25 replies to this topic

[Qbranchtech]

Over the course of 22 films, quite a few gorgeous women died tragically or horribly because of Bond. How do you rate these sacrificial lambs? Did they just died without meaning? Was the sacrifice worth it? Do writers just like to find creative ways to kill women around Bond? Who takes the cake as the most horrible death?

Edited by Qbranchtech, 05 December 2008 - 07:01 AM.

[MkB]

Who takes the cake as the most horrible death?

Well, it depends what you mean by most horrible. If you mean "death conveying the most horrible impression on film" (i.e. horrible for the viewer), my vote goes to Vesper's death. This drowning lift scene has a surreal, nightmarish touch.

Elektra King's death could have been special too, but unfortunately the implications of Bond killing her were poorly explored in the script.

Jill Masterson's death, painted gold in Goldfinger is too "glamorous" to be seen as horrible. Agent Field would be a better candidate.

[Kristian]

Who takes the cake as the most horrible death?

Well, it depends what you mean by most horrible. If you mean "death conveying the most horrible impression on film", my vote goes to Vesper's death. This drowning lift scene has a surreal, nightmarish touch.

With respect, I don't think she qualifies. I think Q might be referring to Bond girls who are killed by the villains. But I could be wrong.

Either way, I'd have to say Strawberry Fields - can't imagine anything worse than drowning in oil.

Also, not sure if she qualifies as a Bond girl, but Stromberg's Personal Assistant in TSWLM that got chomped by the shark was pretty grim.

I have to say that all throughout LTK I was expecting Lupe to get killed off, but was very pleased that she survived the film. Go, Talisa!

[Qbranchtech]

While I do consider Fields in QoS to be a prime contender for the ultimate horrible death for a Bond girl, I have to say Corinne Dufour in Moonraker is also a close contender. Getting fired by Drax personally and then killed by chasing Dobermans in a forest after aiding and sleeping with Bond. That's gotta be pretty darn horrible.

As for Vesper, I think she fits in the tragic death category just fine even when she took her own life. I don't remember whether I knew she would die in the film before going to see it, but I do remember feeling sorry for her.

I read somewhere that Fields is the first "good" Bond girl to die horribly while others have been "bad" turning "good", but not too sure about that. Aside from how horrible these gorgeous women died, do you think they have any impact on the audience? Feeling sad for them? for Bond? Or have these death just turned expected and almost laughable like Paris Carver in TND? (I certainly hope not)

[Double-Oh Agent]

Most tragic:
1. Tracy di Vicenzo -- Her and Bond's marriage is cut short on their wedding day.
2. Vesper Lynd -- The circumstances and everything leading up to it make this one very tragic.
3. Jill Masterson -- It is a shock to see her golden body after having just seen her enjoy herself in bed with Bond.
4. Corinne Dufour -- Helps Bond and suffers the (grisly) consequences.
5. Andrea Anders -- All she was trying to do was get away from a very bad man.

Most horrible:
1. Corinne Dufour -- Attacked and killed (and eaten?) by Drax's Doberman pinschers.
2. Strawberry Fields -- Drowned in oil.
3. Plenty O'Toole -- Forcibly drowned in a swimming pool.
4. Jill Masterson -- Skin suffocation, talk about a slow (and uncomfortable?) death.
5. Aki -- Watching her struggle for breath after being poisoned is rather unpleasant.

[O.H.M.S.S.]

Most tragic:
1. Tracy di Vicenzo -- Her and Bond's marriage is cut short on their wedding day.
2. Vesper Lynd -- The circumstances and everything leading up to it make this one very tragic.
3. Jill Masterson -- It is a shock to see her golden body after having just seen her enjoy herself in bed with Bond.
4. Corinne Dufour -- Helps Bond and suffers the (grisly) consequences.
5. Andrea Anders -- All she was trying to do was get away from a very bad man.

Most horrible:
1. Corinne Dufour -- Attacked and killed (and eaten?) by Drax's Doberman pinschers.
2. Strawberry Fields -- Drowned in oil.
3. Plenty O'Toole -- Forcibly drowned in a swimming pool.
4. Jill Masterson -- Skin suffocation, talk about a slow (and uncomfortable?) death.
5. Aki -- Watching her struggle for breath after being poisoned is rather unpleasant.

