out of all the films in which Ernst Stavro Blofeld was present - which incarnation of Bond's nemesis was your favorite?... the list includes...
<b>Anthony Dawson/Eric Pohlmann</b> <i>(From Russia With Love)</i>
<b>Anthony Dawson/Joseph Wiseman</b> <i>(Thunderball)</i>
<b>Donlad Pleasence</b> <i>(You Only Live Twice)</i>
<b>Telly Savalas</b> <i>(On Her Majesty's Secret Service)</i>
<b>Charles Gray</b> <i>(Diamonds Are Forever)</i>
<b>John Hollis/Robert Rietty</b> <i>(For Your Eyes Only)</i>
<b>Max Von Sydow</b> <i>(Never Say Never Again)</i>
my favorite would have to be Telly Savalas... just edging out the duo of Dawson and Wiseman in Thunderball - probably more a credit to epic voice of Wiseman...
but overall, i think Telly delivers a masterful performance as Bond's nemesis.. he's every bit as cool, collected, and intimidating as Bond ... i always think of the one scene, where Bond (as Sir Hilary) says "Well, if you put it that way.." .. Telly drags off his cigarette, calming blows out a plume of smoke and replies "I do put it like that.." - what a set of brass on this guy - i love it... not only is his portrayal of Blofeld tough and sinister - but he plays it with a certain amount of likability and sophistication - that makes him seem more like a real person, and not an overblown comic book villain (ie: Pleasence)... Charles Gray approached the role in the same sort of way that Savalas did - but lacked the menace that Telly had.... Charles seemed like the guy who would talk a lot of crap, but once you stood up and smacked him around a few times, he would shut up.... Telly on the other hand would smack you back, and then dress you up and down 7 ways to sunday on why you shouldn't do that again - that is, unless you wanted a broken arm...
Comments
Wonderful voice, made the character have a kind of supernatural aura.
Similar as above, Blofeld was better left as a secretive figure, postrayed by his cat and hand rather than in flesh.
Outstanding performance, very physical compared to Pleasence, more menacing.
The best and most evil looking Blofeld, he only lacked physical presence.
Decent effort but terribly written character. Just can't picture him as the same Blofeld.
I understand what they did, basically to kill off the character which they couldn't name due to legal reasons... But how did he get his bald look again?
This nice old grand-pa couldn't hurt a fly, how can he be Blofeld?
Favourite, it would have to be a tie between Pleasence and Dawson/Pohlman.
Charles Gray :-c
Pohlmann's is more slow and deliberate - and also low, and had a slight grumble to it..
Wiseman's is rigid, and harsh on the consonants - and it's also just a little higher than Pohlmann's..
FRWL/TB: Even if there are two different voices (which I had no idea...is this really true?? IMDB is still crediting Pohlmann for TB), this is essentially the same portrayal and the best IMO. The mystery behind the character adds the most menace: the perfect way to portray the Spectre, a mystery rogue organization
YOLT: Donald Pleasance: he comes across as the most meniacal and deranged. But the Blofeld from FRWL/TB seemed to have a cool about him mixed with the sinister that Pleasance lacks. Pleasance just plays the twisted megalomaniac the whole time.
OHMSS: I love Savalas' performance and simply the persona he has, yet I don't see the same character in him that I imagined from FRWL/TB, maybe it's the New Yorker accent. He's almost too cool, that I find he lacks a bit of that mad-man edge.
DAF: Once again, almost a completely different character from the original incarnation. So I view him as a standalone villain. Frankly, I love Charles Gray's performance. All of his dialogue is great. I really find the balance of maniacal super-villain mixed with wit and a bit of androgyny to be very convincing.
The others? They don't count. Something about making Bond a sandwich or something? X_X
Out of those three, Savalas easily.
"I have satisfied myself that one of you is clearly guilty of embezzlement."
Ohhhhhhhhh crap, I hope he doesn't think it's me.
2. FRWL
3. TB
4. YOLT
5. DAF
6. NSNA
7. FYEO
This will always be my fav. That look and the way he acts is the iconic Blofeld for me. He gets enough screen time to make it work too. To me, it is one of the saving graces of the film.
Of course, he could only be called 'Hugo Drax' since this was to feature the MR title from the book itself but, just think about it for a moment.
All the key elements were there and in place...
He had the voice-quality and style of the great "unseen-Blofelds" of FRWL and TB and his physical appearance featured the established Donald Pleasance/Mao-suit tradition from YOLT.
There was more of Blofeld in Lonsdale's "Drax" than either of the two gents from DAF or NSNA were able to present.
Is this something cinema Bond fans here can accept?