90 replies to this topic

[YOLT]

After 2 years I watched DAF. The films begins great until Bond wents to the Usa ( what a surprise). Its hard to call all of the film a Bond film, yes there are some good parts but, overall its maybe the weakest. Also I dont like Bond being personal, but there should have been more about Tracy in the film after OHMSS.

[Harmsway]

I've always had a soft spot for DAF - but it's certainly not the weakest IMO. I'd take it over TMWTGG (sorry Loomis), AVTAK, LTK, TWINE, and DAD. Sure it has its craptastic moments, but from my viewpoint, just the fact that it has Sean Connery is enough to make it worth watching. The pre-titles are absolute fun, and the opening scene w/ Bond and Tiffany is priceless. Not to mention the gripping elevator fight and the Bond/Blofeld confrontation in the Whyte House.

[Loomis]

I've started to warm to DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER after years of hating it, thanks largely to freemo's enthusiastic posts. As you say, Harmsway, "just the fact that it has Sean Connery is enough to make it worth watching", but there are other good things about it (such as the terrific comic chemistry between Connery and Jill St. John, and John Barry's score; great work by Ken Adam, too). Not a rotten film by any means.

[Qwerty]

I've started to warm to DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER after years of hating it, thanks largely to freemo's enthusiastic posts. As you say, Harmsway, "just the fact that it has Sean Connery is enough to make it worth watching", but there are other good things about it (such as the terrific comic chemistry between Connery and Jill St. John, and John Barry's score; great work by Ken Adam, too). Not a rotten film by any means.

I'm with you Loomis. I first saw it and loved it, then hated it for several years. Now I thoroughly enjoy it. It's a light film that, while not as serious as it's preceeding ones, I think it really works.

Positive Points-

Tiffany Case (Before finale)
Wint & Kidd
Locations (Gaudy, but definitely James Bond)
Barry's score
Production Design

[Moore Not Less]

For me, DAF is one of the weakest Bond films, but it has enough entertainment value that makes it well worth watching. I am not so critical of Sean Connery's performance in DAF as I am of his performance in YOLT. In DAF he looks more interested and I tend to believe that he adjusted his performance to suit the more comical nature of the film. There are certainly some moments of the old Connery magic, e.g. the fight in the lift between Bond and Peter Franks.

Other highlights include Wint and Kidd, Bond shoots "Blofeld" with the piton gun, some good dialogue and good humour, John Barry's score.

[Brian Flagg]

I'm not ashamed to admit that I've always loved DAF. When I watch it nowadays, all of the genuinely wacky elements of the film are really entertaining. The bizaare depiction of Americans (Willard Whyte, Wint & Kidd, the Marc Lawrence character, Shady Tree) and one of my favorite scenes is at the carnival when the kid yells at the carny after Tiffany Case wins: "What is she, your mother?" Priceless stuff in terms of humor. Even Q is in fine spirits, testing his latest gadget on the slot machines and probably just glad that Connery was back in the series, if only for one last time. Also, the scenes showing Vegas at night are great for any "Lounge" fan. The early 1970s was such a surreal time, especially if you look at them via DAF. I used to take DAF at face value when I was a kid, enjoying Connery's return and the seemingly straightforward adventure it seemed to be. Now, it's entertaining on another level entirely. My advice would be to watch it and enjoy it for what it is, rather than what you think it should be. You'll be better off and you'll even like the movie more.

Oh, and a great performance from Connery after his no-show in YOLT.

Edited by Brian Flagg, 27 June 2004 - 08:06 PM.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

It's funny. I'm playing DAF on my DVD player with the audio commentary when I discovered this thread. It was the first Connery Bond film that I saw on TV as a kid. DAF is often labeled the "worst" Connery Bond film but I find it one of the easiest 007 movies to watch. It's actually a good one to use to introduce friends to older Bond films. The surreal aspects as mentioned above by Brian Flagg, the memorable supporting characters, the garish tackiness, the allusions to Howard Hughes, the multiple Blofelds, the Las Vegas locations, the Mustang chase, Jill St. John's underrated turn as the cocky Tiffany Case and the very playful on-screen chemistry between her and Connery all make it a very watchable, entertaining and underrated Bond film. In some ways, DAF has even more of an "Austin Powers" feel than YOLT does. That "feel" would be all wrong for a Timothy Dalton Bond film or an early Connery film, but in DAF it works.

[YOLT]

As you can understand from my nickname I prefer YOLT a billion times to DAF. The story and the locations are much more intereesting.

[Loomis]

I prefer YOLT a billion times to DAF.

Same here. I've never understood why YOLT seems to get such a rough ride in fandom. It seems to be the one Bond film that Bond fans just don't mention. And I really don't know why - it's terrific stuff.

[Qwerty]

I prefer YOLT a billion times to DAF.

Same here. I've never understood why YOLT seems to get such a rough ride in fandom. It seems to be the one Bond film that Bond fans just don't mention. And I really don't know why - it's terrific stuff.

