20 Things You Didn't Know About Licence To Kill (1989)

13. “Bless Your Heart!”

James Bond Timothy Dalton Carey Lowell Pam Bouvier Licence To Kill
MGM/UA

Famous Las Vegas entertainer, Wayne Newton features in the film as Professor Joe Butcher, a charismatic televangelist who is supposedly campaigning for funds to complete the reconstruction of the Olimpatec Meditation Institute. In truth, Butcher’s transmissions are secretly communicating the prices of Sanchez’s cocaine shipments to his dealers in the United States.

Professor Joe Butcher was a reference to the televangelists of the 1980s, such as Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker and The PTL Club, who used the media to ostensibly encourage religious interest, but often had hidden purposes in doing so.

Wayne Newton was offered the role of Joe Butcher when he wrote to the Bond producers, expressing that it was a lifelong ambition of his to feature in a James Bond film and requesting a cameo in one of the movies.

Instead of a cameo, the producers gave him a supporting role as a villain, providing Newton with suitable screen time and a memorable catchphrase in the form of “Bless your hearts”, thus fulfilling his dream.

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I started writing for WhatCulture in July 2020. I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I have contributed to several short story competitions and I have occasionally been fortunate enough to have my work published. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I also started reviewing films on my Facebook page. Numerous friends and contacts suggested that I should start my own website for reviewing films, but I wanted something a bit more diverse - and so here I am! My interests focus on film and television mainly, but I also occasionally produce articles that venture into other areas as well. In particular, I am a fan of the under appreciated sequel (of which there are many), but I also like the classics and the mainstream too.