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Wednesday, January 06, 2010

James Bond - The Retro Reviews - Part I
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

JAMES BOND – THE RETRO REVIEWS – PART I
“Connery, Sean Connery”
By J.T. Johnson

A BRIEF HISTORY AND INTRODUCTION

Former British intelligence officer and journalist, Ian Fleming, decided to create a spy series that would be very loosely based off his own experiences. In 1953, he published “Casino Royale,” the first of 14 books that Fleming would go on to write about superspy James Bond.

The books were instant hits in England and, after President John F. Kennedy named “From Russia with Love” as one of his favorite novels, they quickly jumped up in sales in the United States.

It was in 1958, however, that producer Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli decided that he wanted to do feature films based on Fleming’s spy novels. In 1960, another producer, Harry Saltzman, bought the film rights to James Bond. Eventually, Broccoli met with Saltzman and the two made a deal to form a partnership in order to produce the series.

They formed EON productions and met with many distributors before United Artists eventually made the deal to finance and distribute the films. Of course, after that deal was made, they needed to cast the role of James Bond.

Many actors were considered for the part including Cary Grant, Broccoli’s friend and best man at his wedding. However, Broccoli knew that Grant would only be committed to one movie and he would have to recast the part after he finished filming the first film.

It wasn’t until Ben Fisz, a producer of “On the Fiddle,” which featured a relatively unknown Sean Connery, suggested that the young Scottish actor might be right for the role of Bond. After getting his wife’s approval after making her watch “Darby O’Gill and the Little People,” Broccoli was confident that Connery was right for the role and the rest is history.

Below is the first part of a three part Retro Review of the entire James Bond series. This part will focus on the Sean Connery films plus “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” which featured George Lazenby in the role.

What one will probably not see that often is remarks on the more over the top elements of the Bond films. It goes without saying that all of the Bond films contain a certain element of camp, especially in the early days. That is because the filmmakers did not know they were making certain things that would be the stuff of parodies and all that they have ever wanted to do is just entertain their audiences.

Also, the over the top and sometimes ridiculous action also gives the films a certain appeal and even adds to the likability of the films. However, if things do get a little overboard, even for a Bond film, it will be noted (such as the moon buggy featured in Diamonds Are Forever).

What can also be found in the reviews is a history about each of the films and how they were made including interesting tidbits of behind the scenes information.

Now, enjoy the first part of the James Bond Retro Reviews.

DR. NO (1962)

Director: Terence Young
Cast: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell

Throughout the ‘50s, author Ian Fleming released a series of novels featuring superspy, James Bond. There were many attempts to get a film off the ground, but the rights were always unavailable. Eventually, producer Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli decides to secure the rights.

As stated above in the introduction, Broccoli discovered that the rights were held by producer Harry Saltzman. After a scheduled meeting in which Broccoli thought he was going to be able to buy the rights, a partnership was formed between the two in order to produce a movie. The two then moved forward with United Artist and made the first James Bond film, “Dr. No,” on a mere budget of one million dollars. Little did they know they were starting a franchise that has lasted for almost half a century and one that still continues to this day.

The story for the first film is simple enough. After a British agent goes missing in Jamaica, MI6 sends in agent 007, James Bond (Sean Connery), to investigate the disappearance. When he arrives, Bond is soon attacked by various henchmen that are somehow tied to Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman).

Eventually, Bond finds his way to a secret island that is owned by the evil doctor. After Meeting Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress), 007 must fight his way through the island in order to prevent Dr. No from carrying out his insidious plot.

This film is a classic example of an action thriller in the 1960s. It contains plenty of the elements that would define the series. It has the gun barrel sequence that has been in every Bond film in one way or the other. Andress is the first of many women that would be seduced by Bond. It also contains the immortal words that Bond has uttered in almost every film in the series: “Bond, James Bond.”

This, of course, is the first Bond film in which audiences got to see Sean Connery as agent 007. With this film and the other five movies that he made afterwards, Connery wrote the rules which all other Bond actors have tried to adhere to.

One of the reasons that Connery was perfect for the role was the fact that Connery always played Bond as a man who could either charm someone or kill them. This is something that the other actors in the role could never seem to achieve until Daniel Craig took over the role in 2006.

The movie also contains the first in a long line of villains that would try to stop Bond and take over the world. In this case, that villain is the title character of Dr. No. Joseph Wiseman plays the iconic villain as a man who is angry at the East and West who has decided to do everything in his power to topple the world’s leading governments.

