Gypsy camp fight necessary ?

Firemass

In another thread I criticized FRWL for being too slow. Tonight I rewatched FRWL and realized my main issue with the film revolves around the gypsy camp scenes. The main storyline stalls out completely in favor of this "exotic" distraction.

We are subjected to a dinner party, girl fight, haphazard battle scene, and finally Bond getting both gypsy girls. The girl fight is insulting, sexist, and poorly resolved. None of this is relevant to the plot except we see Red Grant as Bond's guardian. On a weird note- Kerim seems puzzled why people are trying to kill him! Hmm as if the limpet mine wasn't the first clue ?? Why didn't Kerim take care of Kirilenko like he said he was going to?!

Try out this timeline instead:

Bond and Kerim are spying on the Russians with their periscope. Kerim identifies Kirilenko as the limpet mine suspect and mentions the need to get rid of him.

CUT TO:

Bond and Kerim in the dark alley with the sniper rifle to kill Kirilenko. "She has a lovely mouth, that Anita"

Barbel

At the time the film was made, this sequence was considered a highlight. We're looking with fifty years hindsight. Back then there were no DVDs etc, no prospect of a TV showing, so films had to be seen in the cinema and (unless one worked as an usher etc) not repeatedly to the point of making any flaws apparent.

Also this sequence is in the novel and at this time Fleming was still around, writing the books which were selling in millions, and Eon were still producing faithful versions of his stories- considerable numbers of readers would have been looking forward to seeing what they had read. The Bond films had not as yet taken over from the Bond books in cultural significance and popularity (that would happen with the next film).

bigzilcho

Hello, Firemass.

Just wanted to defend what I think is an essential element to FRWL. The gypsy camp scene is a rich, exotic scene that adds spice to a classic Bond film.

Of course, the girl fight is sexist. But we are talking about a Fleming view of the universe. Sexism in a Bond movie? Goes with the territory, don't you think? It's a well handled bit of Bondian mayhem with both ladies giving it their all.

As for poorly resolved, well, you have a point there. But how appropriate is it that at the end it is left for Bond to decide? "As if I didn't have enough problems."

And what is rarely mentioned is Bond's distaste for the whole affair. A very telling bit of of business which reveals that underneath Bond's hard shell of machismo is a sensitivity which is not shared by either Kerim Bey or the gypsies.

As for the battle scene, I wholeheartedly disagree. What we are witnessing is the first great action scene in the series. Dr.No got everything right but the action. In FRWL, Terence Young and Peter Hunt took a quantum leap in the action genre.

I'm with John Cork in The Bond Legacy when he says that FRWL is perhaps the first proper action film of the modern era. I defy anyone to point out any movie that precedes it that has as many good action scenes.

Great action scenes were made before, to be sure, but FRWL is IMO the first movie since The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938) in which the action is absolutely integral to the pace and flow of the narrative. Without the action, FRWL is a Hitchcock film.

And lets be brutally honest about the Master of Suspense. Hitchcock was a brilliant director who never reached the heights of action greatness that Young and Hunt achieved. Although the merry-go-round fight in Strangers On A Train (1951) and the cropduster scene in North By Northwest(1959), to name a few, are obvious influences to the Bond team.

The gypsy camp fight is the first time we really see Bond moving like the man of action we have come to know. Connery moves like the big cat he has always been described as being, weaving in and out of the action. Whether its a backhand smash to the head, cutting a rope or throwing a knife, every action is short and sweet, conveying the essence of a blunt instrument.

Far from being haphazard, the gypsy camp fight is the first time the Bond team hit the jackpot with the action. And around the corner is the legendary Bond/Grant fight and the crackerjack helicopter scene. The boat chase does not quite work but it does have the electrifying moment where Bond blows up the tanks.

The gypsy camp scene is an "exotic distraction", as you say, and you are right. But when you think about it, so are a lot of scenes in the series. And, in a way, one can make the argument that the whole series can be summed up in that simple phrase.


