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Despite starring in the best Bond film since “Goldfinger“, George Lazenby walked away from the role, leaving “Diamonds Are Forever” without a lead. This paved the way for Sean Connery’s grand return—for one last ride, at least in the official series. Connery steps back into the tux, picking up where Lazenby left off… sort of. Bond is on a relentless hunt for Blofeld, seeking vengeance for the murder of his newlywed wife at the end of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service“.
For the first time in the series, a James Bond movie directly follows up on its predecessor, breaking the tradition of standalone adventures. “Diamonds Are Forever” opens with Bond hunting down and seemingly killing Blofeld, delivering the vengeance he’s owed since the brutal ending of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. But while it gives Bond closure, the audience is left underwhelmed—Blofeld’s long-awaited demise is over and done with in just five minutes, making it feel more like a footnote than a satisfying payoff.
But “Diamonds Are Forever” quickly sweeps the whole Blofeld revenge arc under the rug so Bond can get back to doing what audiences expect by now—jetting across the globe to foil an evil mastermind’s latest scheme while seducing every attractive woman who crosses his path.
In terms of plot, “Diamonds Are Forever” is surprisingly restrained—for most of the movie, it’s just a high-stakes chase over a stash of stolen diamonds. It isn’t until the final act that things kick into classic Bond territory, with a billionaire industrialist plotting to use a satellite armed with a powerful diamond-powered laser to blackmail the world’s superpowers. Now that’s the James Bond we know and love.
Despite having a fairly simplistic plot on paper, “Diamonds Are Forever” somehow makes it unnecessarily convoluted by introducing fake diamonds that replace the real ones everyone is after. This also makes the film feel like a step back in terms of action and scale. Aside from a thrilling car chase through the busy streets of Las Vegas and a goofy moon buggy escape, the movie lacks the larger-than-life set pieces or an iconic villain’s lair that fans had come to expect from the franchise.
Even the mastermind behind it all—Blofeld, who unsurprisingly turns out to still be alive—is a step down from his previous incarnations. The iconic bald villain in a grey suit has been given a makeover and now just looks like a regular guy, stripping away much of his menacing presence. Why they never cast the same actor as Blofeld twice back then is anyone’s guess, but keeping a consistent portrayal would have definitely strengthened the series.
Luckily, the bland and boring Blofeld is outshined by a more entertaining lineup of foes who give Bond a hard time. There’s the acrobatic duo Bambi and Thumper, who nearly take him down in one of the franchise’s silliest fight scenes, and a tense, close-quarters brawl in a cramped elevator. But the real standouts are the hitmen Mr. Kidd and Mr. Wint—a cold-blooded yet oddly charming gay couple who systematically eliminate anyone connected to the stolen diamonds. They may not have flashy gimmicks, but their eerie chemistry and unapologetic queerness make them two of the most memorable henchmen in the series.
Also giving Bond a hard time—but in a completely different way—are the Bond girls. Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) takes center stage as the main Bond girl, a diamond smuggler who shifts between being Bond’s adversary and ally depending on the situation. Then there’s the aptly named Plenty O’Toole, who easily ranks among the bustiest Bond girls in the franchise. Played by Playboy model Lana Wood, she spends most of her screen time in a plunging dress that leaves little to the imagination. With her cute face, plucky demeanor, and undeniable screen presence, she’s always been one of my personal favorite Bond girls.
Another standout feature of the movie is that “Diamonds Are Forever” is the only Bond film to visit my country, The Netherlands. This gives it a personal touch, making it extra special for me as it’s the one and only Bond movie to showcase my home turf.
But despite these few highlights, “Diamonds Are Forever” is a step down from “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service“. The plot never truly engages, and the lack of budget for special effects and elaborate stunt scenes—most of the money went to Connery’s astronomical paycheck—really hurts the movie. There’s a chase involving a moon buggy that looks like it cost $1,000 to make in what’s supposed to be a big-budget action film. I expected more from the director responsible for “Goldfinger“. They even brought in Shirley Bassey to sing the theme song, and while it’s a good track, it doesn’t pack the same punch as “Goldfinger” did.
This would be the last official Bond movie starring Connery, and sadly, he doesn’t go out with a bang.
