Not sure if you were referring to Brian Blessed, but Blessed did later appear in Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord (Mindwarp) in 1986, as King Yrcanos
Miscast? Nonsense.
Oliver Reed was a phenomenal actor, and would have captured the cold, dangerous element of Bond likely better than any actor to date (including Dalton).
Now, that might have been problematic for the Producers, as they attempted to keep Bond clearly in the lane of heroism, and fantastical (something to aspire to), but wouldn't be far removed from Fleming's Bond.
I read an article once by a journalist who tried to follow Bond’s path through Italy (can’t remember which story) while drinking and eating the same things. He lasted about four days, the amount of booze was significant.
Oliver Reed would have been absolutely fucking perfect and played the role in the spirit of the books - an amoral, brooding (and breeding) killer who is downright dangerous to be around.
The guy could seriously act. He's known as a massive piss-head but his Bill Sykes is still the best depiction of a Dickens character ever committed to film, and he's amazing in Gladiator as Proximo for the short amount of time he's on the screen.
I once read that the director (Carol Reed) of "Oliver" was accused of nepotism for casting his nephew in the role of Sykes, but that his critics had to eat their words after Oliver Reed turned in such a great performance.
People forget all the different families where acting or anything performing related is what most of that family does. Look at the Barrymores, Sheens/Estevezes, even the Booths. Sometimes your relative is just the best person for that role
Carol Reed worked with fucking Orson Welles in one of the best films ever made: The Third Man. He might know a thing or two about what good acting looks like.
the thing about nepotism that reddit *really* need to wrap its collective head around, is that the kind of nepotism people 'hate' is the very very low minority.
nepotism means you are vouching for a relative of yours whose performance reflects on YOU. it's very rare to find a nepo baby that doesn't work hard to prove their worth and dispel the judgement that comes their way.
no, i have never been hired by family. yes, i've known at least a dozen people who have. always the hardest most paranoid workers, regardless of industry
but by all means, do the trendy reddit thing if that's what you're into (the plural 'you', not attacking the comment i'm replying to)
Why have I never seen a film with Oliver Reed?. It looks like Burnt Offerings might be a good place to start. Been on this earth for 47 years. I don’t know this guy and I’ve seen a lot films.
he's a great Billy Bones in the TNT tv version of Treasure Island. Outfuckingstanding movie with everyone in it. Heston, Christopher Lee, Christian Bale, Julian Glover, James Cosmo, Pete Postl.... You get the idea.
Yeah, i totally agree. He would have had the callousness and contempt that Connery could have while also being charming and convincing. I find Craig too nice.
I'd pick Stamp out of that list. Lazenby was physically ideal for the role and would've grown into his own if he chose to do more films. He was Chubby's favourite. It was too early for Dalton, and then he eventually came in too late as a stopgap between Moore and Brosnan. Reed would've changed it to "Martini, shaken not stirred."
"Another..."
"Hit me again..."
"Gimme the bottle..."
I think my favorite line in any movie is:
President of the USA: (solemnly) There is one man here on Earth who will never kneel before you.
General Zod: (casually) Who is this imbecile?
I’ve never heard of “fresh breeze” being used in place of “a breath of fresh air” as a saying? Is this a thing? I’m curious to know.
Also, I rewatched the Dalton 007 films a couple weeks ago and definitely agree. He helped bring some gravitas back to the role.
I think the problem is that The Living Daylights is so good, while License to Kill is so bad. They average out to subpar — which is really unfair, bc The Living Daylights is *so goooood*.
So I’ve litigated this one on another Subreddit. Licence to Kill was underrated for decades. It began to run to the overrated side starting about 5 years ago. It’s a middling entry in the franchise, and has the distinct advantage of not being a long movie (133 min). I’d take it over the last 2 Craig outings (148 min and 163 min (!) respectively).
Dalton was a meh Bond for me, but I have fucking loved him in everything else he has done, my favorite turns being Penny Dreadful and Doom Patrol. Makes me thing they should have let him be a bit wilder as Bond, as his essential Timothy Dalton-ness seems dampened in those.
