Max Kalba is NOT impressed

edited November 2012 in Bond Movies Posts: 615
Maybe it's just me, but I always get a tremendous grin out of that bit of the nightclub scene in TSWLM... wherein 007 makes initial contact with the club owner, sinister Max Kalba (Vernon Dobtcheff).

BOND: The name's Bond. James Bond.
KALBA: What of it?

I mean, ol' Max couldn't be more deadpan than a cadaver... He's not the slightest bit impressed by Sir Rog in his superspy tux.

Either doesn't know who James Bond is or doesn't really care (probably both).

Dobtcheff (I believe he's still alive & working) is a terrific character actor. I would've liked to have seen him in a larger role in one of the Bond films.

Comments

  • Posts: 97
    I also love him in the (even smaller!) role of the butler at Castle Brunwald in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. :-)
  • CraterGuns wrote:
    Maybe it's just me, but I always get a tremendous grin out of that bit of the nightclub scene in TSWLM... wherein 007 makes initial contact with the club owner, sinister Max Kalba (Vernon Dobtcheff).

    BOND: The name's Bond. James Bond.
    KALBA: What of it?

    I mean, ol' Max couldn't be more deadpan than a cadaver... He's not the slightest bit impressed by Sir Rog in his superspy tux.

    Either doesn't know who James Bond is or doesn't really care (probably both).

    Dobtcheff (I believe he's still alive & working) is a terrific character actor. I would've liked to have seen him in a larger role in one of the Bond films.

    I love the scene also. He plays his part well and I like that it becomes a bidding war and he says a line something along the lines of her 'figure' being more agreeable. Also good death scene with Jaws in the phone booth.
  • Posts: 4,762
    Hahahaha, I had never really thought about it before, but now when I recall the scene, you are right, he's very deadpan and unimpressed! If anything, his eyes tell you all you need to know. They look as if he's literally the most "I couldn't care less" man in the world!
  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    Posts: 1,699
    I like the way straight after that scene (terrific one, I agree), he's anything but deadpan when faced with Jaws' molars in the phone cubicle... ;)

    http://www.jamesbondmm.co.uk/images/bond-villains/tswlm/vd003.jpg
  • Posts: 1,052
    Risico wrote:
    I also love him in the (even smaller!) role of the butler at Castle Brunwald in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. :-)

    "how dare he?"
  • Got to agree with the comments here. The line is delivered superbly well. Great scene.......
  • A great scene indeed. I'd love to see a mix of that, in TSWLM, when Bond introduces himself to Kalba, then cut to Casino Royale, where Bond says: "Does it look like I give a damn?" XD
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Yes, I agree that Vernon Dobtcheff was great as Max Kalba in TSWLM and I too love his "What of it?".
  • JohnHammond73JohnHammond73 Lancashire, UK
    Posts: 4,151
    Couldn't agree more, one of my favourite parts of the movie. Love how he is impressed at all and the line delivered just superbly by Vernon Dobtcheff.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 6,758
    Probably one of my favourite small parts together with the likes of Krilencu. Anyway, Dobtcheff also appears in Mary, Queen of Scots and The Day of the Jackal. Recently even made it into La Grande Bellezza.
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