53 replies to this topic

[Rayliottaasbond]

Exactly what it says. Lines, scenes, situations, anything you misinterpreted on first viewings. Bear in mind, they don't necessarily need to be funny misunderstandings.

Okay, I'll start with For Your Eyes Only as it's the last film I watched.


- It's absolutely hilarious that I thought this looking back, but I thought that Luigi Ferrara was somehow killed by messing around in the Lotus, and died because he didn't heed Bond's warning not to "play with any of the switches".

[PrinceKamalKhan]

I initially thought George Lazenby's "this never happened to the other fellow" line was a reference to Prince Charming since Tracy left her shoes behind Cinderella-style. It wasn't until later I realized it was Sean Connery he was referring to.

[Guy Haines]

As an innocent eight year old, on my first viewing of my first Bond film, OHMSS, I probably did think that Bond's "slight stiffening" was in the shoulder, caused by the altitude, no doubt! If indeed I was paying attention at that point. Most likely I was getting impatient with all this mushy snogging stuff, and wanted them to get on with the car chases, fights and explosions.

It didn't take me too long afterwards to appreciate that there was more to Bond than Aston Martins and gadgets, though!

[AMC Hornet]

I missed the double-entendre in lines like "as long as the collars and cuffs match..." and "speak now or forever hold your piece."

As for FYEO, I always felt that Bond should have come out of the rink to find the Lotus converted - with skis in the front wheel wells and some tread system in the back - because Fererra had scrabbled at the switches while he was being strangled. That, however, would probably have been too "Moonraker" (although that didn't stop the inclusion of "I'll buy you a delicatessen - in stainless steel!").

Also, because I saw DAF first, it wasn't until Charles Gray took a knife in the back in YOLT that I accepted that he wasn't Blofeld standing in for Henderson.

[Guy Haines]

I missed the double-entendre in lines like "as long as the collars and cuffs match..." and "speak now or forever hold your piece."

As for FYEO, I always felt that Bond should have come out of the rink to find the Lotus converted - with skis in the front wheel wells and some tread system in the back - because Fererra had scrabbled at the switches while he was being strangled. That, however, would probably have been too "Moonraker" (although that didn't stop the inclusion of "I'll buy you a delicatessen - in stainless steel!").

Also, because I saw DAF first, it wasn't until Charles Gray took a knife in the back in YOLT that I accepted that he wasn't Blofeld standing in for Henderson.

The FYEO line about the delicatessen - I still can't fathom that one! Had "Blofeld" (for it was he, we assume) gone into the American Diner business?

[Turn]

A couple things come to mind:

DAF was the first Bond film I saw when it was new in the cinema. I was all of 5 years old. When Bond kills Peter Franks and switches wallets with him and Tiffany says "You just killed James Bond" I didn't like Connery because I thought James Bond was disguised as Franks.

There was a lot I didn't get about DAF at the time, with my parents and uncle snickering at lines that went way over my head. I did understand chases in moon buggies.

[Goodnight]

It was only a couple of years back I worked out why Holly Goodhead's surname was funny. :/


When I first saw DAD I was 13, and it took my schoolmate explaining to me the meaning of the line:

"I take it Mr Bond has been explaining his big bang theory".


I thought the reason it was funny was because Bond wouldn't know anything about how the earth was created.


Dumbass.....yes.....I know. :/

[terminus]

It took me until I was over 20 to cotton onto the line in TND about Bond being a cunning linguist - and the line in TWINE about 'the job in hand'.

[Mr. Blofeld]

The FYEO line about the delicatessen - I still can't fathom that one! Had "Blofeld" (for it was he, we assume) gone into the American Diner business?

Apparently, Cubby Broccoli hung around with some shady people in his youth (Pat DiCicco being one of them); the legend has it that, whenever a wiseguy wanted to pay someone off so they wouldn't rat them out to the police, they said they would (since delis were numerous in those cities) buy them a nice delicatessen... and, to top it all off, would offer to throw in a stainless steel countertop if at first they refused, which, in the end, they usually wouldn't.

Hence, the line, which Cubby insisted upon himself.

[AMC Hornet]

I know I stand alone when I insist that "if it's 69 you were expecting me" was not a deliberate double-entendre. If it is, then so is "Bollinger, 75" in AVTAK, for it refers to the same thing - Bond's preference for a 10-year-old Bollinger.

