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He has a famous death scene and the visit at Crab Key is also very memorable but the character itself isn't special. But you could argue that this is the interesting thing? I ranked him around the 22th. Nothing wrong with him.
I think he's a great character, Anthony Dawson plays the part so well. He's sleazy, charming, at times overly confident and also anxious. But at the end of the day, he's evil.
From seemingly deceiving Bond at his laboratory to his nervous meeting with Dr. No, or to his demise at the hands of Bond in one of the series classic scenes.
For me he's a memorable henchman, but better than that he's bad to the bone.
MAY DAY
by Grace Jones
in A View to a Kill
Undeniably iconic. And dressed for the occasion, as 007 himself observes, May Day collected only four top 10's, with a highest ranking of 6th, on one occasion.
One may have expected slightly better here, but most participants ranked her just outside the top 10, with no less than three 13th and four 14th places. Which explains her decent though perhaps slightly disappointing overall placement of 13th.
On the other hand, with only one bottom 5 spot, a single 27th place, she mostly stayed clear of the lower end of the table.
May Day obtained a total of 90 points.
Correction: the lowest ranking here was one 27th place instead of one 26th place as stated earlier.
It’s not the worst thing to happen in a Bond film, but I wish they’d kept her character bad.
Very memorable character though, first female henchperson to have such a large role. An interesting aspect for a future Bond film to revisit methinks.
For me she and the title song + sequence are the absolute highlight of AVTAK. She's just a one-of-a-kind character. Strong, quirky outfits, working for a baddie she's in love with and then vengeful when she's betrayed. Love her!
There are two goosebump moments in AVTAK: the first notes of the title song and May Day's demise.
A shame some other aspects in AVTAK can feel so tired and lethargic.... :(
She is fabulously energetic, and definitely one of the defining elements of AVTAK.
IRMA BUNT
by Ilse Steppat
in On Her Majesty's Secret Service
"The one who killed Bond's wife" obtained six top 10's: one 5th, four 6th and one 8th place. Five other members ranked her between 11th and 15th.
Only two members ranked her lower than 20th: one 21st and one 22nd place respectively. This makes her the lowest-ranked henchperson that did not end up in anyone's bottom 5.
Irma Bunt collected a total of 91 points.
No other character has caused Bond more grief, which in itself merits a spot at the top; but also to get away with it?
Steppat is fantastic in the role, at times terrifying but also showing a maternal side with the girls, which makes her much more compelling than your average hench(wo)man.
And had I been aware of that promo shot with Lazenby, I might well have ranked her Top 5.
Ilse Steppat "Beware Mr. Bond - My Name Is Irma Bunt"
I ranked her as #20. I'm totally fine with her almost making it to the top ten: Steppat is very fitting for the character invented by Fleming. She is definitely a hench(wo)man like no other and her waiting for Bond in the bed is a shocker. However, I would like it more when she would be a bit more evil already on the mountain and it bothers me a bit that Bond could never have revenge and kill her in a later film.
Overall, she is an intersting change as henchman but I prefer those who are a bigger threat in several occasion.
Wow thanks for sharing @zebrafish! Feel free to share the German version as well, since I don't seem to find it on YT myself... :(
BARON SAMEDI
by Geoffrey Holder
in Live and Let Die
The good Baron is our first participant who obtained a gold medal, topping one member's ranking.
The above also means that he has the lowest general ranking of all the henchmen who ended on top at least once. He's also the only one not ending up in the final top 10.
Nevertheless, a strong showing for Baron Saturday who also obtained one bronze medal in addition of four more top 10's and another four top 15's.
So who is not a fan? Apparently only one strong candidate here, he/she ranked him third last, which is also his worst ranking overall.
Out of the four films that had two henchmen participating, LALD is the last one to lose its first participant. Not too bad considering the other three -MR, FYEO and DAD- already lost both.
Baron Samedi scored a total of 91 points, winning the tiebreaker for that honourable mention spot from Frau Bunt by virtue of receiving more first places.
An integral part of what may very well be the greatest villain ensemble ever to feature in a Bond movie.
Anyway, his evil laughter, the way he moves (i.e tapping his fingers on his walking stick) and how he is dressed...everything is great and feels uncomfortable (in a good way). My favourite moment is when he is burning the card combined with his laughter (poor Solitaire!) . His demise at the vodoo procedure comes too quick but he is iconic anyway.
@GoldenGun Here is the song in German. The lyrics are a bit clumsy, but spot-on for the character. Note the use of the word "tönt" instead of "klingt", this hints at a Swiss-German lyricist - maybe by Bernard Henrion himself? The next song in the video is actually very catchy and full of early 70es musical tropes, like the horn and percussion sections and lots of "daba dabada" lyrics.
(vocalisation)
Ich bin 'ne starke Frau und sehr gefährlich.
In meinem Beruf ist dies' unentbehrlich.
Dass ich hier bin hat einen ganz speziellen Grund.
Mein Name: Irma Bunt.
Im Geheimauftrag der Königin kommt ein Mann James Bond genannt.
Dieser Typ reisst alle Frauen hin, doch bei mir kommt er an die Falsche an.
Noch weiss er nichts von meiner Existenz,
von meiner Position und Kompetenz.
Und wenn er kommt dann steh' ich an der Front
und heisse Sie Willkommen Mr. Bond.
Ich bin 'ne starke Frau, ich hab ein Sturmgewehr und setz' mich so zur Wehr.
Ich kann sehr böse sein, mein Herz wird dann zu Stein,
und reisst mir die Geduld, (4 shots) dann ist's nicht meine Schuld.
Im Geheimauftrag der Königin, ja dieser Titel tönt ja gar nicht schlecht.
Wenn er kommt, verwirr' ich seinen Sinn mit harter Lektion vom schwächeren Geschlecht.
Er wird dann lernen wie man sich benimmt,
nach welchen Tönen man die Saiten stimmt.
Für ihn bin ich bestimmt ein harter Schlag,
und das erfährt er gleich am ersten Tag.
Ich bin 'ne harte Frau, ich bin 'ne starke Frau.
Ich hab ein Sturmgewehr und setz' mich so zur Wehr.
Blofeld ist stolz auf mich, denn ohne mich geht's nicht.
Ich stehe an der Front und warte auf James Bond.
Sie ist 'ne harte Frau, sie ist 'ne starke Frau.
(mad laughter and gunshots)
Sie hat ein Sturmgewehr und setzt sich so zur Wehr.
Sie kann sehr böse sein, ihr Herz wird dann zu Stein.
Here is the consolation prize: