Diamonds Are Forever | In-depth Movie Review

[@jonathancampbell5231]

Fun fact- throughout the movies, the REAL Blofeld only ever calls him "Bond", including in this film. The two fake Blofelds call him 007.

[@calvindyson]

I've never realised that! That's a good fact!

[@TheSpacey52]

In OHMSS, Blofeld called him 007 after he wakes up from being captured

[@spaceace4387]

@@TheSpacey52 Sevallas called him "Mr. Bond" later though.

[@BrozzaBond4007]

Blofeld in OHMSS He says Merry Christmas 007 Was That Savalas a clone

[@spaceace4387]

@@BrozzaBond4007 Bond: "My name is Sir Hillary Bray", Blofeld: "Oh no no no Mr. Bond"

[@acidsons3116]

I love Connery’s acting in this one, he seems to really be enjoying himself. I’m sure every time he smiles is because he must have been thinking of his enormous paycheck 😂

[@joejose8433]

You smile too man if you receive 25 million dollars to come back and resume your role LOL for the last time of course after that Roger Moore will take over think about it friend 25 million dollars after taxes of course after all her majesty hasn't extravagant lifestyle

[@briancherry8088]

or he was thinking of how he would now be able to do THIS en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zardoz#/media/File:Zardoz_zed.jpg

[@bjgandalf69]

@@joejose8433 Sean got paid 1.25 million for DAF, not 25 mil, and donated the entire sum to charity.

[@guileniam]

Lmao what are you smoking he's sleepwalking through this barely acting at all. He's literally just being Sean Connery reading lines. Which is entertaining no doubt.

[@acidsons3116]

@@guileniam I didn’t say he was good in it: I said I loved it. The guy didn’t give a shit and was just enjoying himself, thinking about the money he was going to make for simply showing up

[@jonathancampbell5231]

Moneypenny: "Can you get me a diamond, in a ring?" Bond: "Sure. Just after I bury my recently murdered wife." Moneypenny needs to learn a thing or two about tact, methinks.

[@JamesWho1]

He has a pained expression on his face for a brief moment in that scene too

[@calvindyson]

HAHA! Never considered that but yeah, it is rather rude of her...

[@tompor561]

Damn! Moneypenny has no shame XD

[@Minnesota_Central]

Every time Moneypenny says that it just shocks me!!

[@MarvinFalz]

Never considered that either, which to me is proof that this movie doesn't tie in with OHMSS, except for the beginning. They just touched briefly on Bond's revenge motif to get rid of it as fast as possible to get on with this light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek adventure. So no wonder you'd soon forget about the loose ends from the previous movie, of you're not actively searching for them.

[@billkoenig1552]

Connery's delivery of the line "Bond, James Bond," definitely is sped up.

[@donkeykongisytpooping3002]

In the trailers it’s played at normal speed.

[@wyliefox100]

Ilse Steppatt died of a heart attack,after filming OHMSS. A shame. RIP, Ilse. Irma was a great henchwoman.

[@alfredvalrie5541]

Martin Wylie wow never knew that

[@chrismacias305]

I was going to say that too in the comments.

[@jacobkilby]

Same here!

[@annnee6818]

Her and Rosa Klebb... creepiest henchwomen in all of Bond.

[@wyliefox100]

@@alfredvalrie5541 She was 52, when it happened. Very young.

[@alfredvalrie5541]

I swear you did this to bring back “jump to the left”!

[@TheRafe45]

Put your hands on your hips

[@Seantendo]

"Where's you neck?!"

[@jenniferschillig3768]

@@TheRafe45 "On your HIPS, not your TITS!"

[@TheRafe45]

@@jenniferschillig3768 huh? I said hips

[@jenniferschillig3768]

@@TheRafe45 It's a common audience participation line for Rocky Horror, for that line of The Time Warp. :-)

[@dmd9080]

Can’t help but love Charles Gray. Despite his sort of character, he has such a charismatic look which makes him fit the part in my opinion.

[@expendableindigo9639]

Isn't the ring moment with Moneypenny and the surprised look Bond gives really awkward considering this is right after Majesty?

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

I like to think that it's right before Majesty

[@jasonhebedead1710]

I do love DAF, it's not a perfect film, but the epitome of a guilty pleasure. The perfect segue between the Connery and Moore era. It's also the first one my dad saw in cinemas.

[@randallrutherford1384]

So fun movie!

[@Maximillian200HP]

I love how fair you are in your critiquing of the films and don't let it ruin them for you or try to ruin the film for others. A lot of people seem to be too critical and unable to genuinely enjoy anything because they're always too busy nitpicking it. I also appreciate how you can enjoy each film for what it is (mostly) and don't try to pretend every film needs to be as good as say Goldfinger or one of the other universally beloved films in the series.

[@thatsfxguy]

"Alimentary" Doctor Leiter I just got that. 46 years later

[@nashf5925]

Growing up, I used to freak out that the Mr Wint actor was George McFly's Dad from Back to the Future

[@user-ez05ob0WqQ]

I think I've seen Mr. Wint's actor appeared in an episode of Mission: Impossible back then, Season 5 I remember

[@nashf5925]

I enjoyed some of the indirect pop-culture and events around the time: - The fake Moon landings - The long queues at filling stations for gas - The whole Howard Hughes reclusiveness - How Las Vegas used to be

[@Roboshi2007]

they weren't fake moon landings, they often used that part of the desert to test moon landing equipment because it was the closest they could get to the moon on earth. So this was a "dry run" so to speak.

