Monday, November 02, 2015

007 Week: Bond Tropes: The Sacrificial Lamb


sacrificial lamb might be defined as a "metaphorical reference to a person or animal killed for the common good." 

The term is carried over from Abrahamic religion, wherein a lamb is a valuable or prized possession.

Many Bond films feature just such a sacrificial lamb, a character -- on the side of good and right -- who is killed by the villain, and therefore gives 007, James Bond, some skin in the game; a personal reason to take out his nemesis. 

Sometimes the sacrificial lamb is a hapless male ally or friend, whom we don't expect to suffer because of his or her relative innocence or naivete (Luigi in For Your Eyes Only [1981], or Tibbett in A View to a Kill [1985]).  

Often, the sacrificial lamb is a woman whom Bond has bedded, or has strong feelings for.  Her death propels him into action.

Here are a few of the Bond canon's sacrificial lambs.  Notice that there is often at least one per film, and in some cases -- like Goldfinger (1964)  and A View to a Kill (1985) -- two per film!

Also, I have endeavored to be complete, and no offense intended to any actor/character left out of the gallery!


Dr. No (1962): Quarrel (John Kitzmiller)

From Russia with Love: Ali Kerim Bay (Pedro Armendariz)


Goldfinger (1964): Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton)

Goldfinger (1964): Tilly Masterson (Tania Mallet)

Thunderball (1965): Paula Caplan (Martine Beswick)

You Only Live Twice (1967): Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi)

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): Campbell (Bernard Horsall)

On Her Majesty's Secret Service: Tracy Bond (Diana Rigg)

Diamonds are Forever (1971): Plenty O'Toole (Lana Wood).

Live and Let Die (1973): Rosie (Gloria Hendry)

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974): Andrea Anders (Maud Adams).

Moonraker (1979): Corinne (Corinne Clery)

For Your Eyes Only (1981): Luigi Ferrara (John Moreno)

Octopussy (1983): Vijay (Vijay Amritaj).

A View to a Kill (1985): Sir Godfrey Tibbett (Patrick Macnee).

A View to a Kill (1985): Chuck Lee (David Yip).

The Living Daylights (1987): Saunders (Thomas Wheatley)

Licence to Kill (1989): Della (Priscilla Barnes)

Licence to Kill (1989): Felix Leiter (David Hedison).

Licence to Kill (1989): Sharkey (Frank McRae)

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997): Paris Carver (Teri Hatcher)

Casino Royale (2006): Solange Dimitrios (Caterina Murino)

Casino Royale (2006): Vesper Lynd (Eva Green).

 Quantum of Solace (2008): Strawberry Fields (Gemma Arterton)

Quantum of Solace (2008): Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) 

Skyfall (2012): M (Judi Dench)




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