Is You Only Live Twice non-canon?

MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
edited August 2016 in The James Bond Films
Despite the very thin continuity between the films, the biggest error was the whole YOLT/OHMSS situation. Of course, Bond not recognising Blofeld and Blofeld not recognising Bond in OHMSS, the fact the safe cracker is much smaller in YOLT compared to the big hunk of machinery in OHMSS etc. So, this begs the question: Is YOLT non-canon?

Officially, as far as it was concerned pre - Craig, then I believe yes, YOLT was non - canon. There are several pieces of evidence to support this:

- OHMSS is clearly canon, as its one of the few films referenced later on - in DAF, TSWLM, FYEO, LTK and TWINE

- When Bond goes through the things from his past missions, he looks at items from DN, FRWL and TB. Bond doesn't look at anything from YOLT or GF, but GF is referenced with the janitor whistling. Obviously, the past films were referenced to make sure people understood it was the same character, so why was YOLT not referenced? I think because YOLT was supposed to be ignored.

Anyone else think YOLT is non - canon?
1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)

Comments

  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    Some scenes from YOLT were shown in the hourglass imagery of the OHMSS title sequence.
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
    Calling him Bind and Nond in the same post? With over 1,000 posts on this site one would think you'd know the character's name by now. :D
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    Calling him Bind and Nond in the same post? With over 1,000 posts on this site one would think you'd know the character's name by now. :D

    Hmmm, you were saying? I generally type very fast on an iPad keyboard, so I often spell stuff wrong. I wish it didn't spell another word though, because then it would automatically change the word for me!
    1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
  • MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
    superado wrote:
    Some scenes from YOLT were shown in the hourglass imagery of the OHMSS title sequence.

    That's the only thing that connects the two. I can't remember, but isn't the onky shot the one of the ninja walking towards the camera? I'm probably wrong though.
    1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    Oddly enough, Diamonds are Forever opens in Japan, which doesn't make much sense after the events of the previous film. But it does makes sense if you're supposed to believe that On Her Majesty's Secret Service never happened.

    In answer to the original question, there's no reason to believe it is not canon. Remember, Bond marginally was in disguise as Bray, silly as it sounds. The safecracker being smaller doesn't mean anything -- headphones today are notably more bulky than they were two decades ago and the safecracker was part of the larger photocopier.
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    superado wrote:
    Some scenes from YOLT were shown in the hourglass imagery of the OHMSS title sequence.

    That's the only thing that connects the two. I can't remember, but isn't the onky shot the one of the ninja walking towards the camera? I'm probably wrong though.

    It actually showed Aki, Kissy and the Ninja swordsman.
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    And what a threesome that was :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • DutchfingerDutchfinger Holland With LovePosts: 1,240MI6 Agent
    - OHMSS is clearly canon, as its one of the few films referenced later on - in DAF, TSWLM, FYEO, LTK and TWINE

    Nothing of OHMSS is mentioned in DAF! (No Tracy, No Irma Bunt) One of the reasons I don't really like that film. Could have been an epic follow up! It's starts out in Japan, so if you're sceptical it could be seen as a direct follow up to YOLT!
    Better known as DutchBondFan on YouTube. My 007 movie reviews: Recapping 007
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  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    Calling him Bind and Nond in the same post? With over 1,000 posts on this site one would think you'd know the character's name by now. :D

    Hmmm, you were saying? I generally type very fast on an iPad keyboard, so I often spell stuff wrong. I wish it didn't spell another word though, because then it would automatically change the word for me!

    Why are you in such a rush? It's just a little strange that you consistently spell Bond's name wrong...
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,877Chief of Staff
    So does TP, but we only pull his leg about it.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I too occasionally write Bind. ;) With ! For L or K , I usually catch them before posting
    but the odd one does get through. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    And what a threesome that was :D
    They hated him, he was so ninja he was done and gone without them knowing :))
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    edited August 2016
    As for continuity issues and the biggest one, Blofeld not recognizing Bond... in the earliest drafts of the script there were variations of Bond's appearance being drastically changed to explain for the actor change, such as him getting plastic surgery after a car accident. Then there was a version of the script that had him dramatically changing his appearance as Hilary Bray that including dyeing his head hair, facial hair and CHEST hair red! Of course, all of that was eventually dropped, though a thinly disguised Bond meeting Blofeld was retained, resulting in the largest continuity error of the series. The question remains though why that was allowed to happen.
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    superado wrote:
    As for continuity issues and the biggest one, Blofeld not recognizing Bond... in the earliest drafts of the script there were variations of Bond's appearance being drastically changed to explain for the actor change, such as him getting plastic surgery after a car accident. Then there was a version of the script that had him dramatically changing his appearance as Hilary Bray that including dyeing his head hair, facial hair and CHEST hair red! Of course, all of that was eventually dropped, though a thinly disguised Bond meeting Blofeld was retained, resulting in the largest continuity error of the series. The question remains though why that was allowed to happen.