[@Protostarofficial]

And of course: -Bond's pet rat

[@spockboy]

Connery used his salary from DIAMONDS to create a foundation for young Scottish film makers. Excellent review. Subscribed. :)

[@BadaBingPictures]

Yes, Mr Dyson is back! I can’t help but hear your commentary when I watch Bond movies now. Not bad thing though. 👍

[@calvindyson]

I'm properly sorry if that means I've ruined Bond movies for you forever!!

[@BadaBingPictures]

Calvin - Bond Reviewer On the contrary, you’ve highlighted things in which I completely missed when I watched these growing up. It’s all good, bro! Keep doing what you’re doing.

[@BedroomScenesMovie]

I LOVE "you just killed James Bond!" Because it becomes clear every now and then - again in A View To A Kill - Bond is a SURPRISINGLY famous spy. Maybe because of his name only, instead of his face, the world seems to be aware of him.

[@davidjames579]

Scaramanga knows him well enough to have an exact resemblance waxwork made of him (so good even the real Bond can pretend to be it!)

[@howie9751]

He's the world's most well known secret agent (thank you, Chief from Get Smart).

[@RRVCrinale]

You know what he's called, you know what he looks like, and you know you can't stop him. You can try, and you won't succeed, but you won't think so at the time. Looked at that way, James Bond isn't a famous spy, he's the Boogeyman.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

@@davidjames579 Scaramanga is not like Tiffany, but a villain like Dr.No. Goldfinger, Blofeld. I prefer Tiffany to says "you just killed a secret agent'' after seeing an agent MI6 card.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

Well, you could explain that away by saying that Bond has become well known in the criminal underworld because he's foiled so many baddies.

[@TheT3rr0rMask]

When I watch DAF I ignore Majestys and treat it like a Connery continuation after YOLT. Majesty's happens after DAF and before LALD for me. Roger plays it less happy than George did, and his reaction to the "Mrs. Bond" comment at the hotel feels like Tracy's in mind even if it wasnt intentional. The team obviously ignored any attempt of continuity and just wanted to make entertaining films.

[@Jose-se9pu]

The why is he on a personal vendetta after Blofeld at the beginning of the movie? Its like if the writters couldnt make up their minds

[@jenniferschillig3768]

@RoadhogTime13 Yeah, it's as if the makers were trying to have it both ways. They started out with Bond after Blofeld as if it's a direct follow-on from OHMSS, but when Bond finally does meet him, he doesn't give off any sense of burning hatred or vengeance for the man who robbed him of the woman who meant everything to him--it's just another face-off with another villain. Even "Welcome to hell, Blofeld," is delivered rather matter-of-factly, without any venom. Nor does Blofeld taunt him about what happened--for example, by saying, "Even if you defeat me, you can't bring her back. How does that feel, 007?" Then, of course, later on there's Moneypenny's glib little joke about a diamond ring. It's as though the makers were trying to keep some kind of continuity, but didn't want to acknowledge the events of OHMSS because they viewed Lazenby as an embarrassment.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

That's the way I see it [ITV used to show it in that order when I was a kid anyway] though given continuity isn't very strong between the early Bond's it doesn't really matter.

[@jerobriggs6861]

I like to think that Majesty's is set between Thunderball and You Only Live Twice as Bond was sent on an undercover mission in Majesty's to a place personally run by Blofeld as if Blofeld wouldn't recognise James Bond after YOLT. That's how I look at it though.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

@@jerobriggs6861 Or maybe there is no continuity between the films.

[@RighteousBrother]

A bit harsh on George and OHMSS. To me, it's bloody tragic that George and Peter Hunt never got to make another and that one of the best films in the series was followed with this.....

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I think George jumped before he was pushed frankly. United Artists' chief David Picker insisted on Connery's return as OHMSS unperformed so he'd probably have paid him off. Apparently Peter Hunt was going to return but was working on another project and needed Diamonds to be delayed so he was free...this was turned down.

[@Lee-Darin]

So if George Lazenby would have stayed as Bond his last movie would have been Octopussy.

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

That would have made A View to a Kill Daltons first film, and I would be in favor of that.

[@randallrutherford1384]

Cool!

[@thebadfella5296]

no, it would've been For Your Eyes Only as his last film

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

@@ninjabluefyre3815 Which if we add the amount of films Dalton was meant to have...

[@DS-ff6ze]

Not exactly. Just because they hired him for 7 films doesn't mean he will star in 7 films. They could've hired him for 7 and then terminate his contract at 3-4. Trying to hire Lazenby for 7 films was exploitative. Because let's say his 2nd or 3rd film is extremely successful, he'd still get paid for the same rate as when he was an unknown actor. Take Craig for example. He signed up for 3 films. Skyfall was immensely successful, so then he could negotiate high pay for his next 2 films. But if he were signed at 7 from the start, he would get paid substantially less.