Like Sean Connery with the role of Bond, Wiseman’s Dr. No set the bar that all other villains have tried to emulate.

Another thing that audiences could never forget was Ursula Andress as the first main Bond girl, Honey Ryder. They especially could not forget her when Bond first meets her coming out of the water with her two piece bikini and knife strapped to the side. Once again, like Connery and Wiseman, she set a standard that all other Bond girls would have to live up to.

Having said all of that, the biggest problem with this film is that one can tell that it was shot on a small budget. Director Terence Young did his best and would later go on to direct two of Connery’s best Bond films, “From Russia with Love” and “Thunderball.” However, here, his resources were limited and it has not aged as well as the others.

Still, the story and Connery’s performance make this a worthy addition to anyone’s Bond collection.

3 / 5 Stars – Good

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)

Director: Terence Young
Cast: Sean Connery, Robert Shaw, Daniela Bianchi, Pedro Armendariz, Lotte Lenya, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn

After the modest success of “Dr. No” in 1962, producers “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman immediately began work on the next James Bond adventure. They more than doubled the budget and decided that “From Russia with Love” was the appropriate film to continue the saga after learning that the novel was one of President John F. Kennedy’s favorites.

The film, like the previous movie, helped develop many of the conventions found in later films. One example includes a cold opening, or pre-credits sequence. From this film on, all Bond films would have a pre-credits sequence in one form or another.

Also worth noting is that EA games adapted both the film and novel into a video game in 2005. It not only featured the likeness of Sean Connery, it also featured Connery voicing the character for the game.

This time, the story takes Bond (Connery) to Istanbul after learning that Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi), a cipher clerk for the Soviet Union, wants to defect. This would be no big deal except for the fact that she also wants to give the British the Soviet decoder known as the Lektor, a device that the British have been trying to get their hands on for years.

Unknown to either Bond or Romanova, this is all an elaborate plan by SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion) in order to pit the Russians and the British against one another while obtaining the Lektor for themselves. Also, they know that MI6 will inevitably assign Bond to the case which will give them a chance at revenge for Bond killing one of their operatives, Dr. No.

The movie is considered by many, including Connery himself, as one of the best Bond films in the series. One of the reasons for this is that Connery is on top of his game as Bond. While he did a great job in “Dr. No,” here he seems more at ease in the role. All of the charm and lethality of the character is present and accounted for.

However, Connery is not the only reason this film is one of the more popular films. There is a wide array of characters that come along either to assist Bond or attempt to kill him.

One of those characters is Ali Kerim Bey (Pedro Armendariz). The character proves to be a powerful ally for Bond and is played with absolute perfection by Armendariz. The most interesting and tragic story of the film is that Armendariz was declared terminally ill with cancer during filming. He struggled to finish the role in order to give his family some financial security.

A month after filming all of his scenes, his illness progressed into the advanced stages and Armendariz committed suicide in a hospital in Los Angeles. Before he left the world, however, he left audiences with one more film performance that fans have enjoyed for decades.

The film also offers two of the best villains in the series. First, there is Rosa Klebb, played by Tony award winning actress Lotte Lenya. One can tell that Lenya is having a great time playing this absolutely vile woman and one of her best scenes is when she tries to kill Bond with a poisoned-tipped dagger on the bottom of her shoe.

Then there is Robert Shaw as Red Grant. Throughout most of the film, Red is stalking Bond throughout his journey and does not even say a word until he reveals himself to Bond later in the movie. Shaw’s Grant is another one of those villains that future Bond villains would try to imitate in later films.

Finally, this film also features the first appearance of Desmond Llewelyn as Q, referred to in this film as Major Boothroyd. In the story, he gives Bond one of the first gadgets to ever appear in a Bond film: an attaché case which features a smoke grenade and fifty gold sovereigns along with a hidden knife. Llewelyn would continue in the role of Q for the next 36 years until his last appearance in 1999’s “The World is Not Enough.”

The only real problem with this film is that of Tatiana Romanova. There is not anything wrong with actress Daniela Bianchi’s performance of the character, there is just not much there. In the end, the character is more boring than Ursula Andress’ Honey Ryder from “Dr. No.”

Beyond that small criticism, however, “From Russia with Love” contains a better story with better action and, for the most part, better characters than those found in “Dr. No.” Audiences of any type should definitely give this one a go.

