| Diamonds Are Forever (1971) | |
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Rating: 6.5/10 (113,779 votes) Director: Guy Hamilton Writer: Richard Maibaum, Tom Mankiewicz, Ian Fleming Stars: Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray Runtime: 120 min Rated: GP Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller Released: 17 Dec 1971 |
| Plot: A diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon. | |
The pre-credits action this time revolve around Bond tracking down and finally killing Blofeld (or at least that’s what he is led to believe). After the credits, the main story begins, with Bond being sent on an assignment to investigate a diamond smuggling racket. It is believed that diamonds are being stockpiled ready to cripple the economy by dumping them all on the market. We are also introduced to the most cringeworthy villains in Connery era Bond, Mr Wint and Mr Kidd, who are killing people involved in the smuggling and taking the diamonds. Throw in laser satellites, and all the articles are in place.
It is perhaps for the best that Connery left after this film (excluding the unofficial Never Say Never Again) as it is one of the weakest films in the series, and after seeing how Lazenby performed in the action and fight sequences previously, Connery just looks a bit too fake. Throw in moments such as him hugging himself in the street to try to not be spotted (the comedy visual gag where from behind it almost looks kind of like you are making out with someone…kind of…almost…not really), moon buggies, elephants playing on fruit machines, and inept local police, and the whole feel of the film is as though they were aiming at parody.
There are more cringeworthy moments in this film than in any previous one. Blofeld in a dress has to go down as one of the worst decisions ever made (after Madonna in Die Another Day), but also we have Bambi and Thumper, fake moon landing set, in fact a whole load of this film just feel wrong. You also have to wonder why there is the need to disguise a cassette tape as a marching band tape. Not much in this film makes sense. Why, for example, would Blofeld add an extra bit to a map of models of Whites empire, representing his secret rig where he controls everything from? Utter nonsense, and some of the worst writing the series has had.
It is reported that Connery was paid a record fee to return for this outing. You can’t help but feel they should have cast someone new again, at less cost, and put the money to better use in making a stronger film. As it stands, it is simply an average film with only a couple of standout moments.