I appreciate Mr. Blofeld's insight about the Deli line (if anyone's going to know, it would be him). Now we know something new about Blofeld: apart from being half German and half Polish, he also has a (questionably) healthy dose of Italian-American goomba in his lineage.

Are there that many delis in London?

[jgoole]

In FYEO, when Bond and Melina are in the boat *relieving some tension* before the upcoming fight, there's a scene where Melina leans back out of the cabin of the boat. I thought Bond was helping her put on her wet suit.

[Guy Haines]

The FYEO line about the delicatessen - I still can't fathom that one! Had "Blofeld" (for it was he, we assume) gone into the American Diner business?

Apparently, Cubby Broccoli hung around with some shady people in his youth (Pat DiCicco being one of them); the legend has it that, whenever a wiseguy wanted to pay someone off so they wouldn't rat them out to the police, they said they would (since delis were numerous in those cities) buy them a nice delicatessen... and, to top it all off, would offer to throw in a stainless steel countertop if at first they refused, which, in the end, they usually wouldn't.

Hence, the line, which Cubby insisted upon himself.

I'm obliged, Mr. Blofeld, for that information. It must be the ultimate Bond "in-joke". Probably only the film's producer got it first time round!

[Mr_Wint]

Two things I can think of right now:
1) I never realized that Captain Nash had a similar briefcase, and that this one saved Bond's life.
2) It took me 10-12 years until I noticed the secretary's hand in TSWLM. I have always thought that Bond raised his eyebrow to the rare fish.

[David_M]

I initially thought George Lazenby's "this never happened to the other fellow" line was a reference to Prince Charming since Tracy left her shoes behind Cinderella-style. It wasn't until later I realized it was Sean Connery he was referring to.

I've always clung to this as an "alternate meaning," if only because it keeps the scene from so blatantly breaking the fourth wall and creating a moment so horribly at odds with the rest of the film. If George wasn't looking straight into the camera when he delivered the line, I could almost believe it.

When I first saw DAD I was 13, and it took my schoolmate explaining to me the meaning of the line:

"I take it Mr Bond has been explaining his big bang theory".

This may be the first time I've ever seen it intimated that a line of Wade and Purvis dialog could be anything close to subtle.

In FYEO, when Bond and Melina are in the boat *relieving some tension* before the upcoming fight, there's a scene where Melina leans back out of the cabin of the boat. I thought Bond was helping her put on her wet suit.

That sounds more like Bond and Fatima in NSNA. But either way, it's pretty funny.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

I know I stand alone when I insist that "if it's 69 you were expecting me" was not a deliberate double-entendre. If it is, then so is "Bollinger, 75" in AVTAK, for it refers to the same thing - Bond's preference for a 10-year-old Bollinger.

Exactly. I remember TV versions of Moonraker would edit that line out and I never quite understood why.

Another misinterpretation I had as a child: I thought Mary Goodnight and Sylvia Trench were the same character. I understood they weren't the same actress but since the Bond character was played by different actors I had no trouble accepting that different actresses could play the same character also. Both Sylvia(at least in From Russia With Love) and Goodnight were women 007 knew before. This was prior to my 1st viewing of Dr. No.

[Zorin Industries]

I missed the double-entendre in lines like "as long as the collars and cuffs match..." and "speak now or forever hold your piece."

As for FYEO, I always felt that Bond should have come out of the rink to find the Lotus converted - with skis in the front wheel wells and some tread system in the back - because Fererra had scrabbled at the switches while he was being strangled. That, however, would probably have been too "Moonraker" (although that didn't stop the inclusion of "I'll buy you a delicatessen - in stainless steel!").

Also, because I saw DAF first, it wasn't until Charles Gray took a knife in the back in YOLT that I accepted that he wasn't Blofeld standing in for Henderson.

The FYEO line about the delicatessen - I still can't fathom that one!

It's not just me then.

One I always had/have a problem with is SOLITAIRE and BOND at the small airport being confronted by KANANGA's goons. SOLITAIRE swings her handbag at BOND, which I always thought odd as they were friends/lovers.

I also - until my early teens - used to spell "aeroplane" as "airplane" because of the film.

[Mr. Blofeld]

The FYEO line about the delicatessen - I still can't fathom that one! Had "Blofeld" (for it was he, we assume) gone into the American Diner business?

