23 replies to this topic

[freemo]

It was 30 odd years ago. George Lazenby fails to impress in his one attempt at playing James Bond in On Her Majestys Secret Service. Despite the film finishing 9th in the Box Office for the year it was still
quite a drop in takings from previous Bond efforts and is considered a failure. Lazenby refuses to sign a contract for future Bond picture and soon finds himself out in the cold striped of the 007 tuxedo. Roger Moore is commited elsewhere and Timothy Dalton is not yet ready for the role. Thankfully, producers drive a dump truck full of money to Sean Connery (who, to his credit donates it all to the Scottish Trust) and convince him to return to the role that made him a star. And so proceding the seventh 007 adventure begins.

Ian Fleming fourth James Bond novel 'Diamonds Are Forever' is one of his weakest. Its desided that the Gangsters, Shady Tree and Tiffany Case will make the transfer to the movie, but the Spang Brothers and the novels plot will be discarded. EON and United Artist are keen to make 'Diamonds Are Forever' the same success as 'Goldfinger' and reinstate Director Guy Hamiton and singer Shirley Bassey to there familar roles. An early script draft by Richard Maiubalm has Gert Forbe returning, this time as Goldfinger's twin brother, but when Albert R Broccoli has a dream about Bond against a villain posing as Howard Hughes, the plot is set, with instead Billionare American Business man Wilard White kidnapped and having the villain use his company as a front for his evil scheme. This posed the question 'Who will the Villian be ?'. Producers were keen to leave OHMSS in the past and not mention it at all, hence no mention of Tracy in the entire film, but the story couldn't be unfinished, Blofeld had to be the villain, but they didn't want the same type of villain from previous films as audiences may tire of him, so Charles Grey portrays a very different Blofeld, one with an English accent and a more aristrocrating demenure. He has also, it appears, to have been striped of SPECTRE, as there is no mention of the Organisation in the film, and he is no longer referred to as 'Number 1'. While his villain is quite acceptable, its a little off putting that he is absolutaly nothing like the previous Blofelds we have seen who were bald,
European and quite mysterious. Perhaps the producers felt that audiences would tire of seeing the same character in yet another film.

With girls, casinos, craps, slot machines, car chases, gangsters, the lights of Vegas, a pent house lair, a pair of homosexual killers, a fortune in diamonds and a threat to hold the world to ransom and Sean Connery, 'Diamonds' trys to be the Bond film that has it all, and while it is an entertaing film, it falls a fair bit short of its potential. With real and fake diamonds floating around, those sneaking the diamonds from the South African Mines, Shady Trre and his gang, the funeral parlor, Plenty O Toole, Tiffany Case and Wint & Kidd, it can get a bit difficult figuring out whos on whose team and what everyones motive is. Deleted scence that turn out to be vital to the plot are left on the cutting room floor. Blofeld eventual plan with the Diamonds, his satelite weapon, is a bit disapointing and seems diabolical and a little chessy. With all the potential build up mentioned above, the prospect of Blofeld instead flooding the market seems a more appealing scheme. Still, it all adds to the fun that is 'Diamonds Are Forever'.

Cont....

[Turn]

I've got to confess, Diamonds Are Forever is one of my personal favorites. Not one of the best by far, but one that's special since it was the first one I saw when it was new in a theater. I was all of 5 years-old.

I'd seen some of the earlier films on rereleases. My parents and uncle were Bond fans and they saw Diamonds at least three times. The drawing cards then were Connery and the offbeatness of it all, perfect for the times.

30 years later, we all know better. It really is a badly put together film. Leiter is useless, the infamous Ca-Ca-Cairo thing, the Mustang coming out the wrong side, etc. But as a pre-schooler, those images of the girls with diamonds in the pre-credit sequence, the fight with Franks in the elevator, the crematorium scene (these are in the news these days, ironically), the moon buggy, etc., registered big time. I remember standing outside the theater and staring at that poster for longest time.

Diamonds Are Forever is certainly near the bottom of the pile of Bond films. But we all had to start somewhere.

