I dedicate this piece to my brother, Aidan.
In my life the Bond library is something to be reviewed on a consistent basis. Avid readers like to revisit their favorite set of classic novels, so too do I visit Bond, and he was after all originally brought to the page by author Ian Fleming’s typewriter.
While you live your life and have the opportunity to change, your favorite work of art remains static.
This is the case with my favorite character, Commander James Bond. One aspect of what is so alluring about Bond is his ability to approach any situation with logic, intelligence, and wit. It is Bond’s cunning nature that allows him to creatively think his way out of situations that would cause most to lose control.
What most interests me about the character is that he conceals his most admirable qualities while displaying a sort of “armor” to the world. Whereas his adversaries all loudly broadcast their intentions to anyone who will listen.
The character of Bond has secured a place in our Cinematic lexicon as a result of the character’s ability to transmit his inherent talents to an audience without arrogance or folly.
“The Birth of Tourism Voyeurism”
As a student of History, I consulted with a primary source to get an authentic sense of the audience reaction at the time of the Connery interpretation. I chose to consult with a someone who was born the year before Stalin died.
This makes his age comparable to mine at the time of my discovery of Bond, the character.
“He was much more sophisticated for the time. Secret agent. English. Handsome. Elegant. Dressed well. International locations.”
“Interesting as most people of the time did not travel much in the 60s. Maybe once in their life over to Europe. Places we would rarely get to see”
Bond’s worldy nature is expressed via dialogue.
“There are some things that just aren’t done my dear, such as serving Dom Pérignon above 38 degrees Fahrenheit.”-(Goldfinger, 1964)
Bond’s character traits are often expressed through his dialogue with women. People often overlook this as they can become so focused on the sexual nature of each relationship.
He is the classical interpretation of a hero.
“He looks at this world and wants it all.”
Now, a casual fan of the Bond series might read the subtitle to this section and think that it refers to James Bond, when in fact it is a lyric taken from the theme song to Thunderball (1965).
For what better way is there to understand a hero than to study his enemies? I posit that the third entry in the film adaptation of the character serves to introduce the perfect Bond foil character to a freshly minted Connery audience.
Auric Goldfinger represents everything that Bond is not.
Goldfinger is a highly successful criminal entrepenuer with a penchant for Golden objects, real estate, and sharply dressed mute chauffeurs.
He has built his entire criminal business enterprise on flash and pizzazz, making him a character appropriate for our current social media personality age.
Let us take a look now at Bond’s family motto, which also happens to be the title of Pierce Brosnan’s third entry:
“The World is not Enough.”
Bond’s ambitions exceed those of your average man. He will never reveal this to you should you ever meet as his goal is to keep those conditions that will allow him to accomplish his mission a secret.
“Good, because I think you’re a sexist, misogynist dinosaur. A relic of the Cold War, whose boyish charms, though wasted on me, obviously appealed to that young woman I sent out to evaluate you.”-M (Goldeneye, 1995)
During a recent screening of Goldeneye I picked up on a thematic element critical to the film that I had missed in my youth.
Goldeneye is a psychological analysis of Bond written to aid in the transition of the character to the new millennium. This was not only Pierce Brosnan’s first attempt at the titular character, but a re-introduction to a world that wasn’t quite sure what to make of a man born of the 60s.
The writers of the film, made this quite clear to the audience.
Every woman that Bond encounters in Goldeneye challenges his methodology in some way. From the opening race sequence with Xenia Onatopp, to M’s dinosaur analysis, ending with Natalya’s observations on a beach in Cuba.
"How are you so cold?"-Natalya
"It's what keeps me alive."-Bond (Goldeneye, 1995)
“From now on you carry the Walther…”
If you are a savvy Bond fan you may have noticed that up until this point in my analysis of the character I have not mentioned his Q-branch issued gadgets. The reason being that there is only one piece of equipment he carries that matters.
“Walther PPK, 7.65 millimeter, with a delivery like a brick through a plate-glass window. The American CIA swear by them.”-(Dr. No, 1962)
The Walther was issued to Bond in the first film adaptation of Ian Fleming’s character, Dr. No (1962).
As mentioned previously in this analysis, I have a passion for history, so allow me to briefly describe the history of the Walther PPK.
The Walther PPK, (“Polizei Pistole Kriminal”) was developed in 1931 as a successor to the popular Walther PP design. Undercover detectives in Germany found that they needed a more concealable handgun for carry purposes.
The beautiful blue steel frame of the Walther PP was reduced in dimensions, and the elegant Walther PPK/s was born. (I must include the /s designation as the PPK's grip was modified in a later design).
The Value of the Material
I have read some philosophy, and once discovered a theory of the inherent essence that objects carry. For instance a chair that was handcrafted carries with it the energy of the craftsman. To me this theory applies with regards to Bond and his firearm.
Much like the Walther, the particular design philosophy behind Bond’s character is easily transferrable. Both have had proven designs for at least 50 years and are held in high regard in their respective fields of cinema and firearms.
Walther has continued its PP line with a successor to the PPK/s, the PPS or “Police Pistol Slim.” It maintains the quality expected from a Walther, but in my opinion lacks some of the charm inherent to the design of the PPK/s.
Much in the same way many artists have attempted and failed to emulate the spirit of Bond in their own modern interpretation of the classic espionage thriller.
“Nobody does it Better”
“All I wanted was a sweet distraction for an hour or two, had no intention to do the things we’ve done.”-(Octopussy, 1983).
I’ve identified with this particular line from the soundtrack to the later Roger Moore outing, Octopussy (1983) for a while now. I believe it perfectly encapsulates the feeling of passion one gets when in love with an interest or person.
It is how I feel about my love for both Bond and Cinema. As a child watching Goldeneye on VHS there is no way that I could have anticipated the ways in which the character would touch my spirit.
I borrow a saying from my grandmother in my attitude towards others emulating the character of Bond though.
“Be like the monkey with the Orange, take the good, and leave the bad.”
I only say this as one should maintain a critical eye especially with regards to those whom they believe to possess other worldly attributes.
I also am quite aware that this is a fictional character and not someone to aspire to become.
However, it may have been more difficult for my Five year-old self to make that distinction, thus fate has laid before me a path towards deep analysis for the character.
“Half of everything is luck James…”-Trevalyn
“And the other half?”-Bond
*Alarms Blare*
“Fate.”-(Goldeneye, 1995)