List of Bond pop culture references lost on modern audiences

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  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,988
    I think the reference "Sit!" definitely counts, @marc, and it's included on page 1.

    That's interesting and funny on the ESSO variation in German, I'm half surprised it wasn't presented that way to American audiences. That's with me being very familiar with Barbara Wodehouse at the time of release, the line got a great reaction in the US theaters I was in.

    At the same time the filmmakers don't always credit filmgoers for knowing these things. Like the Licence Revoked change of title.

    barbara-woodhouse-sit.gif

  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,930
    Did Wodehouse get shown in the States?
  • Posts: 5,802
    She wasn't shown in France, that's for sure. But here, Roger Moore told the tiger : "Assis !".

    Nowadays, of course, her show would probably be shown on digital television, on one of the lesser channels such as RMC Story or RMC Découverte, where we have seen SuperVet Noel Fitzpatrick and the various declinaisons of Storage Wars.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,930
    You get Supervet? Ha! How mad.
  • Posts: 5,802
    Now, here are the references found in CR '67 :

    The theme of Born Free plays when the secret intelligence agencies of the world arrive at Sir James Bond's estate, guarded by lions.

    The scens in the espionage school in Berlin are filmed in a way that recalls The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

    While Mata Bond wants to escape using the sewers, she is distracted by Tom Jones singing "What's New, Pussycat", another movie with some of the same cast.

    East German refugees take advantage of the big hole in the Berlin Wall to escape to the west (hey, it's been 32 years since that wall was demolished ; would people in thier twenties today even get the reference ?)

    During the final battle in the casino, we're treated to an appearance by Frankenstein's Monster (David Prowse), George Raft playing with a coin, Indians and Cowboys, the Keystone Cops, and a man who shot himself with a pistol that fires backwards (a direct reference to the first Matt Helm movie, The Silencers.

    And while being interrogated by Vesper Lindt, Evelyn Tremble impersonate famous painter Toulouse Lautrec.

    That's all I can remember right now. If yu have some others, feel free to add them.
  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,609
    About OP and the tiger reference, I guess the audience was thinking of something like this:



    (interesting piece of commercial filmmaking, imo)
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,988
    Gerard wrote: »
    Now, here are the references found in CR '67 :

    East German refugees take advantage of the big hole in the Berlin Wall to escape to the west (hey, it's been 32 years since that wall was demolished ; would people in thier twenties today even get the reference ?)

    Not CR 67, but that Berlin Wall mention triggers some WWII references and enduring reputations. 20th Century History, hopefully pop culture at the same time.

    TWINE dialogue on Swiss Bankers.
    • Lachaise: So good of you to come see me, Mr. Bond. Particularly on such short notice.
    • Bond: lf you can't trust a Swiss banker, what's the world come to?
    • Lachaise : Bon!
    Soon after.
    • Bond: I didn't come for the money. The report Sir Robert bought was stolen... from an MI6 agent who was killed for it. I want to know who killed him.
    • Lachaise: Terrible tragedy.
    • Bond: I just want a name.
    • Lachaise : I am merely the middleman. I'm trying to do the honorable thing... returning the money to its rightful owner.
    • Bond: We know how difficult that can be for a Swiss banker.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland_during_the_World_Wars
    Between 1940 and 1945, the German Reichsbank sold 1.3 billion francs (approximately 18 billion Francs adjusted for inflation to 2019) worth of gold to Swiss Banks in exchange for Swiss francs and other foreign currency, which were used to buy strategically important raw materials like tungsten and oil from neutral countries. Hundreds of millions of francs' worth of this gold was monetary gold plundered from the central banks of occupied countries. A total of 581,000 francs' worth of "Melmer" gold taken from Holocaust victims in eastern Europe was sold to Swiss banks.

    Lachaise.jpg

    7eb2356efee941ae0a039f06731732afab14cf10.png

  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,609
    Another reference I've found: In TND, Carver shows the headline "The empire will strike back" (Star Wars reference) to Bond and Wai Lin.
    He also says he rather likes this headline, and it's not even his. Indeed, Newsweek had used it during the Falklands War, in April 1982.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,930
    marc wrote: »
    Another reference I've found: In TND, Carver shows the headline "The empire will strike back" (Star Wars reference) to Bond and Wai Lin.
    He also says he rather likes this headline, and it's not even his. Indeed, Newsweek had used it during the Falklands War, in April 1982.

