Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times" awarded the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, in which he criticised the focus on gadgets, declaring "the formula fails to work its magic. Like its predecessor "Thunderball", another below-par entry, this one is top-heavy with gadgets but weak on plotting and getting everything to work at the same time." Bosley Crowther, reviewing for "The New York Times", felt "there's enough of the bright and bland bravado of the popular British super-sleuth mixed into this melee of rocket-launching to make it a bag of good Bond fun. And there's so much of that scientific clatter — so much warring of super-capsules out in space and fussing with electronic gadgets in a great secret underground launching pad—that this way out adventure picture should be the joy and delight of the youngsters and give pleasure to the reasonable adults who can find release in the majestically absurd." "Variety" stated more positively that "As entertainment ["You Only Live Twice"] compares favorably in quality and is replete with as many fights, gadgets, and beauties as its predecessors".
Contemporary reviews
You Only Live Twice (film)
You Only Live Twice (film) | Contemporary reviews
The reviews were mixed. An example of a negative review by Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times" rated the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, in which he criticised the focus on gadgets and stated "the formula fails to work its magic". It received positive reviews. The film opened in the United Kingdom and United States, set an opening day record at the Odeon Leicester Square, and went to number one in the United States with a weekend gross of $600,000. "Variety" stated more positively that "As entertainment ["You Only Live Twice"] compares favorably in quality and is replete with as many fights, gadgets, and beauties as its predecessors"
who was the james bond character based on
user
A number of elements had a real-life background, taken from people whom the author knew or events he was aware of. Some aspects of the character and tastes replicate those of the author himself.
assistant
what is the inspiration behind the specific number used to refer to the character?
user
It was assigned by the author in reference to one of British naval intelligence's key achievements of World War I and helped in breaking the German diplomatic code.
assistant
which movies does this character appear in?
user
"Dr. No”, "You Only Live Twice”, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service” and "Diamonds Are Forever” are some of them.
assistant
are these movies based on any novel?
user
"Dr. No” is based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming.
assistant
who is this author?
user
Ian Fleming
assistant
did he fight in any war?
user
Yes, the "Second World War".
assistant
when did he start writing the novels?
user
1952
assistant
anything significant about the style in which he wrote?
user
He used to write for about three hours in the morning and another hour between six and seven in the evening. He would never correct anything and I never go back to see what he had written.
assistant
how did he die?
user
Heart attack.
assistant
of the four movies mentioned earlier, when was the second one released?
user
1967
assistant
who were the main cast members?
user
Sean Connery
assistant
which character did he play?
user
He starred as the fictional MI6 agent "James Bond".
assistant
how was it received among critics?
user
Roald Dahl's script is larded with sex-slanted jokes that are either pathetically feeble or sophomorically coarse, Bond's patented puns are punier and even Connery's enthusiasm for his shrewd, suave, and sensual character seems to have waned."
You Only Live Twice (film) | Contemporary reviews
You Only Live Twice is a 1967 spy film and the fifth in the "James Bond" series produced by Eon Productions, starring Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It is the first Bond film to be directed by Lewis Gilbert, who later directed the 1977 film "The Spy Who Loved Me" and the 1979 film "Moonraker", both starring Roger Moore. The screenplay of "You Only Live Twice" was written by Roald Dahl, and loosely based on Ian Fleming's 1964 novel of the same name. It is the first James Bond film to discard most of Fleming's plot, using only a few characters and locations from the book as the background for an entirely new story.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Introduction
On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 73% based on 49 reviews with an average rating of 6.53/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "With exotic locales, impressive special effects, and a worthy central villain, "You Only Live Twice" overcomes a messy and implausible story to deliver another memorable early Bond flick." James Berardinelli of "ReelViews" said that the first half was good, but "It's only during the second half, as the plot escalates beyond the bounds of preposterousness, that the film starts to fragment", criticising Blofeld's appearance and stating "rockets that swallow up spacecraft are a bit too extravagant." Ali Barclay of "BBC Films" panned Dahl's script as displaying "a whole new world of villainy and technology".
You Only Live Twice (film) | Retrospective reviews
Leo Goldsmith lauded the volcano base as "the most impressive of Ken Adam's sets for the franchise." Danny Peary wrote that "You Only Live Twice" "should have been about twenty minutes shorter" and described it as "not a bad Bond film, but it doesn't compare to its predecessors — the formula had become a little stale." IGN ranked "You Only Live Twice" as the fourth-best "Bond" film, and "Entertainment Weekly" as the second-best, considering that it "pushes the series to the outer edge of coolness". However, Norman Wilner of MSN chose it as the fifth-worst, criticising the plot, action scenes and lack of screentime for Blofeld.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Retrospective reviews
"You Only Live Twice" was a great success, receiving positive reviews and grossing over $111 million in worldwide box office. However, the film was the first in the series to have a decline in box-office revenue owing to the over-saturation of the spy movie genre contributed to by the franchise's imitators including the recent competing film, the poorly received competing licensed "James Bond" film, "Casino Royale", from Columbia Pictures that was released previously in the same year.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Introduction
Literary critic Paul Simpson called the film one of the most colourful of the series and credited the prefecture of Kagoshima for adding "a good flavour" of Japanese influence on the film, but he panned the depiction of Blofeld as a "let-down", "small, bald and a whooping scar". Simon Winder said that the film is "perfect" for parodies of the series. John Brosnan, in his book "James Bond in the Cinema", compared the film to an episode of "Thunderbirds" with a reliance on gadgetry, but admitted it had pace and spectacle. Christopher Null considered the film to be one of James Bond's most memorable adventures, but the plot "protracting and quite confusing".
