DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971, UK, 120m, 12) ***
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
dist. United Artists; pr co. Eon Productions; d. Guy Hamilton; w. Richard Maibaum, Tom Mankiewicz (based on the novel by Ian Fleming); pr. Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman; ph. Ted Moore (Technicolor | 2.39:1); m. John Barry; ed. Bert Bates, John W. Holmes; pd. Ken Adam; ad. Bill Kenney, Jack Maxsted.
cast: Sean Connery (James Bond), Jill St. John (Tiffany Case), Charles Gray (Blofeld), Lana Wood (Plenty O’Toole), Jimmy Dean (Willard Whyte), Bruce Cabot (Saxby), Putter Smith (Mr. Kidd), Bruce Glover (Mr. Wint), Norman Burton (Leiter), Joseph Fürst (Dr Metz), Bernard Lee (‘M’), Desmond Llewelyn (‘Q’), Leonard Barr (Shady Tree), Lois Maxwell (Moneypenny), Margaret Lacey (Mrs. Whistler), Joe Robinson (Peter Franks), David de Keyser (Doctor), Laurence Naismith (Sir Donald Munger), David Bauer (Mr. Slumber), Marc Lawrence (Slumber Inc. Attendant), Sid Haig (Slumber Inc. Attendant).
While investigating mysterious activities in the world diamond market, 007 (Connery) discovers that his evil nemesis Blofeld (Gray) is stockpiling the gems to use in his deadly laser satellite. With the help of beautiful smuggler Tiffany Case (St. John), Bond sets out to stop the madman — as the fate of the world hangs in the balance! Connery makes a welcome return as Bond, but here the cartoonish humour is played up at the expense of suspense. The plot is uninspiring, and the Las Vegas locations feel tacky rather than glamorous, but the set pieces are well staged. Gray makes for an unsuitably camp Blofeld, who even appears in drag in one scene. Glover and Smith on the other hand succeed nicely as a pair of gay hitmen. Barry provides another memorable score. The film set a tone for the series that would last for more than a decade with Roger Moore taking over as Bond in LIVE AND LET DIE (1973).
AAN: Best Sound (Gordon K. McCallum, John W. Mitchell, Al Overton)