Monday, November 21, 2016

Diamonds Are Forever Review (Updated)












Diamonds Are Forever


Release Date: 23rd December 1971 - Australia


Production Companies
Eon Productions (made by)
Danjaq



Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 120 minutes 


Budget: $7,200,000

Box Office Gross: $116,001,197 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
There's been a lot of theft of South African diamonds, but the diamonds weren't on the world market for a long time. It is James Bond's mission to discover who has these diamonds. He learns that Ernst Blofeld has constructed a gigantic laser machine orbiting the Earth, which uses diamantine to amplify its energy, causing nuclear warheads, missiles and submarines to detonate. Blofeld plans to hold an international auction, with nuclear domination going to the highest bid.

Proving that diamonds aren't just a girl's best friend, Bond pursues his nemesis to his oil rig base off the coast of California.


Cast
Sean Connery - James Bond
Jill St. John - Tiffany Case
Charles Gray - Ernest Stavro Blofeld
Jimmy Dean - Willard Whyte
Putter Smith - Mr. Kidd
Bruce Glover - Mr. Wint
Joseph Furst - Dr. Metz
Bruce Cabot - Bert Saxby
Norman Burton - Felix Leiter
Bernard Lee - M
Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny
Desmond Llewelyn - Q
Lana Wood - Plenty O'Toole
Trina Parks - Thumper
Lola Larson - Bambi
Joe Robinson - Peter Franks
David de Keyser - Doctor
Laurence Naismith - Sir Donald Munger
David Bauer - Mr. Slumber
Marc Lawrence - Slumber Inc. Attendant
Sid Haig - Slumber Inc. Attendant

Crew
Director - Guy Hamilton
Based on the Novel "Diamonds Are Forever" and Characters "James Bond" - Ian Fleming (Uncredited)
Screenplay - Richard Maibaum and Tom Mankiewicz
Continuity - Elaine Schreyeck and Del Ross
Associate Producer - Stanley Sopel
Producers - Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman
Production Designer - Ken Adam
Art Directors - Jack Maxsted and
Bill Kenney
Set Decorators - Peter Lamont and
John Austin
Production Buyer - Ron Quelch
Costumes: Miss St. John's - Donfeld
Director of Photography - Ted Moore
Second Unit Cameraman - Harold E. Wellman
Location Managers - Bernard Hanson
and Eddie Saeta
Assistant Directors - Derek Cracknell
and Jerome M. Siegel
Stunt Arrangers - Bob Simmons
Special Effects - Les Hillman and
Whitey McMahon
Visual Effects - Albert Whitlock
and Wally Veevers
Editors - Bert Bates and John W. Holmes
Dubbing Mixer - Gordon K. McCallum
Sound Recordists - John W. Mitchell
and Al Overton
Main Title Designer - Maurice Binder
Composer: The James Bond Theme -
Monty Norman
Lyricist: Song "Diamonds Are Forever" -
Don Black
Performer: Song "Diamonds Are Forever" -
Shirley Bassey


Awards

1972 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Gordon K. McCallum,
John W. Mitchell and Al Overton (Nominated)


Review
After a year of watching a James Bond movie, I decided to review DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER since this is the final curtain call for Sean Connery's tenure as the title character after six films. Unfortunately, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER reinvents the film franchise with a lighter approach, which is distasteful and not loyal to Bond's usual persona. It, unfortunately, wasn't the perfect conclusion for Connery that I hoped for. The story was rushed and elementary, as I feel it should have continued where the previous had left off and explored Bond's personal need for vengeance. There were some enjoyable elements, such as good driving scenes and action. The driving choreography is orchestrated well for its time and doesn't have the same adrenaline impact today as when it first came out.

What draws me to the Bond character is his sense of class and style in the face of grave danger. What I also liked about him is that he always gets the girl. The girl often ends up getting him into trouble. I like Bond's optimism in end-of-world situations where he is always resourced and skilful enough to save the day. What surprises me the most is that in the film, two of the henchwomen that Bond is facing share the same names as the characters from the Disney animated movie (click here).

Now, I don't find DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER a terrible film. It virtually lacks a plot and is a letdown for the Bond fans. Some people fittingly declared that this wasn't the end for Sean Connery's role of 007 as in the next twelve years, he would return to portray the character one last time in the unofficial Bond movie Never Say, Never Again. It's not the best Bond movie, but it's nowhere near worse than a few others.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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