"How Can A Friend Be In Debt?"
bigzilcho
Toronto, ONPosts: 245MI6 Agent
Greetings, everyone. Time for a list.
"How can a friend be in debt?"
Bond tells this to Kerim Bey in FRWL when Bey thanks him for his help.
It is a very telling line that reveals volumes about Bond and his relationship to people.
A loner at heart, Bond is the type of man who does not make friends easily, but is a friend for life.
Some examples of how Bond, a man on the move, deals with allies and friends that last only an instant in time.
There is much to be gained by examining this side of Bond. For, you see, blunt instrument that he is, Bond reminds us of the simpler truths at times.
Loyalty. Respect. Honor.
I maintain that Bond is the greatest character in the pulp universe not only because of his style and influence but because he represents the best parts of our character, as all heroes should.
DN- Felix and Quarrel are the first proper allies in the series, but the first proper Bond friend we see is Moneypenny.
Moneypenny is unique in the Bond universe. She is the only attractive woman Bond will not take to bed. Interpret it any way you want, but Bond NEEDS a Moneypenny in his life. A ladies man like Bond must maintain a warm, platonic relationship with a woman to remind and assure himself that women can be trusted and honored.
Pound-for-pound, Moneypenny is Bond's closest friend.
FRWL- Kerim Bey. Nuff said.
GF- Like Blofeld, the producers could never get a handle on the right actor for Felix Leiter. As time goes by, Jack Lord stands head and shoulders above all else in the cool department and David Hedison is probably the most fondly remembered.
Cec Linder is always dismissed by Bond fans, but like all Leiters, I don't have a problem with him.
Whoever plays Leiter is irrelevant. What's interesting is Bond's instant rapport with Leiter. He is the one ally who appears repeatedly. In the murky world of the intelligence community, Felix is the only true friend Bond has got.
TB- "That's a fine way to greet the CIA."
"Sorry, Felix, you were about to say "007""
One of those throwaway scenes of style from Terence Young that should be studied by the Marc Fosters of the world. A punch to the chops to prevent Felix from saying too much is one thing, thats business. But its that casual moseying up to the bar for drinks, after the goon has been kicked out, that speaks of a different era and attitude.
The feeling is: the bum has been thrown out, lets have a drink. One of the few times you get a sense that Bond and Felix are old-time drinking buddies.
YOLT- "For a European, you are exceptionally cultivated."
Never forget that, athough he is British, Bond is truly a man of the world. And wherever he goes, Bond takes pride and care to maintain an understanding and respect of the land he is moving through.
Tiger Tanaka complimenting Bond of his knowledge of sake is a reminder of a time in which men took time to be prepared and well-informed.
And not simply for self-improvement, but for honoring the hospitality of a gracious host.
Is it an accident that Bond friends scan the globe?
OHMSS- When Blofeld shows Bond the dead body of his ally, the mountain-climber, Bond, for a second, goes beserk and and tries to kill Blofeld.
Lesson #1 to all future Bond-villians: Never, EVER kill a friend of Bond's. That is when the cool, calculated blunt instument becomes white-hot in his rage.
DAF- "Felix, don't tell me you lost her."
Felix and his team of agents have lost Tiffany at the casino and it takes a sheepish Leiter to admit that she is gone.
It is a minor moment but it is times like these that reminds us how classy a gentleman Bond can be. Instead of being angered Bond looks amused, Felix is a friend...how can one get mad at a friend who makes a mistake?
LALD- A superb touch in having Quarrel Jr. show up. One of the few times in the series that acknowledges Bond's past.
But what's fascinating about Quarrel Jr. is his lineage. Does that mean that Kerim Bey's sons (however many) owe their allegiance to Bond?
End of Part 1
"How can a friend be in debt?"
Bond tells this to Kerim Bey in FRWL when Bey thanks him for his help.
It is a very telling line that reveals volumes about Bond and his relationship to people.
A loner at heart, Bond is the type of man who does not make friends easily, but is a friend for life.
Some examples of how Bond, a man on the move, deals with allies and friends that last only an instant in time.
There is much to be gained by examining this side of Bond. For, you see, blunt instrument that he is, Bond reminds us of the simpler truths at times.
Loyalty. Respect. Honor.
I maintain that Bond is the greatest character in the pulp universe not only because of his style and influence but because he represents the best parts of our character, as all heroes should.
DN- Felix and Quarrel are the first proper allies in the series, but the first proper Bond friend we see is Moneypenny.
Moneypenny is unique in the Bond universe. She is the only attractive woman Bond will not take to bed. Interpret it any way you want, but Bond NEEDS a Moneypenny in his life. A ladies man like Bond must maintain a warm, platonic relationship with a woman to remind and assure himself that women can be trusted and honored.
Pound-for-pound, Moneypenny is Bond's closest friend.
FRWL- Kerim Bey. Nuff said.
GF- Like Blofeld, the producers could never get a handle on the right actor for Felix Leiter. As time goes by, Jack Lord stands head and shoulders above all else in the cool department and David Hedison is probably the most fondly remembered.
Cec Linder is always dismissed by Bond fans, but like all Leiters, I don't have a problem with him.
Whoever plays Leiter is irrelevant. What's interesting is Bond's instant rapport with Leiter. He is the one ally who appears repeatedly. In the murky world of the intelligence community, Felix is the only true friend Bond has got.
TB- "That's a fine way to greet the CIA."
"Sorry, Felix, you were about to say "007""
One of those throwaway scenes of style from Terence Young that should be studied by the Marc Fosters of the world. A punch to the chops to prevent Felix from saying too much is one thing, thats business. But its that casual moseying up to the bar for drinks, after the goon has been kicked out, that speaks of a different era and attitude.
The feeling is: the bum has been thrown out, lets have a drink. One of the few times you get a sense that Bond and Felix are old-time drinking buddies.
YOLT- "For a European, you are exceptionally cultivated."
Never forget that, athough he is British, Bond is truly a man of the world. And wherever he goes, Bond takes pride and care to maintain an understanding and respect of the land he is moving through.
Tiger Tanaka complimenting Bond of his knowledge of sake is a reminder of a time in which men took time to be prepared and well-informed.
And not simply for self-improvement, but for honoring the hospitality of a gracious host.
Is it an accident that Bond friends scan the globe?
OHMSS- When Blofeld shows Bond the dead body of his ally, the mountain-climber, Bond, for a second, goes beserk and and tries to kill Blofeld.
Lesson #1 to all future Bond-villians: Never, EVER kill a friend of Bond's. That is when the cool, calculated blunt instument becomes white-hot in his rage.
DAF- "Felix, don't tell me you lost her."
Felix and his team of agents have lost Tiffany at the casino and it takes a sheepish Leiter to admit that she is gone.
It is a minor moment but it is times like these that reminds us how classy a gentleman Bond can be. Instead of being angered Bond looks amused, Felix is a friend...how can one get mad at a friend who makes a mistake?
LALD- A superb touch in having Quarrel Jr. show up. One of the few times in the series that acknowledges Bond's past.
But what's fascinating about Quarrel Jr. is his lineage. Does that mean that Kerim Bey's sons (however many) owe their allegiance to Bond?
End of Part 1
Comments
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Quarrel's death is a somber moment. In the book, Bond kneels over the body in a mass of emotional regret for his self involvement by pushing for that help. The Jamaican felt his end approaching if he accompanied Bond to Crab Key yet he remained. Loyalty respect, honor? I think so. I believe Bond is the same kind of man when he connects with a true ally.
The movie also handles this perfectly with Connery emoting convincingly and No's guards adding salt to his wound, and ours, by sneering.