You Only Live Twice (film) | Retrospective reviews
He was critical of a number of aspects, saying that the "narrative is a bit weak, action long delayed and disappointing when it comes but the surround of local colour ... has been worked over with that unique combination of pubescent imagination and industry which is Mr. Fleming's speciality." In "The Guardian", Francis Iles wrote that "I think he [Fleming] must be getting tired of the ineffable James Bond and perhaps even of writing thrillers at all". Iles reasoned that "of the 260 pages of "You Only Live Twice" ... only 60 are concerned with the actual business of a thriller", and his enjoyment was further diminished by what he considered "the grossness of Bond's manners and his schoolboy obscenities".
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Reviews
Fleming's macabre imagination is as interesting as ever, some of the old snap seems to have gone". Dealing with the cliffhanger ending to the story, the reviewer wrote that "Mr. Fleming would keep us on tenterhooks, but at this rate of going even his most devoted admirers will free themselves before very long." The critic for "The Spectator" felt that "Ian Fleming has taken a hint from films of his books and is now inclined to send himself up. I am not at all sure that he is wise", while "The Belfast Telegraph" considered that Fleming was "still in a class of his own." "The Bookman" declared that "You Only Live Twice" "must rank among the best of the Bonds".
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Reviews
The film is recognised by the American Film Institute in these lists:
You Only Live Twice (film) | Retrospective reviews
"Time" was sharply critical of the film claiming the franchise had become "the victim of the same misfortune that once befell Frankenstein: there have been so many flamboyant imitations that the original looks like a copy." The reviewer later derided that "the effects are ineffective. The outer-space sequences would be more appropriate in a grade school educational short entitled Our Amazing Universe, and the volcanic climax is a series of clumsy process shots that no one took the trouble to fix. Even Connery seems uncomfortable and fatigued..." Clifford Terry, reviewing for the "Chicago Tribune", remarked that "a large percentage of "You Only Live Twice" is disappointing, lacking the wit and zip, the pacing and punch, of its predecessors, especially the first three.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Contemporary reviews
Roy Wood described Barry's string introduction to his song "You Only Live Twice" as "absolute perfection". Mark Monahan of "The Daily Telegraph" described the lyrics as "mysterious, romantically "carpe diem" ... at once velvety, brittle and quite bewitching". David Ehrlich of "Rolling Stone" ranked "You Only Live Twice" the third best James Bond theme song, calling it "a classic."
You Only Live Twice (song) | Critical reception
When the time came to begin "You Only Live Twice", the producers were faced with the problem of a disenchanted star. Sean Connery had stated that he was tired of playing James Bond and all of the associated commitment (time spent filming and publicising each movie), together with finding it difficult to do other work, which would potentially lead to typecasting. Saltzman and Broccoli were able to persuade Connery by increasing his fee for the film, but geared up to look for a replacement. Jan Werich was originally cast by producer Harry Saltzman to play Blofeld. Upon his arrival at the Pinewood set, both producer Albert R.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Casting
It was at this time, in early 1967, that Shimada won the role for which he would be best known, that of Mr. Osato in the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice". Mr. Osato, an independently wealthy and well-respected Japanese businessman, runs Osato Chemicals, a chemical and engineering company that is in fact a front for the international crime syndicate SPECTRE. When Bond (Sean Connery) comes to see him, the suave Osato politely warns him, “You should give up smoking. Cigarettes are very bad for your chest.” Mr. Osato wishes Bond well as he departs his office, then waits a few seconds, turns to his “Confidential Secretary” Helga Brandt (Karin Dor) and utters the succinct icy command: “Kill him!” Shimada acted the role with relish, and received positive media attention for it.
