Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

A diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas, where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writers:

Richard Maibaum (screenplay), Tom Mankiewicz (screenplay)

Stars:

Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Jill St. John	...	Tiffany Case
Charles Gray	...	Blofeld
Lana Wood	...	Plenty O'Toole
Jimmy Dean	...	Willard Whyte
Bruce Cabot	...	Saxby
Putter Smith	...	Mr. Kidd
Bruce Glover	...	Mr. Wint
Norman Burton	...	Leiter
Joseph Fürst	...	Dr Metz (as Joseph Furst)
Bernard Lee	...	'M'
Desmond Llewelyn	...	'Q'
Leonard Barr	...	Shady Tree
Lois Maxwell	...	Moneypenny
Margaret Lacey	...	Mrs. Whistler

Storyline

James Bond's mission is to find out who has been smuggling diamonds, which are not re-appearing. He adopts another identity in the form of Peter Franks. He joins up with Tiffany Case, and acts as if he is smuggling the diamonds, but everyone is hungry for these diamonds. He also has to avoid Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd, the dangerous couple who do not leave anyone in their way. Ernst Stavro Blofeld isn't out of the question. He may have changed his looks, but is he linked with the heist? And if he is, can Bond finally defeat his ultimate enemy.

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Plot Keywords:

cat | diamond | ford mustang | yanked off bikini top | panties | 

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Taglines:

"Diamonds Are Forever"...forever...forever...forever...

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

17 December 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever

Filming Locations:

Netherlands

Box Office

Budget:

$7,200,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$43,819,547

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$116,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (colour) (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Bruce Cabot. NOTE: His character Albert R. Saxby is named after Albert R. Broccoli.

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Goofs

When Tiffany takes Bond's fingerprint (fake) and compares it to Peter Franks', the two images are 100% identical, pixel by pixel. Although the two images would be similar, it would be virtually impossible to produce two 100% identical fingerprints, which are taken at the same angle, with the same amount of substrate, and the same amount of pressure applied.

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Quotes

[first lines]
James Bond: [tossing Japanese man around] Where is he? I shan't ask you politely next time. Where is Blofeld?
Japanese man: Cai... Cai... Cairo!

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Crazy Credits

THE END of DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER James Bond will return in LIVE AND LET DIE

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Alternate Versions

Besides various outtakes, the documentary on the DVD contains an alternate version of the death scene of the Dentist. Instead of putting the scorpion into the doctors shirt, Mr. Wint puts the scorpion in his mouth. There are four deleted scenes on the DVD:

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Connections

Referenced in Notes for a Nobleman: An Interview with Craig Safan (2014)

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Soundtracks

Diamonds are Forever
Music by John Barry
Lyrics by Don Black
Performed by Shirley Bassey

User Reviews

Licenced to chill...out

When it comes to Bond films I watch with trepidation, as I either really like them or absolutely hate them. Diamonds are Forever falls in the former category although I'm not totally sure why. It's like after the serious action-packed 60's they decided to just calm down and relax, this is the most chilled out and mellow Bond film there is. It has that air of coolness that only early 70's films seem to have. There is a plot of sorts but there's no rush to get there. John Barry's score is his most jazzy and laid back. You feel this was the Bond film that most inspired Tarentino. Do you think so Mr Wint, I do Mr Kidd. Connery seems to really enjoy himself playing Bond again, now surprisingly looking older than his forty years although he was still younger than Roger Moore when he played Bond for the first time the following year, the role seems to fit him even better than before. It's a cool...(7/10).