    United Artists? DAF just seems as if it's running from everything before it...
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    superado wrote:
    As for continuity issues and the biggest one, Blofeld not recognizing Bond... in the earliest drafts of the script there were variations of Bond's appearance being drastically changed to explain for the actor change, such as him getting plastic surgery after a car accident. Then there was a version of the script that had him dramatically changing his appearance as Hilary Bray that including dyeing his head hair, facial hair and CHEST hair red! Of course, all of that was eventually dropped, though a thinly disguised Bond meeting Blofeld was retained, resulting in the largest continuity error of the series. The question remains though why that was allowed to happen.

    United Artists? DAF just seems as if it's running from everything before it...

    Yes, in great part it was United Artists, but I think a decision agreed upon by all involved. DAF was mostly about money and bending everything backwards just to have the huge draw of a Connery return; a straight-out continuity from OHMSS would not have made it conducive for Connery's Bond at that point in time and for the matter, nothing was sacred for that end; if they came to the conclusion that M and Q in drag having an all out queen-cat fight with Blofeld in drag would have been good for the movie, we would have seen that too.
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • caractacus pottscaractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 4,114MI6 Agent
    more like OHMSS was non-canon, at least while they were making DaF
    after that OHMSS seems to be the only film, out of all of them, that is canon
    until the Craig era, how many specific references are there to previous films?

    but maybe YOLT is non-canonical, otherwise Bond would have been experiencing major deja vu when Stromberg stole those two subs and tried to start WWIII
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,877Chief of Staff
    until the Craig era, how many specific references are there to previous films?

    Quite a few- here's a partial list:

    The first references to a previous Bond film occur, naturally enough, in FRWL: Kronsteen tells Blofeld that SPECTRE could gain revenge for the death of Dr No since the British will use James Bond. Not long afterwards, Sylvia mentions that Bond went off to Jamaica six months earlier.

    While not specific, the stewardess on Goldfinger’s plane regrets the damage to Bond’s briefcase (as issued in FRWL) and Bond comments to Leiter about an experience in Jamaica (where they met in DN).

    OHMSS has most noticeably the office scene where 007 empties his drawer, coming across Honey’s belt & knife, Grant’s watch, and the breather from TB.

    In TMWTGG, JW Pepper spots Bond and a few notes from the LALD theme play as he tries to remember where he knows him from (later, it does occur to him).

    In TSWLM, Anya refers to Bond’s wife being killed (he cuts her off quickly).

    FYEO starts with Bond visiting Tracy’s grave, the year of her death being 1969 (OHMSS). He then meets a bald man wearing a neck brace, who is sitting in a wheelchair while stroking a white cat. This character's name isn't mentioned, of course... ( but I don't think it's Oberhauser).

    Bond's marriage is alluded to in LTK, by Leiter to his bride.

    In DAD Bond comes across various gadgets from older stories (Klebb's shoe, the TB jetpack, etc) in Q's workshop.
  • MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
    There's also the deleted scene in AVTAK with Grant's watch and the acid pen, which presumably is supposed to be the one from Octopussy.
    1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
  • Mr SnowMr Snow Station "J" JamaicaPosts: 1,736MI6 Agent
    superado wrote:
    superado wrote:
    As for continuity issues and the biggest one, Blofeld not recognizing Bond... in the earliest drafts of the script there were variations of Bond's appearance being drastically changed to explain for the actor change, such as him getting plastic surgery after a car accident. Then there was a version of the script that had him dramatically changing his appearance as Hilary Bray that including dyeing his head hair, facial hair and CHEST hair red! Of course, all of that was eventually dropped, though a thinly disguised Bond meeting Blofeld was retained, resulting in the largest continuity error of the series. The question remains though why that was allowed to happen.

    United Artists? DAF just seems as if it's running from everything before it...

    Yes, in great part it was United Artists, but I think a decision agreed upon by all involved. DAF was mostly about money and bending everything backwards just to have the huge draw of a Connery return; a straight-out continuity from OHMSS would not have made it conducive for Connery's Bond at that point in time and for the matter, nothing was sacred for that end; if they came to the conclusion that M and Q in drag having an all out queen-cat fight with Blofeld in drag would have been good for the movie, we would have seen that too.

    Eddie Izzard would have been in seventh heaven had that occurred :)

    Continuity wise, I'm not surprised Bond and Blofeld didn't recognise each other as Bond was Japanese. Oh wait, by the time they did bump in to each other Bond was Bond and not Bondson 8-)
    "Everyone knows rock n' roll attained perfection in 1974; It's a scientific fact". - Homer J Simpson
  • Agent LeeAgent Lee Posts: 254MI6 Agent
    The problem with conversations like this (which isn't to say that I haven't had them myself, nor is it to say that I don't enjoy them) is that we're imposing a more current idea of cinematic canon onto an era where continuity from film to film in any given series was much looser.
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  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,877Chief of Staff
    Yup, perfectly true. Fun, though, isn't it? :))
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I'd like to complain about Casablanca, it's in B&W ( very bad these days) too much use of sets, In fact I
    Think it may have been filmed in a studio. Some of the German characters are very much stereotypes. :D

    It's fun to Judge older movies by today's standards :)) no CGI in Casablanca either. :D

    ( This is a Joke, by the way )
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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