Giving Every James Bond Actor the Ending They Deserved

Summary

This video explores the final films of each James Bond actor, examining how their exits could have been more satisfying or definitive. From Sean Connery's potential ultimate showdown with Blofeld in 'Diamonds Are Forever,' to George Lazenby's brief but emotional tenure in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service,' Roger Moore's graceful retirement in 'A View to a Kill,' Timothy Dalton's nuanced farewell in 'Licence to Kill,' and Pierce Brosnan's closure in 'Die Another Day,' the video offers thoughtful hypothetical tweaks. It balances respect for the original films with imaginative what-if scenarios, giving fans a fresh perspective on how each 007 era might have achieved a more conclusive and rewarding finale.

Takeaways

• 😀 The inevitability of time means that every era of James Bond must come to a conclusion, as seen with the six 007s in the Eon film series.
• 😀 Most Bond actors did not know their final appearance as Bond would be their last, with Daniel Craig being the notable exception.
• 😀 Sean Connery’s final film in the Eon series, *Diamonds Are Forever*, lacked a proper closure, especially with Blofeld's ambiguous fate.
• 😀 An early treatment for *Diamonds Are Forever* had a more satisfying conclusion for Connery’s Bond, with a final showdown against Blofeld involving a tropical island, a diamond mine, and a tiger.
• 😀 George Lazenby only had one film as Bond, *On Her Majesty's Secret Service*, which ended with a haunting and emotional moment. While perfect for some, others may have preferred a more definitive ending for his tenure.
• 😀 Roger Moore’s *A View to a Kill* was his last film as Bond, but a potential alternate ending involving him acknowledging his age and passing on further adventures could have provided a more fitting conclusion to his era.
• 😀 A potential ending for Moore’s Bond could have seen him walking through the streets of San Francisco and reflecting on his future, before being called back into action by an old acquaintance.
• 😀 Timothy Dalton’s final film, *Licence to Kill*, ended with a somewhat humorous moment involving a ceramic fish winking at the camera, which is seen as an odd choice compared to the rest of his darker, more serious run.
• 😀 For Dalton’s tenure, cutting to the credits immediately after his final scene could have been a more fitting way to end his run, without the distraction of the fish gag.
• 😀 Pierce Brosnan’s final film, *Die Another Day*, ended with a romantic scene between Bond and Jinx, surrounded by diamonds, which provided a fitting conclusion for his Bond character.

Q & A

Why do most James Bond actors not have grand farewells in their final films?

Most Bond actors did not know at the time that their last scenes would be their final moments as the character, and the films were not structured as conscious sendoffs. Only Daniel Craig's tenure had a more deliberate conclusion.

What was Sean Connery's attitude towards returning for another Bond film after Diamonds Are Forever?

Connery was not interested in returning, stating that he only wanted to own a golf course and a bank, both of which he had, so he was not coming back.

Why did George Lazenby leave the Bond series after only one film?

Lazenby followed advice from his agent, which he later realized was poor guidance, and chose not to continue after On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

How did Roger Moore decide to step back from playing Bond?

Moore felt he was getting too old for the role, particularly as it became harder to find actors who could believably be defeated by Bond in action scenes.

What prevented Timothy Dalton from completing a third Bond film?

Legal and financial problems at the studio prevented Dalton's third film from moving forward, prematurely ending his tenure.

What is suggested as an improvement to Sean Connery's finale in Diamonds Are Forever?

A more definitive confrontation with Blofeld, including his potential death, would have provided Connery's Bond with a greater sense of closure.

How could George Lazenby’s ending in On Her Majesty's Secret Service have been more conclusive?

By extending the ending to show Bond back in London, receiving a new mission from M, it would give a sense of continuity and closure while still promising future adventures.

What was proposed as an alternative ending for Roger Moore’s A View to a Kill?

Instead of a typical romantic ending with Stacy, Bond could meet up with a previous Bond girl, Maud Adams’ Octopussy, for a mission, providing a sense of continuation and closure.

Why does the video critique the final gag with the winking fish in License to Kill?

The winking fish is seen as overly cutesy and un-Fleming-like, undermining the otherwise satisfying conclusion of Dalton’s Bond tenure, which included action and a lighter moment with Felix.

Does Pierce Brosnan's final Bond film, Die Another Day, have unresolved story elements?

No, Brosnan’s finale ends with a satisfying conclusion where Bond and Jinx take a break after the climax, providing a clear and enjoyable sendoff without major loose ends.

What general theme does the video explore regarding James Bond actors’ final films?

The video explores how each actor’s final Bond film could have been adjusted to provide a more definitive, satisfying ending, while still staying true to the original films.

How does the video approach the idea of alternative endings?

The video treats the alternatives as hypothetical but realistic possibilities, avoiding overly whimsical ideas while considering how filmmakers and actors could have created more satisfying closures.