le cheriif's eye

[Nietzsche]

Weren't there allready enough bond baddies with very similar eye contions? well there was at least blofeld in yolt and then the diamond guy in DAD, and with dr evil as well, wit wasn't origional

 

[*ANTHONY*]

but lechifre was the first bond villain, so no, smart one.

 

[StrainedEyes]

but lechifre was the first bond villain, so no, smart one.

He didn't have the eye problem in the book. So you're the smart one. And it doesn't matter.

 

[Everyman]

The eye is simply one of many strange physical distinctions badguys in Bond movies (and books) have. They physical difformity is an illustration of their moral depravity. Like many of Fleming's characters, Le Chiffre in the novel was very fat, ugly and redhead (a sign of malevoleance in folklore). Instead of being a complete monster, they simplified it by having Mikkelsen's Chiffre stuck with a bleeding eye.

How did he get it, by the way? Any idea?

 

[Swordmaster]

Haemolacria is a physical condition whereby a person produces tears which are partially composed of blood. This can manifest as anything from red-tinged tears to those which appear to be entirely blood.

Haemolacria is a symptom of a number of diseases, and may also be indicative of a tumor in the lacrimal apparatus.

 

[Everyman]

But Le Chiffre also had a dry eye and seemed to have a scar around it... Can they all be symptomatic of haemolacria?

 

[Bad Apple]

the bloody eye looks cool, no matter how many times its been done before

 

[Everyman]

the bloody eye looks cool, no matter how many times its been done before

It looks appropriate to the character too. And a bloody eye hasn't been done before. An eyepatch, yes. A scar around the eye, yes. But no bloody eye.

 

[Sjrotts]

I think it was a red herring nod to the character as portrayed by Orson Welles in 1967 spoof, who wore sunglasses that allowed him to see through the backs of cards. I think the filmmakers wanted to play into Bond geeks' expectations that this Le Chiffre was cheating in the same manner, especially when he would put his hand up to his temple during the game. But, no, it was a just a bleeding eye.

 

[Everyman]

I think it had more to do with the Villains needing some sort of physical difformity illustrating their moral difformity. And the eyes are often considered to be symbolised genitals in fiction, so Le Chiffre's eye illustrates his physical inadequacy.