I think the point's been made that OHMSS works best as a first film for an actor. Given where Connery had gone with the Bond role (more laid back, flippant, cool and smooth) it would have been difficult to change direction to fit the requirements of the story - ie Bond as fragile / weak UNLESS it was a swansong. Connery COULD have done it if he'd known that this was to be his last one. The problem for Bond fans would then have been - how could Bond survive that? It would have been quite a conclusive end of an era
Moore would have excelled doing the Hillary Bray stuff, he could have done it without the overdubbing no problem and has all the necessary charm for the Tracy scenes. What I would worry about is whether he would achieve the human vulnerability that Lazenby did so well, I fear that he would either be too stoic and stiff upper lip or oppositely a bit weak and pathetic.
I think probably Connery would have the opposite problem, he would be a brilliant match for Savalas and the action scenes would be something to behold. However I think SC only really works as Bond when he is in control and centre of attention (EG: He seemed a bit out of his depth in parts of DAF), I don't think he would have been able to be understated and blend into the background as Bray or be able to work with Tracy as his equal, I think the end scene would have much less impact.
I asked my Mate about this earlier, who's a fellow Bond Fan and he said that Moore would probably turn to the Camera during the final Scene and Wink whilst saying 'Plenty more where she came from' )
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
What I would worry about is whether he would achieve the human vulnerability that Lazenby did so well, I fear that he would either be too stoic and stiff upper lip or oppositely a bit weak and pathetic.
I suggest that you rewatch FYEO - the PTS when Bond visits Therea's grave and how Moore handles the scene when Lisl dies.
Maybe that will blow away your worries - it's certainly the case with me. Sir Roger would have been brilliant in the mentioned OHMSS scenes!
These 2 scenes show what a hell of an actor Moore can be when it's necessary! {[] {[]
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I'm sorry but I can't imagine Connery being in OHMSS.
I am sure that Sir Roger would have worked brilliantly and it may have made the movie even better (if that's possible).
I absolutely can see Connery handling OHMSS quite well. I think most fans would agree that he would have done well with the toughness and physicality required in several scenes, and I believe he would have been a better match for Telly Savals than Moore. Where most people seem to have a problem imaging Connery doing well is in the scenes where Bond shows some vulnerability, especially in the scenes with Tracy. However, I have seen Connery acting opposite actresses in scenes in which he projects vulnerability quite well. For example, I think he shows a certain tenderness, vulnerability and even sadness in his scenes with Dyan Cannon in The Anderson Tapes. He also shows the same range in other films, such as Marnie. Don't get me wrong, I'm not disagreeing with the notion that Moore would have been very good in such scenes as well. But I think Connery would have been more successful in combining both the toughness and the vulnerability required for OHMSS. All of that being said, I am quite pleased with most of Lazenby's work in the film and OHMSS is indeed one of the best of the series.
I'm sorry but I can't imagine Connery being in OHMSS.
I am sure that Sir Roger would have worked brilliantly and it may have made the movie even better (if that's possible).
I absolutely can see Connery handling OHMSS quite well. I think most fans would agree that he would have done well with the toughness and physicality required in several scenes, and I believe he would have been a better match for Telly Savals than Moore. Where most people seem to have a problem imaging Connery doing well is in the scenes where Bond shows some vulnerability, especially in the scenes with Tracy. However, I have seen Connery acting opposite actresses in scenes in which he projects vulnerability quite well. For example, I think he shows a certain tenderness, vulnerability and even sadness in his scenes with Dyan Cannon in The Anderson Tapes. He also shows the same range in other films, such as Marnie. Don't get me wrong, I'm not disagreeing with the notion that Moore would have been very good in such scenes as well. But I think Connery would have been more successful in combining both the toughness and the vulnerability required for OHMSS. All of that being said, I am quite pleased with most of Lazenby's work in the film and OHMSS is indeed one of the best of the series.
+1 -{
Top 10 Bond Films
1. Thunderball 2. FRWL 3. Casino Royale 4. TLD 5. OHMSS 6. SkyFall 7. GF 8. TSWLM 9. GE 10. FYEO
Moore Than's comments about Peter Hunt reminds me that of course Hunt directed Moore in Gold, in which Moore gave a hard edged, credible performance. Lois Maxwell loved it, she said. A more Bond like performance.