[ThomasCrown76]

Being from Kansas, I kinda cringe when I hear Blofeld's line later in the film. This film has its moments, though. The pretitles sequence is one of the best around. The elevator fight is good. The mountaineering outside the Whyte House is pretty good, too. Other than that, everything else is kind of fair. It's too bad this was the one to close out Connery's official reign as Bond. I wish it could have been better, but the studio overreacted after OHMSS, and were scared about the future of Bond. Why, I don't know, but they were scared.

[Alex]

I don't know, when I first saw DAF I liked it, because it was a Bond film and all, but the more I think about it, the more I dislike it. It just has a very unpleasent feel to it, especially after a great film like OHMSS. There's a lot of unnecessary killing and rude humor and so forth. In addition, not only does Connery look old, overweight, and bored, but they completely butchered Blofeld by making him a dapper English fellow. Blofeld's an evil genius, who executes at the slightest hint of failure, not some aging aristocrat who cross-dresses.

Not to say it's not a decent story and all, but the feel is just unpleasent, and every time I try watching it, I like it less and less.

[RossMan]

I've just watched DAF for the first time in about a year or so and have mixed feelings about it. Though it is certainly enjoyable it seems to be more of a light hearted Bond movie like TMWTGG or MR.

I think they should have stuck with Fleming's original plot. Bond should have killed off Blofeld in the pretitle sequence and gotten his revenge than the rest of the film could focus on the Spang brothers and diamond smugglers.

My first reaction at Charles Gray's performance was that he made an acceptable Blofeld but I'm not too sure after seeing him dressed in woman's clothing complete with makeup. That's something one expects from an Austin Powers movie (granted Austin Powers was not created then). Plus the ending seems likes it's missing something. It's pretty unclear about what happened to Blofeld.

[Jim]

I'd agree that there is a slightly odd, more vicious than usual tone to the film. The hand-trap thing, as an example.

I read somewhere the other day that Bambi and Thumper were meant to be lesbian. It's far from overt in the film, but that sets a strange thought going in the head. The Spy who Loved Me aside, which is largely "James Bond takes on James Bond", the Seventies films could be summed up as James Bond being hugely derivative, not wildly original, and taking on Camp, Blaxploitation, Kung Fu and Star Wars. All those points in one film might be worth watching. Spread over four, and it's a little tricky.

[White Persian]

[quote]Jim (10 Aug, 2001 01:41 p.m.):
The diamonds.

2. The diamonds in the chandelier are, we are led to assume, real.

3. Therefore, the diamonds a-crammed into Peter Franks are, we are led to assume, real.

4. Therefore, the diamonds in Peter Franks' body at LAX are, we are led to assume, real.

5. Therefore, the diamonds in Peter Franks' body in the hearse (I godda brudder, how we chortled) are, we are led to assume, real.

6. Therefore the diamonds cut out of Peter Franks' body in Slumber Inc are...fake.

When did the switch happen? <

I see it like this (though I admit the screenplay consistently skips blithely over important plot points)-
Tiffany gives Franks (Bond in disguise) the real diamonds. He's the pro smuggler, it's his job to organize getting them to the States. Bond and MI6 swap the real diamonds for fakes and have them ...er...inserted into the late, real Mr Franks. The real diamonds are sent separately to the CIA (for some reason- presumably just in case things go "pear shaped" and they're needed, otherwise why not return them to their rightful owners?).
Slumber, Tree and co realize the diamonds are fake, just in time to pluck our bloody lucky hero from his about-to-be-cremated coffin ( which seems to cool down again damn quickly!)

On an unrelated Diamonds matter. Cartoon Network here in Oz showed a cartoon called "Kids Next Door" last night. The villains are a pair of life guards called Mr Wink and Mr Pidd. Mr Wink is non-descript, but Mr Pidd, in both appearance and voice, is a spot-on Putter Smith! My family wondered why I laughed like a drain every time he appeared.