Teru Shimada | "You Only Live Twice"
American NASA spacecraft Jupiter 16 is hijacked from orbit by an unidentified spaceship. The United States suspects it to be the work of the Soviets, but the British suspect Japanese involvement since the spacecraft, after having "swallowed" Jupiter 16, landed in the Sea of Japan. To investigate, MI6 operative James Bond is sent to Tokyo, after faking his own death in Hong Kong and being buried at sea from . Upon his arrival, Bond attends a sumo match where he is approached by Japanese secret service agent Aki, who takes him to meet local MI6 operative Dikko Henderson. Henderson claims to have critical evidence about the rogue craft, but is killed before he can elaborate.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Plot
The central character in the novel is James Bond himself and the book's penultimate chapter contains his obituary, purportedly written for "The Times" by M. The obituary provides a number of biographical details of Bond's early life, including his parents' names and nationalities. Bond begins "You Only Live Twice" in a disturbed state, described by M as "going to pieces", following the death of his wife Tracy eight months previously. Academic Jeremy Black points out that it was a very different Bond to the character who lost Vesper Lynd at the end of "Casino Royale". Given a final chance by M to redeem himself with a difficult mission, Bond's character changes under the ministrations of Dikko Henderson, Tiger Tanaka and Kissy Suzuki.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Characters and themes
Cyril Connolly, reviewing "You Only Live Twice" in "The Sunday Times", wrote that Fleming's latest book was "reactionary, sentimental, square, the Bond-image flails its way through the middle-brow masses, a relaxation to the great, a stimulus to the humble, the only common denominator between Kennedy and Oswald". The critic for "The Times" was largely unimpressed with "You Only Live Twice", complaining that "as a moderate to middling travelogue what follows will just about do ... the plot with its concomitant sadism does not really get going until more than half way through". In contrast to the previous novels, "The Times" continued, "though Mr.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Reviews
No" première. He was so impressed, he wrote Connery's heritage into the character. In his 1964 novel "You Only Live Twice", Fleming wrote that Bond's father was Scottish and from Glencoe. Connery's portrayal of Bond owes much to stylistic tutelage from director Terence Young, which helped polish the actor while using his physical grace and presence for the action. Lois Maxwell, who played Miss Moneypenny, related that "Terence took Sean under his wing. He took him to dinner, showed him how to walk, how to talk, even how to eat." The tutoring was successful; Connery received thousands of fan letters a week after "Dr.
Sean Connery | James Bond: 1962–1971, 1983
Perhaps ... he left it unrevised. The fact remains that this posthumous Bond is a sadly sub-standard job." His praise for the novel was muted, admitting "it isn't of course by any means totally unreadable but it's depressingly far from the best Bond." Writing in "The Observer"s sister paper, "The Guardian", Christopher Wordsworth noted that "since "Goldfinger" 007 has been toiling hopelessly in the wake of the "Zeitgeist"." Prior to this novel, Wordsworth writes, "the distance between "Live and let Die", Ian Fleming's second and best, and "You Only Live Twice", his last and worst, is a long iron down the Sandwich fairway." "The Man with the Golden Gun", however, sinks to the level of a "farrago".
The Man with the Golden Gun (novel) | Reviews
Malcolm Muggeridge, writing in "Esquire" magazine, disagreed, writing that ""You Only Live Twice" has a decidedly perfunctory air. Bond can only manage to sleep with his Japanese girl with the aid of colour pornography. His drinking sessions seem somehow desperate, and the horrors are too absurd to horrify ... it's all rather a muddle and scarcely in the tradition of Secret Service fiction. Perhaps the earlier novels are better. If so, I shall never know, having no intention of reading them." Maurice Richardson, in "The Observer", thought "You Only Live Twice" "though far from the best Bond, is really almost as easy to read as any of them".
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Reviews
Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times" awarded the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, in which he criticised the focus on gadgets, declaring "the formula fails to work its magic. Like its predecessor "Thunderball", another below-par entry, this one is top-heavy with gadgets but weak on plotting and getting everything to work at the same time." Bosley Crowther, reviewing for "The New York Times", felt "there's enough of the bright and bland bravado of the popular British super-sleuth mixed into this melee of rocket-launching to make it a bag of good Bond fun. And there's so much of that scientific clatter — so much warring of super-capsules out in space and fussing with electronic gadgets in a great secret underground launching pad—that this way out adventure picture should be the joy and delight of the youngsters and give pleasure to the reasonable adults who can find release in the majestically absurd." "Variety" stated more positively that "As entertainment ["You Only Live Twice"] compares favorably in quality and is replete with as many fights, gadgets, and beauties as its predecessors".
You Only Live Twice (film) | Contemporary reviews
"You Only Live Twice: the Audio Graphic Novel" was very well received by fans and received generally positive reviews from critics.
You Only Live Twice: The Audio Graphic Novel | Reception
He returned in 1962 and was accompanied on his trip round the country by Australian friend Richard Hughes and Tiger Saito, both journalists. In "You Only Live Twice", these two characters became Dikko Henderson and Tiger Tanaka, respectively. Hughes was also the model for "Old Craw" in John le Carré's "The Honourable Schoolboy". The novel contains a fictional obituary of Bond, purportedly published in "The Times", which provided details of Bond's early life, although many of these were Fleming's own traits. These included Bond's expulsion from Eton College, which was part of Fleming's own history. As with a number of the previous Bond stories, "You Only Live Twice" used names of individuals and places that were from Fleming's past.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Background
"You Only Live Twice" premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on 12 June 1967, with Queen Elizabeth II in attendance. The film opened the following day in the United Kingdom and United States, set an opening day record at the Odeon Leicester Square, and went to number one in the United States with a weekend gross of $600,000. It grossed $7 million from 161 theaters in the United States in its first three weeks, and was number one for seven weeks. The film grossed $43 million in the United States and over $68 million worldwide.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Release and reception
To promote the film, United Artists Television produced a one-hour color television programme titled "Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond", which first aired on 2 June 1967 in the United States on NBC. Bond regulars Lois Maxwell and Desmond Llewelyn appeared, playing respectively Miss Moneypenny and Q. Kate O'Mara appears as Miss Moneypenny's assistant. The programme shows clips from "You Only Live Twice" and the then four existing Bond films, and contained a storyline of Moneypenny trying to establish the identity of Bond's bride.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Promotion
That's the way to direct: You either trust your writer or you don't." Charles Gray, who played Dikko Henderson, actually says the famous "shaken not stirred" line the other way round saying "that is stirred not shaken, that was right wasn't it?" Bond replies "Perfect."