I agree with these lists.

[O'Toole Galore]

Jill and Tilly Masterson in "Goldfinger" pretty much set the tone that at least one of the girls (mainly the second billed actress) are going to be bumped off in the movie, so the writers in essence, create a Bond girl with the full intention of killing her off later.

This is to the point when I watched Octopussy, I was sure that Magda was going to bite it, which to my surprise, she didn't. Connery's first two Bonds had all the girls surviving. Moore only have Octopussy. None of Dalton's girls gets killed. All of Brosnan's films featured at least one death. As of now, all of Craig's girls bites it except for Camille Montes.

[sark]

I like how the thread title qualifies it by saying (tragic), as opposed to (hilarious).

[dogmanstar]

I think it is clear that to be around Bond is to be in danger--not only the women die in droves but how many others? Vijay, Zukovsky, Kerim Bey, now Mathis. I think this emphasizes how dangerous a world Bond inhabits.

[Qbranchtech]

I find that generally the tragic/horrible deaths are reserved for Bond girls who have either (sometimes both):

1) Betrayed their evil boss for Bond
2) Slept with Bond

The possible only exception I can think of is the Cigar girl from TWINE.

These deaths in general are used to enhance the evil quotient of the villains, to strike fear into the audience. Aside from that I don't think they serve much purpose, I do think the writers went to great lengths to come up with bizarre ways to kill these gorgeous women. Shot at? Too easy. Poisoned? Been there. Mauled by dogs? Yup. Blown up? Check. Painted gold? Sure did. Drowned? Done that. Drowned in crude oil? Just did. I bet they probably enjoy coming up with these tacky death scenarios

It just kills me that Craig seems to be the worst in keeping his Bond girls alive!

[dogmanstar]

Shot at? Too easy. Poisoned? Been there. Mauled by dogs? Yup. Blown up? Check. Painted gold? Sure did. Drowned? Done that. Drowned in crude oil? Just did. I bet they probably enjoy coming up with these tacky death scenarios

I can just see the writers' meetings now! Thanks for the laugh!

[BoogieBond]

Nastiest deaths - Stromberg feeding assistant to the shark, Drax setting Dogs on Corinne, Helga Brandt demise to piranha's and Field's demise.
You're right QBranchTech, these are to bolster the villain and show him as a "Bad Man"

Tragic deaths - For how it affects Bond, both Tracy and Vesper. Some more minor tragic deaths are for instance Aki in YOLT and Paula in TB. But pretty much everyone is in danger around Bond as you mentioned, e.g. Quarrel and Kerim.

[Joey Bond]

Most horrible:
1. Corinne Dufour -- Attacked and killed (and eaten?) by Drax's Doberman pinschers.
2. Strawberry Fields -- Drowned in oil.
3. Plenty O'Toole -- Forcibly drowned in a swimming pool.
4. Jill Masterson -- Skin suffocation, talk about a slow (and uncomfortable?) death.
5. Aki -- Watching her struggle for breath after being poisoned is rather unpleasant.

It's pretty cool to see how nicely the name Strawberry Fields fit in amongst other names like Plenty O'Toole

As for my opinion, because I've only actually seen 3 Bond films in theatre (DAD, CR, QOS) and those are when the story has the most impact, Vesper Lynd easily wins out. It's actually more 'haunting' than 'tragic'

[DR76]

1) Betrayed their evil boss for Bond
2) Slept with Bond

The possible only exception I can think of is the Cigar girl from TWINE.

Solange Dimitrios had never slept with Bond. He left her for Miami before anything could happen between them.

[Forward Look]

Most tragic:
1. Tracy di Vicenzo -- Her and Bond's marriage is cut short on their wedding day.
2. Vesper Lynd -- The circumstances and everything leading up to it make this one very tragic.
3. Jill Masterson -- It is a shock to see her golden body after having just seen her enjoy herself in bed with Bond.
4. Corinne Dufour -- Helps Bond and suffers the (grisly) consequences.
5. Andrea Anders -- All she was trying to do was get away from a very bad man.