4 / 5 Stars – Very Good

GOLDFINGER (1964)

Director: Guy Hamilton
Cast: Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, Gert Frobe, Shirley Eaton, Harold Sakata, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn

After the financial success of “From Russia with Love,” the producers quickly sprang into action once again to make the next James Bond adventure. This time, they would get away from the story of SPECTRE and focus on “Goldfinger.”

The budget was once again upped from the previous film and the filmmakers had only one goal: to make everything larger than life. That is exactly what they did and “Goldfinger” remains as one of the best films in the series according to diehard fans.

The story is simple. While on vacation in Miami, Bond (Sean Connery) is ordered by M to look after a gold smuggler named Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe). After forcing Goldfinger’s hand and making him lose at gin rummy, Goldfinger sends his main henchman, Oddjob (Harold Sakata), to deal with Bond and kill the woman he is with, Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton).

After returning to London, Bond discovers that MI6 is trying to figure out how Goldfinger smuggles gold internationally so they can shut him down.

This is the moment Bond receives one of the best gadgets he’s ever had in the entire series: the Astin Martin DB5. Among the gadgets included are machine guns, protective rear plating and even an ejector seat. This vehicle shows to full effect the imagination of the filmmakers and is one of the best things to watch in the entire film.

The movie also contains Goldfinger, a character that has to be one of the best, if not the best, villain in the franchise. Goldfinger is a big and overly confident character. Actor Gert Frobe does a fantastic job of making Goldfinger more like a composer as he performs everything larger than life in order to get his point across.

He also has some of the best lines delivered by a villain and Frobe also performs these moments to perfection.

There is also one of most cunning ways that a villain has ever used to try and kill Bond when Goldfinger straps him to a table with a laser cutter inching slowly towards his… happy place. Bond has nothing but his wits at this point and the tension is real as he tries to convince Goldfinger to spare his life.

Then there is Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), one of Goldfinger’s associates and his pilot. Not only is this the first, real independent woman in the series, Bond actually has to work at charming this one. Blackmon played Galore as a woman who did not need either Goldfinger or Bond. More than Honey Ryder or Tatiana Romanova, Pussy Galore has gone on to deservedly become the quintessential Bond girl and it is fun to see her play against Bond.

Beyond Galore, Goldfinger’s main henchman is Oddjob, played with a deadly and silent calm by wrestler Harold Sakata. No audience members thought there would be anyone as good as “From Russia with Love’s” Red Grant until they met Oddjob. This is mostly because of using his bowler cap to kill people. Again, it shows the uniqueness of the creative team behind the series and his fight with Bond at the end is also one of the most memorable.

The action in the film is also bigger and better. The pre-credits sequence is better than before by showing Bond plant a bomb in a hidden factory while also dispatching a traitorous woman and her assassin. This “wonderful bit of nonsense” as director Guy Hamilton put it helped suck audiences in while the car chase and the end sequence at Fort Knox kept them involved.

Hamilton, who replaced former director Terence Young for this installment, ended up making one of the best films in the series. While “Dr. No” and “From Russia with Love” started the franchise, “Goldfinger” was the film that really kick started the “Bondmania” that lasted throughout the sixties.

5 / 5 Stars – Classic

THUNDER BALL (1965)

Director: Terence Young
Cast: Sean Connery, Adolfo Celi, Claudine Auger, Luciana Paluzzi, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell

At the end of “Goldfinger,” the producers boldly promised that James Bond would return in “Thunderball.” This was actually supposed to have been the very first James Bond film. However, legal disputes arose and the filming had to be delayed.

Author Ian Fleming originally tried to bring Bond to the big screen before producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman had even got together. When the film fell through, however, Fleming soon adapted what was remaining of the screenplay into the novel “Thunderball.” Unfortunately, Fleming did not acknowledge Jack Whittingham and Kevin McClory, two people who had tried to help Fleming with the “Thunderball” script.

They sued the author in 1961when Broccoli and Saltzman were trying to get Bond to the big screen. While they made “Dr. No” instead, Fleming eventually settled his dispute with McClory out of court in 1963 and McClory retained certain screen rights to the novel’s story including plot and characters.

Fearing that McClory might try to make a rival Bond film that would be out of their control, Broccoli and Saltzman agreed to give McClory a producer’s credit with them as executive producers. The film’s credits would also contain a credit saying “original screenplay by Jack Whittingham, based on a story by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Ian Fleming.”