[@DutchBondFan]

Entertaining review! Personally, Diamonds is my least favorite Bond film. I would even take Never Say Never Again over this. (Though not in soundtrack!) Where the more tongue and cheek and lighthearted approach seems to work fine for most of the Roger Moore era, it really just falls flat for me in this one. I also always thought a lot of the special effects look like an absolute B movie in this one. Take all the attacks with the laser satalite for instance. That korean guy being on fire, and all the explosions. I know this is '71, but back in FRWL, they had amazing explosions and people actually being on fire near the climax, and that's an even older movie! And then later they did do an actual fire on Mr. Kidd in the final scene anyway, so it's even weirder to have all the lazy effects in the middle... It just always felt like the odd one out. However, enjoyed this review immensely! It's good to see you're slowly revisiting and replacing your older reviews. Are you planning to redo all of them up untill a certain movie?

[@JamesWho1]

I wonder if connery's salary had anything to do with the lousy special effects probably had to cut back on things after that

[@SolarDragon007]

Yeah Diamonds is trash.

[@adamoconnor8964]

@@JamesWho1 It did. Connery cost so much that they had to settle for a cheaper special effects company

[@johnwells5414]

I love your reviews! You and Calvin are the best reviewers for all things Bond

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@adamoconnor8964 Additionally they couldn't afford a big name for Tiffany so Jill St John was promoted from Plenty [and probably why Charles Grey was Blofeld].

[@therealhardrock]

14:20 Guy Hamilton hated those big American cars and loved destroying them.

[@nikolaiquack8548]

I'd rather he'd have used them well in an actual good chase.

[@stevenjoiner7273]

I just sent this video to my friend Bruce Glover who I've known for many years. Every time I've ever asked him about this film he has told me the coolest stories about working on it. Great job Calvin! another good review! Little side trivia No one in the cast got along or cared for Jimmy Dean.

[@TYLRMN8R]

Steven Joiner oh my gosh sir, that’s actually really really cool that you’re friends with Bruce Glover! Please if you ever get the chance tell him I’m a HUGE fan of him!!!

[@stevenjoiner7273]

@@TYLRMN8R I definitely will it's been many years obviously since the movie. Bruce is in his 80's now and he's still doing films and teaching Acting in LA. He's on FB

[@TYLRMN8R]

Steven Joiner oh my gosh that’s so amazing! I recently did a read through of all of the Ian Fleming James Bond novels and I chuckled to myself because every time Wint and Kidd had their dialogue I couldn’t help but imagine Mr. Glover and Mr. Smith. They left such an impact and I aspire to be as charming as their screen presence (I am a high schooler in theatre and pursuing Broadway)

[@Clay3613]

The man knew how to make a good sausage though!

[@joejose8433]

It's because he was too busy eating Jimmy Dean pork sausages of which he still promotes

[@meltz87]

Being more than twice your age it makes me happy to see a new generation appreciating these movies for what they were! I enjoyed your video and am now a subscriber. I'm looking forward to more of your take on the series. Keep up the good work!

[@AvengedS939]

Probably my favorite "bad" Bond movie. The humor and whit distract from the rather lackluster action scenes. I wonder how the movie would have turned out if they didn't have to allocate a large chunk of the budget to get Connery back.

[@adampoll4977]

Gotta LOVE the architecture and interior design in this film - such a great period for it. I keep freezing frames just to admire it!

[@andrewpragasam]

So glad to have you back, Calvin. For all its flaws and inconsistencies I adore Diamonds Are Forever. It's surreal and deliciously dark and witty and features arguably some of Sean Connery's most memorable moments in the series. Evidently most Bond fans wedded to the grittier films find its kitschy tone insufferable. But it delighted me as a child and still does.

[@sampuatisamuel9785]

Me too

[@eddixon2015]

Connery had better chemistry with that rat than he did with anyone in Never Say Never Again.

[@tomspivey8149]

Ed Dixon More witty too! 😂

[@joejose8433]

I'm going to agree more man but let's face it that's the humor missing and I mean that with the Daniel Craig version I mean Daniel Craig just doesn't do it for me man it's like a big titty 18 year old girl is laying in front of me with her legs open and teasing me with her p**** to get in there it just doesn't do anything it doesn't go up and I'm 63 years old but I got to be honest the Daniel Craig Bond just f****** don't do it there's no humor in it I mean the Bond film would not all about human but that's way that wearing that dinner jacket suit suit and lighting the cigar for the cigarette always did it for me man Pierce brosnan did it Roger Moore did it and Sean Connery did it as well as the one that who shall not be named Ozzy actor he did it they all had that humor Daniel Craig just doesn't do I can't even watch it with Daniel Craig in it man it's impossible

[@samspencer582]

@@joejose8433 Craig is really louzy and the biggest disappointment in the history of Bonds.

[@thomaschacko6320]

And that rat was a better actor than anyone in “A View To A Kill.”

[@diogocatalano9557]

@@joejose8433 I stopped watching 007 movies when Craig was cast. He looks like shit.

[@SyxxPunk]

The oddest thing that the agent told Lazenby to do hippie films, because James Bond films weren't going to stay around for much longer. Yeah, famous thoughts, yeah?

[@adamoconnor8964]

And Lazenby then did two hippie films that flopped, so he fired his agent.