Most horrible:
1. Corinne Dufour -- Attacked and killed (and eaten?) by Drax's Doberman pinschers.
2. Strawberry Fields -- Drowned in oil.
3. Plenty O'Toole -- Forcibly drowned in a swimming pool.
4. Jill Masterson -- Skin suffocation, talk about a slow (and uncomfortable?) death.
5. Aki -- Watching her struggle for breath after being poisoned is rather unpleasant.

Tragic? Isn't that the most graphic, grusome, unpleasant, and gut-wrenching death onscreen? If that's the case, the "winners" would be Tracy, Aki, Corinne, and both Masterson sisters.

[staveoffzombies]

I haven't seen Solange from Casino Royale mentioned yet. We don't know exactly what happened; but we find her tangled up in a hammock and M informs Bond she was tortured, then killed.

Given the people Bond is tangling with in the film I imagine her death was particularly unpleasant.

[Qbranchtech]

1) Betrayed their evil boss for Bond
2) Slept with Bond

The possible only exception I can think of is the Cigar girl from TWINE.

Solange Dimitrios had never slept with Bond. He left her for Miami before anything could happen between them.

I guess I meant:

1) Betrayed their evil boss for Bond
2) Seduced by and/or slept with Bond

[NotAnAcronym]

@Qbranchtech

Off topic: I'm pretty certain that it's actually "...always have an escape plan"

[Double-Oh Agent]

Most tragic:
1. Tracy di Vicenzo -- Her and Bond's marriage is cut short on their wedding day.
2. Vesper Lynd -- The circumstances and everything leading up to it make this one very tragic.
3. Jill Masterson -- It is a shock to see her golden body after having just seen her enjoy herself in bed with Bond.
4. Corinne Dufour -- Helps Bond and suffers the (grisly) consequences.
5. Andrea Anders -- All she was trying to do was get away from a very bad man.

Most horrible:
1. Corinne Dufour -- Attacked and killed (and eaten?) by Drax's Doberman pinschers.
2. Strawberry Fields -- Drowned in oil.
3. Plenty O'Toole -- Forcibly drowned in a swimming pool.
4. Jill Masterson -- Skin suffocation, talk about a slow (and uncomfortable?) death.
5. Aki -- Watching her struggle for breath after being poisoned is rather unpleasant.

Tragic? Isn't that the most graphic, grusome, unpleasant, and gut-wrenching death onscreen? If that's the case, the "winners" would be Tracy, Aki, Corinne, and both Masterson sisters.

I was thinking along the lines of tragic meaning "sad" and horrible meaning "terrible" and "painful".

I haven't seen Solange from Casino Royale mentioned yet. We don't know exactly what happened; but we find her tangled up in a hammock and M informs Bond she was tortured, then killed.

Given the people Bond is tangling with in the film I imagine her death was particularly unpleasant.

Good point.

[codywan24]

What about Countess Lisl von Schlaf in FYEO? Although it can be argued that she should have listened to Bond instead of taking off running on the beach, she still died tragically and brutally after an evening rendezvouz with 007. Just adding her to the list, but I still think Tracy and Vesper should be at the top.

[Qbranchtech]

I was thinking along the lines of tragic meaning "sad" and horrible meaning "terrible" and "painful".

Right, I see a death as tragic when the circumstances surrounding the death makes it tragic. As in the case for Vesper and Tracy. The method of dying doesn't have to particular dreadful, but the character has touched you emotionally that makes you feel sad when the Bond girl has expired.

Whereas a horrible death is largely defined by the method of death itself. Bitten to death by a shark, mauled by dogs or drowned in crude oil are just plain dreadful ways to die. You just feel sorry for how the Bond girl died.

So for me a tragic death is far deeper than a horrible death. The writers can come up with ever bizarre ways to kill a Bond girl but it takes good storytelling to make it a powerful tragic death.

Edited by Qbranchtech, 05 December 2008 - 07:03 AM.

