NEVER A NEVER AGAIN

1983, 134 minutes, Colour.
Sean Connery, Klaas Maria Brando are, Max von Sydow, Barbara Carrera, Kim Basson Jack, Bernie Casey, Alec Mc Cowan, Edward Fox, Rowan Atkinson.
Directed by Irvin Kershner.

After filming Diamonds are Forever, 1971, Sean Connery is quoted as saying that he would never play James Bond again. The title of this film, 12 years later, plays on his remarks. However, by this time, Roger Moore had taken over as 007 and this is a surprise film, coming from outside the company formed by the Broccolis to form the whole series.

This is a remake of Thunderball, Sean Connery repeating his role, with Max von Sydow as Blofeld (with his cat) and the organisation of SPECTRE. However, the villain of the piece, involved in stealing bombs from the Americans is Largo, Klaus Maria Brandauer (who had recently appeared in the Oscar-winning Mephisto). The plan is complicated, as always, bombs cleverly stolen and stored, one threatening Washington.

At the opening, Bond is involved in a military exercise, rather violent, and is the subject of criticism by a very crotchety M, Edward Fox, quite in contrast to Bernard Lee and Judi Dench. There is a cameo by Alec Mc Cowan as Q. When the bombs are stolen, Bond is involved in enforced exercise and dietary regime but is sent on mission, travelling to the Bahamas to track down the villain, meeting up with his American counterpart, Felix Leiter (Bernie Casey), and discovering Largo and his relationship with Domino, the brother of the American naval officer who was involved in the stealing of the bombs There is a comic performance from Rowan Atkinson in his Blackadder days.

The action moves to the south of France, Bond encountering Largo, fending off the attempts to kill him by Fatima Blush (Barbara Carreiro) one of the SPECTRE Council.

In retrospect, Bond seems rather sexist in his relationships with the women, casual and incidental, though, as with the previous films, seeming to find true love at the end, this time with Domino, Kim Basinger.

Not a great James bond film, but it was directed by Irvin Kershner immediately after his great success with The Empire Strikes Back.

1. Sean Connery’s declaration about never playing James Bond again? 12 years later?

2. A remake of Thunderball? Adaptation of the plot? Characters?

3. The settings, London, official offices, M, Q and headquarters, the clinic, the Bahamas, the South of France? Underwater action? The musical score?

4. The history of James Bond? Sean Connery’s history? Now in his 50s? The opening, the attack on the enemy, violence and death, his being stabbed? M and his criticisms, a military exercise? M and his character, disapproving, sending Bond to the clinic, the comedy of his regime, exercise, meals, his special case of luxuries?

5. Bond himself, self-sufficient, his relationship with women? The background of the treatment of women? Objects? Characters in themselves? The worker at the resort? Fathima and the seduction? The woman in the Bahamas? The encounter with Domino, deeper feelings, the ending?

6. The introduction of SPECTRE, the re-introduction of Blofeld? Max von Sydow and his style? His pet cat? The underground headquarters, the members of the committee? Fatima and her arrival? The link with Largo? The prospect of stealing the bombs?

7. Largo, self-confident, his boat, relationship with Domino? The plan for the bombs? His skills, his team? The scientist? The bombs and their flight, disappearing, underwater, his sailing from the Bahamas, the south of France, Palmyra, the setting up of the bomb underwater? The other bomb in Washington?

8. The plan with the naval officer, addicted to heroin, the false eye, the eye of the president, his pass, setting up the bomb, his relationship with Fatima, the drive away, the snake in the car, his crash? Domino as his sister? Eventually wanting revenge?

9. M sending Bond on mission, the encounter with Q and the various gadgets – and there later use? Going to the Bahamas, Fatima seeing him, the discussion with the woman going fishing? Fatima and the sexual encounter? Her attempts to kill Bond? His going to the woman’s room, the explosion? Getting the information from the local agent, Largo going to France? Meeting up with Felix? Their working together? Are murdering the local agent?

10. The south of France, the encounter with Domino, the attraction, the sequence of the dance, his giving her the information about her brother? Largo, his watching Domino and her dancing, his infatuation? The gift of the necklace? Its having the map? Bond and the meeting with Largo, the taunting, Fatima’s failed attempt, her pursuit, with the gun, his pen and her exploding? Arousing Largo’s suspicions of Domino? Africa, Bonds getting the message to headquarters, tied up but escaping with the watch, rescuing Domino on the horse, her being at auction, the tribesman, the pursuit, jumping from the cliff?

11. The pursuit of Largo, the scuba diving, Bond and Felix, the tactics, the confrontations, the battles, the bomb, Largo and his success – and failure? Domino and the confrontation?

12. The usual ending, Bond and Domino – but no more Sean Connery as Bond?