You Only Live Twice (1967)

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Harold Jack Bloom (additional story material)
Roald Dahl (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

13 June 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond

Plot:

Agent 007 and the Japanese secret service ninja force must find and stop the true culprit of a series of spacejackings before nuclear war is provoked.

Plot Keywords:

Space | Rocket | James Bond | Japan | Japanese

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 27

1:00 PM

SYFY

Cast

Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Akiko Wakabayashi	...	Aki
Mie Hama	...	Kissy Suzuki
Tetsurô Tanba	...	Tiger Tanaka (as Tetsuro Tanba)
Teru Shimada	...	Mr. Osato
Karin Dor	...	Helga Brandt
Donald Pleasence	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Bernard Lee	...	M
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Desmond Llewelyn	...	Q
Charles Gray	...	Dikko Henderson
Tsai Chin	...	Ling, Chinese Girl in Hong Kong
Peter Fanene Maivia	...	Car Driver
Burt Kwouk	...	Spectre 3
Michael Chow	...	Spectre 4
Ronald Rich	...	Hans, Blofeld's Bodyguard
Jeanne Roland	...	Bond's Masseuse
David Toguri	...	Assassin in Bedroom
John Stone	...	Submarine Captain
Norman Jones	...	Astronaut - American Spacecraft #1
Paul Carson	...	Astronaut - American Spacecraft #1
Laurence Herder	...	Astronaut - Russian Spacecraft
Richard Graydon	...	Astronaut - Russian Spacecraft
Bill Mitchell	...	Astronaut - American Spacecraft #2
George Roubicek	...	Astronaut - American Spacecraft #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anthony Ainley	...	Hong Kong Policeman #2 (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	...	Ninja #1 (uncredited)
Robin Bailey	...	Foreign Secretary (uncredited)
George Baker	...	NASA Engineer (uncredited)
David Bauer	...	American Diplomat (uncredited)
Ed Bishop	...	Hawaii CapCom (uncredited)
Cecil Cheng	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Anthony Chinn	...	SPECTRE Guard (uncredited)
Hans De Vries	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Moris Farhi	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Jonathan Hanson	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Masaaki Hatsumi	...	Photographic Assistant to Tanaka on train (uncredited)
David Healy	...	Houston Radar Operator (uncredited)
Andy Ho	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Stephen Hubay	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Robert Hutton	...	President's Aide (uncredited)
Patrick Jordan	...	Hong Kong Policeman #1 (uncredited)
Hisako Katakura	...	Blofeld's Financier (uncredited)
Michael Kennedy	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Alexander Knox	...	American President (uncredited)
Kristopher Kum	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Mai Ling	...	Bath Girl #2 (uncredited)
Richard Marner	...	Russian Spacecraft Communicator (uncredited)
Kikko Matsuoka	...	Diver Girl (uncredited)
George Murcell	...	Russian Diplomat (uncredited)
Yasuko Nagazumi	...	Bath Girl #4 (uncredited)
Bill Nagy	...	USAF General at Pentagon (uncredited)
James Payne	...	Man at typewriter in office (uncredited)
Robert Rietty	...	Tiger Tanaka (voice) (uncredited)
Shane Rimmer	...	Hawaii Radar Operator (uncredited)
Sadanoyama	...	Japanese Sumo Wrestler (uncredited)
William Sylvester	...	Pentagon Official (uncredited)
Peter Taylor	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Burnell Tucker	...	Hawaii Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Francesca Tu	...	Osato's Secretary (uncredited)
Zsolt Vadaszffy	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Brian Wilde	...	1st Policeman (uncredited)
Yee-Wah Yang	...	Bath Girl #3 (uncredited)
Tommy Yapp	...	Control Room Technician (uncredited)
Ric Young	...	Chinese Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Lewis Gilbert

Writing credits
Ian Fleming		(novel) uncredited
Harold Jack Bloom		(additional story material)
Roald Dahl		(screenplay)

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Harry Saltzman	....	producer
Stanley Sopel	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Freddie Young

