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Comments
Very good point.
I don't think DAF is that different really. Only there were some who debunked the entire discussion on BS grounds of political correctness. That's where I felt I had to draw the line, because this is indeed a legit discussion. What makes DAF special is the use of homosexuals as major characters at a time when the emphasis on the depiction of these characters was still firmly in the 'kinky' field but the first signs of changes could already be seen.
The crucial thing is, in the book is no scene that depicts them as anything but a team of ordinary gangsters. There is only a rumour Leiter tells Bond about these two are supposed to be homos. There is not a single line or scene that supports this rumour in the book. So the entire theme in the movie DAF is put there on purpose by the writers, at a time between 1970 and 1971. It's actually their idea of transporting the homosexual theme to a pair of Bond henchmen (and they pack a female couple of bullies in there for balance even, if we take them as such, up to us). That goes actually beyond merely taking the two characters from the book. The homosexuality is an important theme in the film.
Naw, that's not the point. You can like or dislike the two all you want, will make nada difference. The point is by using them in 71 EON had only really one way of using them. The simple fact you would have a different version of Wint and Kidd if you made a remake today tells it all. The 1971 version is a caricature that would only fit into an Austin Powers today.
Not at all! Wint and Kidd are amongst the best parts of DAF in my view.
Good example that bigotry is really a universal thing. That's globalisation for you.
Most of your post is self-indulgent incoherent babble, but a couple of items can at least be addressed without undue pain.
"One thing that certainly plays a role is that DAF's two major homosexual characters Wint and Kidd are killers, aides of the anti-Bond Blofeld. That alone restricts any reading of their obvious and hinted traits to a negative one. Anti-Bonds can't be likeable, neither can anthing they do or say. It must per se be bad and despicable. " Please, in a Bond context these villains are perfectly likeable. The Bond universe is populated by hordes of eccentric, even charming and "likeable" villains. The best roles in Bond films are the villains, aside from the vavoom lead Bond-girls ( is that sexist to call them Bond Girls?) Is vavoom sexist? I don't know. "Very puzzling Mr. Kidd. Perplexing Mr.Wint"
"Yes, indeed. The simple fact Wint and Kidd are homosexual would not have to mean their characters share a homophobic meaning and subtext" What does this even mean? You are tripping all over your own verbosity.The homosexuality of Wint and Kidd is hardly subtext. Rather is it full blown maintext for crying out loud, and yes as you readily admit, Fleming hinted in his book that they were gay, so sue Eon for rolling with it. Eon put their homosexuality up front. Big whoop. I guess in your dreary pc world, such flamboyance and expression must be repressed. The good folk at La Cage dinner theatres around the world, female impersonator revues everywhere, and those who cavort annually in the high-camp Gay Pride parades in major urban centres everywhere, I'm sure laught at you. I know this. Back in the day, I made serious cash working as a doorman at La Cage. (I was the only straight guy working there. Blind box ad. They offered me the door. I took it) I knew those guys. Not a pc bone in the place. They didn't take crap from anyone. If they ran into your ilk, the impresario might have gathered the strongest of his charges and attempted to pull the pickle from your but.
"A Herculean task Mr. Kidd" "Daunting indeed, Mr. Wint"
DAF would have gone over to a standing ovation in that place, it was so outrageous.
You might benefit by slapping on some mascara, putting on a boa, your wildest heels and dress, and live a bit.
" Inspired advice Mr. Kidd" "Invigorating Mr. Wint"
"To bad he can't just enjoy the film Mr. Kidd" "So sad Mr. Wint" :-L 6of1 old bean! Long time. Cheers to you! Such open-mindedness.The deadly duo I'm sure appreciate your support, then again they might be just as happy to drop a spider down your back. Up to debating later, the merits of finger-sucking in the latter day Bond context? :P
Well said Timmer.
W&Ks homosexuality is 'not just background, it's practically the whole thing' and 'they are over the top vile caricatures'? I must either be very sexually jaded or be watching an entirely different film to everyone else.
From what I recall isnt there just a 2 second shot of them holding hands and Mr Kidds comment that Tiffany is 'attractive. For a lady'. I must have missed the scene where they dress up in leather and chains and attack Bond with a 3 foot dildo.
If I was gay I would find W&K far less offensive as stereotypes than the likes of John Inman in Are You Being Served.
Rather than being grossly offensive to homosexuals I would say that W&K are one of the first portrayals of gays just being ordinary people doing their job and the fact that they are gay is fairly incidental to their characters. They just wear suits and get on with their job - its not like they are mincing flamboyantly around like something out of Priscilla.
In the same way that Fiona and Xenia are killers who happen to be sexy as f**k, W&K are killers who happen to be gay but its hardly the most important part of their character. Are Fiona and Xenia 'vile caricatures right out of the clichéed hysterics of heterophobes'?
