Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writers:

Richard Maibaum (screenplay) and
Tom Mankiewicz (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

17 December 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

"Diamonds Are Forever"...forever...forever...forever...

Plot:

A diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas, where he uncovers an extortion plot headed by his nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Plot Keywords:

Diamond | Smuggling | James Bond | British | Casino Owner

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 27

3:30 PM

SYFY

Cast

Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Jill St. John	...	Tiffany Case
Charles Gray	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Lana Wood	...	Plenty O'Toole
Jimmy Dean	...	Willard Whyte
Bruce Cabot	...	Saxby
Putter Smith	...	Mr. Kidd
Bruce Glover	...	Mr. Wint
Norman Burton	...	Felix Leiter
Joseph Fürst	...	Dr. Metz (as Joseph Furst)
Bernard Lee	...	M
Desmond Llewelyn	...	Q
Leonard Barr	...	Shady Tree
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Margaret Lacey	...	Mrs. Whistler
Joe Robinson	...	Peter Franks
David de Keyser	...	Doctor (as David De Keyser)
Laurence Naismith	...	Sir Donald Munger
David Bauer	...	Mr. Slumber
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Casino Player (scenes deleted)
Sid Haig	...	Slumber Inc. Attendant (uncredited: in closing credits)
Marc Lawrence	...	Slumber Inc. Attendant (uncredited: in closing credits)
John Abineri	...	Airline Representative (uncredited)
Ray Baker	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Ed Bishop	...	Klaus Hergersheimer (uncredited)
Nicky Blair	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake	...	Water Balloon Game Barker-Operator (uncredited)
Ed Call	...	Maxie (uncredited)
George Lane Cooper	...	SPECTRE Agent (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	...	Crane Operator (uncredited)
Catherine Deeney	...	Welfare Worker (uncredited)
Gary Dubin	...	Boy (uncredited)
Clifford Earl	...	Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Mark Elwes	...	Sir Donald's Secretary (uncredited)
Brinsley Forde	...	Houseboy (uncredited)
Constantine Gregory	...	Aide to Metz (uncredited)
David Healy	...	Vandenburg Launch Director (uncredited)
Karl Held	...	Agent (uncredited)
Roy Hollis	...	Las Vegas Sheriff (uncredited)
Bill Hutchinson	...	Moon Crater Controller (uncredited)
Janos Kurucz	...	Aide to Metz (uncredited)
Lola Larson	...	Bambi (uncredited)
Debbie Letteau	...	Girl on the Corner (uncredited)
Frank Mann	...	Moon Crater Guard (uncredited)
Connie Mason	...	Woman at Whyte House (uncredited)
Neil McCarthy	...	Guard on Blofeld's left (uncredited)
Don Messick	...	Announcer at Circus Circus (uncredited)
Burt Metcalfe	...	Maxwell (uncredited)
Johnny Miller	...	Gunman (uncredited)
Frank Olegario	...	Man in Fez (uncredited)
Trina Parks	...	Thumper (uncredited)
Denise Perrier	...	Marie (uncredited)
Valerie Perrine	...	Shady Tree's Acorn (uncredited)
Shane Rimmer	...	Tom (uncredited)
Henry Rowland	...	Dr. Tynan (uncredited)
Gordon Ruttan	...	Vandenburg Aide (uncredited)
Jay Sarno	...	Sideshow Barker (uncredited)
Tom Steele	...	W Technologies Gate Guard (uncredited)
Michael Valente	...	Slumber Inc. Attendant (uncredited)
E.J. 'Tex' Young	...	Craps Dealer (uncredited)

Directed by
Guy Hamilton

Writing credits
Ian Fleming		(novel) uncredited
Richard Maibaum		(screenplay) and
Tom Mankiewicz		(screenplay)

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

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Ted Moore		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bert Bates
John W. Holmes		(as John W.Holmes)

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Ken Adam

Art Direction by
Bill Kenney
Jack Maxsted

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(as John Austin)
Peter Lamont

