Name:
Blofeld, Ernst Stavro [Scarface Blofeld] (Pleasance, Donald)
Plot:
Blofeld plans to ignite World War III by fanning the exhaust flames of the space race, at the behest of a foreign power that stands to gain from the collapse of the two dominant powers (read: the PRC).
Background:
Head of SPECTRE, alias "Number 1"
Employer:
Self-employed (Head of SPECTRE)
How Killed:
Escapes to slowly destroy his organization through terrible planning and good old fashioned insanity (see 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service,' 'Diamonds Are Forever' and 'For Your Eyes Only').
Comments:
Of all the Blofelds whose face we see on screen, Plesance provides the only solid performance. This Blofeld is a well fleshed-out opponent with access to vast resources and the cunning to align with the right people.
Donald Pleasance sets the standard that every parody would reference. Although his character is not perfect, nobody can dispute his memorability.
Blofeld is a truly competent taskmaster in this film. Diverging from his previous hands-off tactics, he directly manages what is surely his biggest endeavor to date. His piranha pool revisits his fishy interest in 'Russia,' and he, like the piranhas, is extremely aggressive. He is so daring that he blackmails the PRC, and seemingly succeeds. It is a huge gamble (talk about the white elephant he has on his hands if they back out), but Blofeld knows his game, and he is all the more sinister for it. A classy but imposing villain, we can't help but remember him and in the end even pity him slightly.
Unfortunately, Blofeld does make his errors. He asks lackeys to do things they are clearly incapable of (i.e. kill Bond), and when they fail him predictably, he is shocked. He himself blunders when he gives 007 back his cigarettes, and again when he shoots Osato first. A perfect villain will fail because Bond outsmarts him, not because of his own mistakes. Of course, one cannot discount the fact that no human can compare with the sinister perfection of the faceless version of Blofeld from 'Russia' and 'Thunderball.'
Verdict:
3.5/4.0
Plot:
Osato assists Blofeld in multiple aspects of his plan. Osato seems to be a partner in this scheme, if clearly the junior. He likely provides the manpower to build Blofeld's iconic, but impossibly big, hideout. Osato also seems to be supplying the logistical needs of Blofeld's operation, both space- and ground-based. He also orders Bond's death.
Background:
Mr. Osato is a S.P.E.C.T.R.E. agent and the head of one of Japan's largest industrial concerns.
Employer:
S.P.E.C.T.R.E / Self-Employed (in his capacity as owner of Osato Chemicals and Engineering)
How Killed:
Blofeld shoots him for his failure, which leads to Bond's survival and the total failure of Blofeld's biggest adventure to date ("This is the big one, 007").
Comments:
Osato is a key player in Blofeld's plot, but he repeatedly bumbles his orders and botches the entire mission. Osato seems to think he is experienced in matters of crime (see his x-ray desk), but his actions betray either a novice nature or incompetence.
Osato is not particularly memorable; he is not famously cruel, and he ultimately comes off as a stock 'suit' villain. His character is vaguely defined and he flubs amusingly; this is amusingly apparent when he loudly orders his subordinates to "kill him" before Bond has left earshot. Additionally, he spends far to much effort to kill Bond if he thinks he is a 'mere' industrial spy.
All in all, Osato is a forgettable villain, but he plays a key role in Blofeld's plan and in leading Bond to Blofeld.
Verdict:
2.5/4.0
Plot:
To kill Bond...now!
Background:
S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s Number 11, an executioner posing as Osato's personal secretary.
Employer:
S.P.E.C.T.R.E. and Osato.
How Killed:
Blofeld feeds her to his piranhas after she fails to eliminate Mr. Bond with a plane...instead of the more convenient knife
Comments:
As a villain and a girl, in personality and looks, Helga is nothing more than a poor man's Fiona, right down to her red hair.
Only a few things set Helga and Fiona apart. One, Helga pretends to turn good, presumably just to have sex with Bond, which makes sense. But then instead of killing him immediately post-sex, like a Black Widow, she attempts a very contrived airplane death for Bond, which, of course, fails. What a waste of time...and an airplane.
Second, she seems evil more evil and sociopathic, in the sense that she exhibits no passion, not even for sex. She does hint at a passion for torture, which would have been an interesting character trait, especially for a woman, but it unfortunately goes unexplored. Helga comes across as almost dead, which is either part of her characterization, or the result of hollow acting by Dor. We suspect the latter.
Even in her own right, Helga isn't particularly villainous or sexy. Thankfully we "shut the door" on her relatively early on. Nevertheless, if we were in Bond's shoes, we would have slept with her.
Next time you want to rip off Fiona, do it right...and don't do it right after 'Thunderball.'
Verdict:
2.0/4.0
Plot:
To protect Blofeld; he attempts to kill Bond when Blofeld makes his escape.
Background:
Blofeld's bodyguard.
Employer:
S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
How Killed:
During a fight in Blofeld's lair, Bond tosses him into the piranha pool, where he meets the same fate as Helga.
Comments:
No comment.
Verdict:
N/A /4.0
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