Diamonds Are Forever

Next up we have the 1971 classic, “Diamonds Are Forever.” While looking at strange activities in the world diamond market, James Bond finds out his old enemy Blofeld is buying the gems to power up his dangerous laser satellite. With the help of a beautiful smuggler Tiffany Case, Bond goes to stop his enemy – as the fate of human life is resting in his hands!

After the small mistake of George Lazenby’s short run as Bond, the makers of the franchise gave Connery another huge paycheck to reprise the role one more time for a while. Ian Nathan stated in his review, “The result, while never losing Bond’s populist streak (it was another big hit), reveals more cracks than it ought. Connery ageing quickly, his hairline indeterminately assisted, doesn’t fully recapture the swagger of his halcyon adventures.”

Nathan goes on to say, “The plot, one of Ian Fleming’s better, is effectively unusual for its first half — a genuine piece of global policing for the British agent as he traces the diamond-studded clues from Amsterdam to Las Vegas (this remains the most Americanised of all the films), but here it founders with the re-appearance of Charles Gray, the third and least of the actors to play Blofeld.” Charles Gray is too superior and funny, with none of the coldness that Donald Pleasance had. Nathan mentioned, “The big finale, wastefully spilling about an oilrig off the Californian coast, is a washout compared to the glorious, Ken Adams-designed uber-bases we were accustomed to.”

Nathan mentioned, “Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, Bond’s guiding lights, were furiously trying to recapture the glory of Goldfinger, Bond’s high-water mark, corralling its director Guy Hamilton, writer Richard Maibaum and Welsh diva Shirley Bassey for a second opportunity to roll her tonsils around a theme song (a good one).” However, this is distant, a mirror of style and limitation of “Goldfinger,” with too much focus on action (a ridiculous moonbuggy chase in the Nevada desert is a weak attempt) and serious violence (Bambi and Thumper (Lola Larson and Trina Parks), two beautiful acrobats, beat so much out of poor Bond at a part that goes dangerously out of the fantasy realm).

Only, the cool quake in having Bond play the loud tables of Vegas, an opposite of the rich look of Monte Carlo. Jill St. John’s gorgeous redhead and the comic duo of henchman, Mr. Kidd and Mr. Wint (Putter Smith and Bruce Glover), murderers with, how Nathan put it, “a horribly leery modus operandi, stand the test of time.” Our fan favorite Connery, is clearly back against his better judgement and no sign of John Barry doing the songs, and intense pyrotechnics could finally fire the spark of his prime.

Connery has mad skills with great stunts, savvy dialogue and a crowd of beautiful Bond women. This is definitely not one to be missed since Connery is back one more time as Bond, and he, as always, kills it in the role. It may not be a good one, but I still enjoyed it a lot and do say watch it.

Look out tomorrow when we get our first look at a new actor to play 007 in “James Bond Month.”