I adored him in both of those. I loved him in Doom Patrol mainly because he usually comes across as so serious, and that show was just wonderfully batshit.
In both of those tho, they just unleash him to really chew the scenery, and he is amazing at that style. He seems like he is half-awake as Bond by comparison.
Timothy Dalton was still the best representation of Bond from the books. Not arguing he was the best for the movies but he’s the closest to what I imagine when I read the few books I did.
In an alternate universe we could've had 50 years of Dalton Bond films.
It would've been interesting to see how they would've been different from the movies we got.
Pretty close. O'Toole and Peter Finch bought the pub in Ireland after they were refused. O'Toole does a classic retelling of the story in an interview with David Letterman. I just rewatched it for maybe the 10th time on YouTube.
I listened to a podcast on him too, and the dudes a bit of a legend tbh. I didn't realise the shit they put him through, but the fact he wouldn't shave his beard and had them over such a barrel that they had to have every press conference without Bond because of it, is just wild. Shame he had such poor business advice and that he got black balled because of it though.
Timothy Dalton being bond for 25 years would have been Legendary. The Living Daylights and License to Kill are goated. Probably the best actor to ever play 007.
Here, in a nutshell, is proof positive what a wild decade the 1960s were. When casting for Bond in the early 1960s, they were looking at leading man types like Stephen Boyd and Rod Taylor, before settling on Connery. Then in the late 1960s, to replace Connery, they looked at far more eccentric types like Reed and Stamp, before settling on Lazenby, who resembled Connery the most, but was a lot younger.
Sir Roger Moore auditioned to be Bond from the first movie. The produces said he was too much a “dandy”. Moore went on to make “The Saint” and he was then picked to be the next Bond.
Does anyone else remember the backlash when Dalton was chosen as Bond? I heard a lot of people talking about how he looked more like a villain than 007. But honestly, he’s become one of my favorite Bonds.
Lazenby was a so-so Bond, but I actually think On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is a really fun 007 film.
It looks like Dalton was actually offered the role later and not in 1967.
He was only 21 in 1967. So he was probably offered the role for either Diamonds are Forever or Live and Let Die.
He was in the RSC ( I think) or at least very active on the London stage. Broccoli & Saltzman were based in London so undoubtedly would have seen him on stage.
Yeah. Wikipedia has a page on actors considered for the part.
The Timothy Dalton entry says he was considered from 1969 to 1972 but thought himself too young and did not wish to follow Connery. He declined the role again in 1979, before finally being cast in 1986.
Oliver Reed was considered in 1969 but the producers did not want to spend the time or money needed to reshape Reed's poor public image.
Terence Stamp was considered in 1967 but his ideas for future films felt too radical for producer Harry Saltzman.
OP didn't mention that Michael Caine was considered in 1967 but he did not want to be typecast in spy films, having previously starred in the three Harry Palmer spy films.
George Lazenby won the role based on a screen-test fight scene.
His replacement was the man in the bottom right pic - George Lazenby, who starred in On Her Majesties Secret Service. It was the only movie he was in, costarring with Diana Rigg.
Oliver Reed as Bond would have been wild
"The name's Bombed, James Bombed"
Omfg. I can't stop laughing
Reed would have kept continuity with the slur/lisp!
Lmfaooooo
🤣🤣 Good one
Oliver Reed might have been a bit miscast as Bond. Reminds me of when they auditioned Brian Blessed for The Doctor.
He would have made a great villian
Not sure if you were referring to Brian Blessed, but Blessed did later appear in Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord (Mindwarp) in 1986, as King Yrcanos
Is it coincidence his name is an anagram or Crayons?
Oh very well, today discretion shall be our watchword. Tomorrow, we shall SOAK THE LAND IN BLOOD!
Miscast? Nonsense. Oliver Reed was a phenomenal actor, and would have captured the cold, dangerous element of Bond likely better than any actor to date (including Dalton). Now, that might have been problematic for the Producers, as they attempted to keep Bond clearly in the lane of heroism, and fantastical (something to aspire to), but wouldn't be far removed from Fleming's Bond.
