Could CR have been done in a different era and had the same effect?

DAWUSS

For example, could Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan have done CR as well as Daniel Craig? I think Tim Dalton and Pierce Brosnan could have done a great job with the film if it was done during their tenures as Bond

craigisbond

I actually think any of the former Bonds could've done CR with their own personal touches in it. I don't remember much of OHMSS, as I've only seen it once, but I think each Bond had an exceptional actor.

I don't think, however, that it could've been done with success in just any of the previous eras. I never liked the Dalton Bonds, but in fairness, maybe I wasn't looking for that kind of a Bond during that time; I grew up watching the funny Moore and the lighter tones of Bond, plus during that time, I hadn't been exposed yet to the kinds of terrorism that we see now daily on the news.

I think this mood of Casino Royale would could fit the Brosnan era and the Connery era, but I don't think the public was looking for this kind of Bond during the 70's and 80's. Roger Moore was probably the perfect type of Bond for the 70s and 80s. Dalton could've been a more popular Bond had his reign started much later.

Thomas Crown

This is a really good question. I could see a younger, Dr.No/From Russia With Love type Sean Connery do this, and Timothy Dalton and Brosnan could have pulled it off at the beginning of their eras as well. Perhaps the idea of the film being a "reboot" would have made the most sense in 1995 with the series starting up again, but that's just a thought. I picked these three Bonds however because their 007's had shades of what Craig was able to achieve. Connery, Dalton and Brosnan were all attempting a faithful look at Flemings character. Brosnan and Connery were consumed by popularity and lower-quality scripts, and Dalton was consumed by legal battles. Nevertheless, they all showed potiental for being this kind of Bond.

Ultimately however, just because these actors had the potiental for this 007 doesn't mean they could have achieved it in their eras. The world was ready for a re-boot of Bond in 2006, not in 1987. And if the film was done in 1995, it would have had to been catered to a more PC-inclined audience, so a harkening back to a very faithful approach to the literary 007 may have made Bond seem less relevant. It's not a jab at the other actors. Connery defined the cinematic benchmark for 007 and still holds it. Dalton brought the series back to its inital roots, and Brosnan was able to make those roots popular and developed. I see them all as integral to the evolution towards this film and this interpretation of Bond which Craig filled in a way I think the world was finally ready for in 2006.

i expect u2 die

I think that 2006's Casino Royale is a case of perfect timing. This is probably the first time that the world has been ready enough for a reboot, and the first time that the producers have dared to 'reboot' rather than 'refresh'.
That was the problem with the Brosnan era - GE simply refreshed the series, but by DAD it was knackered again.

So my answer is no, it would not have worked so well with any of the other actors.

cdsdss

Conceivably, it could have been done in the Brosnan era, but you could never have had a hero so cold and ruthless in the Connery-thru-Moore era.

Number24

I think CR could have been good before, but many agree it's a post- 9/11 movie.

DAWUSS

If it was done in the Connery-Moore era, it could have possibly stayed a little closer to the novel in terms of the Soviet Union's significance in the novel

lavabubble

I can't imagine any other Bonds than Craig or Connery making the torture scene so possessing and believeable, something which I think has turned out to be a key scene in the film.

The emotional and intimate scenes may also have been less impressive too. The thought of Roger Moore delivering the 'little finger' line makes me want to cringe.

I think it's a case of the right man and the right time.

Number24

Dalton could have pulled it of, but neither the Soviet union or the world's terrorists were quite the threat at the time. The actor was right, but not the times..

jherman

What would have been cool would have been to show it dated,like it to place before Dr No.to kinda throw it in line with the rest of the series,It's kinda like Star Wars,doing the beginning,after the middle of the series.

delliott101

It should have been done back in 1995, instead of GoldenEye. BUT I don't think Brosnan could have pulled it off. If the producers had gone with the then-current fan fave Adrian Paul, it would have been a great restart to the series!

Number24

Pierce and Tarantino wanted to make CR as a period piece. CR would have been black and white from begining to end, set in the 50's and only using the book's plot. Could have been interesting.

evilhenchman

How abot a 1930's chicago mobster version with mob boss "Mr. Whitey" and bond using a tommy gun to prevent "Chafing Le Chiffre" from stealing dirty money and plunging chicago into an all out mob war. What do you think?