Quarrel is a fisherman in the Caribbean. He is an ally of James Bond in the film Dr No and is portrayed by John Kitzmiller. He also has a son Quarrel Jr who appears in a later Bond film.

Novel biography: Quarrel is a Cayman Islander who first appears in the novel Live and Let Die. John Strangways, chief of the Secret Service’s Caribbean station, hires him to serve as Bond’s physical trainer and local guide as Bond prepares for his mission against Mr Big. Bond and Quarrel immediately develop a stong friendship.

John Kitzmiller as Quarrel in ‘Dr No’.

Quarrel’s second and final appearance is in the novel Dr No. Again training Bond, Quarrel then accompanies him to Dr No’s island, Crab Key, to investigate Dr No’s operation there. Quarrel’s assistance proves highly valuable, but he is burned to death when he, Bond, and Honeychile Rider are attacked by Dr No’s flamethrower-equipped marsh buggy.

In the novels there is no mention of Quarrel, Junior; since the later novel Dr No preceded the earlier book Live and Let Die to the screen, Quarrel, Junior was the writers’ way of getting around the fact of Quarrel’s death.

Film biography: Although not shown in the film, Quarrel helps John Strangways get some rock samples from Crab Key (island) When Strangways dies, Bond turns up in hope of finding him, he goes to Quarrel for information. Quarrel does not tell him information, instead getting a knife threatened at him. Bond turns the situation around taking his gun and pointing at Quarrel and Puss-feller. Felix Leiter informs Bond that Quarrel has been helping him and informs Quarrel that Bond is an MI6 agent.

Later in the film, Quarrel goes with Bond to Crab Key even though he expresses fear of a dragon on the island. They meet up with Honey Ryder, and are forced out of the beach and inland because of Dr No’s henchman trying to find them. Quarrel makes them take shifts to watch out for the dragon, which Honey Rider believes in to. When they hear sounds they find a metal dragon. Bond and Quarrel shot at it but Quarrel gets too close and is burnt.

When Bond and Honey are rescued by Felix, it is unusual that Felix does not ask where Quarrel is.

See also:

• Bond allies