

Fleming has been criticized for depicting English
bullying and snobbery as admirable traits.
I am unsure of any attraction bullying had for me, but being a military
officer with less money than would support my wishes and, finding myself in the
Philippine Islands at a time where the dollar was exceptionally strong, and
having access to Hong Kong which at the time was steeped in English heritage,
Bond became my alter ego.

The scene I remember was the famous one in which
Ursula Andress, as Honey Rider comes
out of the sea in a white bikini. I’ve
always felt she was the inspiration for the joke where the man is marooned on
an island for years without company. A
beautiful woman comes ashore in a wet suit and proceeds to give him first, cigarettes,
then whiskey and finally asks if he wants to Play Around”. He misunderstands the phrases and asks, “You
mean you have golf clubs in there?”
Bond, played by Sean Connery responds to Honey’s
question, “Are you looking for shells?” Responding, “Just looking.” The first
of many double entendres weaving their way through the rest of the Bond films.

Some of the original traits still remain. Fleming took his martinis seriously and very
well might have preferred “shaken not stirred”.
He also was a gambler and Bond’s method for staying inconspicuously at
the roulette table for long periods by alternatively betting red and black, and
avoiding the more risky system of betting numbers, is one I have used
successfully through the years.
As I prepare to watch Skyfall 007 on my Apple TV from my iPad I can’t help but reflect at
how, although many things have changed in the last 50 years, much has remained
the same.
At least as Bond goes.
In my next post I’m going to hop on the Pope bandwagon,
or more accurately the Pope-mobile, and give my observations on the new
selection. I promise some secular
interest and hope you’ll join me.
No comments:
Post a Comment