Thing is, Moore really wasn't quite a movie star until TSWLM. He had a bit of a TV vibe in his first two Bonds. In The Wild Geese he is great. In 1969 he would have been trying not to make a mistake mostly. He had weight fluctations in the 60s too. He could never run, so the opener might have been a bit off! I suppose his Bray persona might have been like St John Smythe in AVTAK. Bit close to home though really. Moore's Bond was a bit like that anyway. On the other hand I think he might have had better chemistry with Rigg, as Moore has a touch of the Macnee about him.
I like Moore's performances as Bond, but the thought of him replacing Lazenby in OHMSS is the stuff of nightmares. That's not because he's a poor actor — contrary to received wisdom, he's excellent when given a script that stretches him. However, the one aspect of his performance I've never liked is his playing of love scenes, which always seems a touch smarmy and sexist. Lazenby's performances opposite Diana Rigg were spellbinding, and I don't think Moore would have created the same vibe.
I'd rather have seen Connery (or indeed Dalton or Brosnan or Craig or even David Niven) front OHMSS than Lazenby, though I don't think any of them would have bettered the performance Lazenby gave.
I will say that I really love Lazenby's performance, but I think the film would have been better if Moore had done it. The only part I see Moore struggling with compared to Lazenby are the fist fights. His Bond fights have always looked clumsy or fake. Moore would be fine in the skiing, as show off in TSWLM, FYEO, and AVTAK.
Obviously Moore would be better in his interaction with other characters; he's an actor. Even the final scene I could see him pulling off extremely well. Lazenby had great chemistry with Moneypenny, but that scene would have been better with Moore, and even Bond's anger towards M would have been handled better by Moore I believe.
I know some people could say Moore wouldn't work in OHMSS, but Peter Hunt made that film around Lazenby's Bond; everything in that film was done with Lazenby's strengths in mind. SO if Moore had done it, and Peter was still in the directing chair, I think he'd still do a fantastic job with Moore in the leading role.
Moore could have pulled off OHMSS definitely. The amount of stick he gets for being a 'jokey' bond is a bit too much IMO. He can also pull off serious. "Killing Tibbet was a mistake" for instance, or when he revealed that he killed Anya's boyfriend in TSWLM.
Plus, OHMSS is not as serious as most people make out - "He's branched off" for example, or the infamous "This never happened to the other fella"
As for Connery... that could have worked too. I can't quite picture him doing the Sir Hillary Bray impersonations, but the ending where Tracey gets shot and Bond breaks down into tears would have been epic for Connery, who would finally have taken off his spy-mask. Would have been a great swansong, with Moore to follow in DAF
As for Connery... that could have worked too. I can't quite picture him doing the Sir Hillary Bray impersonations, but the ending where Tracey gets shot and Bond breaks down into tears would have been epic for Connery, who would finally have taken off his spy-mask. Would have been a great swansong, with Moore to follow in DAF
Yes, Sir Hilary Bray's accent would have been a problem for Sean Connery. Everything else was well within his capabilities provided he was sufficiently motivated. And I agree regarding the ending, a great moment seeing his spy-mask come off. Then for me, a better swansong for Connery would have been in a more serious Diamonds Are Forever gaining revenge for Tracy's death, with Roger Moore to follow in Live And Let Die.
Moore Not Less 4371 posts (2002 - 2007) Moore Than (2012 - 2016)
Connery, hell no. We probably would've gotten a performance from him between his okay acting in YOLT and his bad acting in DAF. Not acceptable.
I agree with your point, but Connery in OHMSS could have been fantastic IF: 1) Saltzman and Broccoli had paid him what they ended up paying him in DAF 2) Condictions. Like "Sean, you are putting on weight. We want you to go to the gym again and look like you did in 1962-1965". It was all about money around that time. The producers just made a bad move in 1968 by not luring Connery back for OHMSS in their own terms, which would have been Connery's perfect farewell to the series, to the 60s.
Comments
I am sure that Sir Roger would have worked brilliantly and it may have made the movie even better (if that's possible).
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I think the point's been made that OHMSS works best as a first film for an actor. Given where Connery had gone with the Bond role (more laid back, flippant, cool and smooth) it would have been difficult to change direction to fit the requirements of the story - ie Bond as fragile / weak UNLESS it was a swansong. Connery COULD have done it if he'd known that this was to be his last one. The problem for Bond fans would then have been - how could Bond survive that? It would have been quite a conclusive end of an era
I think probably Connery would have the opposite problem, he would be a brilliant match for Savalas and the action scenes would be something to behold. However I think SC only really works as Bond when he is in control and centre of attention (EG: He seemed a bit out of his depth in parts of DAF), I don't think he would have been able to be understated and blend into the background as Bray or be able to work with Tracy as his equal, I think the end scene would have much less impact.
