Karl Stromberg (Curt Jurgens) shows his ruthlessness in this scene from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Although short, I enjoy it because it shows a side of Stromberg that he technically could have avoided revealing.

He didn’t need to be the one to push the button to blow up the helicopter with Professor Markowitz and Dr. Beckman. His minions could’ve done it. He didn’t need to see the video of it either, but he chose to.

He also didn’t need to schedule the $20 million transfer to both of them in the first place. Was it always the plan to cancel the transfer? Why bother scheduling the transfer at all? Perhaps Stromberg has a personality complex where he requires complete control and manipulation of everything – from payoffs to revenge killings. Did he really need to come up with the “funeral at sea” explanation for the helicopter crash? His megalomania and associated characteristics is blatant!

Karl Stromberg (Curt Jurgens) cancels his $20 million transaction in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)