Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Q's one rule is that he is never kidding, and the dry reproach became his signature. The scene sets the formula the series kept for decades: Bond jokes, Q is wounded, and the gadget saves Bond in the last reel. Llewelyn's deadpan makes the line useful to anyone whose work has been laughed at, and the DB5 ejector seat is still the most famous gadget in the series.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for GoldfingerShow the scene
In Q Branch, Q shows Bond the Aston Martin DB5 prepared for the Goldfinger mission. He points to a red button under a cap on the gear lever and warns Bond not to touch it, because it fires the passenger ejector seat. Bond says 'Ejector seat? You're joking!' and Q answers with the line. Director Guy Hamilton told Desmond Llewelyn to inject humour into Q, which began the prickly Q and Bond relationship, and the ejector seat idea came from Hamilton's stepson, who had seen one on television.
Sources (2)
- Goldfinger (film) - WikiquoteDialogue section, Q explains the devicesReference checked
- Goldfinger (film) - WikipediaCast and Production sectionsReference checked
Context reviewed