Finally, “Thunderball” could go into production.

And it was worth the wait. After Guy Hamilton declined to return due to exhaustion, the producers brought Terence Young, the director of the first two films, back in as director. Young and the producers quickly decided to make the biggest Bond yet with more adventure, intrigue and excitement.

The story has James Bond (Sean Connery) going to Nassau to try and track down two missing nuclear bombs. The evil organization, SPECTRE, has stolen the bombs and is threatening to set them off if they do not get their ransom.

While in Nassau, Bond encounters Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), a man who is actually the No. 2 agent in SPECTRE and has an eye patch. The plan to steal the bombs was his and, like other Bond villains before him, he has a wide array of tricks to try and thwart Bond including his pool of sharks and his right hand woman, Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi).

Adolfo Celi is good as Emilio Largo, but his presence is not felt as much as Gert Frobe was in “Goldfinger.” Also, there is no real story for why he is doing what he is doing. It just seems that working for SPECTRE is good enough. At least Goldfinger had a reason when he was raiding Fort Knox. He was insane man that was trying to drive up the price of his own gold. Largo is just a very angry man.

Largo is also guardian to one of the more tragic Bond girls, Domino (Claudine Auger). She is a sensitive woman who does not know that her brother was killed by SPECTRE as a part of their plan to get the bombs. It is actually a picture of her and her brother that has Bond request from M (Bernard Lee) that he be sent to Nassau in the first place.

Claudine Auger is not only effective as Domino, but she is able to give her character a strength late in the film that helps establish her as one of the more fleshed out Bond girls created during the Connery era.

The story is also fantastic as it takes Bond from flying a jet pack in the opening credits to fighting massive underwater battles. The film’s devices, however, sometimes overshadow the main plot unlike the previous entry, “Goldfinger.”

Still, with its minimum shortcomings, “Thunderball” is an effective ride whose underwater battles are still one the biggest highlights in the series and, while it wasn’t his last, “Thunderball” was Connery’s last great Bond film.

4 / 5 Stars – Very Good

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)

Director: Lewis Gilbert
Cast: Sean Connery, Mie Hama, Akikio Wakabayashi, Tetsuro Tanba, Teru Shimada, Karin Dor, Donald Pleasence, Charles Gray, Benard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn

This time, it took two years for the next James Bond adventure to get to the screen. This was because the production for the films was growing so much that the producers could not get another film out within a year. The movie was also the first in the series to completely detach its story from its source novel.

“On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was supposed to be the next film in the series, but it was decided that “You Only Live Twice” would have to do because they could not yet find high and snowy locations for “Majesty.” The film would also be a first for director Lewis Gilbert, a filmmaker who had already achieved great success with the Oscar-nominated film, “Alfie.”

However, one decision was made during production that cast a shadow over the future of the franchise. Sean Connery, who had portrayed the character four times already, announced that this film would be his last as agent 007.

The film opens with an American spacecraft in orbit around the planet. Before long, another spacecraft appears and hijacks it in space. The Americans are quick to blame Russia, but the British are not convinced. MI6 is ordered to investigate and James Bond (Sean Connery) is sent to Japan to meet with an informant (Charles Gray).

Soon enough, Bond is involved in one of his biggest adventures that take him to the skies, encountering evil businessmen and even infiltrating an infamous underground volcano lair of SPECTRE’s number one baddie, Earnst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasence).

This film is big and there is no denying that. The problem is that the size and scope of everything gets in the way of the story. There is not enough emphasis on the plot and, therefore, the audience is swept away by all of the visuals or the action scenes to remember why the hell Bond is there in the first place.

Ken Adams, the production designer who had a long association with the Bond franchise, outdid himself and the story at the time, when he developed one of the biggest sets ever built: the underground volcano lair. The set was so huge that he was even able to build a giant rocket that could actually fit people inside. While the film is not that good, Adams deserves major credit for his imaginative designs that helped redefine set design.

One of the biggest problems with this film is, surprisingly, Connery’s performance as Bond. Not only was Connery getting older at this point, his stress at playing the role of Bond, while intentional or unintentional, begins to show in some scenes. His performance has a certain “been there, done that” aspect that was not present in the last three Bond films.

Also, none of the characters are really that memorable including main Bond girl, Kissy Suzuki (Mie Hama). She gives a rather dry and dull performance and does not interact that well with Connery. She is definitely one of the more forgettable Bond girls.