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Ken Adam

Art Direction by
Harry Pottle

Set Decoration by
David Ffolkes

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist
Eileen Warwick	....	hairdresser

Production Management
David Middlemas	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William P. Cartlidge	....	assistant director
Peter R. Hunt	....	second unit director (as Peter Hunt)
Terence Churcher	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Richard Jenkins	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
John Quested	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Roy Dorman	....	chief draughtsman (uncredited)
Peter Lamont	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Ron Quelch	....	production buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist (as Gordon McCallum)
Harry Miller	....	dubbing editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Norman Wanstall	....	dubbing editor
Otto Snel	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Stears	....	special effects
Wally Armitage	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jimmy Harris	....	special effects (uncredited)
Fred Heather	....	special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)
Bert Luxford	....	effects engineering (uncredited)
James Snow	....	special effects (uncredited)
John Stears	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)
Jimmy Ward	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jack Woodbridge	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Cliff Culley	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Roy Field	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Martin Shortall	....	visual effects cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Baker	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bernard Barnsley	....	stunts (uncredited)
Marc Boyle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Brace	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Peter Brayham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gilbert Chomat	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)
Alan Chuntz	....	stunts (uncredited)
Diane Cilento	....	stunt swimming double (uncredited)
Tim Condren	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gerry Crampton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
Billy Dean	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Diggins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Dunne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steve Emerson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Fanene Maivia	....	stunt fight choreographer (uncredited)
Tex Fuller	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Gallant	....	stunts (uncredited)
Martin Grace	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank Henson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rusty Hood	....	stunts (uncredited)
Arthur Howell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jazzer Jeyes	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jenny Le Free	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dinny Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paddy Ryan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunt double: Sean Connery (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Smart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Street	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts (uncredited)
K.H. Wallis	....	stunt pilot: Little Nellie (uncredited)
Chris Webb	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lamar Boren	....	underwater cameraman
Ernest Day	....	camera operator (as Ernie Day)
Robert Huke	....	second unit cameraman (as Bob Huke)
John Jordan	....	aerial unit cameraman
Martin Body	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Tony Braun	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Joe Pearce	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Simon Ransley	....	focus puller: second unit (uncredited)
Kenneth J. Withers	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eileen Sullivan	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Peter R. Hunt	....	supervising editor (as Peter Hunt)
Robert Richardson	....	assembly editor
Richard Dobson	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
John Barry	....	music arranger
Leslie Bricusse	....	lyrics: title song
Monty Norman	....	composer: The "James Bond" theme
Nancy Sinatra	....	singer: title song
Vic Flick	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main title
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Angela Martelli	....	continuity
Kikumaru Okuda	....	technical advisor
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
Bob Simmons	....	action sequences by
Robert Watts	....	location manager
Bill Baskiville	....	stand-in: Mr. Connery (uncredited)
Janne Blair-Stewart	....	stand-in: Ms. Wakabayashi (uncredited)
Diane Cilento	....	body double: Mie Hama, water scenes (uncredited)
Don Draeger	....	jujitsu trainer: Mr. Connery (uncredited)
Masaaki Hatsumi	....	advisor: ninja (uncredited)
Golda Offenheim	....	production secretary (uncredited)
A.N. Other	....	double: "Assassin" (uncredited)
A.N. Other	....	stand-in: Mr. Gray (uncredited)
Kay Rawlings	....	continuity: second unit (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	location scout: Japan (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	military liaison: Japan (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Eon Productions (as An Eon Production)
• Danjaq (uncredited)

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1967) (UK) (theatrical) (as United Artists A Transamerica Company)
• C.B. Films (1967) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print - CinemaScope Technicolor)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1967) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1967) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• United Artists (1967) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1967) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1967) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1967) (USA) (theatrical) (released thru)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (Greece)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Ministry of Defence  the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of (as The Ministry of Defence)
• Toho Studios  the producers gratefully acknowledge and thank, for the services of their producer Kikumaru Okuda as technical advisor

Also Known As:

