Wint and Kidd make the movie. Some of the best henchmen in the series.

Diamonds isn’t a great Bond, but it is a fun Bond, and most of the time that’s adequate

I just love how bizarre Diamonds is

I haven't done it in a few years but every December I watch one bond movie a day as a countdown to Christmas

I love Diamonds are Forever. I do enjoy a more light-hearted Bond films. I guess that's why I love Roger Moore. I love Connery as well.

I love listening to your voice on these videos!

Excellent commentary, including about what Mr, Connery contributed to the Bond Series. Diamonds does not rank as the worst of the Bond Series for me. That honor (or dishonor) goes to Never Say Never, Quantum of Solace and Die Another Day. You point out all of Diamonds flaws for sure as well as its strengths. I must admit I find myself watching it fairly often because it is very entertaining as a stand alone Bond film. I wish they connected it directly to OHMSS. Then again, I wish Connery stayed in the role long enough to play Bond in this film instead of Mr. Lazenby. I guess the pre-title sequence in Diamonds refers to Bond searching for Blofeld in full revenge mode. I love Connery’s reaction upon seeing Blofeld alive. You’re right, it really is the best scene in Diamonds that sadly could have been made more of dramatically had the filmmakers gone in a stronger direction. Wint & Kidd are memorable, n my top 10 henchmen, Jill St. John is good, especially in the first half. The script and direction does her no favors by turning a tough, no nonsense, smart, alluring character into well….dimwitted. It’s unfair. Lots of funny lines still hold up. A wonderful John Barry score, the Bambi & Thumper scene, the fight with Peter Franks, great M, Q, Moneypenny scenes and the presence of Connery, well worn he is a bit, keep me watching. If they had tied Connery’s Bond to being worn out due to the trauma of his wife’s murder and relentless pursuit for Blofeld, think of how much this could have added. The best locations are in Amsterdam. Great title song too. More fun for me than Quantum, DAD, even overwrought tediousness of SPECTRE.

I was a teenager when DAF came out in the theaters in December 1971. Before the internet and streaming, there were typically long lines of people waiting to buy tickets. DAF was a huge hit back then. Mostly because movie goers wanted to see Sean Connery’s return as 007.

One of my guilty pleasure bonds l like this cause its the first one I saw as a kid and therefore I have a fondness for it.

Rest in peace sean, you did a great job getting the bond series going. And for others like roger, timothy, pierce and daniel they would not have made there names in the content they do without sean.

4:45 that’s a good way of summing it up. To me, Bond films exist on a bell curve, and basically all the top 20 are at least “pretty good”. Diamonds is on the lower end of what I’d say the “pretty good” Bond films are, but it’s still a 7/10 movie.

You’re absolutely right about it being the first Roger Moore film, it’s a bit too silly for Connery, Moore would have fit in better here.

Interesting take that Connery elevates this. I agree he does, however that 1 million spent on production would have elevated the film more! Also agree, I love Jill st John, and Tiffany, particularly in the first half! Wint and kidd are great! And what a score!

What a way to start my Friday. I’m glad to see another Mr. Kidd and Mr. Wint fan. Are they the only main henchmen to never interact with the main villain?

Love your videos

Very informative welcome didn't know these facts?

The early 1970s were a strange time for the James Bond franchise. Its identity crisis. Because all 3 movies were incredibly weird, to put it mildly. Actually, LALD(1973) was quite good in some places.But DAF(1971) was a pure spy comedy and in TMWTGG(1974) they turned Bond an unpleasant brute... Yeah, although Guy Hamilton had made 1 great Bond movie: Goldfinger(1964), his last 3 were very weak mediocre entries..........

The most jarring part of the film is the mis-casting of Blofeld's character.

The intention of this outing was to recapture the success of Goldfinger. That’s why they brought back Shirley Bassy to sing the main song, and Guy Hamilton to direct. Initially they wanted to bring Gert Frobe back to play the Auric Goldfinger’s twin out to get revenge on Bond.

I'm an unabashed fan of DAF and accept it as fun, but with the characters playing with panache. It's less silly than YOLT and a lot brisker than TB. If Lazenby had not let EON know he was not returning before OHMSS's premiere, it is easy to think they would have ended with the wedding, had Tracy's death the pretitle sequence of the next film and followed it with a revenge plot (having filmed it knowing Rigg wouldn't return). But once they knew he was done, they ended the storyline and seemed to want to distance from it completely. DAF is what I watch when I want to just enjoy my couple of hours, smile at the clever lines, scoff at the "special effects" and enjoy Plenty of Tiffany. I don't need it to be something else, and I'll take it over any of the other 70s films (yes, even TSWLM) any day. But I understand the derision it gets and accept it's a minority view I have.

Sean was the highest paid actor in 1971, and he donated his salary to the Scottish Education....what a guy !

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." - Sean Connery, 1970

I always thought this one was perfectly fine film in the series.

