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"It's gone berserk!" ~ Diamonds are Forever appreciation

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  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 18,197
    The Spyhards podcast most recent episode is an interview with Lana Wood.

  • slide_99slide_99 USA
    edited January 22 Posts: 803
    Of the classic Bonds it was always the one that I watched the least, but upon a rewatch, it clicked with me, much to my surprise. My old criticisms still hold- Connery should've gotten into character more and Blofeld should've been recast entirely so that the two leads ground the movie better instead of going full camp- but if you take it as Bond wandering into a comedy it's pretty enjoyable. The supporting cast is colorful, the dialogue is witty, and the intrigue with the diamonds is genuinely engaging. Some of the plot points are vague (how did Bond switch the diamonds when Tiffany was with him the whole time?), but overall it's a fun romp despite the flaws.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 19,439
    I think Connery's great in this, it's a real star performance. But it feels like they had a load of ideas for scenes for a Bond film and just kind of lumped them all together, it's all over the shop. And although there's memorable stuff in there, I'm not sure there's any set piece which is actually handled well: the Mustang car chase is okayish, but the moon buggy one has no structure to it, you've got stuff like the Bambi and Thumper fight which is just illogical (how does he actually beat them? He just does), and the oil rig climax is just rubbish... I dunno, it's not the worst film ever but it's not a great one.

    One thing I have wondered though is if it's a bit of a precursor to the Smokey & the Bandit style of comedy blockbusters you got in the 70s- did it start here?
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 6,172
    Connery sparkles...see what I did there. There is a light in his eye and he seems to relish the lightness of the script and action. If he approached it with a harder edge he would stick out. I love the scenes with Professor Metz and the radiation shields.

    The climax is a huge letdown. Whoever decided to use an oil rig? Helicopters buzzing around with no real stakes. Better to have men scale up and have some hand to hand combat like YOLT. Tiffany loses her way as a character about halfway through the film. I love Jill St. John in the role. The script lets her down.

    The fight in the elevator is another highlight and done in a grounded way.

    DAF is my guilty pleasure Bond. It wouldn't likely crack my top ten, or even top 15 but it's a fun film to watch when I want something light and entertaining.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 26,648
    After watching the 4K restoration of Diamonds Are Forever it has climbed my rankings the film looks stunning. When I watch DAF I can block out from my mind as to whether it should have been a serious follow up to OHMSS and just enjoy DAF for what it is.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,870
    I just saw this one yesterday and it confirmed its status, in my book of course, as the funniest and perhaps also the quirkiest Bond film of them all (TMWTGG is the other contestant for the latter). I love this film.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 7,019
    DAF is just so weird and confident (because of Connery). It is sui generis in the series.
  • Last_Rat_StandingLast_Rat_Standing Long Neck Ice Cold Beer Never Broke My Heart
    Posts: 4,845
    First off. I can see why people dont like it

    However, it is the only Bond film that I could put on and just lay on my couch and enjoy every moment of it.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,416
    Here's the catch: In every ranking I do, it is in the bottom five, if I consider cinematography, continuity, location and whathaveyou. But it is by far more entertaining than all the other bottom dwellers, due to its dialogue and crazy ideas, Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd, Dr. Metz, the moon buggy chase and more. Nonsensical, but if one lets it just go on, quite satisfying to watch. Can't do this with DAD or TWINE (at least I can't).
  • Since62Since62
    Posts: 1,781
    For those of us who saw the films as they came out, it was a lot of fun. We lost Connery, and thought it was forever, and though Lazenby and OHMSS were very good, the ending was no fun. George didn't come back and then Connery did ! Even though it was known to be just for once, it was fun. Like going to a party. Terrible FX on the "beam" causing various places on earth glow red and then explode, terrible goof on the "extra wheel" bouncing away from the moon buggy, terrible goof on the Mustang switching sides in the alley - because they were too cheap to re-shoot ! - BUT: Shirley Bassey and a GREAT song ! (Now that I think of it, it is playing in my head no-stop and dare I say it is a BETTER song than her title for GF), Great titles, Bond funny and then GREAT fight in Amsterdam, Bond and Plenty a hot match, Bond and Tiffany a hot match, the reports were that the leads got along wonderfully and enjoyed each other and it sure looked that way -- everyone had FUN in filming and it seemed evident on the screen. It was positive and fun and set people up well to look forward to Roger Moore. The light-hearted tone was a good idea, particularly since that was where Roger's films would go. Dumb stuff but lots of fun.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,870
    Exactly, I find myself chuckling throughout, and sometimes that's just what one needs.
  • cooperman2cooperman2 Uk
    Posts: 415
    Diamonds Are Forever is a very special film for me. It was my very first ever cinema visit. As an eight year old at the time I badgered my mom to take me to see it because I'd seen clips on TV and liked the look of it. It's fair to say it changed my life. I became a lifelong Bond fan, lifelong Connery fan and most significantly a lifelong cinema fan, a passion that's lasted over 50 years.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 6,172
    If this series was all FRWL or FYEO we don't have a fifty plus year series. We have to accept that even films like DAF have a place and attract a certain amount of fandom.

    This is by far one of the wittiest scripts. The lines really are a treat and I must say whoever cast this film nailed it. Yes even Gray as Blofled. I know they were hamstrung by Connery's salary but I can't fault them for the cast. From Morton Slumber to Shady Tree. From Plenty to Willard Whyte there is a lot, or should I say Plenty(?), to like here.

