Diamonds are Forever

Plot

Following the death of Tracy, James returns to work – and is asked to investigate a potential

Direction

Directed by Guy Hamilton, this is his second of four films. There is some well choreographed action sequences, as well as car chases etc which I quite enjoyed. Two of note are the fight between Bond and Franks in the elevator, and then the car chase through old Vegas.

Cast/Characters

Sean Connery is back as Bond, in his sixth and final outing.

Jill St John plays Tiffany Case, one of the Bond girls, and the primary diamond smuggler Bond works with.

Charles Grey takes over the role as Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Lana Wood as Plenty O’Toole, Jimmy Dean as Willard Whyte and Bruce Glover and Putter Smith as Mr Wint and Mr Kidd.

Breakdown

A more convoluted script that it needed to be, there are more characters introduced here than one can really keep up with as the diamond smuggling ring goes from one smuggler to another and then another and then another – until it reaches its destination…to be used in a giant laser by Blofeld?

The “who is really the real Blofeld” gets old quickly as Bond manages to take down three ‘doubles’ of Blofeld while the film unfolds.

A real downer is Tiffany Case, who is without a doubt the worst bond girl so far (how did we go from tough as nails Tracy to this?). Speaking of Tracy, little to no mention of her, and Bond is back to being his Bond-iest as he does once again!

Some ups, the action is mostly good – as mentioned earlier, but the final ‘shoot out’ on the oil rig pales in comparison to what has come before it. The car chase through Vegas is solid as well, with some great use of stunt performers, including a two wheel maneuver.

I really enjoyed Mr Wint and Mr Kidd, and thought it was quite progressive to have a clear “couple” displayed the way they are – especially in 1971. They’re almost successful in getting rid of Bond twice in some solid tension moments (the crematorium and then again in the tunnel). Too bad they both have laughable deaths in the end, it would have been great to have them stick around for a couple of movies.

Shirley Bassey sings the opening credits song. It is considerably better than the proceeding film song.

Overall

This sits at my poorest Bond film to date with my reviews. It’s okay, but a convoluted narrative, a paper thin motive by Blofeld, and the worst bond girl to date spoils it for me.

3/5