[@joejose8433]

It is now the year 2021 you think? And then Daniel Craig film of James Bond that's not been released yet they waiting to get it to a studio audience in the theaters because that's how the actors get paid that's why Scarlett Johansson Black widow film has not been put in the theaters because whatever it makes at the box office that's her cream off the top in Disney has not paid her box office revenues and her lawyers are getting impatient they want to get paid too then Dennis is not about to put this direct to DVD or Blu-ray or whatever they spent too much money on it Scarlett Johansson wants her money from the box office sales but due to the coronavirus it's kind of a tricky minefield to navigate people don't want to sit next to people in the theater I know I don't however the theaters can solve this problem by keeping the audience smaller and Jack the ticket price up and people will enjoy going to the theaters again they also should start putting partitioning screens between patrons and have a black light turn on when everybody leaves that's what one Barber shop do he's showing a reporter right that after he done clean up and scrubbed everything he ain't satisfied soon as he leave he got a black light system or UVC light system that comes on automatically and flood the whole area with UVC light all the way down to the floor this m*********** ain't playing about keeping his customers safe

[@jenniferschillig3768]

"Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr. Epstein." "Big ears, can't act, can't sing, can dance a little." "Forget it, Louis. No Civil War picture ever made a dime." And: "George, hippie pictures are the wave of the future. James Bond is yesterday's news."

[@thealaskan1635]

I miss when ABC would play the Bond movies.

[@johnwells5414]

I remember when they did that! It was like every Saturday night if I remember correctly.

[@georgealexander141]

When I saw your comment I thought you were referring to ABC, which was a character in the book of Diamonds Are Forever. LOL I agree with you, I do miss ABC showing the 007 movies.

[@babyfir77]

ABC had cut out all of the gay references so for many years I never knew about the relationship between Wint and Kidd until I saw the film on video! (DAF)

[@thomaschacko6320]

I don’t - because ABC would stuff in the commercials and butcher the films. “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was a prime example!

[@callawolf531]

Ya know, despite all it's faults (and they DO exist in this film), I still love this film. I think the strengths really outweigh it's weaknesses, if nothing else because it's just simply a fun film. It doesn't take itself TOO seriously, which I think is perfectly fine from time to time in a franchise as long running such as this. The 007 films, really, are my favorite film series, and that's because they all range from being really good to, at times, REALLY silly (for no reason, sometimes too).

[@postersandstuff]

Its like Batman '66 , it kinda mocks the source material ;)

[@ashleyrhodes9974]

I remember seeing it in Bradford (like Vegas, but with curry houses) when it first came out. I went with my grandmother and was so blown away by the film that I convinced her that we should go and see it two more times on the next two consecutive matinees. That's what you call grandmotherly love! Although not considered to be the best of the franchise, it made a big enough impression on my 11 year-old self to go on and see it a further 12 times. I have a mint condition film edition from '71 in my 160-strong collection of Ian Fleming paperbacks. Favourite scenes? Vegas car chase, Wint and Kidd clips and one of the very best theme songs.

[@timprohibitionkingmagnusso3568]

Hands down best Bond character ever: the 'one minute and counting' guy at the end.

[@joejose8433]

My favorite villains are the two assassins especially the South African desert scene

[@MuzixMaker]

He showed up in Austin Powers as well.

[@mb2000]

13:01 this is one of the reasons I remember this film; Ed Bishop! Captain Blue from Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (both voice and puppet sculpt) and Straker from UFO. Loved those shows as a kid!

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Bloody hell, it is as well!

[@WedgePee]

@@TheSmart-CasualGamer And you can hear Shane Rimmer’s voice. He appeared in FOUR Bonds!

[@EntropicDecayGaming]

Hooray, a new DAF review! OBJECTIVELY this is not a great Bond film but it's one of my guilty pleasures. And also, Lana Wood.

[@calvindyson]

Hope you enjoy!

[@marianotorrespico2975]

Yes, Diamonds Are Forever is a guilty pleasure; Sean Connery in a film half Old School (adult) and half New School adolescent (in the tenor of Roger Moore). Hence, Connery's noticeable boredom in the film.

[@EntropicDecayGaming]

Indeed I did. Though I am disappointed there was no mention of Connery's one liner of "Looks like you've caught me with more than my hands up." XD

[@howie9751]

I think Tiffany Case was the sexiest Bong girl of all.

[@tobyhart8515]

@@howie9751 she was indeed a hubbly bubbly hottie, but Lana gives me Wood.

[@howie9751]

I can't say this was a great movie, but it was fun and watchable multiple times. Tiffany Case was the sexiest Bond girl. They had good chemistry together.

[@_KRose]

I bet I am in the huge minority when I say that Diamonds is my favourite James Bond movie XD Certainly not a good watch directly after OHMSS but I just love this movie! It is just so campy, so stupid, and so much fun (another reason I love all of the Roger Moore films so much as well) I can't help but love it. No it is not the best movie in the series by any means but this is the one I always find myself coming back to Honestly I am split; part of me wishes we had a continuation of OHMSS with Lazenby getting revenge on Blofeld in some gritty outing like Licence To Kill, but the other part is perfectly satisfied with this nutcase of a movie right here XD

[@JIM87ification]

your not alone. For some reason it is my favorite Bond film. Perhaps because i saw it in the theatre as a kid. Its funny and entertaining. I loved it.

[@charlesmarsh316]

You have company in that minority - this is the one that immediately came to mind when we wanted to watch one of Sir Sean's films to mark his passing. It's campy and sleazy but, as you say, it's so much fun. (The fact that it was his series swan song and shows him lying in a coffin might have had something to do with it.)

