Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasance)
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Ernst Stavro Blofeld played by Donald Pleasance
Born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, on 5th October 1919
Died 2nd February 1995
Starred In You Only Live Twice (1967)
Profile
You Only Live Twice sees the first time the face of Ernst Stavro Blofeld is actually seen, after appearing in From Russia With Love and Thunderball behind screens. Featuring quite late in the film, Blofeld famously gives his introduction questioning Bond on his supposed death, taking pleasure to tell him "You only live twice Mr Bond".
Blofeld calmly instructs Bond to watch the army of Tiger Tanaka be slowly killed on television. After Tiger and his men eventually gain access to the volcano, they manage to gain the upper hand. Blofeld then invites Mr Osato and Bond to follow him to an escape route, where he proceeds to shoot Osato, but his plan to kill Bond fails when Tiger throws a Chinese shooting star.
Just when everything appears under control, Blofeld appears once more and hits a self-destruct switch causing the mountain to explode. Bond, Tiger and Kissy Suzuki manage to escape, but Blofeld survives to live another day...
About
Ernst Stavro Blofeld is an intimidating character. With a baldhead, large scar running down the side of this face and played subtly but with menace, Donald Pleasance is a truly classic James Bond villain.
Fiendishly stroking his white cat throughout most of his sequences, especially when ordering someone death or delivering orders, Blofeld and Bond's scenes are well scripted and generate suspense. Always remaining calm, devoid of emotion, Blofeld thinks nothing of attempting to eliminate Tiger Tanakas army, or when Bond destroys his volcano lair, but enjoys seeing Helga Brandt get eaten by his pet piranha fish. Well prepared, Blofeld destroys the remains of the volcano lair, and mysteriously escapes. §
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