Apparently, Cubby Broccoli hung around with some shady people in his youth (Pat DiCicco being one of them); the legend has it that, whenever a wiseguy wanted to pay someone off so they wouldn't rat them out to the police, they said they would (since delis were numerous in those cities) buy them a nice delicatessen... and, to top it all off, would offer to throw in a stainless steel countertop if at first they refused, which, in the end, they usually wouldn't.

Hence, the line, which Cubby insisted upon himself.

I'm obliged, Mr. Blofeld, for that information. It must be the ultimate Bond "in-joke". Probably only the film's producer got it first time round!

Indeed; I think it was mentioned on the FYEO DVD, either in the commentary or the feature documentary... either way, it certainly stuck in my mind.

I appreciate Mr. Blofeld's insight about the Deli line (if anyone's going to know, it would be him). Now we know something new about Blofeld: apart from being half German and half Polish, he also has a (questionably) healthy dose of Italian-American goomba in his lineage.

Are there that many delis in London?

I doubt it; Broccoli was from Long Island, wasn't he?

As an addendum, anyone else think the preliminary voice of Blofeld in this trailer sounds suspiciously like Michael G. Wilson?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXO8wWDf2EA&fmt=22

[Jim]

In AVTAK, the reference to the champagne was a straightforward reference; clearly Bond was not attempting to, or even thinking of, seducing Aubergine. There is no sexual connotation, that I'm aware of, associated with the number 75.

Bless such innocence.

You haven't lived.

[AMC Hornet]

Thank you, Jim, for my laugh of the day.

"I prefer the '62 myself. Still, it beats a baggy penis."

Edited by AMC Hornet, 10 September 2010 - 09:51 PM.

[Rayliottaasbond]

In TMWTGG, just after Scaramanga shot Hai Fat for years I was convinced that he said "He always did like that horse, Liam. Put him in it".

[AMC Hornet]

"Who would pay a million dollars to have me killed?"
"Jealous husbands after late shifts, humiliated tailors..."

And from the title songs:

From Russia with love I fly to you,
Budweiser since my goodbye to you...

Hey Driver, where're we going?
I swear, Minerva's showing...

And, most nonsensical of all:

Meeting you with a view to a kill
Face to face in secret places, feel the chill
Nightfall covers me but you know the plans I'm making
Still oversee, could it be the whole earth opening wide
A sacred why, a mystery gaping inside
The week ends why? Until we

Dance into the fire, that fatal kiss is all we need
Dance into the fire, to fatal sounds of broken dreams
Dance into the fire, that fatal kiss is all we need
Dance into the fire

The choice for you is a view to a kill
Between the shades assassination standing still
First crystal tears fall as snowflakes on your body
First time in years to drench your skin with lover's rosy stain
A chance to find a phoenix for the flame
A chance to die, but can we

Dance into the fire...
When all we see is a view to a kill.

Crazy, I know, but that's really how I thought the song went. I must have been on drugs or something. Moreover, the words to The Living Daylights didn't make any more sense to me either.

[David_M]

You mean that's not how AVTAK goes?

One thing I've found with Duran Duran: No matter how crazy you imagine the lyrics to be, the real ones invariably make even less sense.

[Colossus]

A long time ago when i was standing around the videostore with my mom choosing which Bond movies to watch i never saw From Russia With Love because i kept thinking it was going to take place in some cold industrial Russian factory and be really drab and i never saw it until 2003.

All of these replies have many imaginative/innocent ideas, there's nothing better than being a kid.

[Gogol Pushkin]

When I was a kid and watching DAF for the first time, I actually thought that Bond was referring to actual collars and cuffs when talking about whether he preferred blondes or brunettes. I remember thinking, what the hell does her clothes have to do with anything. Also I remember renting Moonraker on video as a kid thinking it was going to be about Bond going up against a bad guy who rakes the moon. Suffice to say the film was a lot more spectacular than what I originally thought.

Edited by Gogol Pushkin, 09 September 2010 - 03:14 PM.

[Goodnight]

When I was a kid and watching DAF for the first time, I actually thought that Bond was referring to actual collars and cuffs when talking about whether he preferred blondes or brunettes. I remember thinking, what the hell does her clothes have to do with anything. Also I remember renting Moonraker on video as a kid thinking it was going to be about Bond going up against a bad guy who rakes the moon. Suffice to say the film was a lot more spectacular than what I originally thought.

I (actually until very recently) never understood the 'collars and cuffs' line.

And 'a bad guy that rakes the moon' haha, bless you sweetie.