And what about Bond himself? A killer whose heterosexuality is 'not just background, it's practically the whole thing'?
If they werent cold blooded killers I would even go as far to say W&K are an early example of positive gay role models in popular entertainment. I think most audience members would come out of the cinema saying they enjoyed the characters and the key point that Kennon seems to be missing is that if they are perceived to be bad it is because of what they do in the film and not because they are gay.
Timmerman! What are you doing here? Do they give you guys now day releases from your protected support group for obsessive-delusional Fleming incomprehension? Or is your treatment over there already supposed to be a success? And who pray tell is standing in for your *faggot duties during your absence?
Well, however that may be, I'm not sure if you really bring anything new to the discussion. Your argument - as far as I can see, I'm not immune to misunderstanding a line of reasoning myself - is basically that you've spent the odd drunken night in front of an etablissement of doubtable repute, claiming to be their doorman and thus became somehow an authority on the field of homosexual discrimination?
Are you serious?
Because frankly - and between the two of us - that's more than just a bit thin. Especially so since you chose to throw female impersonators into the mix, just for good measure, thus casting serious doubt on your expertise there. Reminds me of the guy who very recently and in record time acquired a profound expertise on professional journalism by spending his life in newsrooms. Warm regards, just in case you see the guy. ;)
And who did bring in that incomprehensible manure about political corrightness? Neither the initial argument nor the later posts called for that angle, did they? Perhaps better left alone. I can see of course that you must be somewhat miffed for being in effect called a homophobe. But if I may be so bold as to be frank here, that's not exactly a surprise to me. I remember discussions between the two of us that revealed as much as long as a year or two ago. And I speak here with the authority of "it takes one to know one". As a certified homophobe myself I recognised your own inclinations early on. Kenny has that down pat.
As yet I fail to see if Kenny really is offended by W&K. Are you, Kennon?
*Faggot duties in this case isn't meant as a pejorative term. Whoever has had the pleasure to play our game knows what I mean. Apart from that it's downright impossible to insult the trimmerman with this. To the contrary, his nature is such that he'd regard the designation as an outright decoration. Horses...
@TheWizard
Astonishing how far sensitivity for homosexual issues goes nowadays, every straight guy claims to be an expert on it.
No. And I think I already said so.
Nothing new?
I will say hello to our newsroom friend. Something to be said for the old door jobs of yore though. The tip money sure was good.
Carry on old bean! Till next time! Hip Hip!
Paul Wei stars in "The Way of the Homo"......watch out Bruce ;)
He'd prolly agree with me that this thread is a little gay (pun very much intended , lulz)
oh, and this:
Naw, don't think so. Wint and Kidd are not just accidental homos, their sexual orientation is present enough throughout. Always going by the standards of 71 and for a work of entertainment intended for the whole family. It couldn't go beyond a stereotype, had to be restrained enough so the more prudish parents could avoid explanations if their kids asked them about it. But it's hardly so coded people didn't get it. And for the times it was indeed a bold move having two important homosexual roles in a mainstream film. If it was an accidental thing, why include it at all + risk trouble with all kinds of people?
Seems everybody hereabouts thinks I'm offended by Wint and Kidd. Nada, why should I? I just refuse to pretend Wint and Kidd have no significance for DAF. No matter what lenghts some go to debunk it, their effect was played to homophobic instincts of the times IMO. It helps if you've already been around then. But it's hardly necessary to see it.
I agree.
I'd also like to point out that the only gay characters in the series have all been villains. Pussy Galore is a possible exception, but then again, she was "converted" to the good side, which amounts to the same message.
That's true, I can't necessarily speak for 'the times' myself as I was not there. But as I do know it, ratings werent what they are now. Wasn't DAF rated GP for general public back then? Yet there are scary scenes of near cremation, pulling a dead body out of the water, and lots of scantily clad women (that certainly weren't wholesome for the whole family) There wasn't as much PC-minded caution in films as there is now. Just take Willy Wonka with it's psychedelic river boat scene, obvious a nod to the psychedelic drugs of the time. So I'm not so sure the film-makers were taking a reserved approach in how much they were willing to going with the gay personas.
I just can't agree with this statement "their effect was played to homophobic instincts of the times IMO." This suggests that their primary purpose in the film was to poke fun at gays. As has been argued, their primary character traits more has to do with them being killers that use lots of quirky expressions. The idea of them being gay is taken from the novel and then played up for the movie, as a secondary trait. They are killers that happen to be gay, not the other way around. True it's not an accidental thing they are gay, but it's not clear that their is any intention to play off the homophobic instincts of the audience either.
Amen