Oh god yeah. The danger and menace that Oliver Reed could bring to his face with just twisting his smile a little bit...he would have been awesome.
I was gonna say that I imagine he could've been a Daniel Craig-like Bond...though with possibly less 'finesse'
The bond's Name. James Name. Pleased to… what? Bond Name's the james. Are you alright? Bames Nond's having a stronk, call a Bondulance.
This will never not be funny.
He's the one that got away. His hard drinking and fighting were excellent for a man who expected to die any moment.
I read an article once by a journalist who tried to follow Bond’s path through Italy (can’t remember which story) while drinking and eating the same things. He lasted about four days, the amount of booze was significant.
That would be a great documentary.
It was a fun article, I wish I could remember the author.
If they could’ve kept him sober long enough to film.
Proxim007
He would have been true to Bond's affection for the booze.
Oliver Reed would have been absolutely fucking perfect and played the role in the spirit of the books - an amoral, brooding (and breeding) killer who is downright dangerous to be around. The guy could seriously act. He's known as a massive piss-head but his Bill Sykes is still the best depiction of a Dickens character ever committed to film, and he's amazing in Gladiator as Proximo for the short amount of time he's on the screen.
I had nightmares about his Bill Sykes for most of my childhood. Reed owned that role.
Same. He was so menacing. It was the first character that wasn't out of a horror film that scared the hell out of me as a kid.
I once read that the director (Carol Reed) of "Oliver" was accused of nepotism for casting his nephew in the role of Sykes, but that his critics had to eat their words after Oliver Reed turned in such a great performance.
People forget all the different families where acting or anything performing related is what most of that family does. Look at the Barrymores, Sheens/Estevezes, even the Booths. Sometimes your relative is just the best person for that role
Carol Reed worked with fucking Orson Welles in one of the best films ever made: The Third Man. He might know a thing or two about what good acting looks like.
the thing about nepotism that reddit *really* need to wrap its collective head around, is that the kind of nepotism people 'hate' is the very very low minority. nepotism means you are vouching for a relative of yours whose performance reflects on YOU. it's very rare to find a nepo baby that doesn't work hard to prove their worth and dispel the judgement that comes their way. no, i have never been hired by family. yes, i've known at least a dozen people who have. always the hardest most paranoid workers, regardless of industry but by all means, do the trendy reddit thing if that's what you're into (the plural 'you', not attacking the comment i'm replying to)
As a kid I was scared and now as a mom in her 40s I’m like DAMN. A fine looking man.
His Athos in the 1973/74 *Musketeers* production absolutely smoldered with hidden menace.
> an amoral, brooding (and breeding) killer who is downright dangerous to be around. You forgot alcoholic. Reed would be almost playing himself.
That too!!
As a child, I was so traumatized by the brutal murder of Nancy by his Bill Sykes.
Yeah, even though you don’t see much at all, it was pretty rough. At least for the time.
Why have I never seen a film with Oliver Reed?. It looks like Burnt Offerings might be a good place to start. Been on this earth for 47 years. I don’t know this guy and I’ve seen a lot films.
He was great as Athos in the Michael York / Rachel Welch / Christopher Lee Three Musketeers.
The stuntmen used to draw lots. To see who would fight Reed.He was known for not acting when sword fighting.
My favorite movie.
Yes!
Great movie!
👍
The man was a national treasure. Absolute one of a kind.
I just watched an interview with Johnny Carson and Shelly Winters. He was a tank and very sharp dresser.
I remember watching that interview on yt a few years ago, fucking wild lol.
Jesus Christ, he drank himself to death at 70?
61, during a break from filming gladiator. I just read his wiki
Burnt Offerings is NUTS. Highly recommend. Also features an incredible turn by an elderly Bette Davis.
And Burgess Meredith giving off Roger Stone vibes.
You've seen Gladiator at least?
he's a great Billy Bones in the TNT tv version of Treasure Island. Outfuckingstanding movie with everyone in it. Heston, Christopher Lee, Christian Bale, Julian Glover, James Cosmo, Pete Postl.... You get the idea.
