Is Bond A Lady Killer?
Tee Hee
CBT Headquarters: Chicago, ILPosts: 917MI6 Agent
After reading the "Different Diamonds..." thread, which considers, in part, the prospect of Bond strangling a woman to death, I began thinking: Would Bond really do that?
Bond has, from time to time, slapped a girl around (Tanya in FRWL, Andrea in TMWTGG), but is he really comfortable with taking their lives? Is it in his nature? Is he hesitant?
In almost 50 years of Bond cinema history, Bond is responsible, at least in part, for the deaths of only six female adversaries. Half of these he kills indirectly (Tanya fires the shot the kills Klebb, Vargas or Janni fires the shot that kills Volpe, Bond kills the helicopter pilot, not Xenia). However, Bond is directly implicated in the deaths of Naomi, Fatima Blush, and Elecktra King. Although Bond doesn't seem to be too bothered about taking the lives of Naomi and Fatima, he is, on the other hand, deeply affected by Elecktra's death.
Bond does seem to go easier on women from time to time. He puts Miss Taro in the hands of the police commissioner, he sympathetically lets The Photographer go with her arm unbroken, he turns Bambi and Thumper over to the CIA, etc.
So, is Bond really a lady killer? ?:)
(I've only read his first two so far, but perhaps those who have read all of Fleming can shed some literary light on the subject as well. If possible, no spoilers please!
)
Bond has, from time to time, slapped a girl around (Tanya in FRWL, Andrea in TMWTGG), but is he really comfortable with taking their lives? Is it in his nature? Is he hesitant?
In almost 50 years of Bond cinema history, Bond is responsible, at least in part, for the deaths of only six female adversaries. Half of these he kills indirectly (Tanya fires the shot the kills Klebb, Vargas or Janni fires the shot that kills Volpe, Bond kills the helicopter pilot, not Xenia). However, Bond is directly implicated in the deaths of Naomi, Fatima Blush, and Elecktra King. Although Bond doesn't seem to be too bothered about taking the lives of Naomi and Fatima, he is, on the other hand, deeply affected by Elecktra's death.
Bond does seem to go easier on women from time to time. He puts Miss Taro in the hands of the police commissioner, he sympathetically lets The Photographer go with her arm unbroken, he turns Bambi and Thumper over to the CIA, etc.
So, is Bond really a lady killer? ?:)
(I've only read his first two so far, but perhaps those who have read all of Fleming can shed some literary light on the subject as well. If possible, no spoilers please!
) "My acting range? Left eyebrow raised, right eyebrow raised..."
-Roger Moore
-Roger Moore
Comments
Yes, he has a knightley (not Keira) attitude to babes, though maybe that went when ol' Rog took over the role (which does keep taking us back to Campest Moments etc threads
True, even Brosnan with Xenia, he didn't kill her, rather she brought it on herself etc... others die in piranha pool or at hands of villainous gunmen (Fiona in TB, Rosie in LALD, Maud in TMWTGG. Or at her own hands (May Day). You could argue this is a bit patronising! Oh, Connery offed her remake character Fatima!
Good topic Tee Hee...
Roger Moore 1927-2017
One thing that disappointed me about CR was that Bond, having discovered that Vesper had betrayed him, did not catch up with her and strangle her with his bare hands.
I don't know if this is correct. Tanya killed Klebb without any assistance from Bond, so I don't know whether you can say that Bond played a role in her death. As for Xenia, although he killed the pilot, he did so, knowing that Xenia would die so I would say this was pretty direct.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Only a few minutes before he discovered her betrayal Bond was madly in love with her. He would have to be a full blown psycho to go from adoration to murder so fast.
Bond was odviously very angry at Vesper, hence his "allow me" comment in response to Gettler's threat to kill her. But it's pretty odvious that when Bond finally confronts Vesper at the elevator, his love for her is the stronger emotion.
It is the repression of Bond's disappointment and grief over Vesper that causes Bond to build up that impenetrable armor, which puts him on the path to become the ultimate "oo".
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Bond does have her backed against the wall with a chair. That makes him an accomplice as far as I'm concerned!
Lazaar put it rather nicely in TMWTGG when he said:
"Bullets do not kill; It's the finger that pulls the trigger."
Anyway, with all due respect gentlemen, the specific facts surrounding these women's deaths are not what is in question here!
-Roger Moore
This is one of the reasons why I will never be a big fan of CR. 'Impenetrable armor'; this is what we have CR to blame for.
So when people start to question your facts, you decide to shift the focus of discussion? :v You would make a great politician.
Seriously, as I said before, I don't think that Bond can be described as a lady killer as he would not view it as a natural part of his job.
What do you know, I'm going to be one!
-Roger Moore
I figured you weren't completely serious, knowing how much you adore Eva Green.
The CR/DC Bond is not the "oo" of the previous 20 films, but is on the journey to becoming that charecter. I believe what they are doing with DC is placing the charecter on an arc to becoming oo7, and it's going to take a couple more "hard knocks" to get all the rough edges off him.