You Only Live Twice (film) | Writing
You Only Live Twice is the eleventh novel (and twelfth book) in Ian Fleming's James Bond series of stories. It was first published by Jonathan Cape in the United Kingdom on 26 March 1964 and sold out quickly. It was the last Fleming novel published in his lifetime. It is the concluding chapter in what is known as the "Blofeld Trilogy" after "Thunderball" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". The story starts eight months after the murder of Tracy Bond, which occurred at the end of the previous novel, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". James Bond is drinking and gambling heavily and making mistakes on his assignments when, as a last resort, he is sent to Japan on a semi-diplomatic mission.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Introduction
The film was released a year before the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice" and has some similarities to that film and the future James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" as well as previous 007 films such as "Thunderball".
Atout cœur à Tokyo pour OSS 117 | Introduction
After the interruption of McClory as producer, Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman returned to production once again. The first four Bond films had been popular in Japan, and Eon decided to take advantage of the market by producing "You Only Live Twice". The film included progressive elements of Japanese culture as part of the background. Lewis Gilbert was appointed director and Ken Adam returned as production designer. Adam built a volcano hideaway set for the main antagonist, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, at Pinewood for $1 millon ($ million in dollars); at the time it was the biggest film set in Europe.
Production of the James Bond films | "You Only Live Twice" (1967)
The story was written after the film version of "Dr. No" was released in 1962, and Bond's personality was somewhat skewed towards the screen persona rather than simply to Fleming himself; Sean Connery's filmic depiction of Bond affected the book version, with "You Only Live Twice" giving Bond a sense of humour and Scottish antecedents that were not present in the previous stories, although Fleming himself was part Scottish. Correspondence dating back to 1960 shows that Fleming contacted a Scottish nobleman to help develop Bond's family history, in particular seeking a Scottish "Bond" family line. Fleming's first trip to Japan was as part of the "Thrilling Cities" trip undertaken for "The Sunday Times" in 1959, although his visit only lasted for three days.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Background
After surviving a near execution, Bond exacts revenge on Blofeld in a duel, Blofeld armed with a sword and Bond with a wooden staff. Bond eventually kills Blofeld by strangling him with his bare hands in a fit of violent rage, then blows up the castle. Upon escaping, he suffers a head injury, leaving him an amnesiac living as a Japanese fisherman with Kissy, while the rest of the world believes him dead; his obituary appears in the newspapers.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Plot
The producers had Harold Jack Bloom come to Japan with them to write a screenplay. His work was ultimately rejected, but since several of his ideas were used in the final script, he was given the credit of "Additional Story Material". Among these elements were the opening with Bond's fake death and burial at sea, and the ninja attack. As the screenwriter of the previous Bond films, Richard Maibaum, was unavailable, Roald Dahl (a close friend of Ian Fleming) was chosen to write the adaptation, despite having no prior experience writing a screenplay except for the uncompleted "The Bells of Hell Go Ting-a-ling-a-ling".
You Only Live Twice (film) | Writing
The book was popular with the public, with pre-orders in the UK totalling 62,000; critics were more muted in their reactions, generally delivering mixed reviews of the novel.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Introduction
Although known for character dramas, Gilbert directed three of the James Bond films. After some reluctance, he was persuaded by Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli to direct "You Only Live Twice" (1967). Gilbert returned to the series in the 1970s to make "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977) and "Moonraker" (1979).
Lewis Gilbert | James Bond
You Only Live Twice is the soundtrack for the fifth James Bond film of the same name. It was composed by Bond veteran John Barry. At the time, this was his fourth credited Bond film. The theme song, "You Only Live Twice", was sung by Nancy Sinatra, the first non-British vocalist of the series, with music by Barry and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. The soundtrack has previously been available in two versions on CD – the first, a straight reissue of the LP soundtrack, and the second, an expanded reissue including several previously unreleased tracks. The film soundtrack was recorded at CTS Studios, London.
You Only Live Twice (soundtrack) | Introduction
James Baldwin writes fondly about the film in "The Devil Finds Work", arguing that Lang "never succeeded quite so brilliantly again." François Truffaut wrote that the film "is about destiny and fate", explaining ""You Only Live Once" is about interlocking forces: everything may seem to be going well, but the truth is, everything is going badly."
You Only Live Once (1937 film) | Cultural impact
Tanaka's ninja troops attack the island, while Bond manages to distract Blofeld and create a diversion which allows him to open the hatch, letting in the ninjas. During the battle, Osato is killed by Blofeld, who activates the base's self-destruct system and escapes. Bond, Kissy, Tanaka, and the surviving ninjas escape through the cave tunnel before it explodes, and are rescued by submarine.
