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Thompson and Thomson

Revision as of 02:18, 27 September 2017 by StarLightNova (Message Wall | contribs) (remove Category:Annoying Characters)
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"To be precise..."
—Thompson and Thomsom

Thomson and Thompson (French: Dupond et Dupont), also known as "The Thompson Twins," are a pair of inept Scotland Yard detectives first appearing in Cigars of the Pharaoh. However, on the first page of Tintin in the Congo, you can see them in the right corner of the first panel, with one saying " Seems to be a young reporter going to Africa".
Though very alike in appearance, there is controversy as to whether they are related or not. Snowy himself seems to be inclined towards the former, he mentions offhand in Destination Moon that "This is it!...Sensational appearance of the Thomson twins!" [1] They are distinguishable by their moustaches. Thompson's moustache is straight while Thomson's turns up. They believe almost anything and are quick to jump to conclusions at first glance. In the episode The Land of Black Gold the detectives mistakenly take a substance called "Formula 14," believing it to be aspirin. This chemical causes their hair to grow rapidly and change color and they hiccup continuously. They have also arrested Tintin in the episode The Black Island for robbery.

Origins

Thomson and Thompson originally appeared in the first version of Cigars of the Pharaoh, known as X33 and X33A. However, in later editions of the volume and in every other book they appear in, they are known by their current name. In French, they were called Dupond and Dupont. They appear in the redrawn version of Tintin in the Congo, which chronologically comes before Cigars, they appear in one panel.

The Detectives in the plot

Thompson&Thomson

Thompson & Thomson in one of their many costumes.

Of the 19 books following the Cigars of the Pharaoh, not including the unfinished Tintin and Alph-Art and the cartooning of Tintin and the Lake of Sharks, they appear in 17. The only two books they do not appear in are Tintin in Tibet and Flight 714. Although their appearances may vary in importance depending on the album, they always add humor to the story and sometimes are involved in subplots, eventually achieving success by sheer luck or with Tintin's intervention.

Work

Members of Scotland Yard and Interpol, Thompson and Thomson lead more or less discrete and efficient investigations. They are hardly brilliant. They test the limits of discretion, dressing up in folkloric costumes in order to "blend in," which inevitably only leads to them sticking out more. They also pile up an incredible number of falls, slips and accidents. The epitome of stupidity, they followed their own footprints in the desert. Their total disorganization is also reflected in their language. They are experts in pleonasms and have to their credit sayings such as "I would say even more," "our lips are sealed," and "it is my opinion and I share it." Their motto, as mentioned, is "Mum's the word," which is immediately corrected to be "Dumb's the word." Also, Thomson always states "to be precise," and then either restates the statement his twin said or says the sentence mixed-up, such as instead of "He's given us the slip. Got away, with the handcuffs too. What a cheek," he says "To be precise, he's given us away. Slipped us the handcuffs, too. What a sneak." Their introduction is also humorous; Thompson identifies himself as "Thompson, with a p, as in psychology...", philosophy, or any other "p" word in which the beginning "p" is either silent or coupled with an "h" in order to change pronunciation to an "f" sound, Thomson's intro is a similar sounding, "Thomson, without a P, as in Venezuela" or any other amusing sounding name not starting with a "p".

Costumes

Main article see: List of Thompson and Thomson's Costumes

File:Herge-blackgold01.jpg

The duo in one of their many costumes.

The duo are also renowned for their use of disguises in their detective work. They are usually used in an attempt to blend in with the crowd in foreign locations or different settings. However, the pair end up in the most ridiculous of costumes, making them more visible.




Names

In the original French, their names are Dupont and Dupond. The translations for some languages​​ are listed below.

'To be precise' quotes

This contains a list of scenarios in which the phrase 'to be precise' is used.

