Ladislav Kutze is a Polish physicist who was employed by the secretive criminal organization, SPECTRE, to examine and adapt two atomic bombs which the organization had stolen from the British. Portrayed by Czechoslovak actor, George Pravda, the character appeared in EON Productions' 1965 James Bond film, Thunderball, and was based on the literary character Kotze who first appeared in Ian Fleming's 1961 novel of the same name.
Biography[]
In the 1965 film adaptation of Thunderball Kotze's name was changed to Ladislav Kutze. He was a Polish nuclear physicist working with SPECTRE to maintain and examine the two nuclear bombs which the organization had stolen from the British. Kutze's motivation was primarily one of scholarly interest in the mechanics of the weapons themselves. Indeed, he was particularly excited to have been given the opportunity to examine the atomic warheads.
Unlike his novel counterpart, the cinematic Kutze eventually redeems himself by releasing Domino Derval following her torture at Largo's hands and expresses regret over his part in enabling use of the atomic weapons, stating that he had disposed of the arming device by throwing it overboard - thus rendering the bombs harmless. Curiously, his fate is left unknown following the destruction of the Disco Volante.
At the end of 'Thunderball', Bond (perhaps unintentionally) abandons him somewhere off the coast of Florida. It is likely that he perished, as his last words were "I never learned to swim," to which Bond replied "never too late to learn" before throwing him a life preserver. Unlike Bond and Domino who dive before the yacht explodes. Kutze does not do so..and is presumed to have been killed by conconscion.
See also[]