    Ah I didn't realise that (I thought he just meant an underling had come up with it), thanks that's interesting.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    In Twin Peaks season 1, Dr Jacoby has a replica of the Aston Martin DB5 on his desk.
  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,609
    Another reference that's only in the dubbing: In TB, when Bond traps Count Lippe in the 'sweating machine', he sings a little ditty, something like "Sweat, little Count, sweat fast; sweating makes the eyes bright". A reference to the operetta "The Bat"/"Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss where the rhyme goes something like: "Drink, Honey, drink fast; drinking makes the eyes bright". 🙃
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,988
    In Twin Peaks season 1, Dr Jacoby has a replica of the Aston Martin DB5 on his desk.
    Likely meant for another pop culture discussion, @Thunderfinger. I like it.

    https://www.mi6community.com/discussion/8623/007-references-in-popular-culture#latest

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,786
    In Twin Peaks season 1, Dr Jacoby has a replica of the Aston Martin DB5 on his desk.
    Likely meant for another pop culture discussion, @Thunderfinger. I like it.

    https://www.mi6community.com/discussion/8623/007-references-in-popular-culture#latest

    I suppose it's the same sort of thing. Only inverted. ;)
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    In Twin Peaks season 1, Dr Jacoby has a replica of the Aston Martin DB5 on his desk.
    Likely meant for another pop culture discussion, @Thunderfinger. I like it.

    https://www.mi6community.com/discussion/8623/007-references-in-popular-culture#latest

    Yes, I missed a bit.
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    In Twin Peaks season 1, Dr Jacoby has a replica of the Aston Martin DB5 on his desk.
    Likely meant for another pop culture discussion, @Thunderfinger. I like it.

    https://www.mi6community.com/discussion/8623/007-references-in-popular-culture#latest

    I suppose it's the same sort of thing. Only inverted. ;)

    It could go in here too, for sure. Depends on how you interpret the thread title.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,786
    In Twin Peaks season 1, Dr Jacoby has a replica of the Aston Martin DB5 on his desk.
    Likely meant for another pop culture discussion, @Thunderfinger. I like it.

    https://www.mi6community.com/discussion/8623/007-references-in-popular-culture#latest

    Yes, I missed a bit.
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    In Twin Peaks season 1, Dr Jacoby has a replica of the Aston Martin DB5 on his desk.
    Likely meant for another pop culture discussion, @Thunderfinger. I like it.

    https://www.mi6community.com/discussion/8623/007-references-in-popular-culture#latest

    I suppose it's the same sort of thing. Only inverted. ;)

    It could go in here too, for sure. Depends on how you interpret the thread title.

    Well, that's true. Interpretation is key. Just ask the judges in our courts.
  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,609
    Another (non-inverted 🙂, depending on interpretation) reference: In DAD, 'London calling' by 'The Clash' is briefly used when Bond arrives in London.
  • edited September 2021 Posts: 2,895
    I have nothing against DAD using The Clash, but I found it jarring at the time--Bond and punk have never seemed like a natural fit.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,988
    marc wrote: »
    Another (non-inverted 🙂, depending on interpretation) reference: In DAD, 'London calling' by 'The Clash' is briefly used when Bond arrives in London.
    Revelator wrote: »
    I was have nothing against DAD using The Clash, but I found it jarring at the time--Bond and punk have never seemed like a natural fit.
    I rationalized it as playing at Graves' event as he makes his over the top entrance. And love it.
    ear-plug-and-ear-muff-250x250.jpg
    mtm wrote: »
    Did Wodehouse get shown in the States?
    Barbara Woodhouse was enough of a celebrity that I knew of her in the US and got the joke on screen. But I'm realizing now her show only began being broadcast on PBS in 1983 the year of Octopussy's release.


    Adding to the literary mentions.
    Hugo Drax: How would have Oscar Wilde have put it? To lose one aircraft would be an accident. To lose two, would seem like carelessness.
    The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, Oscar Wilde, 1895.
    • Lady Bracknell: “To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”

    264783.jpg 62580_Hugo__Drax.JPG

  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,609
    Right, it's mainly playing at Graves' entrance. But I also don't like punk, nor 'London calling'. The instrumental intro/accompaniment is good, though.
    Actually, I like the inclusion of 'Magnificent Seven' (one of my favourite pieces of music) and 'Lawrence of Arabia' a lot. Yes, maybe objectively they shouldn't be in a serious spy film. But well, they're there, and I enjoy them.
  • Posts: 5,802
    From AVTAK : a french-speaking detective with a name composed of a mythological first name and the name of a vegetable ? I smell an Agatha Christie reference.