    The only casting issue to me is Felix who comes off as an irritating man. Otherwise a chef's kiss to the cast. I would say it is one of the better cast movies from the series.
  • BT3366BT3366
    Posts: 1,988
    Since62 wrote: »
    For those of us who saw the films as they came out, it was a lot of fun. We lost Connery, and thought it was forever, and though Lazenby and OHMSS were very good, the ending was no fun. George didn't come back and then Connery did ! Even though it was known to be just for once, it was fun. Like going to a party. Terrible FX on the "beam" causing various places on earth glow red and then explode, terrible goof on the "extra wheel" bouncing away from the moon buggy, terrible goof on the Mustang switching sides in the alley - because they were too cheap to re-shoot ! - BUT: Shirley Bassey and a GREAT song ! (Now that I think of it, it is playing in my head no-stop and dare I say it is a BETTER song than her title for GF), Great titles, Bond funny and then GREAT fight in Amsterdam, Bond and Plenty a hot match, Bond and Tiffany a hot match, the reports were that the leads got along wonderfully and enjoyed each other and it sure looked that way -- everyone had FUN in filming and it seemed evident on the screen. It was positive and fun and set people up well to look forward to Roger Moore. The light-hearted tone was a good idea, particularly since that was where Roger's films would go. Dumb stuff but lots of fun.

    DAF really has a little of everything. Your point about the cast getting along and having fun is apparent. I've seen a number of fans claim Connery looked bored and was doing it for the paycheck and that's completely off as he comes off relaxed, smiling and joking on location and Eon worked hard to accommodate him and it rubbed off on everybody involved as they knew it would be a success.

    I can never understand why they left the bouncing moon buggy wheel in the shot. Either cut it altogether or cut before that to a shot of it and then back to the crashed security vehicle. How did Hamilton or Cubby actually allow it? It wasn't like removing that shot would mean refilming or adding to the budget. Wasn't exactly Peter Hunt, was it?
    cooperman2 wrote: »
    Diamonds Are Forever is a very special film for me. It was my very first ever cinema visit. As an eight year old at the time I badgered my mom to take me to see it because I'd seen clips on TV and liked the look of it. It's fair to say it changed my life. I became a lifelong Bond fan, lifelong Connery fan and most significantly a lifelong cinema fan, a passion that's lasted over 50 years.

    Special for me too, not as the very first cinema visit, but the first Bond film I saw when it was brand new in January of 1972 as a barely 5-year-old kid. I'd been taken to one or two of the releases of some of the earlier Connerys, but this was the one that really stuck with me. I recall staring at that poster of the satellite and all going on around it in the lobby outside the cinema. Disney and such were fun, but this was so much more. My family went back to see it again the next night, and for years DAF was my favorite Bond film and helped make me a fan for life.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited 1:50am Posts: 7,019
    I'm pretty sure they had to pay Connery extra if the film went over schedule, even if it was something that didn't involve him, like the moon buggy wheel or reverse Mustang shot.

    So they didn't. Cubby could be cheap, you guys.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 19,439
    BT3366 wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    For those of us who saw the films as they came out, it was a lot of fun. We lost Connery, and thought it was forever, and though Lazenby and OHMSS were very good, the ending was no fun. George didn't come back and then Connery did ! Even though it was known to be just for once, it was fun. Like going to a party. Terrible FX on the "beam" causing various places on earth glow red and then explode, terrible goof on the "extra wheel" bouncing away from the moon buggy, terrible goof on the Mustang switching sides in the alley - because they were too cheap to re-shoot ! - BUT: Shirley Bassey and a GREAT song ! (Now that I think of it, it is playing in my head no-stop and dare I say it is a BETTER song than her title for GF), Great titles, Bond funny and then GREAT fight in Amsterdam, Bond and Plenty a hot match, Bond and Tiffany a hot match, the reports were that the leads got along wonderfully and enjoyed each other and it sure looked that way -- everyone had FUN in filming and it seemed evident on the screen. It was positive and fun and set people up well to look forward to Roger Moore. The light-hearted tone was a good idea, particularly since that was where Roger's films would go. Dumb stuff but lots of fun.

    DAF really has a little of everything. Your point about the cast getting along and having fun is apparent. I've seen a number of fans claim Connery looked bored and was doing it for the paycheck and that's completely off as he comes off relaxed, smiling and joking on location and Eon worked hard to accommodate him and it rubbed off on everybody involved as they knew it would be a success.

    Yeah I’ve seen that said occasionally too, and I’m with you: he’s really good in this one. He’s giving a proper star performance; it may be predominantly a comedy performance, but there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    edited 8:47am Posts: 2,952
    I think Connery's performance in DAF isn't different from TB. Laid-back, but still very much confident. But then again, Connery's Bond was sort of irreverent, but still 100% focused.
  • ColonelSunColonelSun
    Posts: 1,520
    Fire_and_Ice_Returns wrote: »
    After watching the 4K restoration of Diamonds Are Forever it has climbed my rankings the film looks stunning. When I watch DAF I can block out from my mind as to whether it should have been a serious follow up to OHMSS and just enjoy DAF for what it is.

    I tend to view DAF as a follow up to YOLT. It starts in Japan with Bond pursuing Blofeld, as he would after the events of YOLT and the references to Bond trying to track him down for 2 years also supports this idea, while being an obvious connection to OHMSS as well. The 4K looks superb as well. I really enjoy the film and always have.
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