Take a look back at these Hollywood icons in their early days to see how far they've come in their careers—and how little they've visibly aged.
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Title: You Only Live Twice (1967)
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| 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 | |
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. Written by goddangwatir
This one is a triumph for Ken Adam's sets. The volcano base is the most memorable feature of the film. Oh, the story is fun and the gadgets are cool, but those sets really sell the film. They would inspire countless imitations and variations throughout the years.
Finally, we get to see Bloefeld, and it's a bit of a letdown. Donald Pleasance is a fine actor, but he's not quite supervillain material; more of the serial killer variety, in the mold of Peter Lorre. Still, he is by far the superior on-screen version.
The Japanese cast are all outstanding. Special mention should be made of Peter Maivia, grandfather of Dwayne Johson, aka The Rock. He and the stuntmen create a brutal fight scene, second only to the train fight in FRWL, although this is perhaps more inventive.
As for gadgets, outside of the jetpack from Thundrball and Goldfinger's Aston Martin, Little Nellie is the coolest ride. The aerial scenes are spectacular and are one of the highpoints of the whole series.
This film really marks the end of the ultra-cool Bond films. After this, they tend to go down in quality, taken as a whole. Some have better stories and villains, some have better stunts, but they are never the complete package that the earlier films were. Still, this one (along with Goldfinger and Thunderball) would inspire every spy work that would follow; from The Man from U.N.C.L.E. to Our Man Flint, Marvel Comics' Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.e.L.D., to the X-Men. Everyone stole an idea from here.