    Oh, and from the same movie, Stacey's cat is named Pussy. Like Pussy Galore, maybe ? (it's written on its bowl).
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,930
    mtm wrote: »
    Did Wodehouse get shown in the States?
    Barbara Woodhouse was enough of a celebrity that I knew of her in the US and got the joke on screen.

    Wow I had no idea. How bizarre! :D
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    edited September 2021 Posts: 12,988
    mtm wrote: »
    marc wrote: »
    Another reference I've found: In TND, Carver shows the headline "The empire will strike back" (Star Wars reference) to Bond and Wai Lin.
    He also says he rather likes this headline, and it's not even his. Indeed, Newsweek had used it during the Falklands War, in April 1982.

    Ah I didn't realise that (I thought he just meant an underling had come up with it), thanks that's interesting.
    Looking it up.
    bond-boesewichte-elliot-carver.jpg
    280d188b0c4d3b6115050e5a2e51cf07--british-government-falklands-war.jpg
    slide25-l.jpg

  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    edited September 2021 Posts: 2,609
    Gerard wrote: »
    Oh, and from the same movie, Stacey's cat is named Pussy. Like Pussy Galore, maybe ? (it's written on its bowl).
    I guess that wouldn't be 'inverted', but 'in-franchise circular', or something. 🙂

    Thanks for looking up the Newsweek cover, @RichardTheBruce. Yes, the headlines aren't identical, but certainly Star Wars references.
  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,609
    I doubt this was known to the audience, but it's a nice reference/bit of trivia: the FRWL chess moves in Kronsteen vs. MacAdams are from the renowned 1960 Russian Championship match Spassky vs. Bronstein.

    But two white pawns are missing in FRWL, so MacAdams could have found a way to force a draw.
  • ProfJoeButcherProfJoeButcher Bless your heart
    Posts: 1,687
    marc wrote: »
    I doubt this was known to the audience, but it's a nice reference/bit of trivia: the FRWL chess moves in Kronsteen vs. MacAdams are from the renowned 1960 Russian Championship match Spassky vs. Bronstein.

    But two white pawns are missing in FRWL, so MacAdams could have found a way to force a draw.

    This is fantastic!
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited September 2021 Posts: 14,930
    marc wrote: »
    I doubt this was known to the audience, but it's a nice reference/bit of trivia: the FRWL chess moves in Kronsteen vs. MacAdams are from the renowned 1960 Russian Championship match Spassky vs. Bronstein.

    But two white pawns are missing in FRWL, so MacAdams could have found a way to force a draw.

    That’s very cool. Just as likely to have been something to steal from and hope the audience don’t notice as a reference I guess :D - very interesting!
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,988
    marc wrote: »
    Thanks for looking up the Newsweek cover, @RichardTheBruce. Yes, the headlines aren't identical, but certainly Star Wars references.
    There's no mistaking it, @marc.

    Though I almost posted the wrong image, under the spoiler tag below.

    Another pop music mention to consider.
    TLD: Caroline Bliss as Moneypenny brags on her Barry Manilow collection.
    c14914a88dc6c3e02ef2b25e41d89943.jpg

  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 13,892
  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    edited September 2021 Posts: 2,609
    About FRWL: well, my assumption is the white pawns were omitted in order for the visuals of the chessboard situation not to be over-complicated. And/or, maybe, to make Kronsteen's situation look worse.

    I don't know how easy or difficult it was for MacAdams, after Kronsteen's spectacular tower sacrifice, to find the combination to get out of the situation and force Kronsteen to give Perpetual Check (which means a draw), but I doubt the filmmakers were aware of this possibility.

    Though I almost posted the wrong image, under the spoiler tag below.
    lol, looks like taken from a brickfanatics' video clip version of "LEGO never dies". (they're great)
  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,609
    A difficult one to find:

    The Tarzan yell is a Tarzan reference.
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