Most affecting death scene: Tracy or Vesper?

After efforts to get this polled elsewhere to no avail, thought I'd chuck this one out on here....

The murder of Tracy or Vesper's suicide? (film versions) - which was the most affecting/effective....?





If someone can find the OHMSS ending without the altered gunshot, I'd be happy. :evil:

While both deaths are very moving, I'd say Tracy's is more affecting as it happens unexpectedly, unscored, and on a woman who is rich in humanity, innocence and compassion, troubled with uncertainty and who was previously puzzled as to whether she should take her own life. Vesper's on the other hand, while still deeply depressing, it's moreso haunting than moving, as she takes her own life - even if with good intent [on preserving Bond's life]. So my answer is clearly the death of my second favourite Bond girl, Mrs James Bond.

If we are judging solely by the cinematic incarnation, then Tracy EASILY. EON decided to turn Vesper's death scene into yet another action setpiece in an already overloaded movie.

Tracy's death scene. Even with the mood killing Bond theme running over the end credits.

I'd argue that Tracy's death in the films is comparable in impact to Vesper's death in the novels. Something that hangs over Bond and gives him a slightly sad edge. He may quip and pun his way through movies like a comical buzz saw and sleep with more supermodels than a photographer, but he lost his wife to his arch enemy. That's something nobody really gets over.

Tubes wrote:

, but he lost his wife to his arch enemy. That's something nobody really gets over.

I love that you phrased that as if a good number of people lose their wives to their arch enemies -- like losing a parent to cancer or something.

Tracy's death is far more effective and troubling than Vesper's death in Casino Royale.
Tracy was Bonds wife, murdered on their wedding day to Bonds nemesis.
Vesper was someone Bond loved, for all of thirty minutes of screen time, who betrayed Bond. Only for (miscast) Craig to get all sookie and upset trying to revive her.
They're hardly worth comparing.

Tracey, without a doubt. I've always found Vesper an annoying character, whether book or film. I'm just about ready to cheer when she dies. Whereas I can never watch the end of OHMSS without blubbing.

Ravenstone wrote:

Tracey, without a doubt. I've always found Vesper an annoying character, whether book or film. I'm just about ready to cheer when she dies. Whereas I can never watch the end of OHMSS without blubbing.

Yep, it really pulls at the heart strings when tough as nails Lazenby gets choked up and cries. And what man wouldn't having his wife murdered on their wedding day?
Anyone who says Lazenby can't act should watch this scene. It's not only a well acted scene, but also one of the best scenes in the entire Bond catalogue. An incredible ending, to an incredible film. Young and Hunt should've shared the directing duties on the early films...and beyond.
Leaving the hack Hamilton well away from the series. But that's another subject.

It's really not much of a contest at all.... (Although someone voted for Vesper's death and hasn't fessed up!)

Tracy's death is the single saddest moment in the series. Vesper dying....I would have liked to see it potrayed more like the book, but I'm still not sure if that would make me feel differently. Tracy meant more to Bond than Vesper did.

I remember a lot of people voted for Vesper on MI6, but then that was during the CR aftermath days when everyone and their mum declared it the greatest Bond film ever yadda yadda.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

I remember a lot of people voted for Vesper on MI6, but then that was during the CR aftermath days when everyone and their mum declared it the greatest Bond film ever yadda yadda.

Not quite everyone ...

If I am totally honest, I don't consider either scene especially memorable. But Tracy's was more emotionally affecting than Vesper's.

Sign me up to what Salome's having.

Lazenby. was shit actor, considering it took a day for Hunt to get that performance out of him, I'd hate to see what he was like at the start of the day. Maybe it's because I'm Australian and all too familiar with the town he's from, but I don't think there's a line he says where you can't hear the accent clearly. And yes, that isn't everything, but I mean, it kind of shatters the illusion almost right away. I'm also not too big a fan of how Tracy was written in the film. It's either the writing or Rigg but I never believe she's truly mentally ill at the beginning. The way it goes in the novel is far more affecting.

In terms of the rest of the execution though, I'd vote for the Tracy one. It's quick and shocking (if not unsurprising). It leaves the right taste in your mouth as you leave the theatre.

Vesper's death scene is more graphic but the overdone music along with the fact that it's at the end of an overlong action scene in an overlong movie where you're waiting for it to happen just does it no favours.

Both deaths I think are done quite good. I can sympathize more with Craig's Bond than Lazenby's Bond. I can only imagine what my feelings/adrenaline would have been like at a time those both girls were killed. Thats why I side more on the Vesper death, because the way Bond acts is similar to how I imagine myself acting (getting angry, and then getting saddened). In OHMSS, Bond kinda just sits there caressing Tracy, and takes in the action with out getting really emotional imo.

Vesper wrote:

Maybe it's because I'm Australian and all too familiar with the town he's from

I hear Queanbeyan's trailer parks glisten like diamonds in the sun.

Anyway, Movie-Vesper's death was hilariously overblown. They just had to give it a Hollywood ending rather than packing a proper emotional punch. Still we hear CR '06 is gritty and Fleming-esque. Bah!

Whenever I hear the word Fleming-esque, I reach for my ban button.

ambler wrote:

I reach for my ban button.

It's very shiny. You must polish that a lot

Ravenstone wrote:

ambler wrote:

I reach for my ban button.

It's very shiny. You must polish that a lot

Please, help yourself. Just don't wake me.

Quote :

I hear Queanbeyan's trailer parks glisten like diamonds in the sun.

And the songs of children's and mothers voices from the asphalt playgrounds can be heard all the way from Parliament, as they sing out in glorious tones "Fuck you Jimmy" and "Get off 'er Aeydania he's ya cuzin!"

Do we have to even argue about this?! :scratch:

Although I like the character of Tracy Bond far more, Vesper's death scene was more effective and haunting for me. Craig's acting and the sight of Miss Green drowning really sold it for me.

Tracy's death is the most affecting. I liked the Bond theme used in the credits as it tells us we've had a moment to be sad but James Bond will return.

I've always hated the use of the Bond theme there. Utterly insensitive and mood killing. I usually mute the sound at that point.

^Lazzer's biggest gripe with that scene too (and if I recall rightly, he's not too fond of a version of it with re-dubbed gunshots that's on one of the DVD releases either).