RW332 - James Bond Rewatch - Diamonds are Forever

In this episode of the James Bond 007 Rewatch, Cory and Nathan moon buggy their way to success as they discuss "Diamonds are Forever."

Trailer:

The Music of Diamonds are Forever:

Our Favourite Trivia:

After George Lazenby left the series, producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli tested other actors, but studio United Artists wanted Sean Connery back, paying a then-record $1.25 million salary for him to return. 

The producers were inspired by Goldfinger; as with that film, Guy Hamilton was hired to direct, and Shirley Bassey performs vocals on the title theme song. Locations included Las Vegas, California, Amsterdam and Lufthansa's hangar in West Germany

This is the first Bond movie to not use the villain from the novel of the same name. This movie features Blofeld as the villain, whereas the novel's villains were the Spang Brothers. Wint and Kidd were in both the novel and movie. 

An original plot had as a villain Auric Goldfinger's twin, seeking revenge for the death of his brother. The plot was later changed after Broccoli had a dream, where his close friend Howard Hughes was replaced by an imposter. So the character of Willard Whyte was created.

Charles Gray was cast as villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, after playing a Bond ally named Dikko Henderson in You Only Live Twice (1967).

Initially, the character of Miss Moneypenny did not feature in the movie, partly because Lois Maxwell had held out for a pay increase, but it was decided during production to add the scene where Moneypenny gives Bond his travel documents at the port of Dover. The additional scene was a last-minute rewrite, as the producers felt it important to incorporate Maxwell after her issue was resolved. Maxwell and Connery filmed their lines separately for the short scene.

Reportedly, the final scene Sir Sean Connery filmed as Bond (for the official film franchise) was the one in which an unconscious Bond is loaded into a coffin at the funeral home. 

During Bond's briefing with M at the beginning, M refers to Bond having just been on holiday, and later quipped how the Service had managed well during Bond's absence. These were inside jokes referring to Sir Sean Connery's absence in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969).

What's Up Next?

Time for a proper change up as we get into the Roger Moore era of Bond, starting with "Live and Let Die."

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