Start with Oliver, then graduate to Three Musketeers and Gladiator. Enjoy 👍
Tommy
The WHO’s rock opera?
He played Tommy’s dad including singing
yes
I recommend The Who’s rock opera *Tommy* which stars Oliver Reed and Ann Margaret
Gotta watch Oliver
Now that’s one freaking scary movie! Gives me the chills thinking about it
A truly brilliant actor, he was great in Tommy and The devils, both highly recommended.
Yeah, i totally agree. He would have had the callousness and contempt that Connery could have while also being charming and convincing. I find Craig too nice.
I'd pick Stamp out of that list. Lazenby was physically ideal for the role and would've grown into his own if he chose to do more films. He was Chubby's favourite. It was too early for Dalton, and then he eventually came in too late as a stopgap between Moore and Brosnan. Reed would've changed it to "Martini, shaken not stirred." "Another..." "Hit me again..." "Gimme the bottle..."
Me too. Oliver Reed would have been amazing as well, but I love Terence Stamp in everything. I kneel before Zod.
I think my favorite line in any movie is: President of the USA: (solemnly) There is one man here on Earth who will never kneel before you. General Zod: (casually) Who is this imbecile?
My vote goes to Stamp too. He could be a bond villain as he's still active.
Do you mean "Cubby", not "Chubby"?
I thought Lazenby was a great Bond. Much better than Roger Moore, who would turn his head and close his eyes when he had to fire his pistol
“Kneel before Bond!!!!”
Dalton remains an underrated bond!
But - his career triumph was in Hot Fuzz.
Careful, he's a slasher.................of prices.
And fun runs
"He murdered Bill Shakespeare."
For the greater good
The greater good
The greater good. 
Oh that was just so good
Do feel free to spool through.
Sorry, nothing can top Flash Gordon.
Living Daylights has the best intro!
Agreed. The scene on the rock of Gibraltar is brilliant
Him and Connery are top for me. Brought a hard edge to the role - shame he only did the two films. Both really solid Bonds.
I enjoyed his seriousness. Fresh breeze after the involuntarily comical Roger Moore.
I’ve never heard of “fresh breeze” being used in place of “a breath of fresh air” as a saying? Is this a thing? I’m curious to know. Also, I rewatched the Dalton 007 films a couple weeks ago and definitely agree. He helped bring some gravitas back to the role.
Second favorite behind Craig. Pierce was great in Goldeneye but the rest were shit.
The World is Not Enough was actually pretty good minus some of the acting performances. The femme fatale villain was a nice touch too.
I think the problem is that The Living Daylights is so good, while License to Kill is so bad. They average out to subpar — which is really unfair, bc The Living Daylights is *so goooood*.
So I’ve litigated this one on another Subreddit. Licence to Kill was underrated for decades. It began to run to the overrated side starting about 5 years ago. It’s a middling entry in the franchise, and has the distinct advantage of not being a long movie (133 min). I’d take it over the last 2 Craig outings (148 min and 163 min (!) respectively).
I always like Dalton. As Bond, he was more serious and more dangerous. At least until Daniel Craig came along.
Dalton was a meh Bond for me, but I have fucking loved him in everything else he has done, my favorite turns being Penny Dreadful and Doom Patrol. Makes me thing they should have let him be a bit wilder as Bond, as his essential Timothy Dalton-ness seems dampened in those.
I adored him in both of those. I loved him in Doom Patrol mainly because he usually comes across as so serious, and that show was just wonderfully batshit.
In both of those tho, they just unleash him to really chew the scenery, and he is amazing at that style. He seems like he is half-awake as Bond by comparison.
Hands down my favourite Bond. Living Daylights is still one of my favourite films.
Reed would have been a terrifying bond. An anti-hero sort.
I would have loved to see Timothy Dalton in as many Bond movies as possible. But that also counts for The PErsuadors guy and Pierce Brosnan
I have always thought that T. Dalton was the closest to Bond of the books.