One actor who does shine, however, is Donald Pleasence as Blofeld, a villain that had been the unseen leader of SPECTRE in “From Russia with Love” and “Thunderball.” With a bald head, giant scar and devious voice, it is great hearing Pleasence taunt Bond, especially when he tells the agent, “You only live twice, Mr. Bond.” It is unfortunate that Pleasence has to be in one of the lesser Bond films.

Despite a great performance by Donald Pleasence and brilliant set designs by Ken Adams, Connery’s tired portrayal and overuse of action scenes rather than plot make this one Bond film only diehard fans of the series can enjoy.

2 / 5 Stars – Bad

ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (1969)

Director: Peter Hunt
Cast: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Gabriele Ferzetti, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn

Once “You Only Live Twice” was released, Sean Connery left the role that had made him famous. Now, for the first time, the producers had the monumental task of recasting the role of the super spy. Also, after serving as editor on past films and second unit director on “You Only Live Twice,” Peter Hunt was asked to direct the latest adventure.

Of course, Hunt’s first task, along with the producers, was casting James Bond. Many actors were considered for the part, including Timothy Dalton. However, Dalton turned down the role because he himself believed he was too young at the time. Also considered was Roger Moore, but the actor proved unavailable due to his commitment to the television series, “The Saint.”

After seeing him in a commercial, producer Albert R. Broccoli chose Australian actor George Lazenby. First, the young and inexperienced actor had to prove himself in a screen audition. During the audition, Lazenby accidently punched a professional wrestler and Broccoli was so impressed he finally cast Lazenby in the role.

Considering that Lazenby was an unknown, producers then decided to cast a well known actress for the role of lead Bond girl, Tracy Draco. Eventually, they cast Diana Rigg, who was known to audiences for role as Emma Peel in “The Avengers.”

The story for the film has Bond (George Lazenby) tracking down Blofeld (Telly Savalas) to the Swiss Alps where it appears that Blofeld is attempting to claim a royal title from the College of Arms. It also appears that Blofeld is doing research for an allergy cure with a group of women as the facility set up on Piz Gloria.

Inevitably, Bond discovers Blofeld’s evil intentions are revealed as he gives the women, known as the “Angels of Death” by the filmmakers, subliminal messages that instruct them to distribute bacteriological warfare throughout the world.

This film, contrary to popular believe, actually received plenty of praise from critics upon its release. The reason for this is because the film remains truer to its source material more than any other film that came before it.

That means that Bond has to use his wits more than gadgets this time around. The audience will find no Astin Martin DB5 or exploding cigarettes this time. The only real gadget Bond uses is a machine to crack a safe. This was refreshing after seeing the gadget filled “You Only Live Twice.”

The ending of the book also remains and it gives the film a unique and tragic ending that the audiences would not come to expect from a Bond film.

Also great about the story is the role Tracy Draco, played wonderfully by Diana Rigg. While Domino in “Thunderball” was a slightly tragic character, Tracy is a damaged woman who has trouble finding happiness until she meets Bond. However, unlike past Bond girls who are easily swayed by 007, Rigg plays Tracy as a woman who has a strong wall built around her heart until Bond slowly breaks through.

It is this challenge that makes her the ultimate woman for Bond and one that the agent feels he can truly spend his life with.

However, the true question about this film is how does George Lazenby do as James Bond? First off, and to get it out of the way, he is obviously no Sean Connery. But then again, who is?

The biggest problem Lazenby has is that the producers wanted him to be Sean Connery. When he just performs the role on his own terms, Lazenby actually gives a pretty decent performance. When he tries to pull off certain mannerisms that Connery did, it feels forced.

Also, his inexperience as an actor shows a few times throughout the film. Had he gotten a few more films under his belt before this one, Lazenby might have been a better candidate for the job. Another thing that works for him, however, is his chemistry with Diana Rigg.

Rumors and articles in the past have revealed that there was an apparent animosity between the two behind the scenes. However, such animosity never shows in the film and they work really well together in almost every scene they’re in.

The only problem really found with the story is the fact that it is too close to the novel. This presents certain continuity errors with the previous films. For example, Bond and Blofeld are portrayed as never seeing each other before despite the fact that they met in the previous film.

Also, Telly Savalas chooses to portray Blofeld as a charming, sophisticated man. Gone is the scar and maniacal behavior that Donald Pleasence gave in the previous film. Savalas was good, but was nowhere near as good as Pleasence.