[@LeonXfilm]

I think that this movie is really fun with great action scenes

[@tripi7906]

It’s not my favorite but I love it

[@horrorfanandy4647]

I prefer the darker films, but this is silly campy fun and I love it. Connery is actually having fun in it which helps. Add the most underrated and fun Blofeld and you have a good time! (though not necessarily a good movie)

[@theotendleeey]

Fantastic to see such an affectionate review of Diamonds, which I have always had a soft spot for. One point I think was not picked up which is worth an honourable mention: the superb jazz suite of the theme song that is played when Bond first meets Tiffany in her apartment. Really sublime. I would love to source the piano score.

[@Dan.50]

Jill St. John was the most enjoyable thing about this flick.

[@IdiocyShow]

I agree!

[@obwee3651]

Preach!

[@therealhardrock]

"I have always hated that damn James Bond. I'd like to kill him." - Sean Connery

[@postersandstuff]

He was so mean to mr Trebek :P

[@e-musickvance3581]

@therealhardrock. I don't blame Connery. Taking on the Bond role can be a blessing or a curse.

[@tobyhart8515]

@@e-musickvance3581 I don't see how a role that pays you a million dollars in 1971, makes you a worldwide sex symbol, gives you cinematic legendary status and guarantees you film work until you're 70 can possibly be a curse. OK so maybe the press and female attention get a bit intense but then it's not like he was born an actor. If one wants annonomity one becomes a civil servant not a lead actor. I don't buy into the winging of famous multimillionaire actors who never have to worry about taking care of their family or paying the mortgage. Craig also annoyed me with the slashed wrist quote. I'd train 7 days a week and allow several broken limbs to earn 40 million dollars. 👍

[@besfpolycule8710]

I love Roger Moore as much as the next guy, and this is probably blashphemous to say, but honestly.... I really wish Lazenby had signed that contract and been in the next several movies. I at the very least wish Lazenby and Hunt (and perferably Savalas) had all come back for Diamonds and kept the tone of OHMSS. They tried to course correct when they should have stuck to their guns.

[@MarvinFalz]

Just watched Diamonds Are Forever again. Just remarkable how they pulled this movie off, especially after the seriousness and the tragic ending of the one before. Remarkable how Bond's hunt for Blofeld is comedic, but his revenge is satisfying. Remarkable how Diamonds sparkles with lighthearted comedy and self-parody, silliness, but still manages to feel tonally even. Diamonds Are Forever alludes to almost all of its predecessors, not in a profound way, but in elements, like sets, a facial expression, a word. The only exception, well, two exceptions are Bond hunting down Blofeld to (probably!) avenge Tracy's death, and Tiffany's question at the end of the movie, where Bond doesn't show any emotion that might lead to the conclusion that he expects her to ask about marriage, which should be painful to him. So, all of this lets Diamonds Are Forever stand out as the one Bond movie which is a reflection of sorts of the Bond formula, and which at the same time concludes On Her Majesty's Secret Service and denies its existence.

[@quantumnoodl5584]

About that alimentary joke: Cubby Broccoli hated it and wanted it out of the movie. During the premiere, two people laughed out loud because of this joke. To that, Broccoli commented: "Big deal, they're doctors!"

[@JamesTilsley1]

I was watching this when I got the announcement that Sean Connery has died, RIP.

[@TheHufflepuffSaint]

While Tracy isn't mentioned in this film so they don't have to think about continuity, when Moneypenny says; "A diamond... in a ring." Bond's expression looks really angry mixed with bereavement and Moneypenny is quite frankly horrible and cruel for suggesting it. At least after a few moments, he managed to bubble up for "Will you settle for a tulip?" I can imagine Bond doesn't wanna lash out at Moneypenny. Though I do think about how the seven films after On Her Majesty's Secret Service would've been like if George had stayed on to fulfill his contract, a new Bond does offen need a couple of films to get into the Bond template. It's always an interesting thought for me. :-)

[@karahughes7074]

No, Crematoria are usually located in the basements of the building. You don't go straight into an oven from the service, you go onto a metal type gurney and then down a lift to the basement. [Thought about becoming an undertaker's assistant so did a voluntary stint at a crematorium many moons ago.]

[@paulklee5790]

Must make a great item on your CV...

[@mikeshirleyforever]

I saw this on the big screen last night and it was such a great experience. I still think the ultra weird moments like the moon sequence, circus and especially the elephant winning at the gambling game felt very Saltzman.

[@PhantomSnake84]

Hugely underrated film and unfairly maligned by being very unfairly compared to serious spy thrillers like From Russia With Love and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Diamonds Are Forever isn't a serious spy thriller at all, it's a comedy and isn't trying to be anything other than that. The film stars an older, greyer, more portly Connery and the film takes advantage of that by trading in action set-pieces for fantastically witty dialog, memorable characters, great comedic timing and a brilliant soundtrack. There is a lot of charm to 'Diamonds' because the film never takes itself too seriously. The settings of both Amsterdam and Las Vegas literally tell you all you need to know about the tone and style of the film. I do prefer my Bond films dark and serious (Dalton is my favourite Bond and OHMSS my favourite Bond film) but I appreciate the lighter ones too with 'Diamonds' being a massive guilty pleasure.

[@omarelmasri6709]

That Grey joke is never going to get old. Oh the Nostalgia!

[@jjmfrees]

I love how Bond wears his tux to Vegas and everyone else in the casino is draped in godaweful 70s garb.