[zencat]

I have a real soft spot for Diamonds are Forever, maybe because it was the first Bond movie I ever saw. I think Connery glides through this movie w/ an old pros grace and a certain ballsey confidence. I think it moves very well, and I love the soundtrack. It also has an interesting style -- it's Connery, but it's clearly in the '70s Bond movie mode. It's unique. And seeing what Vegas looked like in 1971 is wild! Oh, and I love the end; "James, how the hell are we gonna get those diamonds back down again?"

Yep, I'm a big Diamonds fan.

[freemo]

Ha, Ha, Yeah. Lieter the Fat slob, poor Lieters appearance changes more rapidly than Blofelds.

"If we destroy Kansas the world may not hear about it for years"

I loved that one too, points to Greys Blofeld for that.

[R]

OK, so Charles Grey might not have been the best Blofeld, but he does get one of the best lines in the whole series:

"If we destroy Kansas the world may not hear about it for years"

Almost worth watching just for that.

[Jim]

The diamonds.

1. What's the point of Wint and Kidd sending Mrs Whistler to Amsterdam. OK, she's a link in the chain, but they've pretended to be "links" beforehand in re: Joe, Dr Tynan, helicopter man (doesn't have a name. Bit sad, that. Surely he lived? Surely he breathed? etc) and Mrs Whistler herself.

Had they taken the Diamonds to Amsterdam themselves, they could have offed Tiffany Case immediately, irritating harridan that she is, and then we'd have been spared her "acting".

2. The diamonds in the chandelier are, we are led to assume, real.

3. Therefore, the diamonds a-crammed into Peter Franks are, we are led to assume, real.

4. Therefore, the diamonds in Peter Franks' body at LAX are, we are led to assume, real.

5. Therefore, the diamonds in Peter Franks' body in the hearse (I godda brudder, how we chortled) are, we are led to assume, real.

6. Therefore the diamonds cut out of Peter Franks' body in Slumber Inc are...fake.

When did the switch happen? Yes, yes, I know 007 'phones Leiter frae his hot bubbly bath later on and asks for the real diamonds, but how the hell did Leiter get hold of them? Perhaps he ate them, the fat slob. Not that Connery is the picture of svelte good health in this film either, porky bugger.

The objections voiced in posts above about Blofeld's change in appearance...hmmm. Isn't that really the fewmoments of Fleming that scraped through into the film. Blofeld changes his appearance significantly between Thunderball and OHMSS, so this is not as ridiculous as it first appears (unless the whole changing appearance thing is ridiculous...damn, it is, innit?).

However, although he delivers that line about the superpowrs flexing their muscles like so many impotent beach boys, which is marginally amusing, Charles Gray is a camp old and about as threatening as Tuesday.

This is my view. 'Bye.

[mrmoon]

I love DAF. It is one of the most enjoyable to watch because you don't really have to concentrate on whats happening. I really love parts of the score aswell. In particular the part where bond in all his wisdom decides to dangle from the top of the whyte house by a single cable. Just put the movie on at that point and listen, it's superb. I also think wint + kidd were probably the best henchman in the series.

[freemo]

...From Previous

Despite its short comings, 'Diamonds' is a box office smash and in adjusted figures is the sixth best of the Bond flicks and 30 years on its still as enjoyable as the next film, and despite the fact that in just
3 years time the future of 007 is set to be in jeprody, 'Diamonds Are Forever' contains alot of why so many people love the Bond series. Thats includes Connery who, at just 41 is looking a little old, fat and would be balding if not for the wig, but there is no dispute that everyone is thrilled to have him back for one more ride. Sean Connery ends his official carrer as Bond in true 007 style, in a tuxedo, holding the girl in his arms after disposing of the villains, looking
up at the night sky with Tiffany from their cruise ship balcony wondering 'How are we going to get those diamonds down ?'

Personally , I like the film, its not as well written as the other Connery outings, but is a film that one can never get tired of. Heap of fun, even if it was a beginning to the slightly lackluster seventies where Bond had to find his feet again.