List of James Bond films | "You Only Live Twice" (1967)
They are discovered, but Bond eludes the henchmen until Aki gets away; however, Bond is captured. He wakes, tied up in Brandt's cabin on the "Ning-Po". Brandt interrogates Bond, before seducing him. Brandt flies Bond to Tokyo the next day, but en route, she sets off a flare in the plane, seals Bond in his seat and bails out, assuming Bond will die in the crash. Bond manages to evade the trap, lands the plane and flees before it explodes.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Plot
She appeared as a bath girl in "You Only Live Twice" under the name Yee-Wah Yang. The film received generally negative reviews from the "New York Times", "Variety" and the "Monthly Film Bulletin" with the latter two reviews noting that the film could leave audiences with unintentional laughter at its ineptitude. The film was featured on the film-mocking television series "Mystery Science Theater 3000" in 1993.
O.K. Connery | Introduction
In 1967, after five films, Sean Connery resigned from the role of James Bond and—during the filming of "You Only Live Twice"—was not on speaking terms with Albert Broccoli. The confirmed front runners were Englishman John Richardson, Dutchman Hans De Vries, Australian Robert Campbell, Englishman Anthony Rogers and Australian George Lazenby. Broccoli and Hunt eventually chose Lazenby after seeing him in a Fry's Chocolate Cream advertisement. Lazenby dressed the part by sporting several sartorial Bond elements such as a Rolex Submariner wristwatch and a Savile Row suit (ordered for, but uncollected by, Connery), and going to Connery's barber at the Dorchester Hotel.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film) | Casting
He also portrayed Q in a 1967 EON produced television documentary entitled "Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond", which was included in the 2006 special edition DVD release of "You Only Live Twice".
Desmond Llewelyn | "James Bond" series
After the wedding-day murder of his wife, Tracy (see "On Her Majesty's Secret Service)", Bond begins to let his life slide, drinking and gambling heavily, making mistakes and turning up late for work. His superior in the Secret Service, M, had been planning to dismiss Bond, but decides to give him a last-chance opportunity to redeem himself by assigning him to the diplomatic branch of the organisation. Bond is subsequently re-numbered 7777 and handed an "impossible" mission: convincing the head of Japan's secret intelligence service, Tiger Tanaka, to provide Britain with information from radio transmissions captured from the Soviet Union, codenamed "Magic 44".
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Plot
The "Radio Times" has described it as a "theatrical comedy," which was "shakily brought to the screen...the story involves mistaken identity, Celtic poetry, horse racing and the rigging of Rectorial elections. Blink and you'll miss Ronnie Corbett in what, of course, can only be described as a small role."
You're Only Young Twice (film) | Critical reception
With the script following the novel more closely than the other film adaptations of the eponymous source novels, there are several continuity errors due to the films taking place in a different sequence, such as Blofeld not recognising Bond, despite having met him face-to-face in the previous film "You Only Live Twice". In the original script, Bond undergoes plastic surgery to disguise him from his enemies; the intention was to allow an unrecognisable Bond to infiltrate Blofeld's hideout and help the audience accept the new actor in the role. However, this was dropped in favour of ignoring the change in actor.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film) | Writing
Unlike most James Bond films, which usually feature various locations around the world, almost the entire film is set in one country, and several minutes are devoted to an elaborate Japanese wedding. This is in keeping with Fleming's original novel, which also devoted a number of pages to the discussion of Japanese culture. Toho Studios provided soundstages, personnel, and the female Japanese stars to the producers.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Production
"TV Guide" gave it two out of four stars, noting an "Occasionally gripping spy drama with a very good cast." while "Allmovie" concluded, "Somewhat lost amidst the flashier James Bond clones of the late 1960s, The Devil's Agent holds up pretty well when seen today."
The Devil's Agent | Critical reception
No". Academic Christoph Lindner identifies Tiger Tanaka as one of Fleming's characters with morals closer to those of traditional villains, but who act on the side of good in support of Bond; others of this type have included Darko Kerim ("From Russia, with Love"), Marc-Ange Draco ("On Her Majesty's Secret Service") and Enrico Colombo ("Risico").
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Characters and themes
Gilbert, Broccoli, Saltzman, Ken Adam and director of photography Freddie Young then went to Japan, spending three weeks searching for locations. While in Tokyo, the crew crossed paths with Peter R. Hunt, who was on holiday. Hunt had edited the first four Bond films, and he was invited to direct the second unit. The total budget for the film was $10.3 million ($ million in dollars). Initially the screenwriter was to be Harold Jack Bloom, although he was later replaced by Roald Dahl, who had little previous screenwriting experience. "You Only Live Twice" was the first Bond film to jettison the plot premise of the Fleming source material, although the film retains the title, the Japanese setting, the use of Blofeld as the main villain and a Bond girl named Kissy Suzuki from the novel.
