MovieChat Forums > The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) Discussion > How was the gangster a test for Scaraman...

How was the gangster a test for Scaramanga?

posted 10 years ago by loveagoodstory
4 replies | jump to latest

In what way was the gangster in the pre-title sequence a test for Scaramanga? He looked absolutely bloody useless. He also dressed like a send-up sketch.

Scaramanga did look concerned when he first saw him. But that's 'cos he got caught wearing his outrageously Seventies Marks'n'Sparks track suit. He knew then he had to kill him before word got out about his M'n'S gold card.

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Free your mind and the rest will follow

[–] franzkabuki 10 years ago

What test? He challenged Scaramanga in hopes of financial gain. As for useless, I guess creepy old Marc Lawrence was a bit past his prime there... lately saw him in some 1930's movie and recognized the sinister bloke immediately. Unmistakeable.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] loveagoodstory 10 years ago

Scaramanga likes being tested to keep himself sharp. Either that or he keeps a sprawling 'fun house' for trial gunfights for the fun of it and lets Nick Nack bring in a succession of would-be assassins to kill him ("Bravo, Ms Scaramanga, you've done it again" - "Not bad, not bad at all. But you'll have to do better than that if you want to come into my money." - or suchlike) because he loves the little fellow.

The gangster didn't challenge Scaramanga - he was paid as a contract killer by Nick Nack and was a surprise to Scaramange. But he's a terrible contract killer and looks the part. I didn't have any wistful recognition of him from his old acting days. I just thought he was awful in this and pretty weak in DaF.

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Free your mind and the rest will follow

[–] OptimumTaurus 9 years ago

Scaramanga likes the challenge of letting Nick Nack hire hitmen to kill him. Nick Nack can have all Scaramanga's fortune upon Scaramanga's death. So, Nick Nack hires the best hitmen to come and try to kill Scaramanga.

Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment. -Michael Corleone

[–] loveagoodstory 9 years ago

Yes, I know. That's what I wrote on (Sun Feb 8 2015 03:29:52) above. You haven't tackled my question, though.

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Free your mind and the rest will follow