10 replies to this topic

[dinovelvet]

We all know that Licence to Kill borrowed unused plot elements from Fleming's LALD novel, like Felix being maimed by a shark and the shootout amongst the fish tanks, etc, but was TMWTGG also used in shaping this film? Consider these plot points :

Bond approaches Sanchez as a mercenary for hire of sorts, and Sanchez, the series' first villain of Hispanic heritage, like Scaramanga, brings him into his organization, in similar fashion to Scaramanga in the novel.

Sanchez has meetings with Asian businessmen/gangsters/investors over expanding his drugs empire; in the novel, Scaramanga and a group of hoods are looking to control the sugar empire (hey, they're both white powders!). It is also mentioned briefly that Scaramanga and his cronies are in the drugs and casino business.

Sanchez shows a certain "affection" or closeness to Bond, and though it doesn't quite have the homoerotic undertones of TMWTGG, it's definitely the chummiest Bond/villain relationship in the series. Sanchez is physically affectionate and touchy with Dario, though this can probably be interpreted as them just being "latino" - like Scaramanga! (Though has anyone wondered who exactly undressed Bond and put him in pajamas in Sanchez's home after he was rescued by Heller and his men? Did old Franz insist on doing that job himself?)

In TWMTGG, a KGB agent in Scaramanga's group identifies Bond. In LTK, an undercover Hong Kong narcotic officer in Sanchez's group identifies Bond.

Bond gets exposed as a traitor while on a tour of Sanchez's drug labs with the investors, and in TMWTGG he is unmasked while on a train with Scaramanga showing the gangsters around.

Finally, the names FRANZ SANCHEZ and FRANCISCO SCARAMANGA. Not a million miles apart?

So these are all some superficial observations, some or all can probably be shrugged off as coincidence, but do you think there's an idea or two here to suggest that Wilson or Maibaum flipped through the novel while penning LTK?

[jaguar007]

many good observations that I have never noticed or thought about.

[Major Tallon]

It wouldn't surprise me, as LTK borrows pretty openly from a couple of Fleming stories. In addition to the LALD elements you mentioned, we also have Milton Krest, the Wavekrest, and the stingray whip from "The Hildebrand Rarity." Robert Davi's swagger and physicality impress me as closer to Fleming's conceptualization of Scaramanga than Christopher Lee's portrayal did.

[AMC Hornet]

I concur, MT. I've always felt that the character of Sanchez owed a lot to ol' Paco, the way Fleming wrote him. Although he is not quite as crude and unsophisticated as 'Pistols,' he's certaily not as suave as Christopher Lee's interpretation (Lee's Mr. S remains the only Bond villain I would want to be - if I were a homocidal mainiac).

Davi himself claimed that Fleming never wrote a character like Sanchez, but I beg to differ. His treatment of suspected enemies and fondness for his micro-Uzi are certainly reminiscent of the chairman of the Group. Perhaps Davi never read TMWTGG? He went on to say that "If Shakespeare were alive today, Sanchez is the kind of character he would be writing about." Davi must have read Othello. I certainly recognized that Bond was playing an heroic Iago, using Sanchez' paranoia and value of loyalty against him.

Sanchez will never be a favorite villain of mine, however - he's too realistic (let's face it, in the real world his kind are a dime a dozen). I much prefer Mr. Lee's take, and the kind of arrogance that proved to be his fatal Achille's heel.

[dlb007]

Excellent observations. I had never put these together, but now that you mention it, surely they must have used TMWTGG as inspiration.

[Virgosy]

I'll add one thing :

- in "The man with the golden gun", Scaramanga has a kind of "advantage" on Bond. MI6 has any picture of him.
- in "Licence to kill", Bond must infiltrate himself in Sanchez's operation, and he must join him to kill him. We could say that Sanchez is probably stronger than Bond.

[marktmurphy]

Very good thoughts: I'm amazed I never noticed it now you mention it.

[Simon]

I do wholesomely concur.

There are some very good points made here by dino and AMC. Very interesting.

[TheREAL008]

Great observations. I'll have to reread and rewatch to see if I can also agree.

[perdogg]

We all know that Licence to Kill borrowed unused plot elements from Fleming's LALD novel, like Felix being maimed by a shark and the shootout amongst the fish tanks, etc, but was TMWTGG also used in shaping this film? Consider these plot points :

Bond approaches Sanchez as a mercenary for hire of sorts, and Sanchez, the series' first villain of Hispanic heritage, like Scaramanga, brings him into his organization, in similar fashion to Scaramanga in the novel.

Sanchez has meetings with Asian businessmen/gangsters/investors over expanding his drugs empire; in the novel, Scaramanga and a group of hoods are looking to control the sugar empire (hey, they're both white powders!). It is also mentioned briefly that Scaramanga and his cronies are in the drugs and casino business.

Sanchez shows a certain "affection" or closeness to Bond, and though it doesn't quite have the homoerotic undertones of TMWTGG, it's definitely the chummiest Bond/villain relationship in the series. Sanchez is physically affectionate and touchy with Dario, though this can probably be interpreted as them just being "latino" - like Scaramanga! (Though has anyone wondered who exactly undressed Bond and put him in pajamas in Sanchez's home after he was rescued by Heller and his men? Did old Franz insist on doing that job himself?)

In TWMTGG, a KGB agent in Scaramanga's group identifies Bond. In LTK, an undercover Hong Kong narcotic officer in Sanchez's group identifies Bond.

Bond gets exposed as a traitor while on a tour of Sanchez's drug labs with the investors, and in TMWTGG he is unmasked while on a train with Scaramanga showing the gangsters around.

Finally, the names FRANZ SANCHEZ and FRANCISCO SCARAMANGA. Not a million miles apart?

So these are all some superficial observations, some or all can probably be shrugged off as coincidence, but do you think there's an idea or two here to suggest that Wilson or Maibaum flipped through the novel while penning LTK?

I agree with post 100%. Also the physical description of Robert Davi matches the general appearance in the novel of Scaramanga.

[Guy Haines]

Very good observations which I dare say might not have occured to us. On reflection there are similarities between Scaramanga the book version and Sanchez - the slightest hint of homo-eroticism on the part of Sanchez in his dealings with Bond and his affection for Dario, though only a hint (like Rosa Klebb briefly stroking Tatiana in FRWL the film). And there are some parallels with the novel TMWTGG, even though LTK borrows from other sources as well.

But did the screenwriters appreciate this at the time, or were they simply focused on creating a Bond-v-Colombians story? I wonder?