Plot:
Hijacks two British nuclear 'devices', and demands 100? million in uncut diamonds or he will destroy a British or American city.
Background:
Largo is S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s #2. He keeps a front as a European philanthropist and a wealthy, if mysterious, man about town on the island of Nassau. Largo is one of many high level S.P.E.C.T.R.E. agents with a large degree of autonomy and significant independent operational planning.
Employer:
S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
How Killed:
Harpooned by Domino during the climactic battle. Had this been later in the series, the harpoon would have come from one of Moore's excellent puns.
Comments:
Largo is, like everything in Thunderball, a follow on to Goldfinger in many ways. Largo is more cruel than Goldfinger, but prone to similar blunders. He is conspicuous, foolishly keeps Domino around, and seems to have a creepy obsession with sharks that approaches fetishism.
In those respects, his creepiness and cruelty (see his torture of Domino) make him a more villainous opponent for Bond, as does his athleticism. He does repeatedly trap Bond in devious situations, unlike Goldfinger.
Largo is a classic example of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. in its hay day. Unfortunately, he is not a man that could have saved the organization.
Verdict:
3.5/4.0