Diamonds Are Forever Review

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 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 think DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER is 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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