The world of Bond …. James Bond comes to Mike’s Take on the Movies for the first time. Sure I’ve seen every Bond movie and I’m a card carrying wanna be member of Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Why has it taken me so long to feature one of the Bond titles? Truthfully I generally stay away from films that I feel I have little to add to what others have said and reported on. But dammit I hadn’t actually watched a Bond film in maybe five years so it was time to unwrap the blu ray box set that was released for the 50th year celebration of Bond.
I went with this one because I realized I recalled very little about it. It’s probably the least seen of the Connery titles in my home growing up. The first thing that grabbed me in this Guy Hamilton film that returned Connery to the role after the Lazenby effort is the wonderful cast of actors that filled in the roles beyond Sean, Bernard, Lois and Desmond.
Taking over the role of Blofeld from the previous owner, Telly Savalas, is the very capable Charles Gray. In the customary pre-credit sequence Connery is going to at first verbally spar with Gray before seemingly sending him to a muddy grave. Seemingly being the key word. Now it’s time to put Bond back to work and Bernard Lee’s M does just that having Lois Maxwell send him off on a diamond smuggling caper that’s going to bring Sean full circle to where this adventure began. At the doorstep of Gray’s Blofeld.
After the tag team of Bruce Glover and Putter Smith are introduced as a pair of hired killers with a penchant for black humor, Connery is off to Holland to meet his all new Bond girl, sexy Jill St. John. Connery is undercover and has to kill the man he’s impersonating. Shrewdly he switches wallets and St. John can’t believe that her new contact has killed THE James Bond. Connery is of course amusing and quick with the quips, “Is that who it was? Well just goes to show, no one’s indestructible. “
From Holland it’s off to Vegas and the casino nightlife where Connery gets to meet Lana Wood portraying Plenty O’Toole. She’s looking to bring a little luck to those playing the tables and Connery finds her hard to resist. And why not…..
Vegas brings Bruce Cabot into the story as a pit boss who is also under the employ of Gray and we’ll also see good old boy Jimmy Dean appearing as a patsy for the villains. I had to pause and wonder if Jimmy Dean Sausage is on the buffet menu in the mornings to the strings of his hit song, Big Bad John.
I believe I saw Laurence Naismith and isn’t that Sid Haig and long time gangland favorite Marc Lawrence dressed in black looking like mob soldiers? Connery doesn’t seem worried and though he flirts with Plenty, it’s Jill that’s going to be in on the traditional shootout staged on an oil rig with the customary explosions and no name characters that will serve as target practice for James Bond. Maybe he’ll even put an end to Blofeld’s evil reign and attempts at world domination when the explosions die down.
Connery will memorably tangle with Bambi and Thumper and don’t touch that dial before Glover and Putter put in one deliciously final appearance. It’s worth the wait. “Mouton Rothschild IS a claret. And, I’ve smelled that aftershave before, and both times – I’ve smelled a rat. “
From the opening theme song by Shirley Bassey to Connery and company, this is another wonderful throwback to the days when Bond films were fun. That’s F-U-N. Something I’ll admit to being critical of in the most recent films. I find they’ve been to influenced by the success of the “harder” Bourne films. While Connery delivers the goods for the last time in the “official” Bond series, it doesn’t hurt to be joined by the cast that accompanies him on this mission for God and Queen. Sean would famously return to the role in 1983’s Never Say Never Again going head to head with Roger Moore’s Bond film Octopussy. Following Diamonds, Moore would take over the role for 1973’s Live and Let Die and carry the role into the mid 80’s.
Sure I love the Bond girls and Gray’s take on the Blofeld role but aside from Connery, for me the highlight of the film is the interaction between Glover and Putter and by extension whoever their intended victims are.
No original poster here in the vault but I’d sure love to have one. For more on that, give this a look.
Mike's Take On the Movies 
Heh. I first saw this on ABC here in NYC and wow, the ladies made the film more than the kinda chunky Connery. Still, those two assassins were hilariously memorable and the film became one of my favorite Bond flicks for a short time.
In our house, Mom and Dad didn’t watch Bond films (one TV) so as a kid I would often see bits here and there until the VHS machine helped with that problem.
Yes this one is FUN.
Agreed as are most of those early ones.
You better believe I have that poster framed on my bedroom wall! One of my favorite Bonds, with a lot of good things going for it, and a fun final Bond for Connery (NSNA doesn’t count!). I can’t believe this is the first Bond review here…this one is actually on my list to be reviewed this year at some point. And did you and Wolfman have an ‘I Love Jill St. John’ blogathon going on last week?
Nice poster to have…. I bow to you sir. Me and the Wolfman prove once again to be thinking the same thoughts when it comes to both the movies and the ladies. No love for NSNA? It’s got some good things going for it.
Yes, the end credits. 😉
Maybe I should watch it again but if I recall Barbara Carrera makes it all worthwhile aside from Sean’s return.
Oh wait, if we’re talking about the LADIES, well, that’s a different story…
Hot diggity damn!!!! LANA WOOD jeepers creepers. Of course I seen this many times but not for such a long time. Oh yes those two strange bad guys were excellent, funny I had forgotten about them until I saw that picture. Another for the “I really need to rewatch this but I have WAY too many new films to watch!” pile.
ps I’m struggling keeping up with posts but will pop to the others I’ve missed soon
Take your time and yes this one worth a revisit but then pretty much all the Bonds are from the Connery years. Moore too and yes Dalton who has grown on me over the years.
I have a soft spot for the Dalton Bond with the cello girl, The Living Daylights I think. Out of the Craig one’s it’s only Casino Royale I thought was ok, the rest I didn’t care for at all. Skyfall, the one every seemed to love just made me angry, I hated it so much lol.
For me it’s a case of they just don’t seem to fun anymore. far too serious and I’ve been saying it to the point it sounds like I don’t enjoy the more recent ones when in fact I don’t think they’re all that bad, but they are not BOND films. They could be a spy of any other name. Interchangeable with any other secret agent you could have named Craig. On Dalton, I like them more and more and Robert Davi in second film made for a really interesting villain.
Yes guy with the mashed up face, always pops up in movies and made it into some big favs too The Goonies, Die Hard and Predator 2.
You so right it’ the fun aspect that they pulled away and that is the fundamental and essential bases to Bond. I couldn’t even bring myself to watch Spectre and it’s got Monica Bellucci in it!!!! Maybe one day I’ll sneak a peek on Netflix
I have yet to see Spectre either. Did you know Davi is a great Frank Sinatra imitator??? Never would have expected that. He frequently does tribute concerts.
Well I never, no I didn’t know that. How wonderful. Just been watching some of his performances of YT. Amazing, nope I wouldn’t of expected that at all. Brilliant.