[@Sh0tgunJust1ce]

Just a note, and I think you know this, but the actress who played Irma Bunt passed away shortly after OHMSS was released, and before Diamonds. I assume they didn't recast the role out of tribute, similar to what they did with M in FYEO.

[@TBathory]

This was my first Bond film and I was 10 when I saw it. It made me fall in love with bond, the books and movies. The same theater would should a double feature of the previous bond films on saturday's and sundays and I would go and watch them every time. Sitting in the dark, eating whoppers and falling in love awesome 007.

[@MostCommentsAreFake-ud8by]

I did exactly the same with my mates aged ten. Two Bond films for something like £1.50. In those days kids wandered freely. Like going to the movies for five hours with no adults. A great freedom for kids. I remember my teacher being surprised we went without adults and said James Bond was not a good role model because of his treatment of women. We replied, `but he saves the world in every movie`.

[@johnpriestley2217]

Yay snap . My first bond film was a double bill. Ohm's and daf

[@BezoRazo]

As Calvin has touched upon himself, Jill St. John deserves special recognition for her classy and refreshing attitude toward her "Bond girl" status. It really gets on my tits hearing actresses bemoan how beneath them and "degrading" such roles are after they've collected all the cash. Jill's response to the interviewer who asked her about the perception of Bond girl-dom being a career "curse" is sheer perfection: _"Then they shouldn't have accepted the role."_ Amen, Ms. Case, and God bless you. Beyond being a highly entertaining Bond girl, she'll always be in my top 5 for that answer alone.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Well she was originally going to be Plenty O'Toole but got promoted to Tiffany as there was no money to hire a bigger name, nor did she go on to bigger roles so of course she was going to be happy! [apparently she also dated Sean Connery-as did Lana Wood!-during filming and they parted amicably which was also good times!].

[@jamesatkinsonja]

There is a lot of thing's I've done that when I was younger which I thought was right but have changed my minds on now I'm older and wiser so I have every sympathy with the actresses [particularly as they have 'Bond Girl' associated with them whatever they do next or fall victim to type casting]. Some of the parts are really badly written [such as Strawberry Fields in Quantum] and if your young and inexperienced you have no say in the script. Many of the male Bond actors have shown backlash to some of the films [Such as Roger with 'View to a Kill'] so I don't think condemning them for showing backlash is fair.

[@lawrenceharris8919]

Director Guy Hamilton makes a cameo appearance at the 1:09 scene, when Felix visits Bond and Tiffany at the Whyte House. Felix opens the door to the suite, and says "And, Hamilton is right out here." Yes, it is Guy Hamilton standing in the doorway. The moon buggy sequence and hijacked space satellite plot line is not as far removed from reality as one might suspect. In addition to owning several hotels in Vegas and being a recluse, Howard Hughes owned an aerospace company in 1971, called Hughes Aircraft. Hughes Aircraft was a major builder of communications satellites, as well as the Surveyor unmanned spacecraft that landed on the moon in 1966 to 1968. Where were the Surveyor landers and satellites built? Not in a top secret facility in the desert outside of Las Vegas. Rather they were constructed in a Hughes white room in El Segundo, California, just south of Los Angeles Airport. The hangar where Bond meets Felix for the first time in the movie is less than a mile from the actual Hughes plant.

[@moose6509]

Superb review. There´s so much wrong with DAF and so many double-entendres that for me it´s Carry On Bond, however it´s brilliantly entertaining and loads of fun so I can´t knock it.

[@shivanramlochan5298]

8:44 - Dr. Neil Connery approves of this!

[@Riutanharju]

This film seems a bit like the official 007 series took influences from the 1967 Casino Royal.

[@cookiesontoast9981]

Not a bad thing to me... That film is a blast!

[@alfredvalrie5541]

7:07 admittedly this scene was a big comedown from her great scenes (particularly in the wedding sequence) in OHMSS

[@adamcollins915]

Wonder if Moore would have been offerred DAF. Believe he was under contract with The Persuaders at the time. Moore would have been a long term option. He was already famous & popular. The public would have accepted him, knowing with Connery gone the only other option was no Bond movies at all. So less risk than Lazenby. Connery was only ever going to come back for one film, resulting in 3 different actors in 3 films.

[@Roboshi2007]

I think the hovercraft scenes were so gratuitous because it was a brand new thing for sea travel and seen as "the future of ocean passage" so obviously Bond had to show off the hot new tech from the real world.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

In a documentary 'Sean Connery: The Man and the Movies', it said that Sean Connery had it in his contract that he didn't have to speak to producers Broccoli or Saltzmann while making the film. Given that the relationship between the producers was breaking down [to the extent they were having to alternate producing duties on these films] it can't have been the best working atmosphere.

[@cal9733]

When I was young, my DVD player broke and I was really into 007 at the time and my library had a ton of them. My mom got my VCR to work. My library had a very limited VHS collection but the only James Bond they had was Diamonds are Forever. After I found that I would rent that movie from my library weekly and watch it almost all the time. To this day, even though people consider it not a very good James Bond movie (and too an extent, I can see where they're coming from) its still my favorite James Bond movie and I continue to watch it as my top pick.

[@LastGamer]

Thank you once again. Slowly moving through your reviews and videos. As a hardcore (understatement) bond fan I can say I love your view on the series.

[@shaunblake7411]

17:38 so Bond needs a voice altering device to impersonate another voice. He didn't need that in "OHMSS"

[@t.b.g.504]

Well, here Bond was impersonating an American; in OHMSS, he was not!

