Blofeld, of course, had been immediately compared to Napoleon upon his introduction in 1961’s 'Thunderball' novel.įleming created many a villain in his literary cannon afflicted with Napoleon-like egoism, narcissism, and megalomania. Again, a portrait illustrates the transnational power of its owner. In 'Skyfall' the painting makes an appearance in Shanghai and in 'SPECTRE' it graces the wall of a guestroom at Blofeld’s Moroccan lair.
Amedeo Modigliani’s Woman With a Fan, which was stolen from the Paris Museum of Modern Art in 2010, makes appearances in both movies as a very subtle linking plot device. Interestingly, the stolen painting plot device was recycled for both 2012’s 'Skyfall' and 2015’s 'SPECTRE'. Bond actually does a double take as he passes the painting clearly signifying its importance to the audience.Ībove: Modigliani's Woman with a Fan has a cameo in 'Skyfall' No’s elegant dining room past Francisco Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington. Prior to Bond’s comment we witness the British agent being led into Dr. No and Napoleonic megalomania, but there is more to this ostensibly throw-away comment than the Napoleon analogy. Our asylums are full of people who think they're Napoleon.” Bond draws a clear and recognisable parallel between Dr. No explains to Bond his plans for revenge and extortion Bond responds, “World domination. Such a trope pops up in the first Bond film: 'Dr. it was the short men that caused all the trouble in the world.” Not all Bond villains are short, like the literary Goldfinger, but almost every one of them, male or female, possesses personal, physical, or emotional issues that have precipitated a disturbing sense of inferiority alongside a dangerous desire for domination. Fleming referenced this in 1959’s 'Goldfinger', noting “Napoleon had been short. It has been speculated that Napoleon’s egomaniacal desire to dominant and conquer was partly due to his own inferiority complex which stemmed from his short stature. Almost every Bond novel and film has a main malevolent protagonist who possesses a Napoleonic-like desire to bend the world to their evil will. The most obvious and frequent imagery being found within the personalities of the Bond villains. Above: Napoléon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French.įacets of the struggle between Napoleon and Wellington play out across the spectrum of the Bond canon.
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