DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
UK, 1971, 120 minutes, Colour.
Sean Connery, Jill St John, Charles Gray, Lana Wood, Jimmy Dean, Bruce Cabot, Putter Smith, Bruce Furst, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewellyn, Leonard Barr, Lois Maxwell, Joe Robinson, Laurence Naismith, Marc Lawrence, David de Keyser.
Directed by Guy Hamilton.
Diamonds Are Forever was the last James Bond film that Sean Connery did for the Harry Saltzman- Albert Broccoli company. He was to reprise James Bond in the Independent Never Say Never Again (1983). After You Only Live Twice, 1967, he decided not to be James Bond again and George Lazenby stepped in for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). However, John Gavin was to become James Bond but Connery stepped in once again. He certainly looks forty and a little heavier in this film.
In retrospect people have commented on the screenplay of Diamonds Are Forever as a Roger Moore James Bond film without Roger Moore. It is much less global in its look at espionage, SMERSH and the various international conspiracies. This time the focus is on diamonds.
While the film was not so popular at the time, in retrospect it is much more interesting. Seen in the light of the other James Bonds, especially Roger Moore, it seems quite an exciting, if somewhat routine thriller. It also has a lot of comic touches – this being the transition to the more ironic James Bond played by Roger Moore.
Most of the settings are in the United States, especially in Las Vegas and the desert. Connery has been accused of being disinterested in his performance but he seems to give it his usual style. Jill St John is vivacious as a jewel thief. Charles Gray, later to be the narrator in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, is a suave if upper-crust Blofeld. Natalie Wood’s sister Lana appears as one of the Bond Girls. Singer Jimmy Dean is a millionaire in Las Vegas.
The usual supporting cast of Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewellyn and Lois Maxwell are present as usual. However, a number of character actors also put in appearances, like Bruce Cabot, Joseph Furst as the scientist, and Putter Smith, a musician, and Bruce Glover, as a very camp pair of assassins. Norman Burton is not very impressive as Felix Leiter.
The film resembles a thriller, with Bond instead of the police searching out the criminals involved in jewel robberies. However, it goes back to Blofeld, a cloned Blofeld as well, and a conspiracy to control aspects of the exploration of space (two years after the moon landing). The culmination is very similar to that of the other James Bond films, Bond infiltrating a plant, a quick countdown to disaster and Bond resolving the situation.
John Barry’s score is always suitable – and the title song, sung by Shirley Bassey (who also sang Goldfinger) is used throughout the film to good atmospheric advantage.
The film was directed by Guy Hamilton who directed Goldfinger and was to direct Roger Moore in Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun.
1.The continued popularity of the James Bond films? The films with Sean Connery?
2.Criticisms at the time of Diamonds Are Forever: Sean Connery as ageing, extra weight? The tongue-in-cheek dialogue and the more humorous approach than previously? The confining of the action to the United States? The comparative low-key action? In retrospect?
3.The American locations, Las Vegas, the desert, the installation? The musical score, the title song, Shirley Bassey singing, the use of this theme throughout the film, the James Bond theme?
4.The opening, the confrontation with Blofeld? Bond and his destruction of Blofeld – and his being deceived?
5.The basic situation: South Africa, diamonds, the mines, the miners smuggling the diamonds in their teeth, the corrupt dentists, the chain of smuggling? The British government and its concern? Business and the flooding of the market? The variety of personalities involved in the smuggling, the religious teacher in South Africa, Tiffany Case?
6.Mr Kidd and Mr Wint, their sinister presence, the various ways in which they eliminated the couriers? Their personalities, their relationship, the camp overtones of their behaviour, attitudes? Their appearing throughout the film, the body count? The final confrontation with James Bond, as waiters in the hotel, with the explosives and the food? Their being killed by the explosives?
7.The tradition of Blofeld as villain in the James Bond films? Wanting world control? His seeming death? Charles Gray’s manner, not bald, very English way of speaking? His clones, his using the voice machine to change his accent? His plans, the stealing of the diamonds, the laboratory in the desert, the re-creation o surface of the moon, experiments? His pretending to be Willard Whyte? In the penthouse in Las Vegas? His use of Whyte and his staff? The time count, the encounter with Bond, revealing the truth, trying to kill him in the elevator? Bond and his infiltration of the institution, Blofeld trying to get away on the boat, Bond controlling the crane, smashing the boat?
8.The British staff, the government representatives? The discussion about Bond’s mission? A different mission, the phocus on the diamonds? M, Q and his inventions, testing out the slot machines in Las Vegas? Miss Moneypenny, always flirtatious?
9.Felix Leiter, the connection with the CIA, his helping out in the confrontation with Blofeld? Getting Bond into America with the diamonds?
10.Bond’s character, after several films, older, more experience? Offhand quips? The confrontation with Blofeld, the mission from the British government? His taking on the alternate identity? The passport, the ferry to Holland, with Miss Moneypenny and the passport? His taking the place of the courier, the courier escaping, the confrontation outside the apartment? Tiffany Case, the discussions, the deals, the relationship? Their taking the jewels to America, the plan? The courier’s body, pretending that it was Bond’s brother? The transport of the body to the US, Felix Leiter getting it through Customs?
11.The funeral parlour, the sinister director, the cremation, returning the diamonds, Kidd and Wint and their attempts to kill Bond by putting him in the coffin and incinerating him?
12.Las Vegas, the investigations? Bond and the contact with the government agencies? The chase through the streets? Finding the installation? His getting in, false identity, surveying the moon landscapes, on the moon buggy and the pursuit, Tiffany taking him away? The role of Plenty O'Toole and her death? Shady Tree and his connections, his show and his death?
13.The installation, the plans, the doctor, the use of the diamonds?
14.The build-up to the climax, Tiffany and her being abducted by Blofeld, her trying to substitute the tape, her receiving immunity?
15.The film seen as an action investigation rather than a James Bond film – and fulfilling audience expectations for comedy and excitement?
