Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli did everything they could to make Diamonds are Forever (the 7th film in the franchise) a roaring success for the returning Sean Connery, including: re-hiring director Guy Hamilton (Goldfinger, 1964) and asking Shirley Bassey to record the title song (which is fantastic.)
The story: Bond impersonates a diamond smuggler (after dispatching him in a frantic, brilliant fight inside a lift) to infiltrate a smuggling ring. He uncover a plot by his old enemy Ernst Stavro Blofeld to use the diamonds to build a space-based laser weapon.
Diamonds are Forever sees (a 41 year old, arguably too old) Connery back on compelling form as 007 (after a somewhat lackluster performance in YOLT, 1967), while the screenplay creates a fast moving film that has excellent cinematography and good locations.
The Thumper and Bambi scene is dated, the SFX is mediocre and the film is arguably overly camp, yet it still manages to entertain.
Bruce Glover and Putter Smith are memorable as Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd respectively, Blofeld's overly quipping henchmen, while Jill St. John makes a fun Bond Girl (with high energy), as diamond smuggler Tiffany Case (with frequently changing hair colours.)
FG FG FG
OTHER CAST: Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell, Lana Wood. SCREENPLAY BY: Richard Maibaum, Tom Mankiewicz. RUNNING TIME: 120 minutes. CERTIFICATE: PG. UK / USA.
Side note: the coffin scene is poorly edited. One minute Bond is trapped inside the furnace and the next minute the flames are gone and the coffin is brand new again!
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