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Same here, same here. It wouldn't have been any different if Felix was there on the beach with Bond and Honey.
Hmmm. I have always felt there were under (or is it over) tones of racial superiority in that line and the way Connery delivers it. Why have a line about shoes at all if not to underline some kind of servile relationship? If Bond needs to underline the sense of urgency, why not - 'bring the girl' or 'let's go'. Having said that, earlier in the film Quarrel is interesting in that he is a black character who is not subserviant and has a distinct personality of his own. I think that was fairly unusual in the early 60s. Later he seems to change personality and become another superstitious and foolish negro stereotype of which Hollywood has provided (and disposed of!) many.
It's only that I've read so many times on MI6 that people take issue with it - I've even read a number of reports that many feel Connery was too lazy to do it himself above all else, it's like - 'Why get someone else to do it, get your own damn shoes etc'
That does seem plausible enough, but for the last time, they were in a hurry, and the shoes had to be fetched by the nearest person, there is no harm done whatsoever and I always fail to see any furore in that scene
Unless this line was brought up in the current context, which I only saw for the first time about one month ago, I would have never thought there was any problem with it either. It completely passed me by - honestly I'd never even noticed it.
The line doesn't need altered. People's perceptions towards a racist agenda need changed.
from what I can remember, they heard the search Boat coming, 'That's a high powered boat' etc, and they were in an awful rush to take cover, and - I think that was after the boat scene, i.e. they were going 'to come back with the dogs', but in any event, they were in a hurry and had to leave the scene quickly, it's not how it was said, that was a fine delivery, it's more 'what was said', - which was basically not much at all
I have similar things with other Bond films and similar occurences, I won't elaborate on, whereas people make such a song and dance over nothing much at all (the 'will keep you in curry for a few weeks' being such an example), but you understand. Anyway this is for another thread surely, but I just wanted to get that initial scene in Jamaica out of of the way
Though I agree that the "fetch my shoes" line had never occurred to me in my youth, as a form of racial superiority. I did recently watch the film (at the video store that I work at) with a co-worker who is Jamaican-American, and he was "oohhh man" and started laughing pretty hard. I don't think that line has dated very well.
In this case, I think the line would have been "bend over and fetch my shoes".
Dr.No has it's strong points but Casino Royale easily wins for me. It's simply a more complete and satisfying Bond film. DN as good as it is, is definatly ackward in certain places. It's as if EON knew what they wanted but weren't 100% sure how to articulate it yet. CR on the on the other hand has an amazing script, top-notch performances, lush cinamatography, and good pacing condidering it's lengthy near 2 and a half hour runtime.
But Connery delivered most of his lines with that sense of superiority. The only character he didn't have a sense of authority with was M. Connery's Bond was a man's man who carried himself with either a very domineering or dismissive attitude. The best example is when Bond and Honey are helf captive by Dr.No's men and are about to be cleaned he starts ordering Dr.No's henchmen to remove the cuffs and let them through. Who else in the world could pull that off convincingly except Connery?
Maybe Mr No needs to find himself some tougher guards
We never really see enough of them to get that impression. Regardless there were several of them and they all had guns. I can't care how light-weight they are in attitude it takes a real man to do what Bond did.
Connery may have been the epitome of masculinity in the early days and there is some force about that shower scene but it's worth keeping in mind that it was less than a decade later when Connery had his ass kicked by two (athletic) women in Diamonds, not that I mind forceful women etc :-)
That was hogwash, trashed Bond and tarnished the franchise. And that's only on Bond's side. Do we really need to go into Blofeld in drag? I don't think so.
I do enjoy it when Bond bites off more than he can chew with women, such as the aforementioned Bambi and Thumper sequence, Brosnan and Onatopp in the sauna, and for a brief moment, Blackman and Connery in the barn, we really need more of these!
I do agree that Bond getting his rear handed to him by Bambi and Thumper was trash, and the same for Blofeld the cross-dresser. Still, I find Diamonds Are Forever to be a great romp and, frankly, it never fails to entertain. However you're right, these scenes needn't be in there. If we need the Bambi and Thumper scene, they should have at least made Bond do what Bond does best- kick some tail!
Connery in 1971 was very different-looking than Connery of 1962. The scene where he undresses in DAF is perhaps more cringe-inducing than the cross-dressing.
I would loved to have had a tussle with Volpe or tried to steal Ryder's shells even, but a roll about in the straw with Blackman just leaves me cold and uninterested, I think even in 1983 Connery had a sort of tussle with Fatima Blush if I remember, I would of liked that, as I thought Barbara Carerra was quite a lady
It just barely tops Dr No in my book.
It's the best Bond film!
Better plot, not Blofeld, the best Bond, more various locations, better girls, better music and the BEST "Bond, James Bond" at the ending.
Dr. No is in high middle of my list.
Agreed. I think DN is a very good movie and several Bond ingredients are there already in 1962.
I enjoy Casino Royale very much, but I prefer watching the fully-formed James Bond, to the re-booted, embryonic, version. And no version is better than Sean's in full flow.
Dr No