[O'Toole Galore]

Strawberry Fields' death by oil seem more appropriate in "The World Is Not Enough" rather than "Quantum of Solace".

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

Who takes the cake as the most horrible death?

Well, it depends what you mean by most horrible. If you mean "death conveying the most horrible impression on film" (i.e. horrible for the viewer), my vote goes to Vesper's death. This drowning lift scene has a surreal, nightmarish touch.

Nightmarish is the perfect word...it's definitely the most horrific and haunting death in the series.

[Scout77]

Most tragic:
1. Tracy di Vicenzo -- Her and Bond's marriage is cut short on their wedding day.
2. Vesper Lynd -- The circumstances and everything leading up to it make this one very tragic.
3. Jill Masterson -- It is a shock to see her golden body after having just seen her enjoy herself in bed with Bond.
4. Corinne Dufour -- Helps Bond and suffers the (grisly) consequences.
5. Andrea Anders -- All she was trying to do was get away from a very bad man.

Most horrible:
1. Corinne Dufour -- Attacked and killed (and eaten?) by Drax's Doberman pinschers.
2. Strawberry Fields -- Drowned in oil.
3. Plenty O'Toole -- Forcibly drowned in a swimming pool.
4. Jill Masterson -- Skin suffocation, talk about a slow (and uncomfortable?) death.
5. Aki -- Watching her struggle for breath after being poisoned is rather unpleasant.

I beleive the Brit-term used is "Spot On". I liked the response of Bond to Strawberry's death. She died a hero. She was outmatched, but they way she choose to die made a difference, none the less.

[Forward Look]

Most tragic:
1. Tracy di Vicenzo -- Her and Bond's marriage is cut short on their wedding day.
2. Vesper Lynd -- The circumstances and everything leading up to it make this one very tragic.
3. Jill Masterson -- It is a shock to see her golden body after having just seen her enjoy herself in bed with Bond.
4. Corinne Dufour -- Helps Bond and suffers the (grisly) consequences.
5. Andrea Anders -- All she was trying to do was get away from a very bad man.

Most horrible:
1. Corinne Dufour -- Attacked and killed (and eaten?) by Drax's Doberman pinschers.
2. Strawberry Fields -- Drowned in oil.
3. Plenty O'Toole -- Forcibly drowned in a swimming pool.
4. Jill Masterson -- Skin suffocation, talk about a slow (and uncomfortable?) death.
5. Aki -- Watching her struggle for breath after being poisoned is rather unpleasant.

Tragic? Isn't that the most graphic, grusome, unpleasant, and gut-wrenching death onscreen? If that's the case, the "winners" would be Tracy, Aki, Corinne, and both Masterson sisters.

I was thinking along the lines of tragic meaning "sad" and horrible meaning "terrible" and "painful".

Shouldn't the death, then, involve graphic violence just short of an R-rating?

[Double-Oh Agent]

Most tragic:
1. Tracy di Vicenzo -- Her and Bond's marriage is cut short on their wedding day.
2. Vesper Lynd -- The circumstances and everything leading up to it make this one very tragic.
3. Jill Masterson -- It is a shock to see her golden body after having just seen her enjoy herself in bed with Bond.
4. Corinne Dufour -- Helps Bond and suffers the (grisly) consequences.
5. Andrea Anders -- All she was trying to do was get away from a very bad man.

Most horrible:
1. Corinne Dufour -- Attacked and killed (and eaten?) by Drax's Doberman pinschers.
2. Strawberry Fields -- Drowned in oil.
3. Plenty O'Toole -- Forcibly drowned in a swimming pool.
4. Jill Masterson -- Skin suffocation, talk about a slow (and uncomfortable?) death.
5. Aki -- Watching her struggle for breath after being poisoned is rather unpleasant.

Tragic? Isn't that the most graphic, grusome, unpleasant, and gut-wrenching death onscreen? If that's the case, the "winners" would be Tracy, Aki, Corinne, and both Masterson sisters.

I was thinking along the lines of tragic meaning "sad" and horrible meaning "terrible" and "painful".

Shouldn't the death, then, involve graphic violence just short of an R-rating?

Not necessarily.