166 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

Also, BOND should have been more cruel with Blofeld and so should have Blofeld.

Probably, but it just didn't seem to be the route that fim was taking.

Welcome to CBn, by the way.

[theMoorethemerrier]

I'm fairly new here, btw hi!

I just wanted to say that DAF is unforgivably bad, almost bordering on AVTAK bad. It was dumb to bring Connery back in the first place. I def. wish Lazenby had done this, for sure, and it had been more of a revenge movie on Bond's part for Tracy. I read a very cool rewrite thats been posted on these forums and that has been sent me about what could have been, and it blows the real thing out of the water ten times!

[Napoleon Solo]

Whilst it does all look a touch tatty, that's why I really rather like it and am fond of the old tosh. No expense spent, except on the big Scottish bloke administering slappage.

On the commentary soundtrack, Guy Hamilton says it was Bob Simmons in the first part of the sequence. They didn't plan to show Bond's face, so they didn't even use Connery until Bond encounters the woman.

[deth]

This is OT, but I love the synopsis that my tv guide gives for tonights showing of DAF:

"James Bond, agent 007, saves the world from Blofeld's space laser and bikini-clad amazons Bambi and Thumper."

[Mr. Blofeld]

"James Bond, agent 007, saves the world from Blofeld's space laser and bikini-clad amazons Bambi and Thumper."

Dear Lord, they are severely misinformed.

[deth]

makes it sound like some sort of sleazy B-movie...


wait...

[Mr. Blofeld]

makes it sound like some sort of sleazy B-movie...


wait...

Heh heh, touch

[Aston 2]

I saw Diamonds in packed theatres (several times) during it's first run and audiences were thrilled by the PTS and return of Connery. You have to remember that prior to TSWLM, the pre title sequence had not yet become the "Can You Top THAT?!" extravaganzas that have followed. Bond films are products of their times, and when DAF was made, movies were for the most part much simpler.

[Mr. Blofeld]

I saw Diamonds in packed theatres (several times) during it's first run and audiences were thrilled by the PTS and return of Connery.

They must have been half-blind, though; in DAF, Connery looks flabbier than he did in YOLT!

[deth]

that, and his eyebrows doubled in bushiness!

personally, I wish they would have just ended the pretitles with Bond still searching for Blofeld... of course, that would have meant giving more impact to the Vegas meeting, and then I suppose Connery would have have had to try to express an emotion when he encounters him in Vegas like he tried to do in the pretitles...

wait...

[Mr. Blofeld]

that, and his eyebrows doubled in bushiness!

personally, I wish they would have just ended the pretitles with Bond still searching for Blofeld... of course, that would have meant giving more impact to the Vegas meeting, and then I suppose Connery would have have had to try to express an emotion when he encounters him in Vegas like he tried to do in the pretitles...

wait...

Why didn't they just kill off Blofeld in the PTS, like this?

[triviachamp]

Why didn't they just kill off Blofeld in the PTS, like this?

Harry Saltzman loved the trick PTS, especially with faked deaths.

[Napoleon Solo]

I saw Diamonds in packed theatres (several times) during it's first run and audiences were thrilled by the PTS and return of Connery.

They must have been half-blind, though; in DAF, Connery looks flabbier than he did in YOLT!

I was 13 when DAF hit theaters. The audience loved seeing Connery back, despite his appearance.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Why didn't they just kill off Blofeld in the PTS, like this?

Harry Saltzman loved the trick PTS, especially with faked deaths.

Didn't he love Per Fine Ounce, as well? Perhaps this was going to be a part of it...

[PrinceKamalKhan]

I saw Diamonds in packed theatres (several times) during it's first run and audiences were thrilled by the PTS and return of Connery.

They must have been half-blind, though; in DAF, Connery looks flabbier than he did in YOLT!

I was 13 when DAF hit theaters. The audience loved seeing Connery back, despite his appearance.

Was the general consensus back then: "boy we're glad that Lazenby is gone" or did anyone miss Laz? Also, did you all think Connery was back to stay after DAF?

[Napoleon Solo]

Was the general consensus back then: "boy we're glad that Lazenby is gone" or did anyone miss Laz? Also, did you all think Connery was back to stay after DAF?

As I remember it, DAF seemed like an event with the return of Connery. I'm not sure anyone thought Connery would return. Personally, I figured it might be the last film of the series; the first time I saw it, I didn't stay seated for all of the end titles and the, "James Bond Will Return in Live And Let Die."

[Mr. Blofeld]

I'm not sure anyone thought Connery would return. Personally, I figured it might be the last film of the series.

So, back then, people thought Connery was the end-all, be-all of Bond?

[PrinceKamalKhan]

Was the general consensus back then: "boy we're glad that Lazenby is gone" or did anyone miss Laz? Also, did you all think Connery was back to stay after DAF?

