Diamonds are Forever - Carry on Bond?

M 'n' MM 'n' M Posts: 105MI6 Agent
in The James Bond Films
Just spent a weekend in France and caught The Man With the Golden Gun, followed by Diamonds are Forever - in French! Funnily enough, without the English dialogue you can still get a very good sense of the films. Even stranger, for all its faults TMWTGG had some good, tense parts to it, mostly courtesy of Christopher Lee, who brought the best out of Roger. Then came DAF. And what struck me was that - - this film is a comedy!! Connery plays it with a permanent smirk. Jill St John seems to be playing a pantomime leading lady. Charles Gray is almost a pantomime dame. Wint and Kidd are pure comedy turns and you could hardly call Bambi and Thumper serious. Add to that Plenty o' Toole, a wisecracking Shady Tree and a pre-Sheriff Pepper gool ol' boy Willard White and you've got a cast that is almost pure Carry On. It's not that it's bad and actually plays like one of Hitchcock's late period black comedies for the first half. But it killed the opportunity of "serious" Bond for a good decade, trying to get as far away from the hard-edged OHMSS as it could (could you imagine Connery's Bond crying over anything in DAF??). Still, if it had kept some of the intrigue of the first half it could have set a whole new tone for where you could go with Bond - fun, exciting and maybe a little bit mysterious. Perhaps that's another direction for the future?
«1

Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    The first half of DAF, that at least sticks to Fleming. Is quite good, then basically becomes the first Roger Moore Bond film. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    No other Bond film even comes close to the campy comedy of DAF. Roger Moore's films are 100X better!
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) I do agree DAF is Camp. :D. Although it is a guilty pleasure ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    TMWTGG was the return to a lean-mean, hard-edged Bond. The comedic elements were a hangover from DAF. Roger takes the blame of course.


    DAF is entertaining, funny but hugely disappointing at the same time. Especially coming after OHMSS.
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    Firemass wrote:
    No other Bond film even comes close to the campy comedy of DAF. Roger Moore's films are 100X better!

    I fully agree with this!
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    I do wonder what DAF would have been like if it was Moores first Film?
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    With John Gavin having been signed to originally play Bond in DAF, I
    wonder if the script had been written, more with him in mind ? and
    after the lukewarm public responce to OHMSS. A lighter touch was
    added. ( maybe too much :)) ).
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Firemass wrote:
    Roger Moore's films are 100X better!

    In an alternate universe, perhaps! :))
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Blackleiter wrote:
    Firemass wrote:
    Roger Moore's films are 100X better!

    In an alternate universe, perhaps! :))
    DAF is the best of the three Flint movies.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    Blackleiter wrote:
    Firemass wrote:
    Roger Moore's films are 100X better!

    In an alternate universe, perhaps! :))

    Every Bond fan lives in an alternate universe. :)
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) We do indeed. {[]
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    Yes -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Thunderbird 2Thunderbird 2 East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
    Firemass wrote:
    Blackleiter wrote:
    Firemass wrote:
    Roger Moore's films are 100X better!

    In an alternate universe, perhaps! :))

    Every Bond fan lives in an alternate universe. :)

    Erm, are you including multiples? I have a few if you include STrek, SGate, Thunderbirds, Babylon 5, Marvel's Shield...

    Ahem! I watched DAF after TLD yesterday. DAF is quirky and Charles Gray's take on Blofeld ups the Camp stakes quite a bit. However, - I still find it very entertaining. Sir Sean seems to be enjoying himself for the most part, and Ms St John is lovely. Just a shame the writing wobbles about so her character suddenly takes a left turn into dippy land halfway through. The actress deserved better than that. :s

    Oh and for me, TMWTGG has to be Carry On Bond. - Sergent Pepper and that Whistle. Awful. Plus there is an element of Bedroom farce to the bedroom scene with Goodnight in the cupboard.
    This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    The bedroom farce in LALD is much worse. :#
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    O'Tooles Corpse just sitting at the bottom of the Pool is a rather dark Moment for a rather Campy Bond -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Thunderbird 2Thunderbird 2 East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
    Agreed. Lana Woods comments on this bit are a little bit hair raising too on the AC.
    Plus poor Mrs Whistler! A sharp contrast to Machine Gun Granny in GF.
    This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
  • ACACIA_AVENUEACACIA_AVENUE UKPosts: 1,775MI6 Agent
    Thunderbird 2 wrote:
    Sergent Pepper and that Whistle. Awful.

    I agree he was much better when he was with Lonely Hearts Club Band :D
    One of us smells like a tart's handkerchief.
  • Thunderbird 2Thunderbird 2 East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
    I asked for that one. I keep referung to "Chief Inspector Wiggum" too. You can tell I don't often watch The Simpsons! :))
    This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    It is amazing how in many of the 70s and 80's Bonds, there will be at least one scene, or
    visual "Joke" that makes you do a face palm saying " What were they thinking " :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    Moore Clown :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) Yes I know Poor old Roger gets the brunt of the blame, But there were also Directors and
    Producers who all agreed with stuff like having Maggie T pop up at the end of FYEO. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    Yeah, having Maggie in FYEO sort of ruined the Seriousness of the Film :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Thunderbird 2Thunderbird 2 East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
    edited May 2014
    Erm, actually I liked that bit. Till the parrot kicked into gear.
    Whats worse it creates a great little in joke in TLD.

    After Sir Freddy Gray says "I have to be off (pause) meeting with the PM this afternoon!"
    Watch Geoffrey Keens expression as he leaves. He looks like a basset hound about to be kicked by his owner.
    Further Mr Dalton has a great 'rather you than me' look on his face!

    By the way, speaking of hard boiled politicians, in Skyfall we know Clair Dowar is an MP and M-Manf and Mallory address her as Minister. Is she the Home Secretary, The Minister of Defense or The Foreign Secretary? I assume she could be any of them because in reality there was a general election between QoS and SF. So Tim Piggot Smiths FO will now at best, be the Shadow FO. Mind you, all politicians can FO to one degree or another! Sorry, unintentional rant. ;%



    Back on track, DAF is a bit silly in places, but oddly the comedy doesn't bother me yet the spartan nature of the oil / gas rig does. Seems a bit of a let down after Willy Whytes apartment, the look around Las Vegas and the interiors of the Slumber Mortuary. Am I too fussy?
    This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Yes, I'd say the budget was running out for the set dressing etc for
    the oil rig, along with the really bad helicopter explosions. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    And the Explosions went off prematurely before they were due to be Filmed :#
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    True, I'd forgotten that. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    AlphaOmegaSin wrote:
    And the Explosions went off prematurely before they were due to be Filmed :#

    Happens to the best of us, sometimes 8-)
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    Well, I talked to my GP about premature Explosions but we shan't go into that now...
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I think of old cricket scores, ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    ... To avoid a sticky wicket? :D
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
Sign In or Register to comment.

Copyright ajb007.co.uk 1998 - 2024

James Bond TM 007 and related James Bond Trademarks © 1962-2024

Danjaq LLC and United Artists Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

This website is a fan site and is in no way related to the official production companies.

All users are responsible for the content of their posts, by using this website you agree to the terms of use.