Production of the James Bond films | "You Only Live Twice" (1967)
"You Only Live Twice" is the twelfth book (the eleventh novel) of Fleming's Bond series and the last book completed by Fleming before his death. The story is the third part of the Blofeld trilogy, coming after "Thunderball", where SPECTRE is introduced, and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", where Blofeld is involved in the murder of Bond's wife. "You Only Live Twice" was the last book by Fleming that was published in his lifetime: he died five months after the UK release of the novel. It was written in January and February 1963 in Jamaica at Fleming's Goldeneye estate. The original manuscript was 170 pages long and the least revised of all Fleming's novels, with a mood that is dark and claustrophobic, reflecting Fleming's own increasing melancholia.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Background
Whilst there he is challenged by the head of the Japanese Secret Service to kill Dr. Guntram Shatterhand. Bond realises that Shatterhand is Ernst Stavro Blofeld and sets out on a revenge mission to kill him and his wife, Irma Bunt. The novel deals on a personal level with the change in Bond from a depressed man in mourning, to a man of action bent on revenge, to an amnesiac living as a Japanese fisherman. Through the mouths of his characters, Fleming also examines the decline of post-World WarII British power and influence, notably in relation to the United States.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Introduction
"Never Say Never Again" was broadly welcomed and praised by the critics: Ian Christie, writing in the "Daily Express", said that "Never Say Never Again" was "one of the better Bonds", finding the film "superbly witty and entertaining, ... the dialogue is crisp and the fight scenes imaginative." Christie also thought that "Connery has lost none of his charm and, if anything, is more appealing than ever as the stylish resolute hero." David Robinson, writing in "The Times" also concentrated on Connery, saying that: "Connery ... is back, looking hardly a day older or thicker, and still outclassing every other exponent of the role, in the goodnatured throwaway with which he parries all the sex and violence on the way".
Never Say Never Again | Contemporary reviews
In the film, Bond is dispatched to Japan after American and Soviet crewed spacecraft disappear mysteriously in orbit, each nation blaming the other amidst the Cold War. Bond travels secretly to a remote Japanese island to find the perpetrators, and comes face-to-face with Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the head of SPECTRE. The film reveals the appearance of Blofeld, who was previously a partially unseen character. SPECTRE is working for the government of an unnamed Asian power, implied to be the People's Republic of China, to provoke war between the superpowers. During the filming in Japan, it was announced that Sean Connery would retire from the role of Bond, but after one film's absence, he returned in 1971's "Diamonds Are Forever" and later 1983's non-Eon Bond film "Never Say Never Again".
You Only Live Twice (film) | Introduction
The film was only a moderate success at the box office in France – the 40th most popular film of the year. It was not released in the US despite Gavin's presence in the lead role. However the film did help Gavin be cast, briefly, as James Bond in "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971).
OSS 117 – Double Agent | Reception
Or lack of it." Roger Greenspun of "The New York Times" praised Moore as "a handsome, suave, somewhat phlegmatic James Bond—with a tendency to throw away his throwaway quips as the minor embarrassments that, alas, they usually are." He was further critical of Jane Seymour and Yaphet Kotto, the latter of whom he felt "does not project evil." In conclusion, he remarked the film was "especially well photographed and edited, and it makes clever and extensive use of its good title song, by Paul and Linda McCartney." Charles Champlin of the "Los Angeles Times" likened Moore as "a handsome and smoothly likable successor to Sean Connery as James Bond." He further noted that the script "uses only the bare bones of Fleming's story about evil doings which link Harlem with a mysterious Caribbean island.
Live and Let Die (film) | Contemporary reviews
Dahl said that the original novel was "Fleming's worst book, with no plot in it which would even make a movie", and compared it to a travelogue, stating that he had to create a new plot though "I could retain only four or five of the original story's ideas." On creating the plot, Dahl said he "did not know what the hell Bond was going to do" despite having to deliver the first draft in six weeks, and decided to do a basic plot similar to "Dr. No". Dahl was given a free rein on his script, except for the character of Bond and "the girl formula", involving three women for Bond to seduce — an ally and a henchwoman who both get killed, and the main Bond girl.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Writing
Aki is a fictional character created for the 1967 "James Bond" film "You Only Live Twice". In the film, Aki, played by Akiko Wakabayashi, is a female ninja agent with the fictional Japanese Secret Intelligence Service (SIS).
Aki (James Bond) | Introduction
No, Mister Big, Ernst Stavro Blofeld et al. — and describes their social, political, and personal motivations for doing evil, especially against Britain. The final, fifth section, “His Future” examines the literary and cinematic possibilities for the Bond character in 1964 — when Fleming was still writing. Moreover, given the business exigencies of publishing, "You Only Live Twice" (1964), then the latest novel, published in March 1964, Snelling incorporated to his "Report" only by way of footnotes. The final page of "Double O Seven, James Bond, A Report" is an in-joke, between writer and reader, a reproduction of the watermark Snelling noticed in his typing paper: “64 Mill Bond — Extra Strong”.
Double O Seven, James Bond, A Report | Literary critique
"Octopussy" has the most sustained excitement in a Bond film since "You Only Live Twice"." However, he felt that the character Octopussy was detrimental to the film and that the action "blunts a script that is weak on characterization and long on male chauvinism." "Variety" felt the film's strong points were "the spectacular aerial stuntwork marking both the pre-credits teaser and extremely dangerous-looking climax. The rest of the action scenes are well-executed but suffer from a sense of deja vu, as in a speeding train that recalls Sean Connery's derring-do in "The Great Train Robbery"". Kevin Thomas of the "Los Angeles Times" felt the film proved "to be business as usual, no better or worse than most of its predecessors.