Ian Fleming's You Only Live Twice (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Japanese | Russian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Ireland:PG | Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (re-rating) | West Germany:16 | South Korea:15 | Brazil:14 | UK:PG (tv rating) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:GP (re-rating) (1970) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1994)

Filming Locations:

Akime Village Environs, Akime, Kagoshima, Japan

Company:

Eon Productions

Trivia:

James Bond participates in a Japanese wedding ceremony in the film. Mercifully, he uses a false name, otherwise this would mean he would have been still married under Japanese law when he wed Tracy di Vincenzo in the next film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Goofs:

Continuity: When Blofeld's control room proves to be less than "impregnable", he flees with some of his henchmen and Bond in tow. Blofeld takes a Webley from Mr. Osato and shoots him with it. He then cocks it and motions at Bond with the pistol. The gun is blasted from his hand and goes off, yet when it is shown on the ground in close-up it is cocked again. The hammer would have to have been re-cocked by hand. Bond then grabs the weapon as Blofeld flees. He joins the ninja assault wielding the top-break British revolver but as he fights, it changes back and forth several times into a Smith and Wesson revolver with a swing out cylinder.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Astronaut - 1st American Spacecraft: 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 - 1st American Spacecraft: Roger. Everything looks good in the environmental control system.
Houston CapCom: Okay. Everything looks good from here. You have a go for fourth orbit.

Movie Connections:

Featured in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Soundtrack:

You Only Live Twice

Bond goes East.

This particular 007 entry (which was intended to be Sean Connery's last before he would agreed to return one more time for his sixth shot as 006 in 'Diamonds are Forever (1971)' and lets not the forget the unofficial 'Never Say Never Again' in 1983) was the first Bond film I encountered and from that it has always remained a total favourite. "You Live Only Twice" we see Bond travel to the land of the rising sun (Japan) in what is quite an expansive concept (dazzling set-designs with spectacular non-stop action) and very well-budgeted effort that lingers on a extremely comic-book-like tone (thanks largely to Roald Dahl's industriously well-guided screenplay that plays its cards close to the chest) with its characters, atmospherics and set-pieces that for me would make it one of the most creative and exciting inclusions to the series.

Bond heads to Japan racing to uncover the true mastermind behind the space-jacking that could see another world war, as British sources believe that the mysterious rocket ship which has seized American and Russian space shuttles originates from there, but those countries believe otherwise than each other for the acts.

Couple of things which made it more the memorable would be that it's the first chance we get to see arch villain SPECTRE Agent #1 Ernst Blofeld's face, than just the hand stroking the cat… although the first hour we get enough of that. It's a devilishly meaty Donald Pleasence who just seemed the part of Blofeld. Now who didn't love the hidden lair that was in an inactive volcano, and of course Blofeld's pool of pet piranhas. The inventive gadget novelty was really making a mark, just look the deadly mini-copter named 'Nelly' and the dangerous effects of smoking around others. Strangely enough the (witty) script seemed to spit out a few self-knowing quips involving cigarettes, which became rather odd. Director Lewis Gilbert (who would go on to control the very similar in story-structure "The Spy Who Loved Me" and then following that the plain goofy "Moonraker") does a tersely capable job with a fast moving pace that shifted from one well organized set-piece to another (like the chase on-top of a rooftop in a fishing docks that's masterfully captured by cinematographer Freddie Young) to finally finish on a barnstorming climax (with none other than ninjas) and then a familiarly fitting final frame. Sean Connery might look a little tired (a bit funny trying to make himself look like Japanese under make-up), but remains just as charismatic and fittingly lean when it came to getting down and dirty (Bond and his tussle with Blofeld's massive henchman Hans comes to mind). The bond girls shape up nicely in the form of Akiko Wakabayashi, Mie Hama and the stunning German redhead Karin Dor. Tetsurô Tanba was good as Bond's Japanese counterpart. Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell and Desmond Llewelyn treat us to their iconic roles. John Barry's classy music score has a smoothly oriental touch, which can get actively copious when called for and theme song "You Only Live Twice" is enticingly sung by Nancy Sinatra.