40 replies to this topic

[Georgiboy]

I've searched around the site and I haven't seen much conversation about TB's charismatic, menacing, eye-patch wearing villain Emilio Largo. In my opinion, he is severely overlooked because of Goldfinger and Blofeld. He's my favorite villain of the whole series. My favorite scene of his is when he feeds Quist to his sharks. I love how he slowly walks away kissing his SPECTRE ring as Quist is torn to pieces inside the shark pool.

So I'm just wondering, what do you all think of him?

Edited by Georgiboy, 27 June 2008 - 05:18 PM.

[coco1997]

Wait, Blofeld and Goldfinger severely overlook him? I had no idea Goldfinger even knew Largo.

[sark]

I think he means that Goldfinger and Blowfeld overshadow him, in case you didn't get that coco.

He's one of my favorite villians. He iconic enough that he was the inspiration for number 2 in Austin Powers. They at least didn't overlook him.

[Qwerty]

One of the better villains from the series in my opinion. Dr. No, Auric Goldfinger and Ernst Stavro Blofeld are always going to be the Sean Connery-era villains the public most identifies with, leaving Rosa Klebb and Largo a bit overlooked.

He always struck me as one of the nastiest villains in the series, but still manages to stay cool and refined.

[RJJB]

I think he means that Goldfinger and Blowfeld overshadow him, in case you didn't get that coco.

He's one of my favorite villians. He iconic enough that he was the inspiration for number 2 in Austin Powers. They at least didn't overlook him.

Huh? Are you saying that because both characters wore an eyepatch that Largo was the inspriration for Number 2? Sorry but you're overreaching.

[sark]

I think he means that Goldfinger and Blowfeld overshadow him, in case you didn't get that coco.

He's one of my favorite villians. He iconic enough that he was the inspiration for number 2 in Austin Powers. They at least didn't overlook him.

Huh? Are you saying that because both characters wore an eyepatch that Largo was the inspriration for Number 2? Sorry but you're overreaching.

How about the fact that they were both referred to as "number 2"? Guess that one escaped you.

[RJJB]

I think he means that Goldfinger and Blowfeld overshadow him, in case you didn't get that coco.

He's one of my favorite villians. He iconic enough that he was the inspiration for number 2 in Austin Powers. They at least didn't overlook him.

Huh? Are you saying that because both characters wore an eyepatch that Largo was the inspriration for Number 2? Sorry but you're overreaching.

How about the fact that they were both referred to as "number 2"? Guess that one escaped you.

No, I can comprehend the English language just fine. But a superficial similarity did not evoke any images of Emilio Largo. I can agree that the organizational hierachy is similar to SPECTRE, no problem. But Robert Wagner's Number 2 does not have Emilio Largo as any sort of inspiration.

[sark]

I think he means that Goldfinger and Blowfeld overshadow him, in case you didn't get that coco.

He's one of my favorite villians. He iconic enough that he was the inspiration for number 2 in Austin Powers. They at least didn't overlook him.

Huh? Are you saying that because both characters wore an eyepatch that Largo was the inspriration for Number 2? Sorry but you're overreaching.

How about the fact that they were both referred to as "number 2"? Guess that one escaped you.

No, I can comprehend the English language just fine. But a superficial similarity did not evoke any images of Emilio Largo. I can agree that the organizational hierachy is similar to SPECTRE, no problem. But Robert Wagner's Number 2 does not have Emilio Largo as any sort of inspiration.

You were saying (and no, I didn't edit the entry)

[RJJB]

What's your point?

[sark]

The character was modeled after the James Bond villain Emilio Largo who was number 2 of SPECTRE in the 1965 James Bond movie Thunderball.

[DR76]

Emilio Largo is one of my favorite villains from the Bond franchise. He is menacing and dangerous enough, without being over-the-top. And he has style.

[Turn]

While not quite the classic villain that Goldfinger, Blofeld or Dr. No, Largo is a memorable and formidable foe for Bond. Thunderball being my favorite film makes me a bit biased, but not so much I'd put him at the very top.