Octopussy | Contemporary reviews
Austrian actor George Roubicek plays an American astronaut in "You Only Live Twice" (1967) and Stromberg One Captain in "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977).
List of recurring actors and actresses in the James Bond film series | George Roubicek
IGN gave "Never Say Never Again" a score of 5 out of 10, claiming that the film "is more miss than hit". The review also thought that the film was "marred with too many clunky exposition scenes and not enough moments of Bond being Bond". In 1995 Michael Sauter of "Entertainment Weekly" rated "Never Say Never Again" as the ninth best Bond film to that point, after 17 films had been released. Sauter thought the film "is successful only as a portrait of an over-the-hill superhero." He did admit, however, that "even past his prime, Connery proves that nobody does it better".
Never Say Never Again | Reflective reviews
Bond gladly takes the mission, keeping his knowledge of Blofeld's identity a secret so that he can exact revenge for his wife's death. Made up and trained by Tanaka, and aided by former Japanese film star Kissy Suzuki, Bond attempts to live and think as a mute Japanese coal miner in order to penetrate Shatterhand's castle. Tanaka renames Bond "Taro Todoroki" ("First son of thunder") for the mission. After infiltrating the Garden of Death and the castle where Blofeld spends his time dressed in the costume of a Samurai warrior, Bond is captured and Bunt identifies him as a British secret agent and not a Japanese coal miner.
You Only Live Twice (novel) | Plot
James Bond veteran John Barry returned to the franchise to produce the score. The lyrics were by Leslie Bricusse, who had previously cowritten the lyrics for the theme to "Goldfinger". An initial version of the song was performed by Julie Rogers and recorded with a 50 or 60 piece orchestra at CTS Studios. However, this version was not used since Barry decided to re-write and re-record the song: "It was usually the producers that said 'this isn't working, there's a certain something that it needed'. If that energy wasn't there, if that mysterioso kind of thing wasn't there, then it wasn't going to work for the movie." The Rogers song shares only two lines with the final version, "You only live twice", and "you’ll pay the price".
You Only Live Twice (song) | Background
Dench, in her role as "M", was the only cast member carried through from the Brosnan films to appear in "Casino Royale" (2006), Martin Campbell's reboot of the James Bond film series, starring Daniel Craig in his debut performance as the fictional MI6 agent. The thriller received largely positive critical response, with reviewers highlighting Craig's performance and the reinvention of the character of Bond. It earned over US$594 million worldwide, ranking it among the highest-grossing James Bond films ever released. Also in April 2006, Dench returned to the West End stage in "Hay Fever" alongside Peter Bowles and Belinda Lang.
Judi Dench | 2006–2010
Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times" noted, in a positive review, the irrelevance of the plot and "moments of silliness", such as Bond finding himself driving a moon buggy with antennae revolving and robot arms flapping. He praised the Las Vegas car chase scene, particularly the segment when Bond drives the Ford Mustang on two wheels. Vincent Canby of "The New York Times" enthusiastically praised the film as "a nostalgic journey down memory lane—by jet, by helicopter, by hearse, by moon machine, and by bare foot across deep-pile rugs to king-sized beds in hotel rooms as big as Nevada. A lot of things have changed since "You Only Live Twice" (1967), the last real Bond adventure, but 007 has remained a steadfast agent for the military-industrial complex, a friend to the C.I.A.
Diamonds Are Forever (film) | Contemporary reviews
They agreed, and there you are: today Bond is accepted to such an extent that even philosophers take the trouble to analyze him, even intellectuals enjoy defending him or attacking him. And even while they're laughing at him, people take him terribly seriously". Connery went on to add that "Bond is important: this invincible superman that every man would like to copy, that every woman would like to conquer, this dream we all have of survival. And then one can't help liking him". After the pressures of five films in six years, Connery left the role after the 1967 film "You Only Live Twice" saying, "It became a terrible pressure, like living in a goldfish bowl ...
Portrayal of James Bond in film | Sean Connery: 1962–1967, 1971 and 1983
James Berardinelli described it as "the best Bond film in many years" and said Brosnan "inhabits his character with a suave confidence that is very like Connery's." However, in the "Los Angeles Times", Kenneth Turan thought a lot of "Tomorrow Never Dies" had a "stodgy, been-there feeling", with little change from previous films, and Charles Taylor wrote for Salon.com that the film was "a flat, impersonal affair".
Tomorrow Never Dies | Release and reception
Chris Nashawaty, reviewing for BBC, similarly argues that Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big is the worst villain of the Roger Moore James Bond films. Also from BBC, William Mager praised the use of locations, but said that the plot was "convoluted". He stated that "Connery and Lazenby had an air of concealed thuggishness, clenched fists at the ready, but in Moore's case a sardonic quip and a raised eyebrow are his deadliest weapons". Danny Peary, in his book "Guide for the Film Fanatic", noted that Jane Seymour portrays "one of the Bond series's most beautiful heroines", but had little praise for Moore, whom he described as making "an unimpressive debut as James Bond in Tom Mankiewicz's unimaginative adaptation of Ian Fleming's second novel ...
