SPECTRE: In Particular, Ernst Stavro Blofeld

MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
edited April 2023 in Bond Movies Posts: 4,049
A thread for the arch enemy of James Bond: Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Let's discuss his impact, past, present and future with James Bond. Books, movies and even video games are welcome. I know we'll see him again in the movies, properly with the next actor. I still think he should get his own spinoff book set in the modern day.
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Comments

  • It’s not much of a “Hot Take”, but no Blofeld performance comes close to that of Anthony Dawson/Eric Pohlmann. That’s my favorite iteration of the character.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 8,250
    It’s not much of a “Hot Take”, but no Blofeld performance comes close to that of Anthony Dawson/Eric Pohlmann. That’s my favorite iteration of the character.

    💯 % @007ClassicBondFan
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    Love Blofeld and love the arch nemesis dynamic. The Blofeld Trilogy is probably my favourite set of the novels, and YOLT is my favourite of the novels. Savalas would be my favourite portrayal, I really liked Waltz' portrayal, but the way he's portrayed in FRWL and TB is the best. I have a loose film treatment that includes Blofeld in this fashion.
  • I often wonder if had they kept Jan Werich, would they have brought in Eric Pohlmann to do the dubbing. Perhaps it’s just me, but I have a very easy time putting Pohlmann’s deep and commanding voice to Werich’s face. But it also may not have worked at the same time to have this big dramatic reveal be nothing else but, in the words of Lewis Gilbert, “a poor benevolent Santa Claus.”
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,049
    peter wrote: »
    It’s not much of a “Hot Take”, but no Blofeld performance comes close to that of Anthony Dawson/Eric Pohlmann. That’s my favorite iteration of the character.

    💯 % @007ClassicBondFan

    Yes, that's a style that should never be taken away from the character. Blofeld should always be in the shadows. In one way or another. He should also never be killed off.
    Love Blofeld and love the arch nemesis dynamic. The Blofeld Trilogy is probably my favourite set of the novels, and YOLT is my favourite of the novels. Savalas would be my favourite portrayal, I really liked Waltz' portrayal, but the way he's portrayed in FRWL and TB is the best. I have a loose film treatment that includes Blofeld in this fashion.

    I would love to read that. I'm also curious how he is in Agent of Spectre.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    peter wrote: »
    It’s not much of a “Hot Take”, but no Blofeld performance comes close to that of Anthony Dawson/Eric Pohlmann. That’s my favorite iteration of the character.

    💯 % @007ClassicBondFan

    Yes, that's a style that should never be taken away from the character. Blofeld should always be in the shadows. In one way or another. He should also never be killed off.
    Love Blofeld and love the arch nemesis dynamic. The Blofeld Trilogy is probably my favourite set of the novels, and YOLT is my favourite of the novels. Savalas would be my favourite portrayal, I really liked Waltz' portrayal, but the way he's portrayed in FRWL and TB is the best. I have a loose film treatment that includes Blofeld in this fashion.

    I would love to read that. I'm also curious how he is in Agent of Spectre.

    Same, waiting for it's release in hardcover
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 13,879
    Funnily enough, Ernst 'Starvo', as depicted in this thread title for the minute, was MI6's nickname for the OHMSS version of Blofeld who threatened to starve the world of its vital crops if his demands were not met. Food for thought. And amnesty.

    Favourite ESB for me is still the unseen one from the earliest films, but Telly's comes VERY close. Hope we 'unsee' him in future films, albeit not too soon.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    QBranch wrote: »
    Funnily enough, Ernst 'Starvo', as depicted in this thread title for the minute, was MI6's nickname for the OHMSS version of Blofeld who threatened to starve the world of its vital crops if his demands were not met. Food for thought. And amnesty.

    Favourite ESB for me is still the unseen one from the earliest films, but Telly's comes VERY close. Hope we 'unsee' him in future films, albeit not too soon.

    That's hilarious.

    My hot take is that I'd love for ESB to return right away, but exactly as you describe... and maybe only at the end of the film.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 13,879
    and maybe only at the end of the film.
    That'd be great. I like the character, but Craig's era ended up being so connected to him that I would want to see Bond #7 take on an assortment of main villains not tied to SPECTRE, and if he does, say, four films, maybe just have Blofeld pop up in one. The desk-bound Blofeld preferably for the time being, however, if face-to-face, then we see Bond has already met and crossed paths with him off-screen.

    A bit of Blofeld trivia I posted elsewhere, but shall be noted in this thread:

    Telly Savalas had a deformed left index finger, as noticed in the film. In the following film, the close-up of Gray's Blofeld handling the satellite control cassette at his desk shows the stand-in hand model has a damaged right middle fingertip. Pure coincidence, or an attempt to give fanatics the OHMSS-DAF continuity they so crave?
  • edited April 2023 Posts: 6,682
    QBranch wrote: »
    Funnily enough, Ernst 'Starvo', as depicted in this thread title for the minute, was MI6's nickname for the OHMSS version of Blofeld who threatened to starve the world of its vital crops if his demands were not met. Food for thought. And amnesty.