Not unlike Goldfinger, there's a one-upmanship with Bond that's interesting to watch, along with the competition for Domino, so there's a personal as well as professional competition between them. One of the nice unsung scenes in a film filled with good dialogue and scenes is when Fiona baits Largo about Bond trying to make love to his woman and it seems to strike a nerve with Largo.

Another thing I like is the fact Largo is onscreen more than many of the other villains in the Connery era such as Dr. No, Red Grant or even Blofeld. And he's a part of the action rather than sending out just his main henchmen to do all of the work. He's right in there with the recovery of the bombs, taking them to the dropoff point and in the final battle with the aquaparas.

While Adolpho Celi is good as Largo, I think a minor disappointment is the Largo of the book seems like a more formidable opponent for Bond, a bit like Red Grant.

[BlackFelix]

Largo is probably my favorite villain. I felt Celi brought more to the part than what was written. I've always thought he was most like James Bond...gone bad. He's just as charming, has a great sense of style, and cool car...and loves to gamble. He just lacked a sense of right and wrong. True, the same could be said for many Bond villains (Scaramanga) however perhaps it was the menace in which the character was portrayed and the eye-patch makes me feel as though he was cooler. And besides, he's the one of the only villains to beat Bond in a fist fight!

Edited by BlackFelix, 28 June 2008 - 05:27 AM.

[Jim]

Most stylish villain by a street. The tailoring is exceptionally good.

Happens to appear in the most consistently entertaining Bond/Villain scene in the series, the clay pigeon shooting.

I want to be Emilio Largo.

[Scottlee]

If he's overshadowed in Bond-lore by other villains of the era this may partly be due to the way Goldfinger has the advantage of having his own film name after him and also the way Blofeld appears in no less than about six movies. If Thunderball was titled "Largo" and there was a theme tune that went "Laaaarrrgoo, he's the man, the mannn with the midas touch, a frogman's touch de na na na", he would probably be considerably more of a household name.

Largo was also in much more of a down-to-earth Terence Young stamped faithful-to-the-novel entry than someone like Auric Goldfinger. Most casual film-goers will remember the way Goldfinger killed a woman by painting her body gold even if they haven't seen the film in decades. They're not as likely however to recall the moment Largo kills a minor villain by slicing open his air hose in the dark gloom of a submerged harrier jet. Goldfinger even gets a more eye-pleasing death ; he's sucked through the window of an aeroplane. Largo meanwhile gets pierced by an arrow by someone who isn't even Bond.

Whether you think Largo is a better or worse villain than a Goldfinger or a Blofeld, it's hard to not admit he had lots of factors working against him in the memorability stakes.

[Napoleon Solo]

I think he means that Goldfinger and Blowfeld overshadow him, in case you didn't get that coco.

He's one of my favorite villians. He iconic enough that he was the inspiration for number 2 in Austin Powers. They at least didn't overlook him.

Huh? Are you saying that because both characters wore an eyepatch that Largo was the inspriration for Number 2? Sorry but you're overreaching.

Largo was unquestionably the inspiration for the Number 2 of the Austin Powers movies. The only other *possibility* was Marvel Comics' Nick Fury and Fury was never "No. 2."

[Harry Fawkes]

Largo as played by Celi is one of the best villains in the series. Top notch and no less.

[SPOTTER]

Largo is a great villain. One of the best.

[Napoleon Solo]

Largo is a great villain. One of the best.

He is certainly the most physical of the "mastermind" villains, and certainly not afraid of getting his own hands bloody. This is particularly true during the big underwater fight when he single handedly kills one of the CIA/aqua-paratroopers.

EDIT: a ridiculous typo corrected.

Edited by Napoleon Solo, 29 June 2008 - 06:56 PM.

[Fiona Volpe lover]

Definately one of the best villains, and as people have said above one of the reasons for that is that he gets in the thick of the action. I think Adolpho Celi was dubbed in the film but the voice they used was great! Whenever I see that actor in a film, be it Thunderball, Grand Prix or Diabolik, he has a totally different voice!