[David_M]

Raking the moon would indeed rate as the dullest job ever, given there's no trees.

I don't know that I misinterpreted all that much as a kid, but I certainly missed out on certain cultural references and "in-jokes" in the earlier entries, like "I'd say one of their aircraft is missing" and "Another time...another place." And obviously the appearance of Goya's Wellington portrait in Dr No meant nothing to me in 1974.

[Mark_Hazard]

Raking the moon would indeed rate as the dullest job ever, given there's no trees.

There are no trees in bunkers either, but that doesn't stop golfers raking them.

[AMC Hornet]

BUNKER-RAKER - coming next summer!
(And look who's dropped in for a bite: 'Caddy' is back!)

[Mr. Blofeld]

Also I remember renting Moonraker on video as a kid thinking it was going to be about Bond going up against a bad guy who rakes the moon. Suffice to say the film was a lot more spectacular than what I originally thought.

Interestingly enough, that was actually the inspiration for the Fleming novel's title:

Moonraking is perhaps best known as a synonym for daydreaming (which was one of my own favorite pastimes growing up). So imagine my surprise when I discovered that there is a Moonraker's Festival in Slaithwaite, in Yorkshire, England. Along with the festival, there is a story giving the expression "moonraking" another meaning. The story is reprinted here with the permission of Howard Walker (otherwise known as Mr. Moon), who wrote it.

The year was "1802. This was just after the canal between Huddersfield (in Yorkshire) and Upper Mill (also in Yorkshire) had become a major trade route.

A couple of entrepreneurs from Slaithwaite had established a successful smuggling business, dealing in rum and whisky. The bargees used to bring the spirits up the canal by barge, and hand them over to their customers at the end of the day in exchange for payment.

One day, the meeting was disturbed by soldiers on patrol, so our smugglers quickly slipped the barrels into the reeds at the side of the canal, and went on their way.

Later that night, they were retrieving the goods from the canal, using large garden rakes. It was a bright moonlit night, and again their work was interrupted by the soldiers. "Wats ta doin?" ("What are you doing?") asked they. Quick as a flash, came a slurred reply: "Cans tha noon seah? T'mooins fell int watter an we'ar rekking er aht!" ("Can't you see? The Moon has fallen into the water and we are raking her out!")

"Silly mooinrekkers!" ("Silly moonrakers!") said one soldier to the others, and they walked off, laughing at the apparent stupidity of the Slaithwaiters.

Our pair waited until the coast was clear, and hoisted their ill gotten gains out of the water.

A simple tale, to be often repeated on many a frosty February evening."

There is another story that gives still another meaning to "moonraking" and I cannot give proper credit as it is a folk tale from a storybook that I had as a child and I can only remember the general thread of the fable. I will share that as best I can recall:

Once upon a time a young couple were engaged to be married and a dinner party was held for family and a few of their closest friends to make the engagement known. Just before they sat down to the meal, the bride-to-be was sent to the cellar for a bottle of wine and the groom-to-be, concerned that she had been gone so long, went down to check. He found her sitting on a low bench and sobbing inconsolably. "What on earth is wrong?" he asked. She pointed out a pick-axe that had been driven into one of the timbers overhead, saying, "We will give birth to a lovely son, and he will be the light of our days; then, one day, he will come down here, and that pick-axe will fall and kill him!" And she buried her face in her hands and cried.

"That is the most foolish thing I have ever heard, and you are the greatest fool in the world!" cried her betrothed. "I cannot marry someone who is so stupid!" And he pulled the pick-axe out of the timber and leaned it against the wall.

The young man's fiance begged him to reconsider, so he offered her a compromise. He would go on a journey seeking one person more foolish than she. If he should find even one, then she would be his bride. She agreed and he set out to find a greater fool. The quest then went from one great fool to a greater one. Finally, late one night, the young seeker came upon an entire village gathered around a pond with, you guessed it, rakes. They were raking feverishly at the moon's reflection and when asked what was about, replied, "Can't you see? The moon has fallen into the water and we are trying to restore it to its proper place." The young man sighed and looked up at the moon which was, of course, in its proper place, and then went home and was married... snd so it was that moonraking saved a marriage.

[AMC Hornet]

I've also read that a moonraker is the nickname for the tallest mat on a sailing ship. That makes sense for the name of Sir Hugo Drax's missile. The reference to a moonraker being a daydreamer (or a soldier of fortune) suits the film's title song.