The theories of Bond films! How does Scaramanga know what Bond looks like for the mannequin?

Comments

• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  June 16 Posts: 14,513

  Connery Bond avoided breaking mirrors.
  
  

  
  
• j_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'

  June 16 Posts: 9,294

  I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not superstitious. It only brings bad luck.
• CommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea

  June 16 Posts: 8,789

  Bond isn't superstitious, he's precautious ;-)
  In FRWL he chooses to strike earlier to thward any precautions on the Russian side, as he doesn't trust Tetiana and thinks it's a trap. The 'superstitious' remark is therefore a devirsion.
  In OHMSS it's a quip for missing the mark.
  He definately believes that Solitaire believes in the cards. Hence stacking the deck. And the card concerning Rosie was a warning from Solitaire to him that she was indeed a cheat.
  
  In FRWLF he isn't trying to avoid the mirror, he's just angry at the wall.

  j_w_pepper wrote: »

  I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not superstitious. It only brings bad luck.

  
  You cant have too many clovers on you, they might work!
• thedove hiding in the Greek underworld

  June 20 edited June 20 Posts: 5,904

  I love this discussion and how it really illustrates a character trait that plays out over a few films.
  
  I love GE and think it is one of the better Brosnan efforts. But yet...
  
  The Tigre helicopter sequence and a certain Canadian Admiral have always left me wondering something.
  
  In the movie we see Xenia having relations with Canadian Admiral Chuck Farrell. We see a mystery person rummaging for Chucks ID as Xenia squeezes the life out of him. The next day Chuck drops at Bond's feet with a comical face. But we see someone taking Xenia to the demonstration of the chopper.
  
  Clearly this person is looking the part of the Admiral. They are seen getting past security. This accomplice then helps to eliminate the pilots for the demo and Xenia and the accomplice impersonate the crew and steal the chopper The accomplice is only seen in side view and appears to be dressed and made up to look like Admiral Farrell. See the clip below.
  
  Who is Xenia's accomplice in GE?
  
  Is it General Ourumov? He and Xenia use the chopper to get to the satellite station in Russia. Maybe he is the one helping her? Is it Alec? He has a good relationship with Xenia and he is the man with the plan. Did he help take the chopper and then later Ourumov switched out with him for the second leg? The chopper wouldn't be able to fly straight to Russia from France so this is a possibility.
  
  The weirdest thing of all is that the Admiral's ID is unchanged when boarding the boat. This means whoever accompanies Xenia they have make up to look like the dearly departed Admiral.
  
  
  
  So lets hear the theories? Who was Xenia's accomplice?
  
  
• AnotherZorinStooge Bramhall (Irish)

  June 20 edited June 20 Posts: 709

  thedove wrote: »

  I love this discussion and how it really illustrates a character trait that plays out over a few films.
  
  I love GE and think it is one of the better Brosnan efforts. But yet...
  
  The Tigre helicopter sequence and a certain Canadian Admiral have always left me wondering something.
  
  In the movie we see Xenia having relations with Canadian Admiral Chuck Farrell. We see a mystery person rummaging for Chucks ID as Xenia squeezes the life out of him. The next day Chuck drops at Bond's feet with a comical face. But we see someone taking Xenia to the demonstration of the chopper.
  
  Clearly this person is looking the part of the Admiral. They are seen getting past security. This accomplice then helps to eliminate the pilots for the demo and Xenia and the accomplice impersonate the crew and steal the chopper The accomplice is only seen in side view and appears to be dressed and made up to look like Admiral Farrell. See the clip below.
  
  Who is Xenia's accomplice in GE?
  
  Is it General Ourumov? He and Xenia use the chopper to get to the satellite station in Russia. Maybe he is the one helping her? Is it Alec? He has a good relationship with Xenia and he is the man with the plan. Did he help take the chopper and then later Ourumov switched out with him for the second leg? The chopper wouldn't be able to fly straight to Russia from France so this is a possibility.
  
  The weirdest thing of all is that the Admiral's ID is unchanged when boarding the boat. This means whoever accompanies Xenia they have make up to look like the dearly departed Admiral.
  
