Leiter in LTK

Jarvio

Although David Hederson is my favourite Felix Leiter, and his performance throughout LTK is mostly good, I do have one problem with it. And it's a big problem at that.

At the end of the film, when he is on the phone to Bond, Leiter seems just a TAD to happy for someone that's lost his wife, and lost his leg to a shark! Don't you think?

taity

Thats been comented upon many a times before. It's a minor point, yes, but he probably should have been sadder.

Of course it could be said that since his best friend had risked life and limb to avenge his dead friend that maybe that cheered him up.

Kirk James Kirk

Maybe Leiter is all doped up on morphine.

Dan Same

Jarvio wrote:

Although David Hederson is my favourite Felix Leiter, and his performance throughout LTK is mostly good, I do have one problem with it. And it's a big problem at that.

At the end of the film, when he is on the phone to Bond, Leiter seems just a TAD to happy for someone that's lost his wife, and lost his leg to a shark! Don't you think?

There are alot of things about LTK which puzzle me. That is among the least of them. ) Seriously, I don't know. I think that the film actually forgot that it was about Bond's getting revenge for what happened to Felix, so they inserted Felix at the end to remind the viewer.

Napoleon Plural

It's similar to a funny scene at the end of The Naked Gun when OJ Simpson turns up in a wheelchair all happy and laughing.

Sir Hillary Bray

I think I can recall reading that the final Felix scene was filmed out of sequence, without David Hedison knowing what had previously happened to his character and his wife. Perhaps one of our behind-the-scenes afficionados (Garvin, et al) can expand on that, because I probably have it half-correct at best.

3rbrown

taity wrote:

Thats been comented upon many a times before. It's a minor point, yes, but he probably should have been sadder.

Of course it could be said that since his best friend had risked life and limb to avenge his dead friend that maybe that cheered him up.

And his job

jetsetwilly

Sir Hillary Bray wrote:

I think I can recall reading that the final Felix scene was filmed out of sequence, without David Hedison knowing what had previously happened to his character and his wife. Perhaps one of our behind-the-scenes afficionados (Garvin, et al) can expand on that, because I probably have it half-correct at best.

I've never heard that, and to be honest, it seems unlikely. Della is killed, and Felix is put out of action, very early in the film; I think it's just a case of mishandling from the producers. I also think it's partly Hedison's fault - the man is just so chirpy and twinkly

Loeffelholz

Leiter's unaffected happiness at the end of LTK has always bothered me: IMO, it comes off as jarringly incongruous---one of many imbalances which unfortunately characterized the Dalton Era.

I think Eon was steadfast in their insistence on providing a 'happy' ending (at that point still possibly wary about an OHMSS-style backlash against a more 'tragic,' or at least subdued, ending).

Thus, despite the rough time Leiter suffers in this picture (shark attack, dismemberment, the rape and murder of his new bride), he seems stupidly happy just before the credits roll.

Sir_Miles_Messervy

Perhaps Felix is a glass half full sort of guy. Instead of, "My wife is dead and a shark got to my leg," maybe he's thinking, "I'm single again and they are making great improvements in artificial limbs these days!"

Oh, if only we all could have the zest for life of old Felix Leiter.

Anyhow...I agree with the morphene theory.