The James Bond franchise is noted for its versatility in action set pieces. You have skiing, boat chases, car chases, parkour chases, fighter jets, and even space battles. But I’m a simple man. There’s nothing that I like to see more than two men pummel the shit out of each other.
The train fight in From Russia With Love is probably the greatest example. It’s not only one of the best fights in the franchise, it’s probably one of course most notable in film history. Above all else, James Bond needs to be a brawler. They got away from that in the post-Connery era. No disrespect to Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan but I’m pretty sure I’d stand a decent chance at beating their asses if it came down to it. The Broccolis thankfully reestablished Bond as a brute with Daniel Craig but there’s something about Sean Connery that I find raw. Watch any of the earlier films of the 60s. Connery portrays Bond as almost having a psychopathic need to throw down. That’s who James Bond is; he can’t feel alive unless certain death is knocking at his door.
Now I’m not saying that the elevator fight in Diamonds Are Forever is one of the best. It’s not even top 10. Actually it’s probably the worst in the franchise. But even the worst fight in a James Bond movie is better than the greatest orgasm. That’s a hill I’m willing to die on. But this is why the talent behind the camera is the best in the industry: they see an opportunity to do something cool (if not stupid) and run with it. Connery is what? 6’2 220? And the stuntman he’s fighting is at least that much. Then Guy Hamilton sees a 3×3 elevator and decides that’s where they’ll confront each other.
The “bad guy” (Peter Franks) is a total fucking idiot though. Think about it: you killed a guard, escaped prison, then went to Amsterdam. When you arrive at your destination, there’s another big ass dude (James Bond) that happens to show up. THEN you agree to get into a tiny elevator with him?! I get not wanting to look conspicuous BUT if I were Peter Franks, I would NOT let another big dude stand behind me under those conditions. But James Bond fucks up too. He probably should have chosen to choke Peter Franks out instead of winding up to punch him and breaking a glass pane. I mean goddamn, why am I not working for MI6?
Nevertheless a fight ensues, a bunch of glass breaks, a bullet is fired, and none of this gains the attention of residents EXCEPT for Tiffany Case. She stands hopelessly by while the fight spills out of the elevator and Bond defeats Franks with a fire extinguisher. Though Bond is victorious, he could have easily avoided this mess by, again, choking Franks out. No matter though. 007 does some quick thinking by exchanging Peter Franks’ wallet out with his and dragging the dead body into Tiffany Case’s apartment. When she checks the deceased for an ID, she gasps. “My god! You just killed James Bond!”
So, is James Bond famous? Kinda defeats the purpose of being a secret agent.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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