For me, I find those two films to be very close in the way I look at them. Both great films, not as liked as Thunderball for me, but classic James Bond nonetheless.

[Brian Flagg]

I prefer YOLT a billion times to DAF.

Same here. I've never understood why YOLT seems to get such a rough ride in fandom. It seems to be the one Bond film that Bond fans just don't mention. And I really don't know why - it's terrific stuff.

Well, since it's been brought up, YOLT's lack of "greatness" (though I really like it-always been into the "Hero-Fakes-His Death-Routine") is because Connery didn't step up and give a good performance. Everything else was just right (except Helga Brandt; ugh.) but Connery acted like a Prima donna and sulked like the pampered millionaire he was (I love Connery as Bond; his offscreen persona is another thing). That attitude of his showed on the screen and deep sixed YOLT. Otherwise, I really like YOLT, but to me it's always been a "What if Connery had his act together?" question.

Oh, and to stay on topic: His performance in DAF was his his liveliest since TB.

[freemo]

Wonder film, so entertaining, so watchable. Impossible to tire of it. Some terrific dialogue (Collars and cuffs, one of us smells like a tarts handkerchief, If we were to blow up Kansas) great characters (especially the minor ones like Bambi & Thumper and Wilard Whyte, but also Blofeld and Tiffany), and I even like Vegas as a location (what better place for a car chase). Good script, some great story telling particularly early on. Love the "snakepit situations", like Bond nearly getting cremated. This film throws everything into it, but instead feeling tired and bloated like Octopussy or A View to a Kill, it's comic book cool.

How about Bond ripping of "Marie's" bikini top and strangling her with it. Damn, when was the last time they did something cool like that? Now it's wiping tears off computer monitors and surfing past CGI icebergs. Really folks, which is better? Which could you watch again and again?

It's the last of the "adult" Bond films. The sex in the latter films is "march straight to the headmasters office young man", but DAF's more along the lines of "Go to bed, this is for grown-ups".

I think I'll watch Diamonds Are Forever when I get home from work tonight.

[Harmsway]

I prefer YOLT a billion times to DAF.

Same here. I've never understood why YOLT seems to get such a rough ride in fandom. It seems to be the one Bond film that Bond fans just don't mention. And I really don't know why - it's terrific stuff.

I agree. YOLT is quite possibly the most underrated Bond film.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

Yes, I always had a soft spot for this film, just because Connery was in it. It has weak moments, most notably the script and lack of action. The finale doesn't help either, since it was unfinished due to schedule conflicts. But overall, a fun and comical film, just right for the times. The world was scary at that time, and this new change in the Bond films was a good way to go (if not critically).

[Brian Flagg]

But overall, a fun and comical film, just right for the times. The world was scary at that time.

Yeah, the world is definitely not scary now, or say, during 1914-1918, or 1939-1945 or when the Power Rangers ruled afternoon television...

Edited by Brian Flagg, 28 June 2004 - 12:51 PM.

[Turn]

Why oh why do so people carry on about Tracy's death not being dealt with enough in DAF? I think Bond extracts his revenge in just the right way and we move on with it. Since the books were reversed, there's little we can do about how it was done.

[Qwerty]

Why oh why do so people carry on about Tracy's death not being dealt with enough in DAF? I think Bond extracts his revenge in just the right way and we move on with it. Since the books were reversed, there's little we can do about how it was done.

Yes, the film does accomplish showing that there was a tragedy in the past film, and then it quickly gets with Bond going on his mission. I just think, in my opinion, that it does that just too quickly to leave a huge impact on the viewer.

Perhaps it had to do with Connery coming back to the role, and people might have been more interested in seeing him in the precredits, rather than: what will Bond do about Tracy's death in the precredits.

[Moore Not Less]

Yes, the film does accomplish showing that there was a tragedy in the past film, and then it quickly gets with Bond going on his mission. I just think, in my opinion, that it does that just too quickly to leave a huge impact on the viewer.

Yes, Tracy's death is dealt with too quickly and then it's all completely forgotten about. I don't think that it was done in the right way either, apart from the moment where Bond strangles Maria? with her bikini top. That is the only moment where I really believe that Bond is extracting any kind of revenge for Tracy's death. The other moments are generally too lighthearted by comparison.

[PaulZ108]

DAF is one of those movies where, even though it's obviously absurd and doesn't seem like it should be that good, I just can't help but love it. Like Qwerty said, the locations, production design, and score all just seemed to work perfectly with the film. It's complete fluff, but it works.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

God help me, I've always had a soft spot for this one. DAF was one of the first Bond films I saw, and it's kind of stuck with me through the years. I can still remember watching the cremation and Whyte House scenes with fascination. I agree with Freemo on the dialogue ("Exceptionally fine shot." "I didn't know there was a pool down there.") and location, even though it makes the film look ridiculously campy and dated today. Then again, Vegas is pretty campy itself all the time, innit? Also love the brutal fight betwen Bond and Franks on the elevator. For me, it ranks right up there with the Grant fight. (As I'm writing this, I realize that Connery had most of the good fights of the series.)