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Eileen Warwick	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Milton Feldman	....	production manager
Claude Hudson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Derek Cracknell	....	assistant director
Jerome M. Siegel	....	assistant director
Raymond Becket	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Richard Jenkins	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ron Quelch	....	production buyer (as Ronnie Quelch)
Ted Ambrose	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Ivor Beddoes	....	sketch artist (uncredited)
John Chisholm	....	prop man (uncredited)
Roy Walker	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Lancaster	....	dubbing editor
Teddy Mason	....	dubbing editor
Gordon K. McCallum	....	dubbing mixer (as Gordon McCallum)
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Al Overton	....	sound recordist
Jim Shields	....	dubbing editor (as Jimmy Shields)
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Les Hillman	....	special effects (as Leslie Hillman)
Whitey McMahon	....	special effects
Bert Luxford	....	assistant physical special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Wally Veevers	....	visual effects
Albert Whitlock	....	visual effects
Jim Danforth	....	model animator: submarine (uncredited)
Roy Field	....	optical cinematography (uncredited)
Charles Staffell	....	optical/projection effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Paul Baxley	....	stunt arranger
Bob Simmons	....	stunt arranger
Craig R. Baxley	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Baxley	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lightning Bear	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Johnny Bossle	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Monty Bossle	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Buzz Bundy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard E. Butler	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Dennis Camsey	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Lane Cooper	....	stunt: Blofeld Goon in pre-title sequence (uncredited)
George Lane Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gerry Crampton	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Leslie Crawford	....	stunts (uncredited)
Everett Creach	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
Vince Deadrick Sr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bud Ekins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Patty Elder	....	stunts (uncredited)
Donna Garrett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Reg Harding	....	stunts (uncredited)
Orwin C. Harvey	....	stunt double: high fall from oil rig (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hickman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jazzer Jeyes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Max Latimer	....	stunt double: Charles Gray (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Johnny Miller	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Victor Paul	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Robotham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wally Rose	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Scheiwiller	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Sharp	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Sholomir	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Street	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Stromsoe	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Summers	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Waters	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chris Webb	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Williams	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Johnson	....	camera operator
Bob Kindred	....	camera operator
Harold E. Wellman	....	camera operator: second unit (as Harold Wellman)
Mike Roberts	....	focus puller (uncredited)
George Whitear	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donfeld	....	costumes: Miss St. John (as Don Feld)
Elsa Fennell	....	wardrobe supervisor
Ted Tetrick	....	wardrobe supervisor
Ray Beck	....	wardrobe master (uncredited)

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
John Barry	....	music arranger
Shirley Bassey	....	singer: title song
Don Black	....	lyrics by
Monty Norman	....	composer: The James Bond theme
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Gene Clinesmith	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main title
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Bernard Hanson	....	location manager
Del Ross	....	continuity
Eddie Saeta	....	location manager
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Eon Productions (made by) (as Eon Productions Limited)
• Danjaq (as Danjaq S.A.) (uncredited)

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1971) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1971) (USA) (theatrical) (released thru) (as United Artists Entertainment from Transamerica Corporation)
• United Artists (1971) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1971) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• 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)
• C.B. Films (1971) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1971) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1971) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• United Artists (1971) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1971) (Italy) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (Greece)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Mi Casa Multimedia  DVD audio restoration & mastering 5.1 (uncredited)
• Aston Martin Lagonda  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of
• C.T.S. Studios  music recorded at (as C.T.S. Studios, London, England)
• Circus Circus  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as Circus Circus, City of Las Vegas)
• David Morris Jewellers  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of
• Dover Harbour Board  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Dover Harbour Board)
• Dunes Hotel, Casino and Country Club  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Dunes Hotel, City of Las Vegas)
• Ford Motor Company  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Ford Motor Company)
• Honda Motor Company  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of
• International Hotel, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The International Hotel, City of Las Vegas)
• Landmark Hotel, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Landmark Hotel, City of Las Vegas)
• Mint Hotel, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Mint Hotel, City of Las Vegas)
• P & O - Orient Lines  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as P & O Lines)
• Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Riviera Hotel, City of Las Vegas)
• Sands Hotel, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Sands Hotel, City of Las Vegas)
• Tropicana Hotel, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Tropicana Hotel, City of Las Vegas)

Also Known As:

Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | West Germany:16 (nf) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:PG | UK:PG (tv rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1971) | Peru:14 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1994) | UK:A (original rating) (passed with cuts)

Filming Locations:

3rd Floor, Reguliersgracht 36, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Eon Productions

Trivia:

Bulky blond henchman Peter Franks (Joe Robinson) is one of the many series reincarnations of the "Red Grant" (Robert Shaw) character from From Russia with Love (1963), along with Hans in You Only Live Twice (1967); Erich Kriegler in For Your Eyes Only (1981); Venz in A View to a Kill (1985); Necros in The Living Daylights (1987); and Stamper in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). Robinson taught Sean Connery judo for You Only Live Twice (1967), and accidentally pulled off Connery's hairpiece during one take of the elevator fight.

Goofs:

Continuity: The helicopter that blows up in the desert is originally green. As it turns away, it turns red.

Quotes:

[first lines]
James Bond: [tossing chinese man around] Where is he? I shan't ask you politely next time. Where is Blofeld?
Chinese Man: Ca-Ca-Cairo.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Happy Anniversary 007: 25 Years of James Bond (1987) (TV)

Soundtrack:

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

Unbelievably lousy

I'm an old man of 58 who saw this when it first came out. I think I remember thinking it was OK. I watched it and other Bond film again because I could see them in HD. I'm sort of amazed at how weak and lazy this film was, just a fraction of the creativity of the first four Bond films (Dr. No, Goldfinger, From Russia With Love and Thunderball). When I say "fraction," I mean about a tenth as good. In those earlier films, you could have some success jumping into fantasy land and imagining being part of the action and suspense, so to speak. In this film, you'd fall asleep even trying! Connery had gain so much weight and looked so old that he is unbelievable as a carrier of "00" designation.

All I can say is, gee, I wish I could have make as much money in my life as Connery did here and give almost nothing to customer to earn it.

Finally, I liked seeing Jill St. John in high def, actually my main reason to watch this. She is extremely attractive here. She's about 68 years now. I wonder if she is still a "10" for that age category.