Cyanide is a fast-acting poison that can be lethal and is often used in espionage stories as a method of assassination or suicide. In the James Bond franchise, the poison was first mentioned in Ian Fleming's 1957 novel, From Russia, with Love, and had been utilized many times since in literature, film, and games.
Film History[]
Dr. No[]
Jones kills himself with Cyanide Cigarettes
- "Cyanide in a cigarette? Fantastic."
- ― Pleydell Smith to James Bond
Following a failed attempt to assassinate James Bond, the henchman called Jones, who is working for SPECTRE operative Dr. No was discovered and defeated by Bond. In order to avoid being captured and questioned by Bond, Jones requested a Cigarette, which Bond was unaware contained Cyanide. Jones then committed suicide by ingesting the substance, with Bond later bring the cyanide cigarettes to Pleydell Smith, who remarked at the design.
Thunderball[]
Paula Caplan chooses to commit suicide
Having been captured by Emilio Largo's men and questioned, Paula Caplan swallowed Cyanide to commit suicide with, before she could reveal any information to Largo and endanger her allies, knowing that she would soon being tortured for information. Caplan's body is later found by James Bond while he was searching Largo's base.
Moonraker[]
- "Ten darts, five blue-tipped armour-piercing heads, five red-tipped, cyanide-coated, causing death in thirty seconds."
"Very novel, Q, you must get them in the stores for Christmas!" - ― Q and James Bond
To be added
Licence to Kill[]
Kwang kills himself to avoid being tortured
Upon being discovered and injured by Colonel Heller's soldiers, the Police Narcotics agent Kwang was gravely injured, but remained determined not to be taken alive by the infamous Drug Lord Franz Sanchez, who would undoubtedly torture him. Before Sanchez could capture him, Kwang had taken a Cyanide Capsule and died, much to Sanchez's considerable frustration.
Skyfall[]
Raoul Silva revealing damage from cyanide
- "Do you know what it does to you? Hydrogen cyanide? Look upon your work... mother."
- ― Raoul Silva to M
Upon being captured by James Bond and taken back to MI6's Safehouse to be interrogated, Raoul Silva revealed to Bond and M that he had been tortured by the Chinese Communists after M sold him to them. After five months of hopelessness, Silva used the cyanide pill hidden in his tooth. However, the Capsule did not kill him, instead burning through his insides, his teeth and cheek bones. After he escaped captivity he had to wear prosthetic teeth with a false metal jaw bone.
Novel History[]
From Russia with Love[]
James Bond's Attaché Case is fitted with cyanide if he had no other option, although he took the cyanide and flushed it down a toilet, seeing no use for it.