In 1986, Timothy Dalton became the fourth James Bond, a legendary agent 007 with a license to kill. He was practically a unanimous choice, recognized as potentially successful, but as soon as the film aired, most of the critics' and spectators' opinions were negative. Why? Let's try to find out by playing judicial session.

District Attorney: Timothy Dalton is a serious actor accused of trying to play Bond too seriously, taking into account that we are practically dealing with a comedy.

Defense Attorney: Your honor, I object! How can he be playing it too seriously if the hero has to flee down a mountain using a cello case as a sled? Or when a laser cuts off the top of a patrol car and Bond has to explain it to his surprised lady as salt corrosion?

The judge: The objection is sustained.

District Attorney: There is nothing serious in the script, in the retorts and in the material, or in the story itself. The Bond audiences are basically teenagers, and they want to see a brave superhero on the screen, not a ruthless professional feeling devastation and weariness from work.

Defense Attorney: Was Sean Connery Mother Theresa in this sense? In 'Doctor No', his Bond, hiding behind a door, quietly waits while the opponent unloads his pistol into the dummy on the bed, and says, "You had your six," then coolly kills the unarmed villain. Or is it also this humor which my client lacks?

District Attorney: The charge against Timothy Dalton is that he not only tried to play a real man in real jeopardy, but also tried to convincingly show the audience the fright, pain, and confusion of a hero, thus attempting to destroy 'Bond aesthetics'. After all, Fleming is not Tchehov. We are not interested in the 'inner world' of the superagent. The 'external' pursuits, the explosions, the shots, the smart girl, the exotic villains, and so on, are quite sufficient.

Defense Attorney: In this context I would like to point out, Your Honor, that Timothy Dalton, in preparation for the role, has read all of Fleming's stories on which to base his own interpretation. Even the prosecution, I believe, could argue that my client's Bond is closest to the original, the Bond that we see in the book, but not on the screen.

District Attorney: That was unnecessary! To Fleming -Fleming's, but to Broccoli - Broccoli's. The written Bond and the on-screen Bond are two very difference things, as we say in Odessa. The cult, legendary figure is secondary. We are just as interested in the first.

The judge: Does the defense have anything to add?

Defense Attorney: Nothing, your honor, except that hundreds of people consider Timothy Dalton's Bond best. They are in the minority. But from history we know that the majority is not always right.

The judge: We have heard the arguments of both parties. The court will deliberate.

The plot of film is briefly that: Bond will help the KGB general Georgy Koskov escape to the West in a metal capsule on the Trans-Siberian gas-main. Simultaneously, it is entrusted to him to kill the sniper who will try to prevent Koskov from betraying Motherland's interests. Bond will help the dissident general, and as to the sniper, cellist Kara Milovy (Mariam D'Abo) clearly holds a rifle in her hands for the first time in her life. Bond wings her. Further Koskov is kidnapped, and the superagent sets off on his search, taking Kara with him. They meet with the KGB general Pushkin (John Rys Davis) in Tunis, the Soviet base in Afghanistan, and also a big fan of playing soldiers, weapon and drug dealer Brad Wittaker (Joe Don Baker)

A Special Note from Debra Best:

Here below are two pictures from The Living Daylights both were from scenes that were cut from the film. I think because it was looked at afterwards that these scenes were more in Roger Moore's style then Timothy's. The first one is with Stunt Man Eddie Kid, who doubled for Timothy and the second one I think is Timothy himself on the magic carpet, he certainly would have the courage to do it. These pictures are quite large so if you would like to see them please have patience while they are loading.

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