About the time DC morphs into a RM Bond is the moment you will see DC exit. You can take some joy in DC's recent comments that he has yet to sign for more Bond films. Frankly, I would rather see him do two more in the "Casino Royale" style then move on.
But I don't think EON can manage such a turnaround, and the Icepalace will be back by Bond 24.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
I guess I read the Vesper should have been strangled and went mad!!!
Bond charecter's have a way of provoking strong emotion. Heck, I read a post today about a hetro guy that's going gay over Roger Moore!!!
Bond makes love to women, leaves them never to return. They know this ahead of time, but allow the seduction anyway. That is the old defination of "lady killer". Bond does not strangle women, with swimsuits or hands.
It's wife beating Connery who slapped Tanya, not the Bond Charecter - The guy in the books never slapped a girl!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
That was me! ;% (speaking with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek)
-Roger Moore
The Bond of the books may not have, however the cinematic Bond did (and not just Connery; Moore also slapped women) so one could argue that the cinematic Bond has been known to get rough with the 'fairer sex.'
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
I think it was done to "tough up" old Roger. After all that year he was in direct competition with the original "slapper" in NSNA.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
I seem to remember RM planting one on Maude in Octopussy, can't remember one in TMWTGG, but heck I haven't watched that film in 15 years or moore,
Please don't suggest I watch it again!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Your sentence definately falls into that category!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
I hope that is vague enough so as not to be a spoiler for Tee Hee.
Vargas can be seen running behind the band (with another man) just before the hand with gun appears. Janni is standing with another henchman watching Bond dance with Fiona, and looks confused when Fiona is the one to be killed.
So, it's either Vargas or his anonymous companion. Given that Vargas is an actual character (he has a name; he gets some minimal dialogue; he's in the book; Bond kills him memorably- "I think he got the point") in the story and the other man is the sort of anonymous henchman Michael Caine makes fun of in Austin Powers in Goldmember, my money's on Vargas.
If you read this thread thoroughly, you would know that all of your questions have already been answered. 8-)
-Roger Moore
Sure, only after she tried to put the squeeze on him....literally!!
That's the thing about Double O's, they are equal opportunity killers. In the name of duty, of course.
Bond is a killer who can charm you, at least that's what I always thought Fleming was writing and early Connery was playing. Moore's Bond was more of a charmer who might, if the mood took him (and in the line of duty of course
Which kinda flows to the thread question...sort of.
Okay, sorry to ramble.
Although I protested the sentence, tonite I opened my virgin Ultimate DVD of TMWTGG and loaded it into the BlueRay player. I told myself "this WILL be fun!"
The first thing I realised was that it has been a very long time since I watched this film. I recalled the music much better than the action. I was startled how bad the "gunbarrel" was put together, and Binders credits looked like they were stolen from a very old porn flick.
The HD player upgraded the picture quality enough to reveal more moles on RM than I ever saw before. Rog has a remarkable hairdo as well, the back of his head reminded me of an "old lady" all layered together and sprayed into place.
I was glad to see the Walther PPK and Rolex, old friends long retired but never forgotten. Poor "M" looked very tired, and "Q" had a helper that looked alot like the real Geoffrey Boothroyd.So I did find plesant surprises.
I watched faithfully and attentively until RM started slapping Maud about and twisting her arm. RM did his best SC imitation, but it was clear that he wasn't up to the task. It takes a "real" man like SC to knock a dame about with any degree of conviction.
It was at that point I stopped the film and put on Sir Roger's commentary. Roger laid the abuse of Maud at Guy Hamiltons door, and I was right in that it was done to "toughen up" the Moore's oo7. To his credit Moore distanced himself from this scene and pointed out that in order to be consistant with his other Bond films, he should have diddled the information out of Maud, rather than whacking her about.
So while the essence of my observations were correct, I was wrong in regard to the film and the timing of the events.
The remainder of the film seemed even more outlandish than I remembered. Bond locking up a drawf in a suitcase, the goofy QE set, and JW Pepper wearing what looked to be the grandfather of DC's famous and very desirable "Madagascar Shirt".
I was mercifully spared alot of Brit Eklund because of the RM commentary, Brit evidently made little impression on RM, as every time she shows up he started talking about Peter Sellers.
I actually enjoy RM's commentary a lot more than his acting... but that's nothing new. If it' ok with Dan Same I'll wait a day or so before watching AVTAK, need to pick up some antacid tabs at the Pharmacy first!
As for "Bond a lady killer", as far as Roger Moore goes, apparently he now very much regets his "cigar breath" which must have been unpleasant for his female co-stars during the love scenes.
So unless Bad Breath is lethal you can rest assured the Moore Bond is no "lady killer".
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
I know you love old Roger, but I didn't think his slapping around Maud looked any more convincing than the rest of his "Bond" work.
The more I ruminate on the humor injected into the films and the slapping around of ladies, the more I resent Connery, Young and Hamilton messing around with Fleming's charecter, turning him into a "joke shop spy" as David Niven put it so well in CR'67
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond