Review of Diamonds Are Forever (1971) by Timm S — 20 Dec 2008

The return of Sean Connery to his iconic role and a pre-title sequence in which a vicious 007 seeks revenge for the murder of his wife (seen in the previous film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service) sets the stage for what could be a great Bond adventure.

Unfortunately, the promise of the film is mitigated largely by the uneven script and performances, all of which suggest the largely sophmoric Roger Moore film era to follow. Charles Gray demonstrates little menace as Blofeld, henchmen Mr.

Kidd and Mr. Wint (Bruce Glover and Putter Smith, respectively) are annoying, and actor Robert Wagner's once and future wives (Lana Wood and Jill St. John) serve as the requisite Bond girls. Connery, noticeably heavier and with an ill fitting toupee, plays 007 in a largely tongue in cheek fashion, bringing little of the gravitas he did to the earliest films of the series to his last performance as Bond (until Never Say Never Again).