A life time fan and Prisonerologist of the 1960's series 'the Prisoner', a leading authority on the subject, a short story writer, and now Prisoner novelist.
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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!
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!
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.
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!'
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!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteInteresting, and thank you for your insight, "Schippisch=snippy" that just about describes Schnipps!
Kind regards
David
BCNU
Mmh... there's an "n" missing. Sorry! - BCNU!
DeleteHello Arno,
DeleteOf course, that should be "Schnippish."
David
Now one "c" is missing. Proof that it's got to do something with "cutting"...;-) - BCNU!
DeleteHello Arno,
DeleteAh! We all have to make mistakes, sometimes we have to! But thsi seems a "Schnipp" too far!
Kind regards
David
BCNU
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.
ReplyDeleteDressing 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.
Hello Moor,
DeleteWell 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
Hello Moor,
DeleteBefore you say it, I've just mixed my James Bond noevls, it should of course be 'MOONRAKER,' not 'Thunderball!'
David