Ali Karim Bey - what a portrayal by Armendariz

Halcon

Watched FRWL again last night...

...One of the main reasons i love this film is Armendariz' portrayal of Ali Karim Bey. The guy on the screen IS Ali Karim!

...the scene where Bond and him meet is absolutely fantastic...there they are, smoking a cigarette, drinking Istanbul coffee, chit chatting what men chit chat about...money, women, politics, spying...
...Ali Karim loves life, you could tell by his eyes, everything was fascinating to him, he was relaxed, happy, in control of his 'operation'...went from real rags to riches...
...this character deserves his own story!

...

Dutchfinger

Couldn't agree more, did you also know that Pedro Armendariz actually had cancer during the production of From Russia With Love? He died during the production, but he actually wanted to finish all of his scenes! Knowing that gave me even more respect for the guy.

Halcon

Dutchfinger wrote:

Couldn't agree more, did you also know that Pedro Armendariz actually had cancer during the production of From Russia With Love? He died during the production, but he actually wanted to finish all of his scenes! Knowing that gave me even more respect for the guy.

wow..that's something else, I knew about the cancer but had forgotten about it. Armendariz absolutely laid it all out on this role knowing it would be his last...kind of sad that he really does die at the 'end' of the movie then...
...well here is a toast to a fellow Mexican! {[]

...i dont know, i just love his character of Ali Karim, there is a warmth to him, a sincere zest for living and concern for whomever is his friend. the fact that he has sons all over the place that work for him, women that need him, countries that depend on him for stabilization!...what a character and a role model.

Blackleiter

A great character and a great performance!

DEFIANT 74205

Pedro Armendariz's performance is one of the reasons why I think From Russia With Love is the best Bond film ever. Absolutely amazing, more so considering that it was his last role.

I heard that he actually committed suicide. From Wiki:

Armendáriz began to suffer pain in his hips and years later it was discovered that he had cancer in these regions. He learned his condition was terminal while at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He reportedly acted in From Russia with Love while enduring great pain (he visibly limps in most scenes) in order to leave behind financial resources for his family after his impending death. On June 18, 1963, rather than waste away under the haze of pain medication, he took his own life by firing a bullet into his heart from a gun which he had smuggled into the hospital.

chrisisall

Wow. Holy....

James Suzuki

Also, thought you might want to know that his son acted in license to kill

Halcon

yes i did know that! it was a pleasant surprise when i saw it. His son recently died too, very nice guy but he was normally used as a villian in Spanish movies...you could really hate the guy in those roles...shows he was a pretty good actor like his dad...

Dutchfinger

Halcon wrote:

yes i did know that! it was a pleasant surprise when i saw it. His son recently died too, very nice guy but he was normally used as a villian in Spanish movies...you could really hate the guy in those roles...shows he was a pretty good actor like his dad...

Which son? He has a dozen sons! )

Halcon

Dutchfinger wrote:

Halcon wrote:

yes i did know that! it was a pleasant surprise when i saw it. His son recently died too, very nice guy but he was normally used as a villian in Spanish movies...you could really hate the guy in those roles...shows he was a pretty good actor like his dad...

Which son? He has a dozen sons! )

) )