Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasence)
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Datastream
Actor: Donald Pleasence
Character: Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Movie: You Only Live Twice
Date of Birth: 5 October 1919
Height: 5’ 7” (1.70m)
Distinguishing Feature: White cat, deadly piranha pool
Status: Presumed Dead
Organisations & Alliances: SPECTRE, Mr. Osato, Helga
Brandt
“You only
live twice, Mr. Bond.”
Profile
Undoubtedly the greatest terrorist mind of the 20th century,
Blofeld is the founder of SPECTRE (the Special Executive
for Counter-Espionage, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion).
Since SPECTRE’s conception, Blofeld has mastered many
of its schemes and would have directed each to success if
not for Bond. As it is, Blofeld holds a grudge over the
British spy and will stop at nothing to have a hand in his
death.
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Ernst Stavro Blofeld places fear in the heart
of his employees and lets nothing hinder his obsession for world
domination or deter his bloodthirsty lust of for power. He is
not beyond working for any organization, for a cost, and like
SPECTRE, holds no alliances. To Blofeld, people are expendable
should they ever fail in their duties.
Scheme
Brought out by the Red Chinese government, SPECTRE is sabotaging
both the Russian and US space programmes in the hope of turning
one great superpower against the other. If not for Bond’s
quick wit and intervention, Blofeld would have succeeded in
starting
World War Three.
I've Been Expecting You
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ernst Stavro Blofeld."
For
much of the mission Blofeld is merely a voice, giving commands
and managing the operation. But when
007
is captured infiltrating his base, Blofeld reveals himself as
the mastermind behind the space attacks.
| Headquarters
The base for Blofeld’s operation is a hollowed out
volcano amid the islands of Japan. From here Blofeld launches
his space-rocket, as well as helicopters – armed to
rid him of the more curious mountaineers.
When Bond arranges an attack on the base, Blofeld sets
off the volcano’s self-destruct mechanism sending
the whole lair up in a plume of smoke and fire.
Gadgets & Vehicles
Dubbed “Bird 1”, Blofeld’s space rocket
is capable vertical take-off and landing. Designed to capture
rockets within the giant pincers of its nose compartment
the space-rocket succeeds in trapping both US and Russian
crafts.
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Dress Code
Blofeld opts for a tan-coloured nehru suit and his righty pinky
sports a large gole SPECTRE ring. The “signature” of
Blofeld’s
appearance is undoubtedly his ever-present, always sinister,
white cat. He is believed to extensively use disguises
and plastic surgery such as baldness and scars, thus altering
his appearance constantly.
Goodbye, Mr Bond
Bond: “If I’m going to be forced to watch
television, may I smoke?”
Blofeld: “Yes. It won’t be the nicotine that
kills you, Mr. Bond.”
With the army of ninjas closing in on Blofeld’s lair Bond
requests his final cigarette. Little does Blofeld know, 007’s
cigarette is armed with a mini-dart. Bond kills a nearby guard
and opens the creator door, initiating a monstrous battle.
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Biography
Born on October 5th 1919, in Nottinghamshire, England, Donald
Pleasence began his acting career on London’s West
End in 1939 before serving in the Second World War.
During the war years, Pleasence was a successful fighter
pilot before being shot down and imprisoned for the rest
of the war.
On returning from the war, Pleasence married his first of
what would be four wives, Miriam Raymond.
As an actor, Pleasence made numerous appearances on British
TV before landing roles in feature films such as the film
adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984” and
more famously, “You Only Live Twice”.
Post Bond, Donald Pleasence went on to star in both “The
Great Escape” and “The Great Escape II: The
Untold Story”, the popular horror series “Halloween”
and “Dracula” along side Frank Langella.
Donald Pleasence had a full career in film – appearing
in over 200 productions for TV and big-screen. His last
production was the horror flick “Fatal Flames”
before passing away in 1995.
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