Cigars of the Pharaoh

  • Thompson: ï¿½He won't get far, if my name�s Thompson!�
    • Thomson: ï¿½To be precise: if my name�s Thomson we won�t get far!� -p.5
  • The Thompsons are looking for Tintin to arrest him. Thompson: ï¿½We must stop him slipping out...� Thomson: ï¿½To be precise: we must stop slipping!� -p.20
  • Thompson: ï¿½Bother! We were mistaken!� Thomson: ï¿½To be precise: we�re a mistake.� p.25
  • The Thompsons have just found Tintin. Thompson: ï¿½Well, well, what a surprise to see your face again! We�d lost you completely!� Thomson: ï¿½To be precise: we�d comletely lost face!� -p.47
  • The Thompsons have just accidently knocked out the ticket collector on the train thinking he was Tintin. Thomson: ï¿½Goodness gracious! It�s the ticket collector!� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: we�ve collected a ticket!� -p.47
  • Thompson: ï¿½He�s gone: it�s all clear.� Thomson: ï¿½To be precise: the all clear�s gone!� -p.50
  • Thomson: ï¿½And there was a plan of this bolt-hole, too. We heard about it so here we are.� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: so where are we?� -p.57

The Blue Lotus

  • Thompson: ï¿½What�s so funny, Your Worship?� Thomson: ï¿½To be precise, why�s he making fun of us?� -p.47

2. The Thompsons are on a train and arriving at the station. Thomson: ï¿½Here we are again.� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: here we aren�t. It�s three hours, walk to Hukow... What a life, Thomson, what a life!� -p.49

3. Thomson: ï¿½Good morning... Er... Here we are at last...� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: good morning. Here we are, last as usual...�  Not even Tintin knew what to say to that. ï¿½Um... er... So here you are?� he said. -p.61

The Broken Ear

  • 1. A fertish was stolen from a museum. Thomson: ï¿½Well, the Arumbaya fertish has no in...er...no instinctive value...The solution is quite simple: it was removed by a collector.� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: it was collected by a remover.�

2. Thomson: ï¿½My mind is made up: this letter is anonymous. Nobody knows who wrote it!� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: I agree. A anonymous letter nobody wrote!� The Black Island

  • Thompson: ï¿½It all looks very fishy to me.� Thomson: ï¿½To be precise: the whole thing looks like me, very fishy.� -p.2

2. The Thompsons slip on a wet floor. Thompson: ï¿½Why can�t you look where you�re going?� Thomson: ï¿½To be precise: speak for yourself.� -p.2

3. The Thompsons arrest Tintin. He was in handcuffs, but when they were asleep he got away and handcuffed the Thompsons together. When they wake up: Thomson: ï¿½He�s given us the slip. Got away, with handcuffs, too. What a cheek!� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: he�s given us away. Slipped us the handcuffs, too. What a sneak!� -p.4

4. The Thompsons are having their handcuffs broken.Thomson: ï¿½ Just wait till I get my hands on him!� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: ...er ... just wait till we get our hands!� -p.5

5. A private plane dives at the Tompsons and Tintin. Thomson: ï¿½Ruffians!� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: road-hogs!� -p.37

6. Thomson: ï¿½I�m beginning to agree with Tintin: they look like crooks.� Thompson: ï¿½To be precise: so do I. Tintin may be right: they look like rooks!� -p.37

7. Thompson: ï¿½A g-g-ghost!� Thomson: ï¿½To be p-p-precise: a s-s-sp-spook!� -p.61

8. Tintin: ï¿½You aren�t coming back with me by air?� Thompson: ï¿½By air? ...No thank you...To be precise: we don�t find the pilots entirely... reliable!� -p.62

King Ottokar's Sceptre

  • Thompson: “Get going! We’re all set!” Thomson: “To be precise: we’re all set!”

2. Thomson: “But of course we’ve come...” Thompson: “To be precise: of course...”

3. The Thompsons are meeting a king. Thompson: “Majesty, you sire is very good...Good Majesty...no, I mean...” Thomson: “To be precise...it’s a majesty, Your Pleasure...”

4. Thomson: “This time our honour is at stake! We have sworn to find the sceptre; we must keep out word!” Thompson: To be precise: we must keep our word!”