"Whatever happens. Say and do nothing."

superado

Heck, I'd love to visit a gypsy camp as the guest of honor! It's just fantastic escapism, the things that make novels readable and movies watchable. As Barbel said, it was in the novel. Fleming had plenty of his own exotic experiences and he took what delighted him (many of these from imagination, too, of course) and inserted these things in his books. I was just marveling how he managed to insert luxurious, overnight train rides in his books, which I'm sure was done a lot during his time, but seemed out of place in the modern world and I'm glad he did.

Thunderpussy

I enjoy the gypsy camp sequence ( once again, it's in the book ) The girl fight
Is very good for its time. And love when the 007 theme kicks in as Bond moves
around killing and helping out.
It's also important to show Grant being Bond's protector, as they need him for their
plans.
You seem very down on FRWL at the moment, perhaps stick Moonraker on )
and watch FRWL again, in a few years. -{

Blackleiter

bigzilcho wrote:

Hello, Firemass.

Just wanted to defend what I think is an essential element to FRWL. The gypsy camp scene is a rich, exotic scene that adds spice to a classic Bond film.

Of course, the girl fight is sexist. But we are talking about a Fleming view of the universe. Sexism in a Bond movie? Goes with the territory, don't you think? It's a well handled bit of Bondian mayhem with both ladies giving it their all.

As for poorly resolved, well, you have a point there. But how appropriate is it that at the end it is left for Bond to decide? "As if I didn't have enough problems."

And what is rarely mentioned is Bond's distaste for the whole affair. A very telling bit of of business which reveals that underneath Bond's hard shell of machismo is a sensitivity which is not shared by either Kerim Bey or the gypsies.

As for the battle scene, I wholeheartedly disagree. What we are witnessing is the first great action scene in the series. Dr.No got everything right but the action. In FRWL, Terence Young and Peter Hunt took a quantum leap in the action genre.

I'm with John Cork in The Bond Legacy when he says that FRWL is perhaps the first proper action film of the modern era. I defy anyone to point out any movie that precedes it that has as many good action scenes.

Great action scenes were made before, to be sure, but FRWL is IMO the first movie since The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938) in which the action is absolutely integral to the pace and flow of the narrative. Without the action, FRWL is a Hitchcock film.

And lets be brutally honest about the Master of Suspense. Hitchcock was a brilliant director who never reached the heights of action greatness that Young and Hunt achieved. Although the merry-go-round fight in Strangers On A Train (1951) and the cropduster scene in North By Northwest(1959), to name a few, are obvious influences to the Bond team.

The gypsy camp fight is the first time we really see Bond moving like the man of action we have come to know. Connery moves like the big cat he has always been described as being, weaving in and out of the action. Whether its a backhand smash to the head, cutting a rope or throwing a knife, every action is short and sweet, conveying the essence of a blunt instrument.

Far from being haphazard, the gypsy camp fight is the first time the Bond team hit the jackpot with the action. And around the corner is the legendary Bond/Grant fight and the crackerjack helicopter scene. The boat chase does not quite work but it does have the electrifying moment where Bond blows up the tanks.

The gypsy camp scene is an "exotic distraction", as you say, and you are right. But when you think about it, so are a lot of scenes in the series. And, in a way, one can make the argument that the whole series can be summed up in that simple phrase.


"Whatever happens. Say and do nothing."

Perfect! -{

AlphaOmegaSin

The Scene is from the Book, this is when they were making Faithful Adaptations of the Novels -{

Firemass

bigzilcho wrote:

The gypsy camp scene is a rich, exotic scene that adds spice to a classic Bond film.

As for the battle scene, I wholeheartedly disagree. What we are witnessing is the first great action scene in the series. Dr.No got everything right but the action. In FRWL, Terence Young and Peter Hunt took a quantum leap in the action genre.

I'm with John Cork in The Bond Legacy when he says that FRWL is perhaps the first proper action film of the modern era. I defy anyone to point out any movie that precedes it that has as many good action scenes.

1. I would say the "exotic scene" detracts from an otherwise consistently dreary cold-war Bond classic.

2. Dr. No had some great action sequences. The initial 3-blind mice assassinations, killing Professor Dent, blowing up Dr. No's base.

3. To name a few: The Great Train Robbery (1903), Stagecoach (1939), Red River (1948) Seven Samurai (1954) North by Northwest (1959)