Blofeld only lives twice.

Starring Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Lana Wood
Directed by Guy Hamilton

= 3 stars

Diamonds Are Forever, a 1971 James Bond (Sean Connery) film, is a fair return to the Bond franchise after the odd duck of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. However, there are some plot problems and Connery doesn’t seem into it. This was his last go-round as Bond (for some time).

The plot details are essentially props upon which to hang the expected Bond accouterments: Bond is on a mission, he meets some hot babes, he uses some cool gadgets, there are some over-the-top action sequences, there is a confrontation with a evil mastermind with a nutty plot to dominate the world (in this case, a laser satellite covered with diamonds), the evil mastermind is dispatched, and as Bond departs with his new woman of the hour, he fights off some of the evil henchman’s residual stooges.

Now the problems. During the opening sequence Bond exacts revenge on Blofeld for the death of his wife (in the previous film). Within the span of a few minutes, he tracks him down and kills him.

This plot element could have easily been stretched out through the entire film. The death of his wife should be a much more emotional and heartbreaking thing, but Bond hardly dwells on it. The continuity between films is pretty badly presented.

Next gripe: exotic, foreign locations have been traded in for America, specifically Las Vegas. No offense to Nevada, but seeing Bond in a gangly moon rover navigating the desert doesn’t compare well to Japan or a train crossing Russia. Likewise, the film’s climax takes place on an offshore oil rig. I could hardly hold back my excitement.

Still, the Whyte house (supposedly based on Howard Hughe’s recluse billionaire ways) is architecturally stunning. One car chase in Las Vegas is entertaining, and the climactic helicopter battle reminds me of an early Apocalypse Now or Empire Strikes Back (note the way Bond hangs off the bottom of the oil rig like Luke from Cloud City).

Lastly, the women. Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) I found unspeakably dull. Maybe it was the hair color and wardrobe changes. Two assassins, Thumper and Bambi do little other than use Bond as a kick boxing bag until they are ceremoniously abandoned without much thought.

Plenty O’Toole (Lana Wood) on the other hand, is a new kind of “whoah” in her dangly purple casino dress, observations on Bond’s gambling style and so ridiculous they’re funny. Unfortunately, they’re all a not so subtle lead up to get her to take off her clothes and be tossed out a window into a pool. Misogyny at its finest.

Just remember the seventies were still to come, and with them, better Bond flicks than Diamonds Are Forever.

IMDB: Diamonds Are Forever
Wikipedia: Diamonds Are Forever
Rotten Tomatoes: Diamonds Are Forever 65%

Categories: 3 Star Movies, General, James Bond, Movies :: Tags: :: Trackback URL
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