The Crab with the Golden Claws

  • Thompson: "My dear Tintin, how nice to see you again!" Thomson: "To be precise: how nice to see you again, my dear Tintin!" -pg.2

2. Tintin has just asked the Thompsons what was up. Thompson: "Everything's fine: we've just been entrusted with a very important case." Thomson: "To be precise: a very... er ... important case." -pg.3

3. Thomson: "That's odd; in fact, it's fishy. Thompson: "To be precise: it's fishy..." -pg.5

4. They are talking to Allan, having no idea that he's a crook. Thomson: "...so this sailor used to drink. On the night of his death you met him in the town, very drunk; then he fell into the water trying to get back to the ship. Plain as a pikestaff!" Thompson: "To be precise: plain as a pikestaff." -pg.11

5. Thompson: "Hmm!... Very odd." Thomson: "To be precise: very odd; in fact, very queer..." -pg.46

6. Thomson: "Hmm, no one about?" Thompson: "To be precise: no one about..." -pg.47

7. Thomson: "At last, the police!... Gentlemen, this is the man we have brought to justice." Thompson: "To be precise: ... this is the man!"

The Shooting Star

  • There are no quotes in this book.

The Secret of the Unicorn

  • Thomson: “First, here’s the victim...” Thompson: “To be precise: here’s the victim!” -pg.28

2. Thomson: “Now, if there’s a victim, there must be a culprit.” Thompson: “A brilliant deduction! Now we only have to find him... and he can’t be far away. To be precise: he isn’t far away...” -pg.28

3. The sun shining through the magnifying Thomson is holding is burning his jacket. Thomson: “Very odd... To be precise... Can you smell something burning?” -pg.29

Red Rackham's Treasure

  • Thomson: “A real herd of elephants!” Thompson: “To be precise: a real herd of elephants!” -pg.4

2. Thomson: “Maybe, maybe. But anyway, now we are aboard you will be able to feel that you are perfectly safe.” Thompson: “To be precise: perfectly safe.” -pg.14

3. Thomson: “This island is h-h-haunted, Captain. Let’s hurry back t-t-to the sh-sh-ship.” Thompson: “To b-b-be precise: l-let’s hurry back t-t-to the sh-sh-ship.” -pg.28

4. Thompson: “You never ordered us to stop pumping, Captain. So here we are, pumping.” Thomson: “To be precise: we’re pumping.” -pg.45

5. Thomson: “Now for the simple, healthy tasks of the countryside! No more pumping!” Thompson: “To be precise: no more pumping!” -pg.57

The 7 Crystal Balls

  • Tintin: “Hello! ... How are things?” Thomson: “Hmm... All right... We can’t deny that we’re right as ever.” Thompson: “Quite right... quite right... To be precise: we can deny that we’re ever right.” -p.17

2. Thomson: “It is my duty, Dr. Midge, my duty... To be precise: headquarters expects that every detective will do his duty.” -p.22

3. Thompson: “Between ourselves, let’s face it -- that was a narrow escape...” Thomson: “Between ourselves, to be precise: I agree!” -p.23

Prisoners of the Sun

  • Thompson: “That sounds like the telephone.” Thomson: To be precise: the telephone.” -p.10

2. The Thomsons and Captain are looking for footprints at the beach. Thompson: “It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.” Thomson:“To be presise: we look like needles in a haystack.”-p.11

3. The Thompsons don’t know where Tintin, Captain, are. They looked for them and now are reporting back to headquarters. Thomson:“We’ve searched South America from top to bottom, sir, without result. We lost all trace of Tintin, the Captain, and the Professore.” Thompson: “To be precise: we got lost.” -p.51

4. Thomson: “We have decided to undertake a fresh search using entirely new methods. It’s the only way: otherwise we have absolutely no hope.” Thompson: “To be precise: we’re absolutely hopeless.” -p.51

Land of Black Gold

  • Tintin: “Good morning. What news?” Thomson: “What news! Plenty! Something very odd has just happened!" Thompson: “To be precise...we just happen to be very odd!” -p.3

2. The Thompsons just got kicked down stairs. Thomson: “How uncouth!” Thompson: “To be presise: most impolite! But you have to admit, he’s got plenty of push...” -p.8

3. Thomson: “A real stroke of luck hitting this road.” Thompson: “To be precise: we’ve really had a stroke!” -p.29

4. Thompson: “Driving in the sun has given me a spitting headache!” Thomson: “To be precise: I’m a headache too!” -p.59

Destination Moon

  • The Thompsons are being arrested. Thomson: “...You’ve got the strong end of the wick... no, I mean...” He is silenced. Thompson: “To be precise: the stick!” -p.18