[James Page]

After watching DAF, one image is always imprinted on me - that bloody pink tie!

When they remaster it next time around, I hope someone key's the tie to a different, less camp, colour.

[Alex Zamudio]

Diamonds are Forever is a horrible film, I can

[Blofeld's Cat]

It's a bit hard to keep yourself secret when you use your own name on the Playboy card.
May be Tiffany worked there once processing applications.

[Blue Eyes]

I have always wondered one thing about DAF.

"You just killed James Bond!"

What the heck? Since when was Bond a house-hold name. Perhaps I continually miss something but everyone seems to know who James Bond is and that he works for MI6!

[Victor Zokas]

I've always liked DAf a lot. I'd always looked on it as being kind of surreal in places. It may not always make sense, but I love some of the one-liners. If only they could get someone to write some jokes that were half as good for the Brosnan movies.

[Bon-san]

A few observations in regards to Mr. Zamudio's last post in which he trashed DAF, LALD and TMWTGG. 1) Vegas in 1971 was not like Vegas today. It was relatively small-time and not nearly as photogenic. 2) The Gorilla Cage bit was impromptu and utilized a non-actor hotel employee in the role of the mad scientist. 3) I've always felt DAF should be embraced as an anomaly among the Bond films; existing as it does in a somewhat sad, confused, post-Altamont, pre-Watergate universe; the first Bond flick aimed squarely at, and derived unabashedly from Americans and Americana. 4) As for LALD and TMWTGG, if you were alive in the early 70's you should understand. If you weren't, then learn. 5) Whatever the defects of these films ( and there certainly are some), the pleasures guilty and otherwise make up for them in spades. 6) Perhaps you just don't appreciate the Mankiewitz wit? Nevertheless, some thought-provoking ideas from Mr. Zamudio. Thanks for that.

[Mister Asterix]

Alex Zamudio (14 Dec, 2001 08:26 p.m.):(edited)
...the funeral house scenes and the Gorilla cage bit are just cheesy...

I went to Circus, Circus in 1972 (a year after James Bond was there) and if anything in that casino appeared cheesy then they got it dead right.

[scaramanga]

Frankly, DAF is the campest and most tacky of all the films in the series. What with a pair of gay hitmen, Charles Gray as Blofeld and whilst performing his stand-up comedy act during the course of the film he appears in drag! Also, fatman Connery's fashion sense and all those hit or miss (mostly the latter) sexually orientated jokes. But apart from all that, it's a thoroughly enjoyable film. And - Shirley Bassey's theme song is one of the best in the series.

[AlphaSigOU]

Having lived in Las Vegas for a brief while, a few of the locations used in Diamonds Are Forever are still around, but barely recognizable from their 70s appearance:

The Whyte House - Part of the building is the former International Hotel, now the Las Vegas Hilton. The tall tower behind it is a matte painting. The hotel tower has been greatly expanded since 1971.

Slumber, Inc. - Palm Mortuary in Henderson, Nevada (just south of the corner of Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Road). The area today is surrounded by commercial development.

Willard Whyte Techtronics - Johns-Manville gypsum plant outside of Las Vegas.

[Dr. Tynan]

I must admit I very much like DAF, it was one of the films that turned me into a Bond fan. Perhaps some (or maybe even all of it) doesn't make sense, I've never thought about that. And, also, that doesn't bother me.

About DAF I like:

Mr. Wint & Mr. Kidd.

Kidd and Wint's accompanying music.

The desert scene.

The Bambi and Thumper scene (and Bambi and Thumper themselves).

I also like some of the lines. Some of which are:

"Burt Saxby? Tell'im he's fired."

"The Scorpion!"

"Mother nature's finest killer Mr. Wint."

[Blofeld's Cat]

In my opinion, Connery really showed his age in DAF.
He was still athletic, but his face was very weathered.
And that toupee!
It looked terrible in that scene where he rides the elevator to the top of the Whyte House. It looked wind-blown while nothing else around it did.