34 replies to this topic

[bizzare7]

Every time I watch Diamonds Are Forever I notice this and it bothers me everytime. It has recently occured to me that when in doubt, ask you guys. I know there are problems with this movie, plot holes being a small fraction, but this one just confuses me. There are probably other forums that answer this but rather than search through the endless archives I though this would be easier. So where were the diamonds hidden in Peter Franks' body when Felix asks and Bond replies "Elementary Dr. Leiter"?

[Dr. Tynan]

No, he says "Alimentary Dr. Leiter" It's a take on that old Sherlock Holmes saying There is a thing inside the human body called the Alimentary canal.

[Triton]

The line is actually "Alimentary, Dear Leiter" though with Sean Connery's accent many think he is saying "elementary". Alimentary refers to the alimentary canal which runs from the mouth to the anus. In other words, the diamonds were smuggled in Peter Franks' digestive system.

[Dr. Tynan]

Oh, welcome to CBN

At the premiere (I think) of DAF, some man laughed out loud. One of the producers or whoever said "That's probably a Doctor".

[Dr. Tynan]

Sorry about that Triton I didn't realise you were in the process of writing your post when I wrote mine. Not to worry, yours was more informative than mine.

[Qwerty]

Took me a few times to underastand that line when I first saw the film.

[Triton]

At the premiere (I think) of DAF, some man laughed out loud. One of the producers or whoever said "That's probably a Doctor".

Tom Mankiewicz has some great anecdotes in his commentaries and interviews on the Special Edition DVDs.

[Bizzare8]

Thanks that really clears things up. Wow that didnt take long

[Qwerty]

Thanks that really clears things up. Wow that didnt take long

Always an answer on CBn.

[Brix Bond]

"James, how the hell do we get those diamonds out?"

[Dr. Tynan]

Not being rude, Bizzare8, but did you forget your log in number?

If so you can get a new number without having to re-register and you can keep your old name. That's if it happens again. Just click on "Forgotten your password."

[Triton]

Sorry about that Triton I didn't realise you were in the process of writing your post when I wrote mine. Not to worry, yours was more informative than mine.

No problem.

[Johnboy007]

I figured this one out not that long ago, when we were discussing the digestive system in Biology. I remember thinking, "Ohhhhhhhhhh, I get it now!"

[Brix Bond]

Yes yes yes, but how the hell did they retrieve the diamonds?

[Peter]

My question is how did Bond get them into Franks' ailamentary tract?

Can you imagine stuffing a bunch of diamonds down a dead guy's throat?!

It's possible that got someone to do it for them, but I imagine Bond would have to do it with Tiffany right there. I'm glad we were spared that scene (not te mention Tiffany's cringeing!)

As for getting them out, that seems clear:

When Franks' body was cremated, the body burned, but not the diamonds. That's why the diamonds are in the urn along with (presumably) the rest of Franks' corpse.

[Johnboy007]

Yes yes yes, but how the hell did they retrieve the diamonds?

Surgery. Cut him open, Franks was dead, why should it matter?

To answer Peter's question: I imagine they would unstring them, and either, in strands of diamonds, or individually pour them in his throat, then straighten him to let the diamonds fall in to his stomach. Gross, yes but necessary.

I imagine those diamonds had to be cleaned when they were extracted.

A lovely subject all in all.

[Qwerty]

Um.....ick.

Or they could just cremate him for them such as in the film.

[Johnboy007]

Or they could just cremate him for them such as in the film.

Wouldn't that risk damaging the diamonds? Or are diamonds unable to burn, or be defaced by flame?

[Peter]

On a tangent, how, in Tiffany's words, the hell did they get the diamonds down from the satellite at the end of the film!

Or is a fortune in diamonds still circling the earth waiting for one of us?!

I don't think diamonds can be damaged in fire. They are 12 on a scale of 10 in hardness. The fire to cremate someone isn't *that* hot! They would probably need polishing, which they eliminate in the film for artistic licence.

Edited by Peter, 10 May 2004 - 11:39 PM.

[Johnboy007]

I imagine the U.S. government took it down, then sold it on eBay.

[Peter]

Yeah, that and the moon buggy!

That is if you're not spending your money renting Whyte's villa outside of town!

[Qwerty]

Or they could just cremate him for them such as in the film.

Wouldn't that risk damaging the diamonds? Or are diamonds unable to burn, or be defaced by flame?

I'm not exactly positive, might be as Peter suggested, propel them to be cleaned.

[Brix Bond]

Oh yes, they retrieve them after he's been cremated. How silly of me, afterall, I make a point of never watching the bloody movie!

[Peter]

I wonder what they told Peter Franks' mother when they sent her his ashes from Las Vegas?...

[Qwerty]

I wonder what they told Peter Franks' mother when they sent her his ashes from Las Vegas?...

Eeek.

[Turn]

But the diamonds were fakes. Did they just burn up. Shady talks about paste and glass. Were they just going based on assumptions that's what they were?

[Qwerty]

But the diamonds were fakes. Did they just burn up. Shady talks about paste and glass. Were they just going based on assumptions that's what they were?

Shady looked at the diamonds though?

[Turn]

But the diamonds were fakes. Did they just burn up. Shady talks about paste and glass. Were they just going based on assumptions that's what they were?

Shady looked at the diamonds though?

And furthermore, just how did Q get ahold of the diamonds? Ah well, just chalk it up to the charm of DAF.

[Qwerty]

Ah well, just chalk it up to the charm of DAF.

I suppose so, seems to be just one of those 'things' you have to accept to allow the film to move onwards.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

But why the pink tie, I ask?

WHY!?