As I remember it, DAF seemed like an event with the return of Connery. I'm not sure anyone thought Connery would return. Personally, I figured it might be the last film of the series; the first time I saw it, I didn't stay seated for all of the end titles and the, "James Bond Will Return in Live And Let Die."

If DAF had been the finale of the series, that would have been an enjoyable way to end the series. Thankfully though, EON had other ideas as we all know.

[Napoleon Solo]

I'm not sure anyone thought Connery would return. Personally, I figured it might be the last film of the series.

So, back then, people thought Connery was the end-all, be-all of Bond?

That was the consensus, yes. (my opinion of the situation, based on more than 30-year-old memories)

[Turn]

I'm not sure anyone thought Connery would return. Personally, I figured it might be the last film of the series.

So, back then, people thought Connery was the end-all, be-all of Bond?

That was the consensus, yes. (my opinion of the situation, based on more than 30-year-old memories)

I was just a real little kid at the time but even I remember how excited people were about Connery's return as Bond. So many young fans don't know how people still pined for Connery's return as Bond even when Moore was racking up successful films during his era.

And despite so many people's love of Lazenby here, nobody missed him or wanted him back at that time. It's good people give him a chance now and respect his work in OHMSS and would have liked him to have stayed as Bond, but people wanted Connery and dismissed Laz.

[Napoleon Solo]

I think it was the book "James Bond and the Cinema" where the author wrote that Bond was different than other movie series (particularly Tarzan) in that the public ONLY wanted Sean Connery. No other actor would do. That book was published inbetween Diamonds Are Forever and Live And Let Die.

This attitude persisted throughout the Moore era and beyond for people of a certain age. In 1983, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert each gave "thumbs up" on Never Say Never Again only because Connery was Bond. Siskel, in particular, was emphatic on this point.

[triviachamp]

In 1983, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert each gave "thumbs up" on Never Say Never Again only because Connery was Bond. Siskel, in particular, was emphatic on this point.

That seemed to be the critic's take on NSNA generally. Didn't Moore quip that NSNA was the first time he was panned for a movie he wasn't in?

[bonds_walther]

Cai-Cai-Cairo!

[DaveBond21]

So, back then, people thought Connery was the end-all, be-all of Bond

Of course. Some people never saw another Bond film again, and some still say that he is the one and only Bond to this day.

[Qwerty]

In 1983, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert each gave "thumbs up" on Never Say Never Again only because Connery was Bond. Siskel, in particular, was emphatic on this point.

That seemed to be the critic's take on NSNA generally. Didn't Moore quip that NSNA was the first time he was panned for a movie he wasn't in?

Seem to recall hearing something similar to that.

[dodge]

And yet it may have been the most effective send-off of any Bond in history. In every frame the PTS foretold how bad the film would be...and made us feel glad from the get-go to see ConBond hang up his shingle. He accomplished what Lazenby couldn't and blew himself out of the water.

[MHazard]

And yet it may have been the most effective send-off of any Bond in history. In every frame the PTS foretold how bad the film would be...and made us feel glad from the get-go to see ConBond hang up his shingle. He accomplished what Lazenby couldn't and blew himself out of the water.

I'm not sure if you're talking about the DAF PTS or the NSNA PTS. I don't really agree in either case. The biggest problem with the DAF PTS is that Bond seems to have forgotten that Blofeld killed his wife. I actually think the "where is he... I won't ask you nicely next time" (or whatever the exact line is) was good. Killing a Charles Gray Blofeld in mud was not. The PTS in NSNA was actually pretty good although hurt by an insipid soundtrack.

The point I would like to add is that I saw DAF when it first came out (I was about Napoleon Solo's-the poster not the Robert Vaughan characters) age. By the end of that movie I was left with the feeling that it was time for Sean to hang it up. He looked old and out of shape and like he had back trouble. I think he actually looked in better shape and more like Bond in NSNA a movie which I enjoyed (but can't sit through the last third of) despite its many flaws because of the good acting of its cast, particularly Sean, despite an incredibly weak script.

Perhaps I have strayed off topic but, oh well.

[bonds_walther]

Just watched DAF recently; I can't think of a worse PTS. It's a shame really because the film is OK up to the point where Tiffany Case goes to the circus. After that, I switched off.

[Colossus]

I'd say FYEO, AVTAK or LTK are worse.

AVTAK you have gramps getting down with a girl a third his age in a floating love-shack while his stuntman relives the TSWLM opening.

FYEO is a shame because it starts out so touching by the grave, and this great moment is trashed by the cartoon that follows. In LTK the pacing seems really forced, grandpa Felix running slowmo with a grimace like he has to take the biggest crap ever.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Just watched DAF recently; I can't think of a worse PTS.

Me, neither; during every frame of this film, I kept yelling "Oh, come on!" in disbelief.