Emilio Largo

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Emilio Largo
Adolfo Celi as Largo
Created byIan Fleming
Portrayed by
Voiced byRobert Rietti (Thunderball)
In-universe information
GenderMale
AffiliationSPECTRE
ClassificationVillain
Henchmen
  • Fiona Volpe
  • Vargas
  • Janni
  • Count Lippe
  • Ladislav Kutze
  • Angelo Palazzi
  • Quist

Emilio Largo is a fictional character and the main antagonist from the 1961 James Bond novel Thunderball.[1] He appears in the 1965 film adaptation, again as the main antagonist, with Italian actor Adolfo Celi filling the role. Largo is also the main antagonist in the 1983 unofficial James Bond movie Never Say Never Again, a remake of Thunderball. In Never Say Never Again, the character's name, however, was changed to Maximillian Largo and he was portrayed by the Austrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer.

Biography

Fleming describes Largo as a ruthless Neapolitan

terrorist organization SPECTRE. In the film, Largo is "No. 2" and head of extortion operations. In the novel, Largo is "No. 1"; however the numbers are rotated every month as a security precaution, although Largo is the successor to Ernst Stavro Blofeld
and the Supreme Commander of "Plan Omega".

Largo's two main headquarters are located in the

£200,000.[4] The craft plays a pivotal role in the seizure and transportation of the two nuclear weapons
.

To Largo, failure is punishable by death. When Quist, one of Largo's henchmen, fails to kill Bond, Largo has him thrown into his pool of sharks. Largo also has little consideration even for those closest to him, going so far as to torture his own mistress, Domino, when he finds out she is betraying him.

One of Largo's henchmen, Ladislav Kutze, helps Domino get free, allowing Domino to do what she wanted Bond to do: kill Largo. When Largo gets the upper hand over Bond, Domino shoots him in the back with a

spear gun. Largo dies and collapses onto the controls of the Disco Volante, jamming them. Bond, Domino, and Kutze all evacuate the Disco Volante seconds before the ship collides with rocks and explodes.[5]

Scheme

Largo's scheme in Thunderball involves the theft of two nuclear weapons from

Austin Powers
series of movies.

The basic concept of Largo's scheme in Thunderball is held over in Never Say Never Again. As in Thunderball, the scheme involves obtaining two nuclear warheads, this time stealing them directly from a United States Air Force base in the UK and holding the world hostage.

Appearance and personality

In the novel, he is depicted as a large, muscular, olive-skinned, powerful man exuding animal charm, with the profile of a Roman emperor, hooked nose, long sideburns and hairy hands which are likened to crawling tarantulas. Indeed, Emilio Largo's surname means "play slowly and broadly".

Count Lippe, Umberto Eco describes Largo as handsome and personable, but also vulgar and cruel.[9] Christoph Lindner describes Largo as a "vicarious figure".[10]

Celi's voice was dubbed by

Robert Rietty (who previously dubbed the voice of John Strangways in Dr. No and later a man resembling Ernst Stavro Blofeld, in For Your Eyes Only).[11]

Legacy

With his status as SPECTRE's second in command, Largo and his appearance inspired

Austin Powers
films.

See also

References

Preceded by James Bond Villain
Thunderball
Succeeded by