Allies
Kerim Bey – Pedro Armendariz
Kerim Bey is a joyful ally who assists Bond in Station T, Istanbul. He has a large family, trusting his matters only to those who are related to him by blood. He gives Bond a great deal of information and also helps him avoid suspicion by taking him to a gypsy camp.
He is wounded and pays Bond back for his help by killing the dangerous Krilencu. Later on, Kerim is tragically killed on the Orient Express by the ever lethal Red Grant.
Memorable lines:
“My friend, you should be a mind reader.”
“So decide. They’re both yours.”
Vavra – Francis De Wolff
Vavra is the welcoming and cheerful gypsy leader. He accepts Bond to dinner with open arms and is pleased to see Kerim Bey again as well.
During the huge battle, Bond saves the life of him by killing a would-be assassin. As a gesture of his thanks, Vavra allows Bond to choose who the winner will be between the two gypsy women.
Villians
Colonel Rosa Klebb – Lotte Lenya
Once the head of the SMERSH organization, Klebb has now secretly defected to SPECTRE and is a top member there. She’s diminutive, but extremely lethal. She has little regard for others and works in accomplishing her own plans. She takes Red Grant under her authoritative control and sends him into her plan for Bond.
Klebb also recruits Tatiana Romanova for the dastardly plan and doesn’t give her all the information about what is going on. She gets one last chance by Blofeld to kill Bond and poses as a hotel maid and then engages in battle with him, using her poison-tipped shoes. Tania finally fires a fatal shot at her, ending the battle.
Memorable lines:
“There will be no delay, there’s still time.”
“A real labor of love.”
Donald ‘Red’ Grant – Robert Shaw
Often regarded as one of the very best villains in the entire series, Red Grant is renowned as one of the most cunning, dangerous, and brutal antagonists Bond has ever encountered. He lives a very simple life under orders from SPECTRE, and has a knack for killing. In extremely strong physical shape and 100% loyal, he’s the perfect henchman for any job.
He saves Bond’s life once to keep the evil plan moving along and finally engages Bond aboard the train. After pleasant speaking and some tricks, the two fight in a no limits battle, with Grant finally succumbing to Bond.
Memorable lines:
“My business is to kill you and deliver the Lektor. How I do it is my business.”
Kronsteen – Vladek Sheyball
Kronsteen is the grand master planner for SPECTE, using his phenomenal intelligence and brilliant strategies to devise several tasks to insure a win for SPECTRE. He is first seen playing, and later winning a championship chess match and the moving on to tell of his plan for bringing down 007 in the most humiliating fashion. He looks upon people as chess pieces, merely objects to move around in hopes for victory.
Kronsteen works with Klebb in the plan, Kronsteen setting it up, and Klebb following his objectives of it. However, Bond surprises them both and the plan doesn’t go accordingly later on. Due to his miscalculations, Kronsteen is killed by a poison-tipped blade, from Blofeld’s orders.
Memorable lines:
“And there will be no failure.”
Morzeny – Walter Gotell
Morzeny is head of the SPECTRE training grounds facility, and explains to Klebb about the magnificent qualities of Donald Grant. Morzeny, with his poison-tipped shoe, delivers the fatal kick to Kronsteen and then later commands a speedboat attack on Bond. He dies however, catching on fire along with the rest of the men, when Bond turns the tables on them.
Memorable lines:
“You’re trapped Mr. Bond! You’re trapped. You cannot escape.”
Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Number 1) – Anthony Dawson / Eric Pohlmann
Blofeld, the evil head of SPECTRE is first seen in this film only by the top of his head, or represented by the white Persian cat he strokes while delegating plans with his esteemed members. He stays very calm while speaking, and commands respect, often terrifying his loyal members.
He has a collection of Siamese fighting fish, comparing them to SPECTRE itself, striking at the correct time at the enemy.
Memorable lines:
“And then like SPECTRE, he strikes.”
Girls
Sylvia Trench – Eunice Gayson
Returning from Dr. No, Sylvia is still trying to always get the attention of James Bond. They are out on a relaxing picnic together when the call from headquarters summons him. She gets angry over this as it interrupts their day and convinces Bond to stay a little longer, like she was able to do the last time before Bond’s mission.
She also notices a certain scar on his lower body.
Memorable lines:
“Do what? Last time you said that, you went to Jamaica.”
“He is not on his way!”
Vida & Zora – Aliza Gur & Martine Beswick
These two gypsies are vying for the heart of one man. As a result, a fight must occur between the two of them to see who will rightfully win. The two obviously have distaste for eachother and their fight almost goes out of hand before the attack on the camp begins.
Later on, the difficult choice of deciding between the two is given to Bond, who claims he has enough problems as it is.