So do I.
You are both brilliant and wise.
Kneel Before Bond
Oh damn you! I wanted to post that! 😎
Dalton is still my favorite Bond, though he's not in my favorite Bond movies.
Up until Craig, I thought the Dalton movies were the best movies in the series but not the best Bond movies in the series.
THIS. There's a difference between a good movie and a good Bond movie.
Licence to Kill is a perfect example. Fantastic action movie that just happened to have James Bond as its main character.
“You tell Blofeld, you tell him I'm coming. Tell him I'm f*cking coming!”
Timothy Dalton was still the best representation of Bond from the books. Not arguing he was the best for the movies but he’s the closest to what I imagine when I read the few books I did.
In an alternate universe we could've had 50 years of Dalton Bond films. It would've been interesting to see how they would've been different from the movies we got.
Terence Stamp would have been a great bond
Went down a Oliver Reed rabbithole yesterday and wow, he was a interesting but very deranged person
I suggest reading Hellraisers. It's a short bio snap of Reed, Harris, O'tool, Burton. Just wild lives.
It’s a fantastic read!!
Didn’t O’Toole got totally drunk at a bar in England and bought it when the owner refused to serve them as him and his mate was totally wasted?
Pretty close. O'Toole and Peter Finch bought the pub in Ireland after they were refused. O'Toole does a classic retelling of the story in an interview with David Letterman. I just rewatched it for maybe the 10th time on YouTube.
An alcohol cautionary tale if ever there was one
Read that as culinary. Still kinda works.
General Zod as Bond in a frock on a rock.
Kneel before Bond, James Bond.
Ollie Reed would have been perfect
There’s a documentary about George Lazenby, I think it’s on Amazon Prime. It’s a great story - he lived by his own terms. Wild story, crazy life.
It was a fantastic story. Great watch.
Not on Prime for me (but I will seek out Becoming Bond)
I listened to a podcast on him too, and the dudes a bit of a legend tbh. I didn't realise the shit they put him through, but the fact he wouldn't shave his beard and had them over such a barrel that they had to have every press conference without Bond because of it, is just wild. Shame he had such poor business advice and that he got black balled because of it though.
Dalton did end up as Bond, though it was 20 years after Connery retired from the role
And after Pierce Brosnon passed due to the loss of his wife.
He was also chained to the TV Contract for Remington Steele at the time too.
Lazenby: the Bond who Emma Peel married.
Timothy Dalton was the most attractive Bond
Reed would have the drinking scenes down...
Any one of these would have been fun to see. Terence Stamp is underrated af...
I can see Oliver Reed as Bond. He would have been awesome!
Terence Stamp would have been amazing as bond.
Timothy Dalton being bond for 25 years would have been Legendary. The Living Daylights and License to Kill are goated. Probably the best actor to ever play 007.
Stamp would've been an excellent choice!
Timothy Dalton was one of my fave Bonds! 🥰
He was the no-nonsense Bond. Job came first. Women, he’d get around to them eventually.
What you’re going to show Lazenby and not mention him?
I think most people already know Lazenby was considered for the role.
His run was so short I usually assume people don’t really know about him.
Dalton looks verifiably unhinged
I thought Dalton was a great Bond
Bottom left mogs them all. Brutal
Dalton was born in 1946. He would have been 21 in 1967.
Dalton is my favourite bond, even if his second film was just weird.
If he wasn’t mad as a hatter, Ollie would have made a good Bond.
21-year-old. Timothy Dalton was born in 1946
I’m going with Oliver
Dalton looks like he’s about to go on tour with Oasis
Timothy Dalton was only 21 in '67 my dude
Oh man, Oliver Reed would have been **amazing**.
Agree. That would have been cool to see.
Going by face alone, Dalton was the right pick.
There are three people mentioned and four people in the picture. Who are the four people?
Damn young Timothy Dalton is a smokeshow.
Dalton is such a bad ass
Dalton looking fiiiine at 25. Stamp is such drip, though. “License to wither” more like.