Another insightful review, for which many thanks. Two observations - Charles Gray is woefully miscast (and his appearance in YOLT was very recent at the time. Were there no other actors available to avoid this? Ditto Joe Don Baker and Maud Adams as two different characters in two different films. Why?) Secondly you don’t mention the special effects which are among the worst of the series until the Day Another Day’s laughable CGI. But looking forward to your next reviews

I always enjoy Diamonds are Forever. I can ignore the campy nonsense, dated special effects and lack of continuation for an enjoyable film with memorable characters, an awesome score and a really witty script. I’ll be the the first to defend Charles Grey as Blofeld and Norman Burton as Felix, as I think they do a pretty good job, even if they may not be similar to other portrayals of their characters.

A funny film that gets too much unnecessary hate. For me, these are the only issues: 1. Gray as Blofeld fit the tone of the film but I would have preferred someone more threatening. 2. The finale should have been more exciting. 3. A better Felix Leiter

It's not surprising that American reviewers find the locations in this film underwhelming. I'm from the UK though, so 1970s Las Vegas seems an interesting setting.

Greatness of amazing awesome James Bond movie adventure review in my opinion diamond are forever one my favorite guilty pleasure James Bond movie adventure because of campy fun of it sean Connery James Bond he is amazing in it Charles Gray as blofeld he is campy God fun in the movie Mr wint and Mr kit greatness of amazing fun henchman gimmick character I like them in the movie entertaining character fun I like Bond girls Tiffany case she is fun character plenty of tool she is very fun on the scenes she's on it I really do like the dialogue John Barry soundtrack music and I like some of the side characters in it I understand why people don't like this one no I'm a big fan of guilty pleasure campy type bond movies of fun greatness of amazing awesome review

I actually liked this film and was crazy for Jill St. John. I think the Lazenby film was bringing Bond into a new era and this was supposed to be continuing that with Lazenby. The fact that Connery came back made it not really a Connery Bond film. Oh and did I say Jill St. John is HOT

DAF has always gotten my vote at the worst in the official series - the whiplash change in tone from OHMSS is glaring. I agree with most of your critique, though I disagree with the idea that Connery looked like he was enjoying himself in this one. He looks paunchy and bored, and is very clearly just cashing a check.

Plot Spoiler… it’s Not the same Bambi and Thumper as the Disney film!

''Diamonds Are Forever'' is a sequel of ''You Only Live Twice''. In the first scene after gunbarrel, Bond is still in Japan looking for Blofeld, only as the head of a global criminal organization. There is no mention to Tracy, to his marriage and there is no Draco and Irma Bunt. Connery here is aged and heavier, but if was a revenge film he's perfect, as Bond after Tracy's death. The film has similar style with ''Live and Let die'' and ''The Man with the Golden Gun''.

When I was a kid, I loved the goofy, fun nature of this movie, but as an adult, I find it a rather disappointing end to the Blofeld story arc and Connery's tenure as Bond.

What was problematic in Forrest Gump? I legitimately can’t remember anything and am curious!

Only good thing about this is the elevator fight and Jill St John. One of the worst Bond movies, it’s embarrassing. Oh and the title song.

They still paid other guy and dalton still got paid for his 3rd movie, that's never got made

A revenge film with lazenby I liked it ok

Diamonds is one of my least favorite Bonds. I never pick this one to watch, and only watch it when I marathon the whole series.

Diamonds is a B+ Bond film.

I like 2 things in this film. The title song is by far the best of the 3 from Shirley Bassey, and I wish the film lived up to it. Also, Jill St. John. Her scenes in Amsterdam perfectly capture the character from the book. After that, however, she falls apart along with everything else. This film is an insult to the characters, the series, the previous film... I once watched this uncut with my Dad, and he told me he couldn't understand how the first half and second half were connnected at all. And I agreed with him. That's REALLY sloppy writing. For me, DIAMONDS and GOLDEN GUN would tie as worst, except for MOONRAKER, which is jaw-dropping in its sheer overwhelming awfulness. I thought Norman Burton had more personality than any of his predecessors. He fares better in THE GUMBALL RALLY. Jimmy Dean might have made a good Felix! 😄 I forget how MANY times I saw this thing before I suddenly realized that when Bond sneaks into Whyte's penthouse, and discovers Blofeld, that that was a plot point borrowed from Fleming's "You Only Live Twice". But disguised so heavily and done so badly, I never noticed it over multiple viewings. Charles Gray is MAGNIFICENT in "THE DEVIL RIDES OUT". He proved there he could have made a great Bond villain. He certainly DIDN'T in this atrocity. Just for fun, try watching the films in this order and see if they wind up making more sense this way: THUNDERBALL ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

There are three reasons why Diamonds ranks as the worst for me, 1. Sean Connery’s almost lacklustre performance 2. Charles Gray’s Blofeld is just insulting to the character 3. The rubbish special effects.

The Bambi and Thumper scene was the worst scene in the movie

Easily one of the worst of bonds, or certainly down at the bottom of the list. They should have begged and pleaded for Lazenby to return and moved in the direction of revenge caper. Lazenby would have ruled the 70s had he not been stupid and walked away.