    It took until the Ate post of this thread for someone to address the word 'Starvo'.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 13,879
    mattjoes wrote: »
    QBranch wrote: »
    Funnily enough, Ernst 'Starvo', as depicted in this thread title for the minute, was MI6's nickname for the OHMSS version of Blofeld who threatened to starve the world of its vital crops if his demands were not met. Food for thought. And amnesty.

    It took until the Ate post of this thread for someone to address the word 'Starvo'.
    Hey yeah, you're right!
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,049
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    peter wrote: »
    It’s not much of a “Hot Take”, but no Blofeld performance comes close to that of Anthony Dawson/Eric Pohlmann. That’s my favorite iteration of the character.

    💯 % @007ClassicBondFan

    Yes, that's a style that should never be taken away from the character. Blofeld should always be in the shadows. In one way or another. He should also never be killed off.
    Love Blofeld and love the arch nemesis dynamic. The Blofeld Trilogy is probably my favourite set of the novels, and YOLT is my favourite of the novels. Savalas would be my favourite portrayal, I really liked Waltz' portrayal, but the way he's portrayed in FRWL and TB is the best. I have a loose film treatment that includes Blofeld in this fashion.

    I would love to read that. I'm also curious how he is in Agent of Spectre.

    Same, waiting for it's release in hardcover

    Me too. It’s certainly been delayed more than enough!

    For future casting for Blofeld, I think that Peter Sarsgaard would be a possible decent choice. Someone who could work well behind the scenes, but could hold their own in a fight. Personally not afraid to get their own hands dirty.
  • BennyBenny In the shadowsAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 14,811
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    peter wrote: »
    It’s not much of a “Hot Take”, but no Blofeld performance comes close to that of Anthony Dawson/Eric Pohlmann. That’s my favorite iteration of the character.

    💯 % @007ClassicBondFan

    Yes, that's a style that should never be taken away from the character. Blofeld should always be in the shadows. In one way or another. He should also never be killed off.
    Love Blofeld and love the arch nemesis dynamic. The Blofeld Trilogy is probably my favourite set of the novels, and YOLT is my favourite of the novels. Savalas would be my favourite portrayal, I really liked Waltz' portrayal, but the way he's portrayed in FRWL and TB is the best. I have a loose film treatment that includes Blofeld in this fashion.

    I would love to read that. I'm also curious how he is in Agent of Spectre.

    Same, waiting for it's release in hardcover

    Me too. It’s certainly been delayed more than enough!

    For future casting for Blofeld, I think that Peter Sarsgaard would be a possible decent choice. Someone who could work well behind the scenes, but could hold their own in a fight. Personally not afraid to get their own hands dirty.

    He'd be an interesting choice for Ernst Stavro for sure.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,049
    Another thing that I’d like to see for Blofeld is a good tooth, as in YOLT. I’d like to also see Blofeld being purely a businessman. No personal grudges, he gets back at Bond for business purposes.
  • I’d like for them to ditch the Neru Jacket if they bring back Blofeld. I loved how the “FRWL/TB” version always sported a nice business suit with slicked back hair.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou. I can still hear my old hound dog barkin'.
    Posts: 8,655
    I hate to be a bean-counter (NOOOT!), but would someone please correct the spelling in the thread title. It's Stavro, not Starvo.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited April 2023 Posts: 17,727
    I always thought it was Ernest Stravros Blofeld. Plus, Mrs Moneypenny's an eejit! She's an eejit!



    "Stop getting Bond wrong!" ;)
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou. I can still hear my old hound dog barkin'.
    edited April 2023 Posts: 8,655
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    I always thought it was Ernest Stravros Blofeld. Plus, Mrs Moneypenny's an eejit! She's an eejit!

    I'm afraid you got me with "eejit". Does it have something to do with Egypt?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited April 2023 Posts: 17,727
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    I always thought it was Ernest Stravros Blofeld. Plus, Mrs Moneypenny's an eejit! She's an eejit!

    I'm afraid you got me with "eejit". Does it have something to do Egypt?

    Ah, yes, sorry. It's from Irish dialect and is just another way of saying "idiot".
  • Posts: 6,682
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    I hate to be a bean-counter (NOOOT!), but would someone please correct the spelling in the thread title. It's Stavro, not Starvo.

    There's another one. "It Seems There Are More QoS Appreciators Than Thought Before".

    Fellas, it's not so hard to spel properly, you know?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    mattjoes wrote: »
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    I hate to be a bean-counter (NOOOT!), but would someone please correct the spelling in the thread title. It's Stavro, not Starvo.

    There's another one. "It Seems There Are More QoS Appreciators Than Thought Before".

    Fellas, it's not so hard to spel properly, you know?

    One that I've noticed for ages is the Birthday thread where "thoses" is used instead of "those".
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou. I can still hear my old hound dog barkin'.
    edited April 2023 Posts: 8,655
    mattjoes wrote: »
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    I hate to be a bean-counter (NOOOT!), but would someone please correct the spelling in the thread title. It's Stavro, not Starvo.

    There's another one. "It Seems There Are More QoS Appreciators Than Thought Before".

    Fellas, it's not so hard to spel properly, you know?

