Bond girl: Saida

Bond girl: Saida

February 27, 2015 0 By 007 Travelers
Photo © EON, United Artists, Danjaq LLC

Bond girl: Saida

007 Film: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Bond connection: Saida is a belly dancer in Beirut with something of a coquettish, sensual and seductive nature and that she previously had a relationship with Bill Fairbanks (aka 002). While she was in his arms, Francisco Scaramanga shot him. Having been informed by Moneypenny that Fairbanks was with Saida when he died, and that the bullet that killed him was never found, Bond takes the lead and tracks Saida down.

Taking in the belly dancer’s performance, dressed as she is in an extremely revealing (and colourful) bedleh Bond couldn’t fail to notice that she is wearing the bullet in her belly button. Knowing the bullet to be a vital clue to Scaramangas’ whereabouts Bond resolves to steal it, and follows Saida back stage, unaware that he is being observed by a group of men whose agenda remains a mystery throughout. In keeping with most attractive female characters in the franchise Saida takes a liking to Bond at first sight so Bond has no trouble gaining her confidence.Introducing himself in his trademark “last name first name last name” style Bond compliments her on her belly dancing and general superb quality tells her that they had had a mutual friend in Fairbanks.

Saida tells Bond she did not see Fairbanks’ killer as at the time she was in his arms, eyes closed. She further informs him that the bullet went through Fairbanks’ neck, and that she had she removed it from the wall before the arrival of the police. “And now it is my lucky charm. I never dance without it.” she says swiveling her hips demonstratively. Saida then attempts to seduce Bond who, seeing this as a an undoubtedly enjoyable method of stealing the bullet, seizes the opportunity. As he kisses the girl passionately, Bond attempts to pluck the bullet from her navel mid caress. Noticing this with alarm Saida seizes his hand and places it on her posterier before he can complete the removal. Bond pats her bottom mischeviously as he realises he is going to have to be more subtle to outwit the belly dancer. Thinking quickly, Bond knocks a tube of lipstick from her table in faux clumsiness apologising he kneels down supposedly to retrieve it, placing him, as planned, level with the girls’ bare midriff which he proceeds to kiss telling the, now unsuspecting, belly dancer that she has a “magnificent abdomen”.

Utterly seduced and decidedly enjoying having her belly kissed, Saida is now unaware of the danger to her lucky charm as Bond kisses her closer and closer to her navel with the intention of sucking out the bullet. Just as he succeeds in doing so, the group of men who had been observing him earlier, and who must have got lost all this time following him the comparatively short distance to Saida’s dressing room, finally enter and, for reasons best known to themselves, strike Bond from behind causing him to swallow the bullet. After a brutal brawl Bond renders his attackers unconscious. As reinforcements turn up for his enemies, Bond makes his escape via a side door into the street. At this point Saida notices the bullet has been removed from her belly button, and screams in alarm clutching her naked midriff: “I’ve lost my charm!” she wails tearfully. “Not from where I’m standing” smirks Bond at the defeated belly dancer as he leaves her wrecked dressing room.

See more BOND GIRLS AND OTHER LADIES IN 007 FILMS here