You Only Live Twice (1967)

Secret Agent James Bond and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States.

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Harold Jack Bloom (additional story material by), Roald Dahl (screenplay by)

Stars:

Sean Connery, Akiko Wakabayashi, Mie Hama

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Akiko Wakabayashi	...	Aki
Mie Hama	...	Kissy
Tetsurô Tanba	...	Tiger Tanaka (as Tetsuro Tamba)
Teru Shimada	...	Mr. Osato
Karin Dor	...	Helga Brandt
Donald Pleasence	...	Blofeld
Bernard Lee	...	'M'
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Desmond Llewelyn	...	'Q'
Charles Gray	...	Henderson
Tsai Chin	...	Chinese Girl - Hong Kong
Peter Fanene Maivia	...	Car Driver
Burt Kwouk	...	Spectre 3
Michael Chow	...	Spectre 4

Storyline

During the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union lose one spacecraft each after they are both seemingly swallowed whole by a second unidentified spacecraft. The two superpowers are quick to blame one another for the disappearances, causing tensions to skyrocket. The United Kingdom has an alternate theory regarding the disappearances however, a theory involving Japan, and sends their number one spy, James Bond, to investigate there. With the help of the Japanese Secret Service, he uncovers a plot far more sinister than anyone could have ever imagined.

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Plot Keywords:

faked death | premarital sex | secret headquarters | japan | ninja | 

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Taglines:

Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Much of the plot was inspired by the Cold War related space race of the 1960s, which had captured much public attention. Ironically, this movie was released five months following the Apollo 1 launchpad fire, which resulted in the deaths of three U.S. astronauts and resulted in N.A.S.A.'s suspension of U.S. manned space flight for over a year, which included the time frame of this movie's theatrical showings.

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Goofs

Why is "Mr Fisher" meeting the CEO of Osato to discuss a basic supply order? This is something done by phone or letter with that department. The CEO is too busy to handle routine sales matters.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Astronaut - American Spacecraft #1: Calling CapCom. CapCom, this is Jupiter 16. Do you give a go for fourth orbit.
Houston CapCom: CapCom to Jupiter 16. Can you confirm O2 pressure is within limit.
Astronaut - American Spacecraft #1: Roger. Everything looks good in the environmental control system.
Houston CapCom: Okay. Everything looks good from here. You have a go for fourth orbit.

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Crazy Credits

Tetsuro Tanba, the Japanese actor playing Tiger Tanaka, is listed in the English language credits at "Tetsuro Tamba."

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Alternate Versions

The Ultimate Edition reinserts some additional brief scenes that were omitted from early video versions and English broadcasts. Missing brief scenes were:

• 1) Tiger shows Bond the rocket guns.
• 2) A ninja cuts the arms off the 'hay man'.
• 3) A ninja throws shooting stars.
• 4) An assassin attempts to kill Bond by a spike out of the pole.
• 5) Tiger's throw of the stars at Blofeld's arm is longer.

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Connections

Referenced in Diminishing Returns: From Russia with Love (2016)

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Soundtracks

You Only Live Twice
Music by John Barry
Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Performed by Nancy Sinatra

User Reviews

Fun, Exotic And Stupid

While the action never ceases, which is great, and the locale is exotic, and Japan is always cool, many of the sequences seem there just to showcase Japan. How much of these films is sponsored by tourist bureaus I cannot know, but as a viewer one can enjoy the action and the intrigue by ignoring the unneeded sequences or rather treating them as amusement to watch. I always thought Roger Moore is the better Bond, but the Sean Connery ones are entertaining to watch too. You Only Live Twice is fun.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM [United States]

Country:

UK Japan

Language:

English Japanese Russian

Release Date:

13 June 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ian Fleming's You Only Live Twice

Filming Locations:

Nakano Shimbashi station, Marunouchi Line, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$9,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$43,084,787

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$43,086,122

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1