Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

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

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

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	...	Albert R. 'Bert' 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	...	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
Marc Lawrence	...	Slumber Inc. Attendant
Sid Haig	...	Slumber Inc. Attendant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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)
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Casino Player (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

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
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
Roy Field	....	optical cinematography (uncredited)
Bert Luxford	....	assistant physical special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Wally Veevers	....	visual effects
Albert Whitlock	....	visual effects

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)
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)

Animation Department
Jim Danforth	....	animator (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
Monty Norman	....	composer: James Bond theme
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Gene Clinesmith	....	driver

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer
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

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

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
• 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, 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, 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, Las Vegas)
• Landmark Hotel, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Landmark Hotel, Las Vegas)
• Mint Hotel, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Mint Hotel, 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, Las Vegas)
• Sands Hotel, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Sands Hotel, Las Vegas)
• Tropicana Hotel, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Tropicana Hotel, 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 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1971) | Peru:14 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1994) | UK:A (original rating) (cut)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Danjaq

Trivia:

During the filming of the scene where Plenty O'Toole is shown drowned in the pool, Lana Wood actually had her feet tied (albeit loosely) to a cement block on the bottom. Film crew members held a rope across the pool for her, with which she could lift her face out of the water to breathe between takes. Unfortunately, like most pools, this one had a sloping bottom, and the block was slipping into deeper water with each take. Eventually it reached a depth from which she could no longer get her face out of the water. Alert film crew members noticed this, and quickly jumped into the water to untie her feet, thus saving her from drowning for real. Wood, being a certified diver, remained calm during the ordeal, although she later admitted to a few "very uncomfortable moments" while she was unable to breathe.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening scene, Bond gets mud spilt on him as he falls to the floor. When he stands up his jacket is perfectly clean.

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 Lesson #007: Close Quarters Combat (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

We may be stirred... but never shaken!

In this 7th Bond movie, there is little of Bond's prowess in sex and violence... Connery's return to his role for a final throw is simply disappointing... Seeking a diamond smuggler, Bond has adventures in Amsterdam, in a Los Angeles crematorium, in various Las Vegas gambling parlors, and in a secret factory in Nevada desert...

For that Bond receives an urn containing a hoard of gems; leads the police on a wild chase; drives a Moonbuggy and a tiny Mustang convertible on two side wheels; wins at the Craps table; struggles superbly with two hot-tempered vixens; rips off a woman's top bikini; substitutes a fake computer tape; tries to escape from a blazing coffin; and knocks what he thinks is the real Blofeld // For the audience, it's intended to function as a glorious reinstatement of Connery-Bond, avenging Tracy's murder...

Jill St. John is the free agent who defies Bond's charm, but is reduced to a weak heroine, as she displays none of the class we've come to expect of a Bond girl... Nevertheless this redheaded diamond smuggler becomes the first American Bond beauty who does know how to wear a 'nice little nothing.' Jill inspires the best line in the movie...

Charles Gray becomes the third actor to portray a wildly sophisticated Blofeld on-screen following Donald Pleasance and Telly Savalas… He succeeds as the reclusive tycoon Ernest Stavro Blofeld who creates doubles of himself to confuse Commander Bond... He hates martial music and takes no chances with his staff... His hit men are "gay and fun," Mr Kidd and Mr Wint... Putter Smith is the sadistic Mr Kidd and Bruce Glover is his sinister sidekick Mr Wint… Jimmy Dean plays the multimillionaire Willard Whyte unaware that his company is being improperly used by Blofeld for his devil scheme for world domination...He is held prisoner in his desert mansion which is protected by two female karate experts nicknamed Bambi and Thumper...

Lana Wood becomes the glamorous society girl who meets Bond at a Las Vegas crap table… One night she barely had enough time to remove her top, and gets an undeserved but chilling sendoff...

Desmond Llewelyn is Bond's gadget man, Q, who tries out an electromagnetic controller for his own amusement that makes an entire raw of slot machines hits jackpots...

Lois Maxwell is, as always, the loving Moneypenny in emigration uniform, this time, who still is aching for a diamond ring; Bernard Lee is the imposing 'M' who assigns 007 to infiltrate the smuggling ring and find out who was stockpiling stolen diamonds; Norman Burton is the CIA agent Felix Leiter who greets Bond and asks which part of the stiff holds the gems; Joseph Fürst is the brilliant scientist Dr Metz, who thinks that Blofeld is a mankind's benefactor, and a believer in world disarmament; and Bruce Cabot is Whyte's treacherous right-hand-man...