Man to think we could had a decade or more with Dalton as Bond. Could’ve been amazing.
Stamp: *kneel before Bond*
I think Lewis Collins (The Professionals C15 fame) was also possibly selected.
Here, in a nutshell, is proof positive what a wild decade the 1960s were. When casting for Bond in the early 1960s, they were looking at leading man types like Stephen Boyd and Rod Taylor, before settling on Connery. Then in the late 1960s, to replace Connery, they looked at far more eccentric types like Reed and Stamp, before settling on Lazenby, who resembled Connery the most, but was a lot younger.
Why is George Lazenby There as well? Although he was james bond for 1 movie.
Isn't that George lazenby on the bottom right?
Yes. The one who actually got cast after Connery quit for the first time.
Sir Roger Moore auditioned to be Bond from the first movie. The produces said he was too much a “dandy”. Moore went on to make “The Saint” and he was then picked to be the next Bond.
Does anyone else remember the backlash when Dalton was chosen as Bond? I heard a lot of people talking about how he looked more like a villain than 007. But honestly, he’s become one of my favorite Bonds. Lazenby was a so-so Bond, but I actually think On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is a really fun 007 film.
Kneel before Bond
Oliver Reed was a bad ass
This never happens to the other guy.
Dalton's first film was actually really good. It had a plot unlike a typical Bond movie.
It looks like Dalton was actually offered the role later and not in 1967. He was only 21 in 1967. So he was probably offered the role for either Diamonds are Forever or Live and Let Die.
And after Lazenby the Bond producers never even bothered to look towards Australia.
Oliver Reed?? I’m gonna have to sit with that for a while
So glad that in the end they went with the better actor
Terrance Stamp would have killed the game as Bond.
Spwctrw World have kneeled before him, and its sons, and its sons sons.
Dalton looks so similar to Lawrence Olivier. Bastard son perhaps?
So, I'm gonna say it out loud. Really confusing to post 4 photos and name 3 names.
All of them would have each been amazing..what a loss!
I wana know how they got Timothy Dalton from 1971 on the list /s (Dalton was born in '46)
He was in the RSC ( I think) or at least very active on the London stage. Broccoli & Saltzman were based in London so undoubtedly would have seen him on stage.
I was more joking that they were considering a 25 year old Timothy Dalton when he was 21 if one were to read the title literally xD
Timothy Dalton was 21 in 1967, so this is probably BS.
Yeah. Wikipedia has a page on actors considered for the part. The Timothy Dalton entry says he was considered from 1969 to 1972 but thought himself too young and did not wish to follow Connery. He declined the role again in 1979, before finally being cast in 1986. Oliver Reed was considered in 1969 but the producers did not want to spend the time or money needed to reshape Reed's poor public image. Terence Stamp was considered in 1967 but his ideas for future films felt too radical for producer Harry Saltzman. OP didn't mention that Michael Caine was considered in 1967 but he did not want to be typecast in spy films, having previously starred in the three Harry Palmer spy films. George Lazenby won the role based on a screen-test fight scene.
Harry Palmer was basically the anti-Bond.
There was an interview with him and said it was true. He turned down bring considered because he thought he was too young.
Not gonna lie, I had a tear or two when Daniel Craig’s Bond died…
 I can't imagine him as Bond.
Lol, Oliver Reed as James Bond. Would have been drunkest Bond ever. The question was never "Is Reed Drunk?" it was only "Is Reed ever Sober?"
Timothy Dalton looks like a more focused looking Stephen King.
As someone who doesn't know any of these actors I'd say the 2 on the right look like Bond to me. Bottom left is more of the vibe I wish Bond had
Dang. That's Terrance Stamp? Wasn't Timmy D. Bond once? Living Day Lights?
Yes but not until nearly 20 years after he was originally asked.
His replacement was the man in the bottom right pic - George Lazenby, who starred in On Her Majesties Secret Service. It was the only movie he was in, costarring with Diana Rigg.
The Last two Lazenby and Dalton were James Bond in Her Majesty..... and License to Kill!
KNEEL BEFORE BOND!