Shaken, not stirred

Reading Diamonds Are Forever last night and struck upon what I suspect is the origin of the famous formulation, "shaken, not stirred." Bond is dining with Tiffany Case in New York's 21 Club and orders martinis for them both, stipulating that they be shaken, not stirred.

When Fleming wrote those words, he could not possibly have imagined how they would become such a prominent trope in Western or perhaps even global culture. It's really quite dumbfounding how something so prosaic as basic instructions for mixing a drink gain such cultural purchase.

Anyway, something worth pondering. Or maybe not.

Sometime between CR and DAF Fleming clearly decided that the 'not stirred' stipulation needed to be added, as in the former Bond does request that the Vesper be 'shaken very well, until it's ice-cold'.

Perhaps one of the under-appreciated character traits of (literary) Bond is that he's very finicky with what he puts in his mouth (settle down).

One of those big quirks is, of course, that martinis are conventionally stirred with gin, not shaken with vodka (granted the 'Vesper' variant contains both spirits).

I believe he also does other "weird" things like wear loafers and short sleeved shirts with lounge suits. These days that'd make him the best dressed he/him in the room, but in the 50's that would be somewhat on the eccentric side.

CJB wrote:

Perhaps one of the under-appreciated character traits of (literary) Bond is that he's very finicky with what he puts in his mouth (settle down).

One of those big quirks is, of course, that martinis are conventionally stirred with gin, not shaken with vodka (granted the 'Vesper' variant contains both spirits).

I believe he also does other "weird" things like wear loafers and short sleeved shirts with lounge suits. These days that'd make him the best dressed he/him in the room, but in the 50's that would be somewhat on the eccentric side.

The short-sleeved shirts under the suits was a Fleming affectation as I recall, but I have a feeling Terence Young would have sooner made DR NO with Jack Palance or Wally Cox as Bond than embrace that particular sartorial choice (one that my grandfather also made, but I have to cut him some slack as he spent countless hours -- while in his late 60s -- outside in the summer heat hitting me fly balls and helping transform me from hapless to a pretty fair baseball player.)

Edit add-on: now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure I remember seeing footage of Young in short sleeves at Pinewood directing TB, so maybe I'm overstating the faux-pas aspect.

CJB wrote:

Perhaps one of the under-appreciated character traits of (literary) Bond is that he's very finicky with what he puts in his mouth (settle down).

One of those big quirks is, of course, that martinis are conventionally stirred with gin, not shaken with vodka (granted the 'Vesper' variant contains both spirits).

I believe he also does other "weird" things like wear loafers and short sleeved shirts with lounge suits. These days that'd make him the best dressed he/him in the room, but in the 50's that would be somewhat on the eccentric side.

Finicky, indeed.

He also has an exacting eye for female fashion and grooming, taking a rather inordinate interest in things such as soap, perfume, jewelry and nail varnish. (Auric Goldfinger was not among his favorite shades.)

Can't remember who pointed this out (probably Amis) but one of Fleming's great moves was to give Bond these qualities (or eccentricities as they may be) that were just the right amount out of reach of the Everyman without being totally unrelatable, by sort of cutting them off at the knees. So he buys the best quality soaps...but he takes cold showers. He occasionally indulges in gourmet fare on the government's dime...but his favorite meal is undoubtedly and consistently scrambled eggs. Neither playing football nor polo rather gambling and skiing. Maybe the short sleeve shirts under the suits is another example.