Tatiana ‘Tania’ Romanova – Daniela Bianchi
Tatiana Romanova, whose friends call her Tania, is a Russian cipher clerk who was brought, unsuspecting by Colonel Rosa Klebb into the magnificent SPECTRE plan against the British agent, James Bond. She is unaware of the real reasons she is working for them, thinking she is doing it all for mother Russia.
She has an attraction for Bond, and he for her as well. Throughout the ordeal, she falls for him, even though leading him into the SPECTRE trap. They both finally survive, with Tania shooting Klebb, just as she is about to kill Bond with her poison-tipped shoe.
The two end on a calm canal ride, with Bond tossing away the risqué pictures of them in the bridal suite.
Memorable lines:
“I think my mouth is too big.”
Gadgets
Walther PPK – (Dr. No – Tomorrow Never Dies)
The Walther PPK is first issued to James Bond in Dr. No by Major Boothroyd, when his Beretta is taken away. It delivers shots like a brick through a plate-glass window and has excellent stopping power. It has saved the life of James Bond on many of his missions and has been used to stop several of his main adversaries.
Bond has lost the PPK on numerous missions, always getting a new replacement from Q Branch. Professor Dent is the first unlucky victim of the powerful handgun in the famous scene in Dr. No.
The Walther PPK is 7.65mm and carries six rounds.
Briefcase –
The briefcase is one of the first multi-use gadgets issued to James Bond by Q Branch. While appearing to be nothing more than a common attaché case, Major Boothroyd soon explained how it was much more.
The case contained 50 gold sovereigns hidden in the straps of the case, 25 on either side. There was also a throwing knife concealed in the side of the case, an exploding tear gas canister and a AR-7 sniper rifle with ammunition. All of these gadgets were useful to Bond throughout his mission, despite his original thoughts when getting briefed on them in the beginning of the film.
Several of the items were used against such enemies as Red Grant, Krilencu, and SPECTRE henchmen.
Bug Detector –
James Bond uses the Bug Detector when he arrives at his hotel suite. He uses it to discover a phone tap when calling the front desk to request another room.
Tape Recorder –
A small box camera that had a reel tape recorder concealed inside for use in quiet interrogations. Bond uses the recorder to interrogate Tania on the specifications of the Lektor, while her answers were immediately received by MI6 officials. She is ordered to speak quietly, but clearly into the box.
Poison-Knife Shoe –
These particularly nasty weapons were standard issue to several SPECTRE members such as Colonel Rosa Klebb and Morzeny. A small knife dipped in poison could be extracted from the front of the shoe and used to attack any on coming enemies.
Kronsteen is killed by the knife because of his incompetence, and Klebb later tries to kill Bond by the same methofd, but luckily, she is shot by Tania. The poison takes approximately twelve seconds.
Lektor Decoding Machine –
The Lektor is a small decoding machine used to decode many important documents. It is the bait in the plot to bring down James Bond, used by SPECTRE. MI6 has been trying to get a hold of one for years.
It is roughly the same size as a typewriter, as Tania says, and is carried in a brown case.
Grant’s Wristwatch –
This wristwatch worn by Red Grant throughout the film houses a small retractable wire which was used to strangle many of his victims.
Grant used the weapon in the pre-credits and early on in the film. He also tried to strangle Bond with the weapon during their vicious fight aboard the Orient Express.
Quotes
Blofeld: Siamese Fighting Fish. Fascinating creatures. Brave,
but on the whole, stupid. Yes, they're stupid...except for the occasional one
such as we have here, who waits. Waits until the survivor is so exhausted that
he cannot defend himself. And then, like SPECTRE, he strikes.
Klebb: I find the parallel amusing.
Blofeld: Our organization did not arrange for you to come over from the Russians
just for amusement, Number Two.
Klebb: I hope Kronsteen's plan will be as successful as his chess.
Kronsteen: It will be.
Blofeld: Let his death be a particularly unpleasant and humiliating one.
Kronsteen: Good. I will put my plan into action…and there will be no failure.
Klebb: Training is useful, but there is no substitute for experience.
Morzeny: I agree, we use live targets as well.
Tatiana: But I think my mouth is too big.
Bond: No, it’s just the right size…for me that is.
Tatiana: The mechanism is...Oh James; will you make love to me all the time
in England?
Bond: Day and night. Go on about the mechanism.
Bond: Red wine with fish. Well that should have told me something.
Grant: My job is to kill you and deliver the Lektor. How I do it is my business.
Bond: Tell me, what lunatic asylum did they get you out of?
Grant: The first one won't kill you; not the second, not even the third...not ‘til you crawl over here and you kiss my foot!
Last Updated - 02/13/2005