Why did they choose Putter Smith of all people to play Mr. Kidd?

I really like Bruce Glover as Mr. Wint and thought he did an excellent job, but Pitter Smith is just not on his level at all, and I wonder why of all actors, was he picked for that role?

No clue regarding the casting process, but I suppose it's an "opposites attract" coupling. Glover is the cologne-bathing dandy while Smith is a geeky schlub.

True it is opposite's attract.  I just felt they could have gotten a better acting schlub.

It was considerably odder that Eon cast Lazenby, a non-actor, as Bond and then compunded that error by appointing a first-time director to guide him. I'll be charitable and say that was Fucking Insane.

Putter I liked.

Guy Hamilton was a jazz hound who saw Putter onstage one night and thought he had a very interesting look.
That's essentially how it came to pass as I understand it.

And the weird thing is it absolutely works in DAF. I love his performance in that it's so weird and almost a non-performance that it carries a quality of weird menace just in the way Fleming wrote the Wint and Kidd characters originally. All he needs is a card saying MY BLOOD GROUP IS "F".

And Putter just gives Bruce Glover a perfect reflecting board to bounce all over the place.

Wint & Kidd Forever!

hegottheboot wrote:

Wint & Kidd Forever!

This was the name of their never-broadcast Nickelodeon series. Cancelled and destroyed by order of Viacom.

Putter Smith seems to work, adds to DAF's charm if bizarre edges. His line about Tiffany on the plane is a highlight if not for the reaction he draws from Wint.

^ That moment is a personal favourite of mine. How can anyone not like DAF?