You Only Live Twice (1967)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

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

Cast

Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Akiko Wakabayashi	...	Aki
Mie Hama	...	Kissy
Tetsurô Tanba	...	Tiger Tanaka (as Tetsuro Tanba)
Teru Shimada	...	Mr. Osato
Karin Dor	...	Helga Brandt
Donald Pleasence	...	Blofeld
Bernard Lee	...	'M'
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Desmond Llewelyn	...	'Q'
Charles Gray	...	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:

Last Bond film to make extensive use of voice dubbing. In this film and most of those made previously, many of Bond's leading ladies and villains were overdubbed by other actors. This practice rarely occurred in future Bond films.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Little Nellie has been assembled, Bond gets aboard. A technician is seen to begin the removal of the red rotor brace. The next close-up of Bond sees the brace in position. The next longer shot sees the technician completing the removal of the rotor brace.

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:

Referenced in Bond Girls Are Forever (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

You Only Live Twice

Understated Bond Film

When I first saw this in a drive-in in 1967, the opening sequence of this with Bond being shot did not make a big impression as this is the first Bond film I had ever seen. After the credits, the snatching of a space craft made an impression as it looked very much like the simulations CBS used to broadcast of the real flights. While this plot & some of the special effects seem a little dated & far fetched now with the passage of time, Sean Connery is great as his usual Bond self in this one. Donald Pleasance is very effective as the heavy Blofeldt, one of several actors who took a turn at it.

The scenery of 1960's Toyko, Japan are nostalgic now. The thing which makes this Bond a little special is the understated way the humor is handled. Using "I Love You" as a password for one thing. Of course, the irony of the line "This can save your live - this cigarette," is still pretty effective. All the regulars in the series are here with Q much in evidence. This one is still a very pleasant diversion for a rainy afternoon.