2. Thompson: “I don’t know why, but it strikes me that Baxter and Wolff are behaving suspiciously.” Thomson: “To be precise: most auspiciously.” -p.23

3. Thomson: “Well, you’re very wise not to go on such a wild goose chase!... It’s a ridiculous idea!... Besides, at your age it would be sheer madness!” Thompson: “To be precise: sheer madness at your age.” -p.54

Explorers On The Moon

  • 1. Thomson: “Ha! ha! ha! That’s a good one! Always ready for a laugh, Professor!” Thompson: “To be precise: Ha! ha! ha!” -p.3

2. Thomson: “Yes, we’re satisfied.” Thompson: “To be precise: we certainly are!” -p.19

The Calculus Affair

  • Thomson: “Yes, it’s us. Hello...The local police have told us all about that business last night. So we’re here to investigate.” Thompson:“To be precise: we’re here.” -p.12

The Red Sea Sharks

  • 1. Thompson: "Aha! That surprised you, eh? You forget, my friend, in our job there's nothing we don't know." Thomson: "To be precise: we know nothing in our job!" -p.10

2. Thompson: "Why are we suspect? I mean, what do we suspect? My dear fellow, if you imagine we'll tell you he's smuggling aircraft, you're much mistaken. "Mum's the word", that's our motto." Thomson: "Well said!... To be precise: "Dumb's the word", that's our motto. The general may have come to Europe to buy up old aircraft, but you won't learn that from us! Now we must be going. Goodbye, Tintin." -p.10

Tintin in Tibet

  • There are once again no quotes in this book.

The Castafiore Emerald

  • 1. The Thompsons crash the front of their car against the back of a parked truck. Thompson:“I...er...I think I must have braked a little late...” Thomson: “To be precise: I think you didn’t brake at all!” -p.37

2. Bianca Castafiore’s jewels have just been stolen; or so everyone thinks. Thomson: “Madam, we are here to set light to...er, to throw light on the circumstances surrounding your terrible loss...” Thompson: “To be precise...er...” -p.38

3. Thomson: “It’s clear as day to us, eh Thompson?” Thompson: “To be precise: dear as clay. That’s my opinion and I’m stuck with it!” -p.58

4. Thomson: “It’s a sight for sore eyes...” Thompson: “To be precise, I’d say...” -p.60

Flight 714

  • The Thomsons are absent from this book.

Tintin and the Picaros

  • The Thompsons are at their trail.
    • The Accuser: “...Men who, to appear as loyal supporters of General Tapioca and the noble ideology of Kurvi-Tasch, carried their duplicity so far as to grow moustaches!” 
    • Thompson: “That’s a lie!...We’ve been wearing moustaches since we were born!” 
    • Thomson: “To be precise: we’ve worn bearing them!” -p.47
    • 2.The Acusser: “...Gentlemen, for these two wretches, who can have no claim to extenuating circumstances, I demand the DEATH PENALTY!” Thompson: “The death penalty!!...He certainly doesn’t mince his words...He means to go the whole hog!” Thomson: “To be precise: his words certainly mince the hog whole!” -p.47

3. The time for the Thompsons’ exicution has come. The Gaurd: “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but we must go, please... It’s time...” Thomson:“And one must be on time.” Thompson: “To be precise: time, gentlemen please!” -p.59

4. The Thompsons are about to be executed by being shot. They are being offered blindfolds. Thompson: “Blindfolds? Certainly not! ...A Thompson looks death straight in the face!” Thomson: “To be precise: A Thomson with a straight face looks like death!” -p.60

Tintin in America

Flight 714


Gallery


Popular culture

Dupondt em Asterix

Thompson and Thomson as seen in Asterix in Belgium.

The detectives had a brief appearance in Asterix in Belgium, in 1979, the last album of Uderzo & Goscinny together. In the cartoon, they appear dressed in traditional Belgian, and announce the arrival of Julius Caesar. It is a clear reference to the beloved characters and a tribute of the creators of Asterix to Herge, in respect to fame and honor of Belgian comics. Specifically, they appear on page 31.

The pair also inspired the name for the British New Wave rock band, The Thompson Twins (Even though the band has had as many as seven members at a time), who were most famous for their hit 1983 song, "Hold Me Now."

References

  1. ↑ http://www.tintinologist.org/guides/characters/t.html
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