  
  
  So lets hear the theories? Who was Xenia's accomplice?
  

  
  It's Ourumov, isn't it? No way would Trev risk getting off his train when he could send the General.
• DarthDimi Behind you!Moderator

  June 20 edited June 20 Posts: 24,700

  To save time, I've always assumed it's Ourumov, though I'm not sure. I presume the helicopter lands somewhere for refuelling or whatever, and in that case, Ourumov can climb on board. I'm not even sure the person who looks enough like Chuck Farrell to pass security is also the one who steals the helicopter with Xenia. There's a lot happening here that's mighty vague -- hence why the co-pilot/Ourumov mystery is one I decided early on not to lose any sleep over.
• Ludovico

  June 21 Posts: 15,782

  I always understood they used a lookalike, as with Angelo/Derval in Thunderball.
• QBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.

  June 21 edited June 21 Posts: 15,196

  
  
  The comic asks the same question, but the guy has a Chuck-like beard. So, what I thought was Ourumov, I now believe to be the Chuck Farrel doppelgänger seen prior. Presumably ending up dead once no longer useful, like Angelo from Thunderball.
  
  Any further details in the Gardner novel?
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  June 21 Posts: 14,513

  Her thighs? Or I'm misunderstanding.
  
  Oh, yeah. The novelization.
  
  
  

  GoldenEye, John Gardner, 1995.

  Chapter 5 The Tigre’s A Wonderful Thing
  
  ...
  
  As he came closer to the warship, he could make out the crowd gathering into a series of raked seats which had been arranged facing the stern and the helicopter. The machine looked like a larger and more chunky version of the old Cheyenne with a big bulbous nose, a long, sleek cockpit canopy and bigger stubby wings from which hung a very mixed bag of weapons – rockets mainly, though above the wing a couple of large calibre machine guns took care of any close-in firing. He should have thought about this sooner: the file had been on his desk before leaving for the evaluation in the field. The Tigre, still officially classified, France’s advanced piece of flying hardware, was to be shown off to a load of bigwigs whom the French Navy were hosting at an all-expenses-paid junket in Monte Carlo.
  
  When he reached the side of the ship, Bond had to wait in line while two other tenders discharged officers and their wives. In the main they were in uniform and were obviously naval or air attachés or visiting high-ranking diplomats.
  
  Finally, he climbed the ladder and flashed his official card at the young sub-lieutenant. ‘Commander Bond. Royal Navy Intelligence,’ he snapped as though he would personally rip the nose off anyone who doubted him. The young officer did not even query him as he turned towards the quarterdeck and saluted.
  
  He was walking towards the stern, eyes everywhere looking for Ms Onatopp and her ‘Admiral’, but they seemed to have disappeared, or were out of view on the port side. On the helicopter pad the Tigre’s big engines started up, then were eased back into idle, the main rotor blades turning lazily as a ground crew member climbed down from the high canopy.
  
  He was about to find some way across when there was a familiar click from the public address system and a voice began an official welcome— ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to begin the demonstration of this extraordinary aircraft.’ The announcement was in French, rapidly repeated in English, German and Italian. Discreetly, Bond moved through the invited guests and managed to find a seat on the very edge of the viewing platform as the commentary continued— ‘What you are going to see is a demonstration of Europe’s addition to modern warfare: the first working prototype of the Tigre helicopter. Uniquely manoeuvrable, the Tigre helicopter not only uses the latest in Stealth technology, but also it is the only helicopter to be hardened against all forms of electronic interference, radio jamming and electromagnetic radiation. Now, the Tigre’s test crew are ready. Let me introduce you to Lieutenant-Commander Bernard Jaubert and Lieutenant François Brouse.’
  
  The band struck up ‘Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines’, and two figures appeared from the crew room which was obviously situated somewhere to their right on the port side.
  
  They were already in flight coveralls, with helmets in place, and when they came into Bond’s line of vision as they reached the helicopter, he felt a lurch of recognition. The pilot was slightly built, but he could identify the walk anywhere: the cat-like tread of Xenia Onatopp.
  
