore's suave self-mockery, but with a lean tension and a toughness that is possibly more contemporary" - Roger Ebert
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
I'd say Connery but, lately, I also switch to Brosnan. The image I have in mind is more or less the one from the November Man movie.
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
I'm ashamed to say that I did imagine Craig as Bond when reading Carte Blanche, probably because it was a (short-lived) reboot of the book series, and Deaver seemed to alter the character of Bond to fit the Craig version.Daltonite Toothpaste wrote:With the Fleming books, I picture Dalton.
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
Et tu,?Kristatos wrote:I'm ashamed to say that I did imagine Craig as Bond when reading Carte Blanche, probably because it was a (short-lived) reboot of the book series, and Deaver seemed to alter the character of Bond to fit the Craig version.Daltonite Toothpaste wrote:With the Fleming books, I picture Dalton.
I fell like chucking it all in. You, Sweeney, another pal of mine all picture the uncharismatic curmudgeon in this book. Did I get so it wrong? My impression was of a young fresher face and completely different attitude. I also thought the radio interview Mr Deaver had he was not a Daniel fan, well not enough to imagine him as his young 007.
When the rumour hit Carte Blanch would be the next Bond film I was fairly confident it would not because of Mr Deavers attitude toward the current production. Then again I judging from my impression of his book I may have misinterpreted his remarks.
"Those were the days when we still associated Bond with suave, old school actors such as Sean Connery and Roger Moore,"
"Daniel didn't have a hint of suave about him," - Patsy Palmer
Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
I wouldn't say "wrong". IIRC, Deaver didn't provide much in the way of physical description of Bond. I did feel that he was influenced by the Craig movies, but if he says otherwise, I see no reason to believe that he was lying.Blowfeld wrote:Et tu,?Kristatos wrote:I'm ashamed to say that I did imagine Craig as Bond when reading Carte Blanche, probably because it was a (short-lived) reboot of the book series, and Deaver seemed to alter the character of Bond to fit the Craig version.Daltonite Toothpaste wrote:With the Fleming books, I picture Dalton.
I fell like chucking it all in. You, Sweeney, another pal of mine all picture the uncharismatic curmudgeon in this book. Did I get so it wrong? My impression was of a young fresher face and completely different attitude. I also thought the radio interview Mr Deaver had he was not a Daniel fan, well not enough to imagine him as his young 007.
When the rumour hit Carte Blanch would be the next Bond film I was fairly confident it would not because of Mr Deavers attitude toward the current production. Then again I judging from my impression of his book I may have misinterpreted his remarks.
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
I didn't really picture any of the actors with Carte Blanche. But with the Benson books, I did picture Brosnan. Which, I think, is what Benson wanted.
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Re: Which Bond do you
I don't recall what his comments were precisely, so I could easily be mistaken. I do not belive he was outright dismissive of Craig, I thought he saw his story and the movie series as two different things. This is this & that is that.Kristatos wrote:I wouldn't say "wrong". IIRC, Deaver didn't provide much in the way of physical description of Bond. I did feel that he was influenced by the Craig movies, but if he says otherwise, I see no reason to believe that he was lying.Blowfeld wrote:Et tu,?Kristatos wrote:I'm ashamed to say that I did imagine Craig as Bond when reading Carte Blanche, probably because it was a (short-lived) reboot of the book series, and Deaver seemed to alter the character of Bond to fit the Craig version.Daltonite Toothpaste wrote:With the Fleming books, I picture Dalton.
I fell like chucking it all in. You, Sweeney, another pal of mine all picture the uncharismatic curmudgeon in this book. Did I get so it wrong? My impression was of a young fresher face and completely different attitude. I also thought the radio interview Mr Deaver had he was not a Daniel fan, well not enough to imagine him as his young 007.
When the rumour hit Carte Blanch would be the next Bond film I was fairly confident it would not because of Mr Deavers attitude toward the current production. Then again I judging from my impression of his book I may have misinterpreted his remarks.
"Those were the days when we still associated Bond with suave, old school actors such as Sean Connery and Roger Moore,"
"Daniel didn't have a hint of suave about him," - Patsy Palmer
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Re: Which Bond do you "see" when reading a Fleming story?
It was similar for me, I could imagine another actor easily however nobody was the choice for me.Daltonite Toothpaste wrote:I didn't really picture any of the actors with Carte Blanche. But with the Benson books, I did picture Brosnan. Which, I think, is what Benson wanted.
I agree about Benson rereading Zero Minus Ten I think he tired to be as compatible with the movie series as possible.
When I read Fleming the later books Sean Connery is easy to picture, the earlier books are hard to picture him in all the scenes.
"Those were the days when we still associated Bond with suave, old school actors such as Sean Connery and Roger Moore,"
"Daniel didn't have a hint of suave about him," - Patsy Palmer