You Only Live Twice (1967)

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

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

Helicopter Shot Down | Japanese Language Spoken | Reverse Footage | Ninjitsu | Asian Woman

Awards:

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

Cast

Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Akiko Wakabayashi	...	Aki
Mie Hama	...	Kissy Suzuki
Tetsuro Tamba	...	Tiger Tanaka
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)
Robert Rietty	...	Tiger Tanaka (voice) (uncredited)
Shane Rimmer	...	Hawaii Radar Operator (uncredited)
Sadoyanama	...	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)

Directed by
Lewis Gilbert

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

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

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Freddie Young		(director of photography)

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	....	hair stylist

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)
Jimmy 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 Shorthall	....	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 Diggings	....	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: 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 camera operator
Ernest Day	....	camera operator (as Ernie Day)
Robert Huke	....	camera operator: second unit (as Bob Huke)
John Jordan	....	camera operator: aerial unit
Martin Body	....	assistant camera (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
Vic Flick	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)
Monty Norman	....	composer: James Bond theme (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main titles
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Angela Martelli	....	continuity
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
Bob Simmons	....	action sequence coordinator
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)
Kikumaru Okuda	....	technical advisor (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

• Danjaq
• Eon Productions

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1967) (UK) (theatrical) (as United Artists A Transamerica Company)
• 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)
• C.B. Films (1967) (Spain) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1967) (Norway) (theatrical)
• 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)
• 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)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Ian Fleming's You Only Live Twice (UK) (copyright 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:

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

Filming Locations:

Akime Village Environs, Akime, Kagoshima, Japan

Company:

Danjaq

Trivia:

Eva Renzi turned down the role of Bond-Girl Helga Brandt which finally went to Karin Dor.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Aki is driving Bond to see Henderson, she is driving a car with the steering on the right side. As they approach Henderson's residence, Aki is seen briefly to be on the left side of the car. When the camera cuts to a close-up, she is back on the right again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Astronaut - 1st American Spacecraft: Calling CapCom. CapCom, this is Jupiter 16. Do you give a go for fourth orbit.
Hawaii 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.
Hawaii CapCom: Okay. Everything looks good from here. You have a go for fourth orbit.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "I'm Alan Partridge: Never Say Alan Again (#2.4)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

You Only Live Twice

BOND#5: Kill Bond! Now! says Blofeld Revealed

MASTER PLAN: foment World War III between the U.S. and Soviet Union by stealing some orbiting space capsules. Bond almost gets into outer space in this one, literally a step away (he'd finally make it in the much later "Moonraker"). And that's where the teaser begins, a reflection of the anxious space race between the super powers during the sixties. This film also reflected how 'hot' the Cold War was at this time, when seemingly the slightest provocation could cause a devastating escalation - precisely what SPECTRE, notably Blofeld, wants. We thought SPECTRE played its ultimate hand in the previous "Thunderball." Here, instead of just stealing nuclear warheads, the sinister organization gobbles up entire space ships, a blatant attempt to establish itself as a new super power - a 3rd one - following up on the hints in the previous Bonders. Expectedly, there are fantastic special FX for the time to convey all this ambitious power playing. This marked a shift to all-out science fiction, although traces of traditional espionage remain. The teaser is actually divided into two parts, with the 2nd half devoted to another 'false death' for Bond (see From Russia With Love's teaser). Nancy Sinatra sings over the credits and at the end, a more languorous and lyrical effort than the bombastic tempos in previous films.

Bond spends his mission in Japan in this one, since this is where it appears the criminal space craft originates from. In a slight deviation of protocol, M and Moneypenny have also set up quarters in this area, in a least likely spot. Many of the early scenes convey this sleight of hand, where nothing is as it appears to be, but then the plot starts to meander a bit. Despite some fine action bits, notably against a burly Japanese thug and a unique long shot of Bond's rooftop struggle, the middle act comes across as almost a travelogue of the Orient's better scenery. It's nice to look at, yes, perhaps the most exotic of the Bonders, but on the slow side, a conceit which would plague many of the future Bonders. Q shows up with his contribution, a miniature helicopter, which almost seems like an advertisement for the company who made this weird prop, though there is an impressive aerial battle against some standard helicopters when Bond attempts some scouting. Similar to the use of sharks in the previous film, this has a pond of piranha, always a guaranteed crowd pleaser, accentuating the outrageous aspects of Bond villains. To the film's credit, several fine Japanese actors were cast, including a couple of Bond girls (another film company might have cast white actors in all the main roles, despite the Japanese setting). I especially liked the poignant oriental-flavored musical score during Bond's wedding, though this entire subplot makes little sense. There's even a tragic tone to one of the character arcs, though Bond accepts this like a good soldier, a sign of Connery's less energetic approach by this time.

The casting of uber-villain Blofeld, however, was not very inspired. The actor Pleasence is always excellent and actually lends himself very well to eccentric villainy, but it didn't quite work here. After sensing the power emanating from this mysterious figure with the reverberating voice in "From Russia With Love" and "Thunderball," one can't help but be unimpressed by Pleasence's limited stature, both physically and vocally. He actually reminded me of a stunted version of another comic book villain, Baron Strucker, introduced a couple of years earlier in the 'Sgt.Fury' Marvel Comics. The fact he shows up so late, a la Dr. No style, was probably just as well. His bodyguard, the brute henchman, doesn't speak and functions merely as a tall combatant for the now standard mano-a-mano with Bond towards the end (tho their walking towards each other was a stylistic triumph). Connery himself appeared noticeably older than in the previous Bonders; though still physically fit, you sense he was past his prime - not desk-bound just yet, but slowing up, and his lack of jovial sarcasm during Q's lecture denoted a little too much seasoning by this point. This does have a spectacular finish, with literally a hundred attacking ninjas on the greatest Bond set so far, underneath a fake lake in a volcano. Bond would return, but Connery would not, in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Bond:8 Villain:7 Femme Fatales:7 Henchmen:5 Fights:8 Stunts/Chases:8 Gadgets:8 Auto:6 Locations:9 Pace:7 overall:7