Shady Tree
crawfordboon
Posts: 126MI6 Agent
I never understood the relevance of Shady Tree in DAF. We first come across him when Bond sees an advert in a magazine for his act, and instantly seems to suspect him. Perhaps some previous link to Tree was removed from the final edit, because as it stands there is no reason for Bond to suspect Tree.
Anyway, Bond goes to spy on Tree, but he gets killed by Wint and Kidd. We can assume that Shady is one of the links in the smuggling pipeline, all of whom are being targeted for elimination by Wint and Kidd (I assume they are working for Blofeld, who wants them to kill off the pipeline now that he has enough diamonds). Joe, the helicopter pilot, the South African dentist, Plenty (mistaken for Tiffany), and Shady are all killed. Tiffany is targetted, as is Bond (posing as Peter Franks), though for some reason they don't go after Slumber.
We don't know what Shady's role in the operation was meant to be, but as Saxby says "we didn't get the real diamonds, so we need Tree" we can assume he was a vital link. But i never understood on what ground does Bond suspect him of being one of the smugglers?
Anyway, Bond goes to spy on Tree, but he gets killed by Wint and Kidd. We can assume that Shady is one of the links in the smuggling pipeline, all of whom are being targeted for elimination by Wint and Kidd (I assume they are working for Blofeld, who wants them to kill off the pipeline now that he has enough diamonds). Joe, the helicopter pilot, the South African dentist, Plenty (mistaken for Tiffany), and Shady are all killed. Tiffany is targetted, as is Bond (posing as Peter Franks), though for some reason they don't go after Slumber.
We don't know what Shady's role in the operation was meant to be, but as Saxby says "we didn't get the real diamonds, so we need Tree" we can assume he was a vital link. But i never understood on what ground does Bond suspect him of being one of the smugglers?
Comments
Shady Tree was a character in the novel, and there he was not a comedian but definitely one of the gangsters.
The first sighting of Shady is not in the magazine, but in the scene before. Shady is the man who picks up the diamonds from the Slumber Rest Home, and he's the one who unleashes the rant about the diamonds being "phonies" when Bond is released from the coffin. Bond is therefore surprised to see him in the magazine, as it means he has located one of the people implicated in the diamond smuggling.
Shady is the link between Morton Slumber and The Whyte House. If he had obtained the real diamonds from the crematorium, he would have carried them to Whyte/Blofeld at his place of work as a link in the pipeline - presumably to Burt Saxby, who manages the hotel and knows of Tree's involvement in the diamond smuggling plot. Wint and Kidd then kill Tree because he has fulfilled the end of his role - Blofeld now has the last of his diamonds to complete the satellite, and so as a link in the chain he is not needed any more. This is why it's "most annoying" that he's dead - a link has been broken before its time.
I think it's safe to assume that Morton Slumber is dead, even though we don't see it onscreen.
@merseytart
As for Slumber, is there any reason to assume he dies?
Yup, that's Shady alright. As Tilly says, he was played by Leonard Barr. Marc Lawrence's character (who doesn't rate a name, although it has been speculated that it's Rodney from TMWTGG since he's also Marc Lawrence) first appears with his two cohorts to meet 007, as Peter Franks, at the airport.
Sorry Dan..................... lol
"Better make that two."
He's a link in the pipeline, like all the others. The only ones who survive are Bond (obviously) and Tiffany (because they kill Plenty by accident). Everyone else is murdered by Wint & Kidd.
@merseytart
BTW, if you insult GF, I would be furious. X-(
I know it's not a fashionable opinion but I think it's witty, pacy and has some assured performances from all the main actors. Even Charles Gray's crossdressing Blofeld is forgivable for some reason!!
Ok there is much to criticise but then, there is in most Bond films.
Just my humble opinion.