[@shaunblake7411]

@@t.b.g.504 It'd probably easier to change and accent than the sound of your voice to someone else's

[@brantnuttall]

the moon buggy isn't a shame; it's bloody hilarious and I love the music that goes with it. cheese!

[@FothergillMD]

The moon set was presumably a joke playing on the speculation that the moon landing was faked, just like Willard Whyte was a riff on Howard Hughes.

[@Appleboy78165]

Still eagerly awaiting your re-reviews of all the rest of the films, Calvin. But don't worry. I'd rather you take your time and make awesome reviews than rush them out. Also, as a bi guy, the whole "Mr. Top and Mr. Bottom" thing made me lol

[@jackthorton10]

Appleboy78165 Better time spent making them good, and not rushed.

[@Appleboy78165]

Jack Thorton Exactly. It'll be worth the wait.

[@A-R-17]

It's a total crime that this rubbish film did better at the box office than On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

[@guyrondel3573]

Joe Robinson (Peter Franks) once said in an interview that Connery had told him jokingly that the fight sequences seem to take place in smaller and smaller spaces and “one of these days they’ll has fighting in a phone booth!” It’s also interesting to note that Ed Bishop who plays (Klaus Hergersheimer) also appeared You Only Live Twice with other small part actors such as Shane Rimmer and Burt Kwouk! We see these on and off in different Bond films! Incidentally, Ed Bishop was also Commander (Ed Straker) in the memorable science fiction TV series UFO!

[@samuelbarber6177]

I do kind of wish Lazenby had done this film, I think that would have been a better help to continuity, and improve both this film and OHMSS.

[@babyfir77]

Definitely agree with you about the moon segment in the film, but there was a need for Bond to drive around in that "moon buggy" so I guess that is why that other sequence was done...….

[@postersandstuff]

RIP Tom aka Shane Rimmer

[@jonathanstubbs8158]

I know people dislike this film and say Sean was checked out, but there are brief moments like the elevator ride up in the tux where he’s more Bond than ever.

[@connornyhan]

WATCH BECOMING BOND! Lazenby didn’t really want to come back and was kinda done with acting afterwards. He doesn’t regret his decision to leave. Fantastic documentary. Also, Lazenby gets way too much flack, he’s actually quite good.

[@t.b.g.504]

Considering how campy Blofeld is portrayed in this installment compared to the two previous films, I was just expecting Charles Gray to sing and dance 'It's just a jump to the left, And then a step to the right, With your hands on your hips!...' on that Monopoly-board floor in the Willard White penthouse...

[@joshslater2426]

I will forever hold Diamonds are Forever as my #3 Bond film. It’s pure escapism with a nice setting, great characters, awesome score and some nice humour. I don’t get the hate really. Connery still feels charming, and Charles Gray is probably my favourite Blofeld from a character perspective.

[@dr.seytan4310]

This is Why i liked it!

[@JRS06]

I know people don't like this, but I really love it. I enjoyed the whole thing - characters, music, dialogue and a few action scenes. Connery's charm carries everything else.

[@SunnyIntervalsORG]

50 shades of Charles Gray!

[@thecelestialtoygazer7816]

I find this works a lot better if you take it to take place between YOLT and OHMSS. Also it's a treat seeing Joseph Furst in this, as in the late 60s he portrayed an equally enjoyable Doctor Who villain

[@chrise8275]

13:43 Well in 1969 Niel Armstrong became the first man to be on the moon but people thought it was a hoax and It was shot on a film set. It’s a joke.

[@raoulmontefiore4803]

I rate Diamonds Are Forever highly although I am aware that it feels like a guilty pleasure. Maybe the daftest and easily the sleaziest Bond but plays well to this, admittedly slightly dubious strength. Charles Gray is a great Blofield. The villainous mythos of Blofeld is only enriched by Gray's camp, uber-unctuous version of the character. I love the way the world looks in this film, the scene in the crematorium Chapel for example. It has a very groovy, peak early 70s atmosphere. The soundtrack kicks arse. Jill St. John is a hoot. Thanks for reminding me of good reasons why I like it!

[@Ike1129]

13:45 That was the rehearsal for Moonraker. Cubby wanted to kill two birds with one stone and save him some money. After all "Science Fact" is frugal business. 😂

[@AjFatal]

The older I get, the more I really enjoy this film. Plus, any documentation of vintage Vegas is awesome to see!

[@negan1129]

What many people forget is the fact that this movie isn't a follow up to "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Instead it starts immediately after the events of "You Only Live Twice" with the opening being in Japan. So Bond is doing is exactly the same thing he did in OHMSS, hunting down Bloefeld. Many Fans, as you, point out there is no real emotional reaction of Bond to Tracy's Death. Of course there is no, because they ignore OHMSS totally. The first Movie showing a reference to Tracy's Death is "The Spy Who Loved Me" where Anja mentions her in a chat with Bond. Looking at this movie out of that perspective it makes it much less of a bad movie. It is by no means a great flick, but thinking of it as a follow up to "YOLT" it feels more consistent.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

As you say ''Diamonds Are Forever''- even when Q tells to Bond that Peter Franks escaped, seems without being highlighted, a part of O.H.M.S.S. car DBS - is a follow up of ''You Only Live Twice'' and as such, it's more consistent and understandable. Except that there is no reference to Tracy, there is no Irma Bunt. D.A.F. would be a revenge film, if Connery was playing at O.H.M.S.S. or Lazenby at D.A.F. The song and the music of the film is one of the best in the series. The idea of Blofeld's laser beam was reused in ''Die Another Day''.

