Search This Blog

Friday 14 December 2012

Teabreak Teaser

    Professor Schnipps is a mad scientist who is hell bent on destroying London. But why the name Schnipps? I mean Schnipps isn't not a French name is it, it's German!

BCNU

9 comments:

  1. It is a German word. It's derivative of the verb "schnippeln" = small cuts into little pieces. To my knowing it must be related with English "knife" adding an initial "s". German "Kneipchen" is a small knife for peeling of potatoes. But all this hardly explains why that name was chosen. Probably it's because of the personality, the character: "schippisch" = "snippy". - BCNU!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Arno,

      Interesting, and thank you for your insight, "Schippisch=snippy" that just about describes Schnipps!

      Kind regards
      David
      BCNU

      Delete
    2. Mmh... there's an "n" missing. Sorry! - BCNU!

      Delete
    3. Hello Arno,

      Of course, that should be "Schnippish."

      David

      Delete
    4. Now one "c" is missing. Proof that it's got to do something with "cutting"...;-) - BCNU!

      Delete
    5. Hello Arno,

      Ah! We all have to make mistakes, sometimes we have to! But thsi seems a "Schnipp" too far!

      Kind regards
      David
      BCNU

      Delete
  2. I'm not sure Schnipps was identified as French was he? The classic "mad scientist" is often Germanic in the Anglo-cliche derived from the likes of our fictional Dr. Frankenstein or the real-life Alfred Einstein - who came to look a bit batty, with his wild hair.

    Dressing as Napoleon was just a jokey allegory for the thirst for "world domination" of the Bond villains. Thinking you are Napoleon was/is also a classic trope of the lunatic - or schizophrenic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Moor,

      Well no he wasn't, and to be perfectly correct he is described to be a mad German scientist, which I admit I had forgotten about. So looking at it that way, a classic madman would think himself as Napolean Bonapate for some reason.
      I was thinking as the character of Napolean Bonaparte, a role played by Kenneth Griffiths in 'The Man On The Rock {1975}.

      You mentioned Bond Villains. For me, the plot idea for 'The Girl Who Was Death' appears to be a rip=off of Ian Flemings 'Thunderball!'

      Regards
      David
      BCNU

      Delete
    2. Hello Moor,

      Before you say it, I've just mixed my James Bond noevls, it should of course be 'MOONRAKER,' not 'Thunderball!'

      David

      Delete