I agree that an unseen Bloefeld was very effective, but Ian Fleming fleshed him out, gave him a voice and physical business to do in the novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service, so the film adaptation had to deal with this development and follow suit.
The characterization imposed on YOLT is a joke, inconsistent with the earlier films or the novels. No fault of Donald Pleasance, who is a wonderful actor. I prefer the cultivated barbarian played by Telly Savalas. He is the only Bloefeld that makes dramatic sense, and the only Bloefeld who is confrontational without being afraid and physically threatening, leading the chase for Bond and starting the avalanche to kill him. He is not inconsistent with the unseen Bloefeld from the earlier films. It's Savalas or nobody.
I never liked Telly Savalas's Blofeld, mainly because of his accent, which is both unctuous and bombastic. He's like a DJ or a porn director. It's swagger without menace. Donald Pleasance's performance is precisely the opposite, and nicely creepy. He's my favorite on-screen Blofeld. Still, I prefer the faceless Blofeld of FRWL and TB.
If only Dalton had done OHMSS, I be soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Happy, ) ) )
Then I would of Had.
My favourite Bond film, My favourite Bond Actor and My favourite Bond villain.
"Can't we all, Just get along?"
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Unseen Blofield was always better. I didn't like how Blofield evolved from a ruthless behind-the-scenes mastermind in the earlier films to a front-line commander in OHMSS. Blofield putting on the ski outfit and chasing Bond down the mountain epitimizes this. This is not something the earlier incarnations of Blofield would have done. He really seemed like a different character, which may have been the point, but if that was the case then actually make him a different character.
And this. Glad I'm not the only one to think so. I haven't read the books nor do I want to mix the film and book worlds much. I choose to go by what's shown on screen.
Mabey if they ever use Blofeld again, they might use the Unseen Blofeld option Once more., A young Blofeld Texting his orders )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,871MI6 Agent
Telly Savalas by a long stretch - there was very little character to the other incarnations - either fey and theatrical (Charles Gray in DAF) or comic book spooky (Donald Pleasance in YOLT). The Blofeld interesting charcterisation from the Bond novels was never translated onto the screen, sadly. A great missed opportunity, there!
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Telly Savalas's portrayal is definitely closest to Fleming's vision of the character: a physically powerful man going to seed as he ages, whose central characteristics are not just ambition and ruthlessness but also pomposity: he believes himself to be a very noble criminal. In the book Thunderball when Blofeld executes people it's not for failing in their allotted tasks, but for discharging their roles unprofessionally; a distinction that is lost in the films. It's a pity, because it's an indicator of an important aspect of Blofeld's character. It's also a shame that You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty's Secret Service were filmed in the wrong order, as Pleasence's portrayal could have worked well as an older version of Savalas's character — physically more infirm and much more bitter and vindictive as he sees life passing him by.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,871MI6 Agent
Telly Savalas's portrayal is definitely closest to Fleming's vision of the character: a physically powerful man going to seed as he ages, whose central characteristics are not just ambition and ruthlessly but also pomposity: he believes himself to be a very noble criminal. In the book Thunderball when Blofeld executes people it's not for failing in their allotted tasks, but for discharging their roles unprofessionally; a distinction that is lost in the films. It's a pity, because it's an indicator of an important aspect of Blofeld's character. It's also a shame that You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty's Secret Service were filmed in the wrong order, as Pleasence's portrayal could have worked well as an older version of Savalas's character — physically more infirm and much more bitter and vindictive as he sees life passing him by.
Is it just me or does the Blofeld character seem lifeless and drab in YOLT and DAF - no background, no character to speak of - this is especially true of YOLT where the facial scars, bald head and Persian cat do all the acting. It's not hard to see that this stereotypical Bond baddie inspired Dr Evil. Dire casting and performance, IMHO. Telly Savalas was the only one of them to show the true Blofeld and this is why he is my favourite!
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Telly Savalas's portrayal is definitely closest to Fleming's vision of the character: a physically powerful man going to seed as he ages, whose central characteristics are not just ambition and ruthlessly but also pomposity: he believes himself to be a very noble criminal. In the book Thunderball when Blofeld executes people it's not for failing in their allotted tasks, but for discharging their roles unprofessionally; a distinction that is lost in the films. It's a pity, because it's an indicator of an important aspect of Blofeld's character. It's also a shame that You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty's Secret Service were filmed in the wrong order, as Pleasence's portrayal could have worked well as an older version of Savalas's character — physically more infirm and much more bitter and vindictive as he sees life passing him by.
Except that In the Books, Blofeld has Hair and changes his Appearance from the Three Books.
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
Comments
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Then I would of Had.
My favourite Bond film, My favourite Bond Actor and My favourite Bond villain.
"Can't we all, Just get along?"
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
No!!
DALTON!!!!!!!!!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Is it just me or does the Blofeld character seem lifeless and drab in YOLT and DAF - no background, no character to speak of - this is especially true of YOLT where the facial scars, bald head and Persian cat do all the acting. It's not hard to see that this stereotypical Bond baddie inspired Dr Evil. Dire casting and performance, IMHO. Telly Savalas was the only one of them to show the true Blofeld and this is why he is my favourite!
Except that In the Books, Blofeld has Hair and changes his Appearance from the Three Books.
“It reads better than it lives.” T. Case