My only gripes are the underusage of Vegas (I really felt it was the ultimate playground for Bond, especially in the wake of Tracy's death--hookers n' gamblin' and all that), the underusage of the revenge plot, Tiffany Case gets on my case by the end of the film, and of course...

The pink tie.

[Qwerty]

Yes, the film does accomplish showing that there was a tragedy in the past film, and then it quickly gets with Bond going on his mission. I just think, in my opinion, that it does that just too quickly to leave a huge impact on the viewer.

Yes, Tracy's death is dealt with too quickly and then it's all completely forgotten about. I don't think that it was done in the right way either, apart from the moment where Bond strangles Maria? with her bikini top. That is the only moment where I really believe that Bond is extracting any kind of revenge for Tracy's death. The other moments are generally too lighthearted by comparison.

I really, really enjoy this film. However, while Connery's strangling of Marie to get the answers does seem like Bond in a pissed off mood, wanting what he needs to get, the opening scenes with various people and Connery during the precredits just seem slightly bland, in my view.

Ah well, still a very good Bond film.

[Glor (009)]

While it has a few weaknesses, I love a lot of parts of DAF. It's got Plenty, and Jill St. John looks amazing at that time, and there are definitely some great lines.

"I was out walking my rat and I seem to have lost my way".

I love that.

I do hate the pink tie though.

[Wade]

While it has a few weaknesses, I love a lot of parts of DAF. It's got Plenty, and Jill St. John looks amazing at that time, and there are definitely some great lines.

"I was out walking my rat and I seem to have lost my way".

I love that.

I do hate the pink tie though.

DAF was my first Bond and, thus, my favorite. The whole scene of Connery riding the elevator up to the top of the Whyte House, one foot kicked leisurely up over the other, and then firing pitons into the side of the building and hanging out over the strip, with John Barry's mournful, atmospheric music behind him ... it certainly won me over. It's that kind of effortless magic that the films of today need. CG effects be damned. We KNOW they're fake. But when you see Rick Sylvester ski off a precipice at the beginning of TSWLM ... and then fall ... and fall ... and fall ...

Why can't Babs and Mickey do that today? The surfing scene at the beginning was close. But fans don't want to see money and CG. We want to see EFFORT. ENERGY. MAGIC.

[Qwerty]

I do hate the pink tie though.

Plenty of people do.

I just don't seem to have a problem with that, as it seems apart of this lighter Bond film.

[Von Hammerstein]

I've posted this before but DAf is one of my favorites because it was the first James Bond Film I'd seen in a theatre. I had seen Goldfinger previously on TV. But with Connery back in action, it was great fun. I also have a soft spot for the quirky Mister Wint and Mister Kidd. Blofeld was his most elegant, refined and cerebral as Charles
Gray played him (though I like Telly Savalas' Blofeld the best.) And Tiffany Case was just fun. Then there were the quips, (But of course you are, I didn't know there was a pool down there, I've smelt that aftershave before and each time I've smelt a rat, Right Idea, but wrong pussy) and John Barry's awesome score. All in all a fun time at the movies with a definite James Bond classic.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

DAF also benefits from one of the best written(not so much for story but for dialogue) screenplays in the series, thanks to the underrated Tom Mankiewicz, and from John Barry's jazzy score. I have a feeling if Henry Mancini had ever composed a Bond music score it would have sounded a lot like DAF's.

[Qwerty]

DAF also benefits from one of the best written(not so much for story but for dialogue) screenplays in the series, thanks to the underrated Tom Mankiewicz, and from John Barry's jazzy score. I have a feeling if Henry Mancini had ever composed a Bond music score it would have sounded a lot like DAF's.

I myself have underrated Tom Mankiewicz. It is interesting that Connery called it the best screenplay yet when they were filming. Mankiewicz seems to be a terrific writer that is extremely conscious of how the fans will look at things in the Bond films. Both when writing, and when speaking of the Bond films.

[Nightman]

Diamonds Are Forever, is probably one of the weakest Bond movies. After reading the book, I had a total feeling for what the movie would be about. I was disappointed when I watched DAF. Not like the book at all, it's a shame.

I have to agree that Connery does make it watchable. I find myself watching it occassionally, but not as often as many other Connery Bond films.

[Brian Flagg]

Okay, with three threads going on DAF, it's impossible for me to resist watching it tonight! Ahh, the joy of CBn!

I would also like to add that the version of "007" is probably the best in the series. The string-laden version used in DAF only helps add to the loungey feel of the film and once again, Barry knew exactly what to do.

[Qwerty]

Not like the book at all, it's a shame.

While I love that book though, it kind of was a letdown after the first three.