I suggest that you rewatch FYEO - the PTS when Bond visits Therea's grave and how Moore handles the scene when Lisl dies.
Maybe that will blow away your worries - it's certainly the case with me. Sir Roger would have been brilliant in the mentioned OHMSS scenes!
These 2 scenes show what a hell of an actor Moore can be when it's necessary! {[] {[]
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I absolutely can see Connery handling OHMSS quite well. I think most fans would agree that he would have done well with the toughness and physicality required in several scenes, and I believe he would have been a better match for Telly Savals than Moore. Where most people seem to have a problem imaging Connery doing well is in the scenes where Bond shows some vulnerability, especially in the scenes with Tracy. However, I have seen Connery acting opposite actresses in scenes in which he projects vulnerability quite well. For example, I think he shows a certain tenderness, vulnerability and even sadness in his scenes with Dyan Cannon in The Anderson Tapes. He also shows the same range in other films, such as Marnie. Don't get me wrong, I'm not disagreeing with the notion that Moore would have been very good in such scenes as well. But I think Connery would have been more successful in combining both the toughness and the vulnerability required for OHMSS. All of that being said, I am quite pleased with most of Lazenby's work in the film and OHMSS is indeed one of the best of the series.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
You're right. There's nothing that dude can't handle!
1. Thunderball 2. FRWL 3. Casino Royale 4. TLD 5. OHMSS 6. SkyFall 7. GF 8. TSWLM 9. GE 10. FYEO
Thing is, Moore really wasn't quite a movie star until TSWLM. He had a bit of a TV vibe in his first two Bonds. In The Wild Geese he is great. In 1969 he would have been trying not to make a mistake mostly. He had weight fluctations in the 60s too. He could never run, so the opener might have been a bit off! I suppose his Bray persona might have been like St John Smythe in AVTAK. Bit close to home though really. Moore's Bond was a bit like that anyway. On the other hand I think he might have had better chemistry with Rigg, as Moore has a touch of the Macnee about him.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I'd rather have seen Connery (or indeed Dalton or Brosnan or Craig or even David Niven) front OHMSS than Lazenby, though I don't think any of them would have bettered the performance Lazenby gave.
Obviously Moore would be better in his interaction with other characters; he's an actor. Even the final scene I could see him pulling off extremely well. Lazenby had great chemistry with Moneypenny, but that scene would have been better with Moore, and even Bond's anger towards M would have been handled better by Moore I believe.
I know some people could say Moore wouldn't work in OHMSS, but Peter Hunt made that film around Lazenby's Bond; everything in that film was done with Lazenby's strengths in mind. SO if Moore had done it, and Peter was still in the directing chair, I think he'd still do a fantastic job with Moore in the leading role.
Plus, OHMSS is not as serious as most people make out - "He's branched off" for example, or the infamous "This never happened to the other fella"
As for Connery... that could have worked too. I can't quite picture him doing the Sir Hillary Bray impersonations, but the ending where Tracey gets shot and Bond breaks down into tears would have been epic for Connery, who would finally have taken off his spy-mask. Would have been a great swansong, with Moore to follow in DAF
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Yes, Sir Hilary Bray's accent would have been a problem for Sean Connery. Everything else was well within his capabilities provided he was sufficiently motivated. And I agree regarding the ending, a great moment seeing his spy-mask come off. Then for me, a better swansong for Connery would have been in a more serious Diamonds Are Forever gaining revenge for Tracy's death, with Roger Moore to follow in Live And Let Die.
I agree with your point, but Connery in OHMSS could have been fantastic IF: 1) Saltzman and Broccoli had paid him what they ended up paying him in DAF 2) Condictions. Like "Sean, you are putting on weight. We want you to go to the gym again and look like you did in 1962-1965". It was all about money around that time. The producers just made a bad move in 1968 by not luring Connery back for OHMSS in their own terms, which would have been Connery's perfect farewell to the series, to the 60s.
Then in 1970 cast Roger.
That's the late 80s. Just imagine him in the late 60s. Moore looked good in pretty much anything. He had been a male model in his youth.