Corinne Dufour was the personal pilot to wealthy industrialist Hugo Drax, in the employ of his Drax Corporation. Portrayed by French actress Corinne Cléry, the character appeared in the 1979 James Bond film, Moonraker. During the film's production, the character was adapted from blonde American pilot "Trudi Parker", who continues to appear in Christopher Wood's accompanying novelization.[1][2]
Biography[]
As James Bond begins his investigation into the theft of a Moonraker space shuttle by meeting with its creator, Hugo Drax, he is collected from Los Angeles International airport by the industrialist's personal helicopter pilot, Corinne Dufour. She provides him with an aerial tour of Drax's property and flies him to his opulent Californian estate. After the meeting concludes, she escorts the spy to meet with Dr. Holly Goodhead. While staying at Drax's châteaux, Bond visits the seemingly innocent Dufour in her bedroom to elicit information. She hesitantly tells Bond what little she knows and they sleep together. During the night, Bond sneaks across the hall to investigate Drax's study. Dufour wakes and follows him there, telling him to get out of the office. She inadvertently reveals where the safe is located and stands by as Bond photographs the documents it contained.
Unfortunately for Dufour, she is unknowingly witnessed by Drax's henchman as she leaves the study. After Bond departs for Venice the following morning, Dufour is summoned by Drax while he is out hunting. He informs Dufour that her employment has been terminated due to her involvement in Bond's safe breaking the previous night. As Dufour walks away, Drax sets his trained hunting dogs onto her. She flees into the woods, where she is subsequently mauled to death. Bond apparently remains unaware of her demise.
Behind the Scenes[]
Screenwriter Christopher Wood had originally written the part as a "sassy"[2] and "slightly ditzy, southern Californian valley girl" named Trudi Parker, but the character was subsequently played by a French actress due to film production moving to Paris for budgetary reasons.[1] Wood later remarked that he would have liked to have been able to "tweak the dialogue" to better reflect the changes.[1][2] Wood remarked that her response to Bond's question of why she is ignoring her mother's list of things not to do on a first date - "I never learnt to read" - is his most hated line in any Bond movie, and suggested that it "makes her sound like an imbecile".[3] During production, the line was changed from his original choice of "What mother?"[3]. Such cinematic changes are not present in Wood's accompanying novelization. Interestingly, prior to settling on the name "Corinne" - presumably after the actress who would play her - a screenplay dated 19th May 1978 lists the character's name as Sylvie Dufour. Subsequently, in Wood's novelization of the film James Bond and Moonraker, Corinne's character is named Trudi Parker.[4]
Trivia[]
- Corinne is the ninth woman that Bond does not succeed in protecting from death.
- By Corinne's own admission, she is illiterate.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Production Commentary. Moonraker: Blu-ray Edition: MGM Home Entertainment. Event occurs at 00:12:09.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Conversation With Christopher Wood. Dr. Shatterhand's Botanical Garden (Archived: January 24, 2005).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Production Commentary. Moonraker: Blu-ray Edition: MGM Home Entertainment. Event occurs at 00:24:48.
- ↑ Clément Feutry (25 July 2015). Moonraker : regard sur d’anciens scripts. Commander James Bond - CJB.