SimonJack "Diamonds are Forever" is the seventh in the James Bond series of films, and the sixth for Sean Connery in the lead role. Connery was brought back two years after the producers tried an unsuccessful replacement with George Lazenby in 1969. The public didn't take to Lazenby. "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" did okay at the box office, but well below the expected showing for a James Bond film. So, the studio heads hoped to revive the series with Connery's return. This film two years later fared just a little better. But, it also showed that Connery's Bond had changed. Connery was 31 when the series premiered in 1962 with "Dr. No." Nine years later, he clearly shows his age. For a dashing James Bond, Connery has slowed way down. A number of telltale things in his film point to the need for a younger replacement. Bond doesn't have near the normal physical challenges in this film. He's just so-so in a brawling scene, and he has a scene in which two martial arts girls utterly do him in. Thumper and Marie have some acrobatic skill but they are very slow and amateurish with their martial arts. And, Bond is even slower to react. This clearly is not the James Bond that everyone knew and enjoyed from the 1960s. There is some good gadgetry in this film, but little introduction to it by Q. The plot doesn't seem as beguiling either. The character of Willard Whyte is clearly based on Howard Hughes, and the location of much of the film around Las Vegas doesn't do anything to life this film. The variety of exotic locations is absent here. The Netherlands, London, Los Angeles and the Nevada scenes hardly add to the allure of the Bond legend. Finally, Connery seems tired in his role. The script is missing the zip and witty quips that pepper most Bond films. About the only real satisfying part of the film is the justice in the demise of the two unsavory characters who are supposed to be Bond's nemesis. Mr. Kidd and Mr. Wint meet their end in typically strange and unusual ways. It's a strain to rate this film six stars, but the usual superb job of showing highly technical wares deserves the credit for this. That, and the overall production qualities of the film, which speak well for the series continuing in the future.The best line in the movie is from Jill St. John as Tiffany Case. After she and Bond are put under guard by Felix Leiter of the CIA, she says, "Well, that's a switch." Bond says, "What's that," and Case replies, "The wolf being guarded by the three little pigs."

cinemajesty Movie Review: "007: Diamonds Are Forever" (1971)The return of actor Sean Connery as the character of James Bond has been most welcome after the too young-received actor George Lazenby in an otherwise stunning picture of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969). Nevertheless this seventh adaptation of Ian Fleming's fourth "007" novel from 1956 drifts under Richard Maibaum's pen too much into a comic sketch of the former beauty and elegance-striving character of Bond. Even so "Diamonds Are Forever" receives a easy-going light-entertainment-infusion by director Guy Hamilton (1922-2016), back on job for the first-time since "Goldfinger" (1964).The production values accompanied by action, humor, technological gadgets and super-villain "Blofeld", portrayed by the third-actor-change-up in four years Charles Gray (1928-2000) puts the world in states of crisis by operating a killer satellite to blow-up submarines from space, while "007" follows a trail of a blood diamond smuggler ring from Sierrra Leone, Africa to Las Vegas, Nevada USA before an about-to-burn oil rig scenario brings Blofeld and Bond to another low-thrill confrontation as in "You Only Live Twice" from 1967.The production budget held steady by producers Albert R. Broccoli (1909-1996) and Harry Saltzman (1915-1994) at roundabout 7.5 Million U.S. Dollar, compared to predecessor from 1969. "Diamond Are Forever" is able to succeed with the audiences, due to Sean Connery's starpower in order to double the worldwide revenues from 59 Million in season 1969/1970 to 116 Million U.S. Dollars in another winter-releasing holiday season 1971/1972.The 2nd title song performed by singer Shirley Bassey as title sequence designed by reprising designer Maurice Binder (1925-1991) mark a highlight in the "007" movie series. Nevertheless the editorial of 120 Minutes feels inbalanced after the departure of former "007" film editor turning director Peter Hunt (1925-2002), who's participation may have resulted into finer outlined and accelerated final cut with an already fully-character-overloaded "James Bond" movie that even a charming bond girl as actress Jill St. John hardly makes any impressions beyond looks on a constant action-driven matured character of master-spy "007".© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

nrd515 . I thought this one was a lot of fun when I saw it when I was 15 years old, and it still amuses me. Of all the Connery Bond movies, Never Say Never is the worst, and Thunderball is close behind. Is it great? No. But it's not bad, and IMHO, is a lot better than some of the later ones with Roger Moore who was too old at the end of his run. I thought Mr Kidd and Mr. Wint were very amusing, Bruce Glover resembled a neighbor of mine at the time, which would have mortified the neighbor, a nutty guy that tried to stab my dog with a pitchfork once. Jimmy Dean was fine, as was most of the cast. I never had a clue I would move to Las Vegas 1n '75, and in 1979 start working in a Hotel (Nevada Hotel, 235 S. Main, closed now, and it appears to have been bought by the Golden Nugget for some future project) built where the car chase was filmed! And then a year or so later, I was driving on the opposite side of town from where I lived and saw the "Slumber Inc" building! I thought it was just a building with a fake front on it in the movie, but it was the real thing, a funeral home, with a different name, of course. I can't remember if it was "Bunker Brothers" or something else now, But I went inside and it appeared the inside of the building was used for at least some of the scenes that took place in it.

Manhattan William I love Diamonds Are Forever. It's the best sort of time-capsule and thoroughly entertaining. I've always been a fan of the more understated Bond films, meaning I tend towards the earlier ones with fewer extraneous explosions and more locations. Here we are taken to Amsterdam and especially Las Vegas. I love the scenes shot in the casino! The era of wood paneling is long gone but I love revisiting! Can anyone imagine a performer like "Shady Tree" today? One of my favorite puns is in the name of "Plenty O'Toole" - it's a riot! The direction is really spot-on as well. The scenes in the crematorium are amazing and eerie. The plot IS a bit off balance but that doesn't distract from the fun. The ending, as with most Bond films, if predictable but at least it doesn't linger too long. Jill St. John is a bit wooden at times but in the end just manages to pull it off and is very nice to look at. Sean is in fine form throughout. The score (aside from the title song with neither I nor Harry Saltzman liked) is very good. One of the most entertaining films you'll ever see and in the end it's about being well entertained.