At Delectation of Evil -- HMSS Celebrates the Bond Film VillainsHer Majesty's Secret Servant

A proper Bond villain's henchman is, in the annals of cinema history, a rather unique creature. They run the gamut from silent, hulking thugs, almost robotlike in their obedience to their principal; to tightlipped, steely-eyed professional killers; to sleazoid bottom feeders; to comic relief. A crucial part of their wardrobe seems to be the ubiquitous black turtleneck -- black leather jacket and black sunglasses optional.

They usually don't talk very much; preferring instead to simply kill people and break things. Frequently, their job is to provide the muscle their principal is too dandified to attain -- thereby providing agent 007 (and we the audience) with some of his most epic (and exciting!) physical battles. Sometimes, they scare us; sometimes, they make us laugh; sometimes, sadly, they make us cringe.

But... they always wind up being amongst the most celebrated characters of the James Bond movie series. We love 'em, we hate 'em, we love to hate 'em. Here's how your HMSS editors stack them up:


The Henchmen

Publisher Paul BaackSenior Editor Robert CottonSenior Editor Bill KoenigSpecial Guest Editor Deborah LippSenior Editor James McMahonSenior Editor Ed WernerPublisher Tom Zelinskiaverage grade with average points out of maximum 5.00
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FOR EDITOR'S COMMENTS
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4.02 points
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4.96 points
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4.91 points
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3.73 points
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4.44 points
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3.38 points
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2.96 points
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2.96 points
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3.58 points
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3.14 points
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1.20 points
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4.03 points
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3.83 points
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2.36 points
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3.81 points
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3.94 points
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3.09 points
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4.09 points
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3.93 points

3.65
3.69
3.76
4.13
3.49
3.13
3.85
3.67 points


HENCHMEN RANKED IN DESCENDING ORDER

1.   Red Grant    Grade A
                4.96 points
       Film:  FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE   4.97 points    Grade A

2.   Oddjob    Grade A
                4.91 points
       Film:  GOLDFINGER    4.57points    Grade B+

3.   Irma Bunt   Grade  B+
                4.44 points
       Film:  ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE    4.66 points    Grade A-

4.   Renard    Grade B
                4.09 points
       Film:  THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH   4.22 points    Grade B

5.   Emile Locque    Grade B
                4.03 points
       Film:  FOR YOUR EYES ONLY    3.98 points    Grade B-

6.   Professor Dent    Grade B
                4.02 points
       Film:  DR. NO   4.51 points    Grade B+

7.   Dario   Grade  B-
                3.94 points
       Film:  LICENSE TO KILL    3.71 points    Grade B-

8.   Zao    Grade  B-
                3.93 points
       Film:  DIE ANOTHER DAY    3.90 points    Grade B-

9.   Gobinda    Grade  B-
                3.83 points
       Film:  OCTOPUSSY    2.43 points    Grade D+

10.   Necros    Grade  B-
                3.81 points
       Film:  THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS    4.41 points    Grade B+

11.   Messrs. Wint & Kidd    Grade  B-
                3.76 points
       Film:  DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER    3.28 points    Grade C

12.   Vargas    Grade  B-
                3.73 points
       Film:  THUNDERBALL    4.67 points    Grade A-

13.   Jaws (TSWLM)   Grade  C+
                3.58 points
       Film:  THE SPY WHO LOVED ME    3.33 points    Grade C+

14.   Tee Hee   Grade  C+
                3.38 points
       Film:  LIVE AND LET DIE    2.09 points    Grade D+

15.   Chang    Grade C
                3.14 points
       Film:  MOONRAKER    0.90 points    Grade D

16.   Stamper    Grade C
                3.09 points
       Film:  TOMORROW NEVER DIES    3.09 points    Grade C

17.   Nick-Nack    Grade  C-
                2.96 points
       Film:  THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN    1.00 point    Grade D

18.   May Day    Grade  D+
                2.36 points
       Film:  A VIEW TO A KILL    0.67 points    Grade D

19.   Jaws (MR)    Grade  D-
                1.20 points
       Film:  MOONRAKER   0.90 points    Grade D

 AVERAGE SCORE BY DECADE
Decade      Avg. Score      Grade
1960s             4.41                  B+
1970s             3.00                  C
1980s             3.90                  B-
1990s             3.59                  C+
2000s             3.93                  B-


HENCHMAN / MOVIE RATIO
BEST HENCHMAN IN BEST MOVIE
   Red Grant  (A) in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE  (A)
WORST HENCHMAN IN WORST MOVIE
   May Day  (D+) in A VIEW TO A KILL  (D)
BEST HENCHMAN IN WORST MOVIE
   Gobinda  (B-) in OCTOPUSSY  (D+)
WORST HENCHMAN IN BEST MOVIE
Vargas (B-) in THUNDERBALL (A-)
BEST HENCHMEN TO WORST VILLAIN
   Necros  3.81 (B-) to Koskov & Whitaker  2.85 composite ( D+)


BIGGEST CHANGES
LARGEST AVG. DROP IN CONSECUTIVE FILMS
   2.38    TSWLM to MR
LARGEST AVG. GAIN IN CONSECUTIVE FILMS
   2.83    MR to FYEO


EDITORIAL DIFFERENCES
MOST CRITICAL
    Ed Werner  (3.13 avg.)  Grade C
MOST FAVORABLE
    Deborah Lipp  (4.13 avg.)  Grade B
CLOSEST TO 3.67 AVERAGE
    Paul Baack   (3.65 avg.)
FURTHEST FROM 3.67 AVERAGE
    Deborah Lipp  (4.13 avg.)
WIDEST VARIANCE
    3.23  (Jaws in TSWLM)  Koenig & Lipp / McMahon & Werner
2nd WIDEST VARIANCE
    2.72   (Messrs. Wint & Kidd)   Lipp / Werner







Next up...The FEMMES FATALE
previously...The PRINCIPAL VILLAINS
or, return to...A DELECTATION OF EVIL
SPECIAL VILLAINS FEATURE
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