[@rocketcon]

I suppose so. It's still not a good film, but looking at it as a prequel to OHMSS rather than a sequel does make it a little bit better. Watching the films in that order also removes the awkward switch from Connery to Lazenby and back to Connery. It's certainly not the worst film in the series, as I would much rather watch Diamonds Are Forever than, say, Quantum of Solace.

[@josephfox9563]

Please please please do more top tens and upload more often. When you upload, it makes my day

[@BedroomScenesMovie]

....oh, for the record, the 'moon' scene was a joke as though he walked into the faked moon landing.

[@davidbowie2046]

My Mum took me to see this when I was 8 in 76! Still love it! That coffin scene scared the shit out of me! It's always slated, but I love it. Just don't take it serious and you'll appreciate it more :)

[@wattsiswhat]

Wow, Calvin's review is way better than the actual movie.

[@calvindyson]

Thank you very much!

[@wattsiswhat]

@@calvindyson Right on Calvin! Your Bond work is the best on the Net. You're overdue for a Casino Royale review. There is a tremendous need for clarification on who that guy in the hat and glasses is at the end that Vespa looks over to. Hope all is well with ya.

[@dr.seytan4310]

Thats a Shame as i liked this film quite a bit

[@wattsiswhat]

@@dr.seytan4310 Diamonds, Man With The Golden Gun, License to Kill and No Time to Die are the Bond films I'll never watch again.

[@dr.seytan4310]

@@wattsiswhat respect

[@PaulHagl]

What a great channel! Found this by accident and very happy about it. Your dedication is impressive Mr. Calvin.

[@calvindyson]

Thanks so much! Very glad you found me and even more glad that you're enjoying the content :D

[@PaulHagl]

Calvin - Bond Reviewer If you haven’t already seen it, I uploaded this Australian interview with your favourite Bond Sir Roger. It’s very in depth. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmWxkGp6ec2KsNU

[@19torento]

Hamilton: Favorite Bond director Connery: Favorite Bond actor Bassey: Favorite Bond singer St. John: Favorite Bond actress Not to mention Gray as the villain and some great locations and action scenes. This would be my favorite Bond movie. I think my only regret about the entire movie which I find to be otherwise flawless is that they edited a couple of things out that you can find in the deleted scenes such as the girl playing the harp in the fountain and Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd actually using a toy gun to kill Shady Tree. Both of those scenes should have been left in the movie and I have no idea why they were taken out of it. Honestly, if you're going to have a movie like DAF you might as well just roll with it.

[@WedgePee]

So THAT is how he died? I was always confused by it, considering he only appeared for about one minute and I didn’t see quite how he was connected to the smuggling ring.

[@tombarlow59]

Yea boi.... waiting for this for ages! Nice video Calvin

[@logantownes5]

4:15 actually the actress died the year ohmss, and Telly Savalas wouldnt come back to play as him, So they just went on and made the film with what they could

[@davewesker]

To answer your crematorium question the coffin is included with the creamation process.

[@tylordstevenson]

Priceless review as always, Cal. I love Connery in Diamonds as well. I'm ashamed to say DAF is one of my favorites. The salt mines battle would've made the climax a lot better though.

[@Detdoncarter]

Good thing he was Blofeld before doing Rocky Horror

[@DangerousPython]

I actually fucking love Lazenby. That movie about his life makes me just appreciate how he lived life

[@MrJohnlennon007]

DerpyWeavilePlays he’s so underrated and my favourite Bond

[@Clay3613]

@@thefonzkiss You couldn't be more wrong.

[@Alexander-is1ps]

Hello, Mr. Dyson! Been waiting to see this for a while when I watched the original review just before it was removed. Great review!

[@kanyewestlive6905]

Even though Moore is commonly known as the "comedy Bond", Diamonds are Forever in my mind is the closest Bond film to being a broad comedy rather than a spy action adventure in the series. Theres a lot of sit-comy set-ups throughout like Bond pretending to be the lab technician, or the whole bit with the South African school teacher with feels like a cut away gag from a sit-com. Theres also quasi-parody moments like Bond standing effortlessly on top of an elevator travelling to the top of the Whyte House.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

''Diamonds Are Forever'' is a sequel of ''You Only Live Twice'' and has similar style with ''Live and Let die'' and ''The Man with the Golden Gun''.

[@joshslater2426]

Which is probably why I like it so much. Those other three are also some of my favourites in the series.

[@vishthestampede]

Crematories are many times adjacent or attached to funeral homes. And yes, coffin and all go in it. Also, glad to see you back!

[@scottbuckley823]

Things that make this a good film in my mind. Tiffany Mr kidd and Mr Wint Wilard whyte bambi and thumper the car chase the oil rig climax and of course Charles Gray as Blofeld Say what you like but ourside Goldeneye and maybe goldfinger this film has one great supporting casts of any bond film

[@stevenedwardmaylott6078]

When I first saw this as an eight year old not being knowing that this was made in 1971, I mistakenly thought Mr kid and Mr wint were Hale and Pace.

[@zacharybowman3702]

It's about time...missed you, Calvin!!!