    I alwas like to spel properly (at the risk of you having made that error on purpose as I did here, mind you).

    Anyway, typos do occur. It's just that the premier JB007 board should be able to spell the No. 1 villain of the franchise right.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    mattjoes wrote: »
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    I hate to be a bean-counter (NOOOT!), but would someone please correct the spelling in the thread title. It's Stavro, not Starvo.

    There's another one. "It Seems There Are More QoS Appreciators Than Thought Before".

    Fellas, it's not so hard to spel properly, you know?

    I alwas like to spel properly (at the risk of you having made that error on purpose as I did here, mind you).

    I didn't even notice the misspelling in this thread title until it was pointed out as my brain helpfully tries to rearrange words so that they're spelled correctly when you look at them! I've heard this is something not just exclusive to myself. It can make spotting errors a little more difficult though.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou. I can still hear my old hound dog barkin'.
    edited April 2023 Posts: 8,655
    Dragonpol wrote: »

    One that I've noticed for ages is the Birthday thread where "thoses" is used instead of "those".
    You're right, I hadn't noticed that. But that's because I also ignored that thread for quite a while.

    And maybe you should have mentioned it?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »

    One that I've noticed for ages is the Birthday thread where "thoses" is used instead of "those".
    You're right, I hadb't noticed that. But that's because I also ignored that thread for quite a while.

    It's annoyed me for a good few years but I was too polite to point of out. If I find I've missed a typo in one of my posts I always go back and edit it to correct the mistake. I suppose it's something of the perfectionist in me but I like things to be right.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,049
    Sorry everyone! It’s fixed now. In the next version of Blofeld, I want Irma Bunt to come back. Also, in the future versions, I don’t want them young. I think that Jesse Eisenberg version of Lex Luthor still slightly haunts me.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou. I can still hear my old hound dog barkin'.
    Posts: 8,655
    Thanks, @MaxCasino, for the correction. I may get back on the subject itself.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 8,250
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    Sorry everyone! It’s fixed now. In the next version of Blofeld, I want Irma Bunt to come back. Also, in the future versions, I don’t want them young. I think that Jesse Eisenberg version of Lex Luthor still slightly haunts me.

    Yes not a fan of Jesse's Luthor.

    Interesting idea, but didn't have a lot of layers. He was an entitled brat and it wore thin very fast...
  • I used to like Jesse’s Lex Luthor until I realized that I wasn’t too big a fan of turning the character into a “Zuckerberg” type of figure. Plus there are moments in that film where I think to myself that Eisenberg would’ve been much better as The Riddler.

    I think if Blofeld was to be recast, I want somebody who can physically match the next Bond actor. Even though the character was kept in Shadows, I’ve always felt like the Blofeld of FRWL/TB was much more of an equal to Bond than any of the on screen performances (save for perhaps Telly Savalas.) I can picture the Dawson/Pohlmann Blofeld as being just as physically fit, dangerous, and handsome as Bond; in a word his equal.
  • HildebrandRarityHildebrandRarity Centre international d'assistance aux personnes déplacées, Paris, France
    Posts: 467
    Contrarian take: I'm not so sure that Blofeld can be a major character in Bond films anymore, with his usual name or appearance at least.
    Most of Blofeld's fascination comes from the fact that, like Moriarty or Mabuse, the direct influences on the character, he's a shadowy figure who takes the spotlight in later times. He was the man behind the curtain, there were a few details like the Persian cat, but otherwise he was a figure mostly left to the imagination of the original audiences for FRWL and TB, and it took three films to finally see him.

    Today, the character and his quirks are so much engrained in our collective memories, because of the past films, the Blofeld-in-all-but-name (like Stromberg or Drax) the rip-offs and the various parodies that it's very hard to build some serious mystique around him, and his appearances in DAF or FYEO don't help either. You can't have the ringleader for a global criminal organization that Bond fights and who remains offscreen for a couple of films, and not think immediately about Blofeld. White cat on screen? Blofeld. Nehru shirt? Blofeld. That's also why the belated reveal was so much disappointing in Spectre. It wasn't just dedicated fans who had guessed early. Everybody and their grandma could see it coming from miles away, when an Austrian actor was hired months after EON had bought the full rights to a certain German-sounding character and had named the film Spectre. So the reveal of Franz Oberhauser's new identity never had the ring Sam Mendes supposed it could have.

    However, what I find extremely interesting is that due to the settlement, the films are free to feature a recurring villain or a recurring organization without getting sued by some patent troll, which is the most important thing. Blofeld himself had been mostly done right in the sixties if we consider the FRWL-TB-OHMSS progression, all that was missing was a proper conclusion, and it wasn't DAF or the pre-titles scene from FYEO. However, I think that NTTD more or less closes the book on Blofeld, even if the figure was split there between Oberhauser/actual Blofeld and Safin, who had antecedents with Bond's love interest instead of Bond himself.
    The films can now have some new SPECTRE, with a different leader who turns out to be a formidable threat in their own original way. They can have stuff in common with Blofeld, they can even be related to some Ernst Stavro Blofeld, it just takes making up a good villain who's too smart to be detected by the regular intelligence and to be disposed of by the end of the movie.
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