Main Cast: Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray, Lana Wood, Jimmy Dean
Release Year: 1971
Country: UK
Run Time: 119 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
After George Lazenby portrayed James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Sean Connery returned to the tux, gimmicks, and catchphrases of Secret Agent 007 in his penultimate Bond outing, Diamonds Are Forever. Fragments of Ian Fleming's original 1954 novel remain, including the characters of the alluring Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) and fey hitmen Wint (Bruce Glover) and Mr. Kidd (Putter Smith). The remainder of Richard Maibaum and Tom Mankiewicz's script diverges dramatically from the novel, involving Bond in a scheme by the insidious Ernst Blofeld (Charles Gray) to force the world powers to disarm so that he can take over the globe. Folksinger Jimmy Dean shows up briefly as a Howard Hughes-like reclusive billionaire, while Lana Wood (Natalie's sister) participates in one of the film's edgiest cliffhangers. Agreeing to make Diamonds Are Forever only because of the money offered him, Sean Connery parted company with the role for 12 years after this film; he returned to the role once more in 1983, for Irvin Kershner's underrated Thunderball remake Never Say Never Again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Many people pinpoint Live and Let Die as the start of the self-deprecating campiness that soon came to dominate the James Bond series, but this trend really began with its predecessor, Diamonds Are Forever. As a result, Sean Connery's final official go-round as Bond is nowhere near as satisfying as classics like From Russia With Love or Goldfinger. The biggest problem with Diamonds Are Forever is its muddled script. The plot confusingly juggles a diamond-smuggling scheme, an attempt to ransom the world with an intergalactic weapon (an element recycled from You Only Live Twice), and the return of arch-villain Blofeld, while the dialogue overdoes with it plethora of corny one-liners and groan-worthy puns. The film also suffers from an unwieldy tone that veers between bluntly sadistic violence and cartoonish slapstick, never finding a comfortable balance between the two. Worst of all, Connery seems bored with his role and delivers a performance that is competent but lifeless. Despite these problems, Diamonds Are Forever still offers a few diversions for the action fan. Individual action scenes are quite thrilling, the most memorable being a showdown between Bond and two female kung-fu fighters and a high-speed car chase through the streets of Las Vegas. There are also some colorful supporting performances, the best being Jimmy Dean's charming work as the country-boy millionaire Willard Whyte and the flamboyantly bizarre turns from Bruce Glover and Putter Smith as gay hitmen Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd. Ultimately, Diamonds Are Forever is one of the lesser entries in the Bond series, but boasts enough style and action to satisfy the series' hardcore fans. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Bruce Cabot - Saxby; John Abineri - Airline Representative; Ray Baker - Helicopter Pilot; Leonard Barr - Shady Tree; David Bauer - Slumber; Ed Bishop - Klaus Hergersheimer; Nicky Blair - Doorman; Larry Blake - Barker; Norman Burton - Felix Leiter; Ed Call - Maxie; Dick Crockett - Crane Operator; Constantin de Goguel - Aide To Metz; David de Keyser - Doctor; Gary Dubin - Boy; Clifford Earl - Immigration Officer; Mark Elwes - Sir Donald's Secretary; Joseph Furst - Metz; Donna Garrett - Bambi; Bruce Glover - Wint; Sid Haig; David Healy - Vandenburg Launch Director; Karl Held - Agent; Margaret Lacey - Mrs. Whistler; Bernard Lee - M; Desmond Llewelyn - Q; Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny; Laurence Naismith - Sir Donald Munger; Frank Olegario - Man in Fez; Trina Parks - Thumper; Shane Rimmer - Tom; Joe Robinson - Peter Franks; Henry Rowland - Dentist; Putter Smith - Mr. Kidd; Tom Steele - Guard; George A. Cooper - SPECTRE Agent; Bill Hutchinson - Moon Crater Controller; Marc Lawrence; Brinsley Forde - Houseboy; Janos Kurucz - Aide to Metz; Burt Metcalfe - Maxwell
Credit
Bill Kenney - Art Director, Jack Maxsted - Art Director, Donfeld - Costume Designer, Elsa Fennell - Costume Designer, Ted Tetrick - Costume Designer, Derek Cracknell - First Assistant Director, Guy Hamilton - Director, Bert Bates - Editor, John W. Holmes - Editor, John Barry - Composer (Music Score), Ken Adam - Production Designer, Ted Moore - Cinematographer, Albert R. Broccoli - Producer, Harry Saltzman - Producer, John P. Austin - Set Designer, Peter Lamont - Set Designer, Albert J. Whitlock - Special Effects, Whitney McMahon - Special Effects, Wally Veevers - Special Effects, Les Hillman - Special Effects, Al Overton - Sound/Sound Designer, John W. Mitchell - Sound/Sound Designer, Paul R. Baxley, Jr. - Stunts, Gerry Crampton - Stunts, Bob Simmons - Stunts, Bud Ekins - Stunts, Richard Maibaum - Screenwriter, Tom Mankiewicz - Screenwriter, Don Lusher - Musical Performer, Ian Fleming - Book Author
