I was watching You Only Live Twice last night, and I noticed something I never had before.
It’s in the scene where Bond visits Mr. Henderson. After Bond whacks him in the leg with his cane, Henderson walks over to the bar and talks about how he’s been in Japan for 23 years…and I noticed for the first time that he was stirring the vodka martini pitcher like crazy. Henderson then hands a martini to Bond and says “That was stirred, not shaken, right?” Bond agrees, then compliments him on having Russian vodka. (Followed by a great aside from Henderson that I can’t believe got past the censors of the time: "I get it from the doorman at the Russian Embassy. [sub]Along with certain other things…[/sub]).
My question is: Were we to notice that Henderson messed up Bond’s drink order and Bond let it go? Or did the actor get the line wrong? Or was the line as delivered in the book?
I’m also curious if the line “shaken, not stirred” was spoken in one of the earlier four Bond movies - I can’t recall if it was off the top of my head. If so, and if Bond fans already knew that “shaken, not stirred” was part of Bond’s character by the time this 5th movie came along, if would reinforce that Henderson got the order wrong.
As for the books, does anyone know when the line “shaken, not stirred” was first used, if at all? I notice after reading Cecil’s column that in the first book Casino Royale Bond orders a completely different drink, though the column doesn’t specify whether he says “shaken, not stirred” at any other point in the book.
I always assumed that Bond didn’t want to offend his host (especiaslly in Japan!) That would be i keeping with the atmosphere. But I don’t know why they goty it the wrong way around in the first place.
Yeah, I caught that as well. I’ve seen the Bond films so many times, that some of the details – such as how Jimmy likes his martinis – become blurred when it comes to remembering first-mentions.
But do you recall if that’s what you thought when you first saw the movie when it premiered*, or was that something you figured after you’d seen several more Bond films and saw this one again? If it were the former, then I’d say we can put this to rest - Bond was being graceful.
*Apologies if this is not the case, but from what I know about your posts I assume you saw all of them during their first run.
That’s my problem - I can’t remember when it was first spoken. It was also my problem with noticing this scene last night - I’d seen it so many times I never really paid attention before to the fact that he got the drink order wrong - I just happened to notice him stirring the pitcher this time. (You may recall I posted quite a bit to those excellent Bond threads :)).
Actually, this was the very first James Bond movie I ever saw (and I hadn’t read the books yet), so the first time I saw it I weas unaware that there had been a gaffe. It wasn’t until quite a while later (in those pre-VHS days, and when Bond hadn’t yet been televised) that I realized that something was amiss.
Uh? Just because Charles Gray’s performance is a bit foppish, are you suggesting a homosexual subtext? I’d’ve assumed Henderson meant he was getting useful information from the doorman on the comings and goings at the embassy.
[sub]yes, I said “comings”. make of it what you will[/sub]
Anyhoo, the subject of Bond’s drink preferences was the subject of my very first post at the SDMB, which I mention just for the heck of it.
Well, if you listen to how Bond responds to him, it’s with that resigned, almost sarcastic “old fool’s stuffed up my drink, but I need him so I’ll be polite” sort of tone.
At least he got what was coming to him for screwing up Bond’s drink
Hmmm. I guess I’ll have to go back through and watch the first four to see if “shaken, not stirred” is mentioned, and post my findings. It would be interesting if this was the first reference to his drink order, and it was backwards. I’ve got Dr. No and Goldfinger, but I don’t have From Russia With Love and Thunderball, so those may take a little longer.
That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. If he meant he was getting useful information, why mutter it under his breath with that droll delivery? I really believe it was an aside meant to get past the sensors.
I think so. At least, I’m not with you. It was pretty clear to me that Henderson’s reference to “other things” at the Russianm Embassy meant secrets – it was the Cold War, after all, and Henderson is a Spy. Trying to put some sort of sexual spin on it seems way out of line.
Saying “…among othe things…”" sotto voce is just funnier than saying it outright.
I thought it was a bit of petty rivalry between the two spys. James bashes the artificial leg when he could easily have just tapped it to hear it was metalic. In return Henderson specifically made the Martini the way James Bond does not like it, and says “Stired not Shaken, that is how you like it?” to make it rude for JB to refuse or otherwise comment.