  There was a pause of maybe three seconds as the two figures swarmed up the ladder taking them to the long domed canopy. They were about to settle into the cockpit and electronics station when Bond leaped to his feet and lunged forward, heading straight towards the helicopter.
  
  There were a couple of screams and some shouts. Bandsmen were scattered, and he had almost reached the edge of the pad before several brawny Naval Police grabbed him.
  
  ‘Stop them!’ he yelled. ‘They’re not your crew! Stop …!’ He was thrown to the deck struggling, while the police held him down. He sucked in air and began to shout again, but was drowned out by the Tigre’s engines. An officer had joined them and was mouthing something at him, but his hearing was blanked off by the thunder from the chopper.

  
  
• Ryan Canada

  June 21 Posts: 729

  Ourumov borrowed the IMF's facemask machine and looked just like the Admiral.
• thedove hiding in the Greek underworld

  June 22 Posts: 5,904

  Good thoughts here. I really like Goldeneye as a film. This little thing had bothered me over the years. Also the perversion of someone watching others having some relations is interesting.
  
  Okay we have a guest theory! @SIS_HQ would like to hear the theories on this:
  
  What is the theory on how did Scaramanga know what Bond looked like?
  
  "In the PTS, Bond's Mannequin appeared there, then Andrea sent a golden bullet '007' to MI6, like how did Scaramanga knew Bond, I don't remember any details said in the film about how Scaramanga came to know Bond, he'd just sort of targeted him because he knew that Bond could be a great addition to his collections of great assassins, but how did Scaramanga knew Bond, especially what he looked like? As if the man knew Bond personally."
  
  It is interesting that a funhouse with Capone, and western gunslingers he would choose a British Secret Agent to be featured. I always wondered this question myself. Then we also have the fact that Andrea Anders knows that Bond is double-o-7. In previous films this was a closely guarded secret and now the mistress of an assassin knows Bond's number?
  
  We do learn that Scaramanga does consider Bond the best but is that enough to have a life size mannequin of the man in his fun house?
  
• mtm United Kingdom

  June 22 Posts: 18,295

  I reckon he appeared on the TV news in NYC after Charlie had his little car crash in LALD.
• DEKE_RIVERS

  June 22 Posts: 2,146

  James Bond was already famous at that time. At least in the crime business.
  
  In any case, he was able to obtain information from 002.
• Ludovico

  June 22 edited June 22 Posts: 15,782

  I always understood that Scaramanga is a man who is in the known, given how good he is in his line of work. He must be up to date via various clients and informants about who's who, whether they be potential targets, competitors or "colleagues". And have access to pictures of current or potential targets. In fact, I'd say it's part of the job.
• peter Toronto

  June 22 Posts: 9,689

  We do learn that Scaramanga does consider Bond the best but is that enough to have a life size mannequin of the man in his fun house?

  
  And, @thedove — HOW many of these mannequins does he have since that’s surely not the only time he blew off its fingers, or blown holes into it, right?
  
  I’m thinking he has a warehouse filled with life size Moore-Bond mannequins…
• thedove hiding in the Greek underworld

  June 22 Posts: 5,904

  DEKE_RIVERS wrote: »

  James Bond was already famous at that time. At least in the crime business.
  
  In any case, he was able to obtain information from 002.

  
  True about being famous. Tiffany Case knew who he was and she was a low level part of a smuggling chain.
• RichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.

  June 22 Posts: 14,513

  Didn't MOST ALL male mannequins in 1974 look like Bond?
  
  

  
• Dwayne New York City

  June 22 Posts: 2,994

  thedove wrote: »

  DEKE_RIVERS wrote: »

  James Bond was already famous at that time. At least in the crime business.
  
  In any case, he was able to obtain information from 002.

  
  True about being famous. Tiffany Case knew who he was and she was a low level part of a smuggling chain.

  
  IIRC, Tiffany knew *of* James Bond, but not necessarily what he looked like. On the other hand, she wasn't the sharpest object in the toolbox. So, who knows. :D