While Lazenby was a little too inexperienced for the role of Bond, the film’s solid story and wonderful chemistry between Rigg and Lazenby make this a worthy addition to the series.

3 / 5 Stars – Good

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)

Director: Guy Hamilton
Cast: Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray, Jimmy Dean, Putter Smith, Bruce Glover, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn

After taking some bad advice from his agent, George Lazenby turned down a seven film contract to continue in the role of James Bond after “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Once again, the producers had to recast the role and actually considered going with an American actor, John Gavin, in order to reboot the series for American audiences. They offered Gavin the job and made the deal when United Artists said that they did not want to go with an American in the role.

The executives at United Artists claimed that they wanted Sean Connery back in the role and that money was no object. Connery was paid 1.2 million pounds, which was an astronomical fee in 1971. Connery then used his fee to help fund his Scottish International Education Trust where Scottish artists could apply for funding without having to leave their country to pursue their careers.

Since John Gavin was no longer needed, his contract was paid in full by United Artists. Eventually, Gavin went on to become the United States Ambassador to Mexico.

Also hired was “Goldfinger” director Guy Hamilton in an attempt to recreate some of the commercially successful aspects of that film. The original script even had Auric Goldfinger’s twin as the main villain in an attempt to get revenge for the death of his brother.

That film was not meant to be, however, and main Bond villain, Blofeld, was written into the script for one last time. The story this time has James Bond (Sean Connery) investigating diamond smuggling and his mission takes him to Las Vegas in order to stop Willard Whyte (Jimmy Dean) with the help of diamond smuggler and main Bond girl for the film, Tiffany Case (Jill St. John).

The movie contains plenty of great action scenes including a fight in confined elevator and a brilliantly choreographed car chase through the streets of Las Vegas. The story, however, gets away from itself and has some of the more ridiculous moments in the series even for a James Bond film.

One scene, for example, has Bond infiltrating one of Blofeld’s research facilities where he randomly stumbles upon a set of the moon and steals a moon buggy in order to escape.

Sean Connery returns to the official series one last time and gives a performance that is very much by the book. Like in “You Only Live Twice,” it feels, at times, as if Connery is still dealing with his frustration at playing Bond one last time. Also, not only does he look older but he also looks a little too out of shape to be playing Bond.

While it was ultimately good that he gave one more performance as Bond, it was also a good idea that the filmmakers decided to go with a different actor in the next film.

Then there is Jill St. John as Tiffany Case. As a Bond girl, she starts off strong and gives a great performance as a beautiful and aggressive diamond smuggler. Then, during the second half of the film, she becomes a bumbling ditz that is more of liability to the film’s story as she is constantly getting into to trouble including getting captured by Blofeld.

And speaking of Blofeld, this time he is played by Charles Gray, an actor who appeared as the ill-fated Henderson in “You Only Live Twice.” Unlike Donald Pleasence or Telly Savalas, he is the weakest actor to play Blofeld and never truly comes off as being all that menacing.

His two henchmen, on the other hand, Mr. Kidd (Putter Smith) and Mr. Wint (Bruce Glover), are exceptionally bizarre and menacing as they dispatch anybody who gets their hands on the diamonds. This could be anything from drowning a little old lady or putting a scorpion down a man’s back. The only real problem is that there is not enough of the two and they have a pretty weak fight with Bond at the end of the film.

Another role that proves to be surprisingly entertaining is that of Willard Whyte, portrayed by Jimmy Dean, the same man who owns the Jimmy Dean sausage company. He is not on screen for long, but his humorous yet committed portrayal proves to be a highlight of the film and he also works very well with Connery.

While it was good to see Connery once again in the role of 007, the film’s lackluster story and weak villains make this one film in the series that the average moviegoer can skip.

2 / 5 Stars – Bad

FINAL SUMMARY – PART I

While there are a couple of shaky films that only work with diehard Bond fans, the filmmakers did a great job at setting up a series that has lasted almost fifty years. Sean Connery had the benefit of being the first actor to portray Bond. However, even though he didn’t have the burden of living up to preexisting conditions, he did have to create the character from scratch.

With the help of many talented directors and producers Albert R. “Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, Connery became the quintessential Bond. And even though Connery eventually left the series, the producers pushed forward and made even more memorable films to excite audiences around the world.

THE END OF “CONNERY, SEAN CONNERY”
BUT JAMES BOND WILL RETURN IN
“A MOORE HUMOROUS BOND”