Max Zorin (Christopher Walken)
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Datastream
Actor: Christopher Walken
Character: Maxillium 'Max' Zorin
Movie: A View To A Kill
Date of Birth: 31 March 1943
Height: 6' (1.83m)
Distinguishing Feature: Psychopathic product of Nazi genetic experiments
Appearance: Average height and weight, blonde hair, blue eyes, Aryan
stereotype
Status: Terminated
Organisations & Alliances: Mayday, Scarpine, Dr. Carl Mortner & Zorin Industries
"For centuries
alchemists tried to make gold from base metals. Today,
we make microchips from silicon, which is common sand,
but far better than gold."
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Profile
Well spoken and extraordinarily intelligent, but with a sharp temper and a clinical
background, Zorin has risen to become a powerful businessman bent on crippling
his competition and forming a monopoly. Zorin is the result of a manic Nazi
experiment to genetically modify fetuses before birth. Conducted by Dr. Mortner
(aka Hans
Glaub), the experiment boasted genius-level IQs but with unexpected and disastrous
side effects. Manic mood swings and a blood-lust psychopathic tendency leave
this villain one of the most dangerously unpredictable Bond has
crossed paths with.
While the genetics programme was halted, Zorin
struck out in Western business, becoming a ruthless industrialist
in the high-powered technology industry. His business dealings
are shady, to say the least, and the villain will brutally close
a business deal if ever negotiations do not go his way. His wealth
is undisputable and associates with a range of businessmen from
a variety of countries to gamble on the most unlikely investments
- often with outstandingly lucrative consequences. Despite his
massive entourage, Zorin harbours a compromising secret - he
has been informing on the UK and American governments; passing
information
to the KGB in exchange for a silent helping hand in business
- a large chink in his pride if his associates found out.
Scheme
In the hopes of casting a massive monopoly on the US and
global microchip production, Zorin plans Operation Mainstrike
to afflict a "natural" disaster
by flooding the San Andreas fault, which runs under Silicon
Valley, the world's primary source of microchips.
Zorin
attempts to buy off Sutton Oil and even the executives
at San Francisco City Hall in order to conduct his manic
plan. Unfortunately, his lust for winning and dirty cheating
at horse racing leaves him open to suspicion by the Jockey
Association and in turn, MI6. |
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007 uncovers a trail of dodgy deals, rash and
ruthless buy-outs and even murders - all in aid of furthering
his manic lust for death and destruction. By flooding the faults
below Silicon Valley, the Zorin predicts an earthquake of phenomenal
proportions, wiping out 90% of the world's microchip production,
leaving Zorin Industries the number one provider of this basic
modern commodity.
I've Been Expecting You
Bond, posing
as James St. John Smythe, a wealthy playboy type, has himself
invited to Zorin's stock auction, where he will sell off some of
his winning horses. In the midst of an extravagant and snobby party,
Zorin and Bond exchange curt greetings and Bond carries off a
nosey persona in order to infiltrate the villain's chateau .
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Headquarters
Zorin's stud farm is an expansive and ornate estate
in France where he and Dr. Carl Mortner breed their elegant
race horses. Below the fancy facade are production
lines, manufacturing millions of microchips and of course,
genetic labs, where Mortner experiments with steroid implants
driven
by Zorin's microchips - the crooked winning success of Zorin's
steeds.
"Intuitive improvisation is the secret of genius."
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Gadgets & Vehicles
Beyond the chateau, Zorin travels in style, onboard attention grabbing zeppelins - the
largest of which is fitted out with a very expansive boardroom, sleeping
quarters for all and a nasty staircase that sees disagreeable business associates
slide to their death.
Dress Code
Zorin is often seen in crisp black and white suits, impeccably cut with subtly toned ties. When the occasion calls, Zorin will don top hat and cravat for formal race-days, or tan jockey's pants for a day in the saddle.
Goodbye, Mr Bond
When 007 foils his manic plan, Zorin takes to the air with
a escape zeppelin and Stacy
Sutton in unwilling tow. Bond must battle the psychotic
villain on the high-strung cap of the Golden Gate bridge
- in a thrilling showdown, 007 sees Zorin fall to his
death into the depths of San Francisco Bay. |
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Biography
Ronald 'Ronnie' Walken (named after actor Ronald Colman)
was born to Paul and Rosalie Walken in Queens, New York City in
1943. Walken was the youngest of three boys in the family who emigrated
from Germany prior to his birth. Father, Paul, ran a bakery in
Queens while his mother worked for a Stagecraft society and so,
from an
early age, the young Ronald Walken was exposed to photo shoots
and auditions. At the age of ten was enrolled in his first dance
class - along with brothers Ken and Glenn.
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The boys' mother would
regularly take them to be involved as extras in the shooting
of various local production, but Walken's strength quickly
became tap dance. Walken landed his first major role in
an off-Broadway production, "J.B.", starring
Christopher Plumber and went on to follow up his brothers'
paths and act in various television productions during
the 1950s. Ronnie and brother Glenn were soon cast alongside
a young Liza Minelli in a local musical production, "Best
Foot Forward".
Although, as a boy, acting and stardom
were very much inflicted on him by his family, he quickly
caught the bug and decided to pursue further and greater
roles after a bit part in a now-famous sketch with Martin
and Lewis on "The Comedy Hour".
At first, Walken developed his career
on the stage - notably performing with his wife-to-be Georgianne
Thon in the famous and stirring Sondheim musical "West
Side Story" or later, his award winning performance
of King Phillip in "The Lion in Winter". |
With his definitive and eloquent voice, Walken
picked up a regular spot as the narrator on board TV show, "The
Wonderful John Acton". However, it wasn't until age 22 that
he became known as Christopher. Walken was working opposite Monique
Van Vooren who insistently called him Christopher - a name he
liked, and it somehow stuck to him as his stage name. He was
first billed as Christopher Walken in 1965, when he performed
in "Baker Street".
He made his feature film debut opposite successful
James Bond star Sean Connery in 1971's "The Anderson Tapes".
From here he would go on to lead an impressive career in American
film, including notable roles such as James Reese in "Mind
Snatchers" - a sci-fi picture where Walken plays a sociopathic
Private the US army and subject of mind-bending experiments.
Walken played opposite Diane Keaton in 1977, taking an impressive
role in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" which won Walken
critical acclaim and began to stir something of a fan-base for
the New York actor.
The following year Walken
would take on a staggering role in the high-impact thriller, "The
Deer Hunter" by director Michael Cimino. Walken was
awarded for his work in the war-torn Vietnam-based picture
with a Best Supporting Actor Oscar at the 1978 Academy
Awards. Walken and Cimino were united again in 1980 when
the director made the substantially less successful "Heaven's
Gate" - a wild western that bombed at the box office.
1985 saw Christopher Walken star in "A
View To A Kill", where he remains remembered
as the first villain to have won an Oscar before his
run-in with 007 and an integral highlight of the picture. 27 years after Walkin's brush with Bond, Javier Bardem was cast as the villainous Silva for 2012's "Skyfall". Bardem won his Best Supporting Actor award at the 2008 Oscars ceremony for his work on the Cohen brothers' "No Country for Old Men" (2007).
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Beyond Bond, Walken has starred in an
up and down range of films but has always proved a clever
spark in whichever role he adopts: from Tarantino's hard-hitting "Pulp
Fiction" to Julia Roberts comedy "American Sweethearts" Walken
has extended his range of characterisation into the millennium
and at age 65 is as busy as ever.