[Skudor]

When I think of it, Celi's Largo is definitely one of the serie's better villains. But somehow I tend not to remember him off hand.

His dialogues with Connery are brilliant - the casino and the clay pigeon shooting in particular.

He's menacing and pure evil - see his treatment of the lovely Domino (how could any man treat her badly?).

Yep. Definitely a great villain. But, I agree, strangely enough not very memorable.

[DamnCoffee]

Even though Thunderball is one of Connery's most famous Bond films, everyone I know doesn't even remember him, but they remember the movie.

I actually dont think Largo did anything special that made him stand out. But I loved him, none the less.

[Publius]

A fantastic villain, definitely one of the best. He's one of those enemies that's so great because of his similarities to Bond. Whereas Trevelyan, for example, was like Bond because he's about the same age and also a 00, Largo is like Bond because of the way he dresses, the lifestyle he enjoys, and the women he surrounds himself with. He's also no slacker, as was pointed out, taking a hands-on approach to his job instead of barking out orders from a secret lair somewhere. What Sanchez is to Dalton's Bond, Largo is to Connery's Bond.

[Red Barchetta]

Largo as played by Celi is one of the best villains in the series. Top notch and no less.

Yes! Largo is one of the very best villans in the series. He is probably the best match for Bond- and like Bond, he lets a woman get the best of him.

And- let's put this to rest- he IS the reason for #2 in the Austin Powers films.

[dogmanstar]

Largo just oozes manliness. That's what makes him so great--Connery's brashness up against this guy who thinks he owns the world. We've all known people like this--who are the best at everything, have the hottest girlfriend, are the most fit, have the most money, and Largo is that plus. I think he's a very effective film figure.

[Double-0-7]

Largo as Lead Baddie? Loved him! Over the top on everything from his "niece" to his yacht to personally executing the over-priced pilot.

When I think Bond Villain, the name Blofeld comes to mind, but what I picture is Largo in his white dinner jacket, eye patch, and SPECTRE ring.

[DaveBond21]

Great villain.

It is just a little off-putting that Largo's voice is dubbed by Robert Rietti, who also provides the voice for Tiger Tanaka in the next film. In fact I sometimes expect Largo to say "For a European, you are exceptionally cultivated".

Rietti also provides the voice for Blofeld in the FYEO PTS.

[Odd Job]

Not only is Largo a great villain, he has one of the best (if not the best) entrances of a villain in the series. I love that scene in Paris at the start of the film where the policeman is chiding him for parking in a no-parking zone, then Largo just turns around and gives him an icy stare. The policeman (L'Agent) backs away at a million miles an hour, "Pardon Monsieur Largo". A great introduction to a truly menacing villain!

[double o ego]

Not only is Largo a great villain, he has one of the best (if not the best) entrances of a villain in the series. I love that scene in Paris at the start of the film where the policeman is chiding him for parking in a no-parking zone, then Largo just turns around and gives him an icy stare. The policeman (L'Agent) backs away at a million miles an hour, "Pardon Monsieur Largo". A great introduction to a truly menacing villain!

QFT, my friend. One of my favourite scenes in the series.

I love Largo, although I find Goldfinger a better character, I think Largo is still a fantastic villain. In fact, imo he and Bond have the best protagonist/antagonist exchange, when Bond is at his mansion and they're shooting clay pigeons and Bond is winding Largo up by mocking his gun and then acting like he knows nothing about shooting guns and then effortlessly shoots the clay, whilst making a witty remark. Classic.

[Gobi-1]

Today in my film class we watched this French film from 1966 called King of Heart and I was surprised to see Largo himself Adolfo Celi playing one of the role. However it was one of the most bizarre things I've ever witnessed because Celi was an Italian actor, in a French film, playing a Scottish colonel, with his voice dubbed over. It was truly weird and most have been ludicrous even in 1966.