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Fleming and cats
Here is a sample of references Fleming made regarding cats. I have noticed that there is a good deal of references to cats and cat-like behavior. We all know that Fleming was an animal lover.
Casino Royal
“Soon he was out on the coast road, a broad highway through the sand dunes which he knew from his morning’s drive had an excellent surface and was well cat’s-eyes on the dunes.”
“This story of brothels and casinos has absolutely knocked the bottom out of his organization and they’re all running around like a scalded cats.”
Live and Let Die
“Most of the real hep-cats smoke reefers,”
Moonraker.
“Then he accelerated away from Swanley Junction and was soon doing ninety astride the Cats eyes down the Farningham by-pass.”
Diamonds are Forever
A tingle of excitement ran down Bond’s spine as the chestnut flash by..the boy on its back arched like a cat in stirrups”
From Russia with Love
“The girls tore apart and backed away like cats”
Dr No.
"With the anger balling up inside him like a cat's fur."
Goldfinger
“A large ginger cat appeared from nowhere”
Of course the main "Bond girl" is called Pussy Galore.
For your Eyes Only (Risico)
“It was about 12 feet to the jetty and he landed like a cat”
Thunderball
“God, this is going to put the cat among the pigeons.
The Spy Who Love Me
“It was sex without involvement or danger, a delicious heightening of the day’s routine which each time left me sleek and glowing like a pampered cat”
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
“Bond felt the excitement ball up inside him like cat’s fur”
You Only Live Twice
“Stop looking at my Black Cat!” (Black cats are considered lucky in Japan).
Bond was about to get lucky.
The Man With The Golden Gun
“Didn’t the cool cat tell you?”
Octopussy
The affectionate term for the Octopus being a "Octopussy"
Casino Royal
“Soon he was out on the coast road, a broad highway through the sand dunes which he knew from his morning’s drive had an excellent surface and was well cat’s-eyes on the dunes.”
“This story of brothels and casinos has absolutely knocked the bottom out of his organization and they’re all running around like a scalded cats.”
Live and Let Die
“Most of the real hep-cats smoke reefers,”
Moonraker.
“Then he accelerated away from Swanley Junction and was soon doing ninety astride the Cats eyes down the Farningham by-pass.”
Diamonds are Forever
A tingle of excitement ran down Bond’s spine as the chestnut flash by..the boy on its back arched like a cat in stirrups”
From Russia with Love
“The girls tore apart and backed away like cats”
Dr No.
"With the anger balling up inside him like a cat's fur."
Goldfinger
“A large ginger cat appeared from nowhere”
Of course the main "Bond girl" is called Pussy Galore.
For your Eyes Only (Risico)
“It was about 12 feet to the jetty and he landed like a cat”
Thunderball
“God, this is going to put the cat among the pigeons.
The Spy Who Love Me
“It was sex without involvement or danger, a delicious heightening of the day’s routine which each time left me sleek and glowing like a pampered cat”
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
“Bond felt the excitement ball up inside him like cat’s fur”
You Only Live Twice
“Stop looking at my Black Cat!” (Black cats are considered lucky in Japan).
Bond was about to get lucky.
The Man With The Golden Gun
“Didn’t the cool cat tell you?”
Octopussy
The affectionate term for the Octopus being a "Octopussy"
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Comments
Yes you are correct. Sorry I left out Dr No.
"With the anger balling up inside him like a cat's fur."
I fixed the list. Thank you.
I think this is mentioned in FRWL too - almost the same line again? Or perhaps it was one of the other Fleming Bond novels?
It was used in On Her Majesty's Secret Service as well.
Oh, yes. Sorry, I missed that above there.
The treatment of the Ginger cat in Goldfinger was unpleasant but I suppose he was making his point about Koreans in only the way Fleming can.
"His grey eyes had a feline slant..."
"There was nothing but admiration and a feline pleasure in his voice"
Yes, that's it. An idea of Terence Young I think. An interesting gimmick that had some powerful symbolism: cats being associated with devils, witchcraft, etc. in folklore. A shame that it became overused and spoofed so much.
Stuff like this does give you pause for thought though, and consider if Fleming did fancy the motif of the cat and purposely used many words associated with their description and some of their attributes in his work. The connection is also all the more interesting when we consider what animal Blofeld had with him every time he appeared upon the screen.
Does there exist any photographic evidence that shows Fleming with a cat or anything like that? To see him standing or sitting holding a cat (especially a white one) in much the same fashion as the head of SPECTRE himself would be amazing.
That "black cat" line in YOLT was one of the few lines in the books that made me cringe.
Who said that the books never contained smutty innuendo?
It is said that he once told a friend that women were like pets or dogs. Men were the only real human beings, the only ones with whom he could be friends.
So, setting aside my personal thoughts on that statement, I'm left to wonder if the detached personality of the cat is something that he respected. :D
That said.... I may be a bit biased.
Whether he had an affection for them as companions or not, remains to be seen. Clearly though he loved the imagery of them.
mrow!
In his short stories, a cat is featured prominently, owned by the villain and ends up scratching his owner's face (somebody threw the cat at him). I always wondered if it was not the movie inspiration for Blofeld's cat and in YOLT Blofeld's scar.
Incidentally, there is a black cat purring next to me as I type this. Heavenly.
I remember in Goldfinger how Bond felt guilty over the death of Goldfinger's tabby.
Btw, I love cats too. I wish I had a Bengal cat or a Blue Savannah.
Add me to the Cat Lovers Club. I have one older cat and a young cat/kitten. Love them both to bits. Mussolini was a historical figure also fascinated by cats as they were instinctive. He also famously had a lion club called Italia that he took around with him on his travels through Fascist Italy as Prime Minister and Duce.
My pleasure. Researched it for one of my Bond articles way back.
Hey, VR! Nice to hear from you! Are you doing well?
I don't remember too much guilt, but if you can provide a guilt quote, I'll happily admit I'm wrong.
Very well, thanks, PK. Looking forward to hearing what's new with you too. .. Just heading off to work but will send a PM later tonight. After we get home from the cinematic showing of FRWL. :D
"You may have it for dinner.’ The Korean’s eyes gleamed... Bond hid his disgust. He realized that all this exhibition was simply a message to him, a warning, a light rap on the knuckles ’" - Fleming, Ian (2008-06-03). Goldfinger (p. 125). Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. Kindle Edition.
"Then I knew what had happened to Jill. Goldfinger had had her painted all over. He had murdered her. It must have been out of revenge for—for going with you.’ More death! More blood on his hands. This time, as the result of a careless gesture,.." - Fleming, Ian (2008-06-03). Goldfinger (p. 163). Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. Kindle Edition.
Nice!
Hmmm. Don't see any guilt for the cat there, although we can infer from Bond's love of animals that he may have felt some.