Live and Let Die (film) | Retrospective reviews
Tracks 13 to 19 were added later, as a bonus, to the complete version of the original soundtrack upon its digitally remastered CD rerelease. "Twice Is the Only Way to Live" was the final track on the soundtrack's original UK version. It was also included on the United Artists soundtrack compilation "Ten Golden Years" (1968). On certain releases of the "You Only Live Twice" soundtrack album, the "007 Theme" is included. It is heard within the film when Little Nellie is being constructed and continues to play until three or four SPECTRE helicopters encounter Bond, at which point the music changes to the "James Bond Theme".
You Only Live Twice (soundtrack) | Track listing
George Lazenby was signed on to play Bond for OHMSS. Between Sean Connery giving his notice at the beginning of filming "You Only Live Twice" and its release, Saltzman had planned to adapt "The Man with the Golden Gun" in Cambodia and use Roger Moore as the next Bond, but political instability meant the location was ruled out and Moore signed up for another series of the television programme "The Saint". After "You Only Live Twice" was released in 1967, the producers once again picked the often-delayed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", which had previously been considered to follow both "Goldfinger" and then "Thunderball".
Production of the James Bond films | "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969)
Opinion on "For Your Eyes Only" has improved with the passing of time, though some reviews are still mixed to positive: , the film holds a 73% 'fresh' rating from Rotten Tomatoes, being ranked eleventh among the 24 Bond films. Ian Nathan of "Empire" gives the film only two of a possible five stars, observing that the film "still ranks as one of the most forgettable Bonds on record." In 2006, IGN chose "For Your Eyes Only" as the sixth best Bond film, claiming it is "a good old-fashioned espionage tale", a placement shared by Norman Wilner of MSN, who considered it "the one Moore film that seems to reach back to Connery's heyday", and "Entertainment Weekly" chose it as the tenth best in 2008, saying it was a "return to low-tech, low-key Bond [with] ...
For Your Eyes Only (film) | Reflective reviews
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 17% approval rating, based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10.
Only You (2015 film) | Critical response
Connery's breakthrough came in the role of British secret agent James Bond. He was reluctant to commit to a film series, but understood that if the films succeeded, his career would greatly benefit. He played 007 in the first five Bond films: "Dr. No" (1962), "From Russia with Love" (1963), "Goldfinger" (1964), "Thunderball" (1965), and "You Only Live Twice" (1967) – then appeared again as Bond in "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971) and "Never Say Never Again" (1983). All seven films were commercially successful. James Bond, as portrayed by Connery, was selected as the third-greatest hero in cinema history by the American Film Institute.
Sean Connery | James Bond: 1962–1971, 1983
The movie soundtrack song is widely recognised for its striking opening bars and oriental flavour, and was far more popular on radio. The record release reached No. 44 on the "Billboard" charts in the USA, and No. 11 in the UK. Both versions of the title song are available on CD. A different title song was originally recorded by Julie Rogers, but eventually discarded. Only two lines from that version were kept in the final lyrics, and the orchestral part was changed to fit Sinatra's vocal range. Rogers' version only appeared in a James Bond 30th Anniversary CD, with no singer credit.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Music
"You Only Live Once" was presented on "Philip Morris Playhouse" November 28, 1941. The adaptation starred Burgess Meredith.
You Only Live Once (1937 film) | Radio adaptation
Derek Malcolm in "The Guardian" disliked the film, saying it was "too long ... and pretty boring between the stunts", although he admitted that the stunts were of a high quality. According to Malcolm, Bond "inhabits a fantasy-land of more or less bloodless violence, groinless sex and naivety masked as superior sophistication", with Moore playing him as if in a "nicely lubricated daze". Although Malcolm tipped the film for international box office success, he observed that he "can't quite see why the series has lasted so long and so strong in people's affections." Writing in "The Observer", Philip French commented that "not for the first time the pre-credits sequence is the best thing about the film." French was dismissive of Moore's Bond, saying that Bond was "impersonated by Moore" and referred to Moore's advancing years.
For Your Eyes Only (film) | Contemporary reviews
Timothy Dalton was strongly considered but Dalton declined, as he disliked the direction the series was taking at the time. Eventually, this came to nothing as Moore agreed to play Bond once again. Bernard Lee died of cancer on 16 January 1981, after filming began on "For Your Eyes Only", but before he could film his scenes as M, the head of MI6, as he had done in the previous eleven films of the series. Out of respect, no new actor was hired to assume the role as Broccoli refused to have the character recast and, instead, the script was re-written so that the character is said to be on leave, letting Chief of Staff Bill Tanner take over the role as acting head of MI6 and briefing Bond alongside the Minister of Defence.
For Your Eyes Only (film) | Casting
MSN chose it as the thirteenth best Bond film and IGN listed it as twelfth-best. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 66% from 47 reviews based on 5.76/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "While not one of the highest-rated Bond films, "Live and Let Die" finds Roger Moore adding his stamp to the series with flashes of style and an improved sense of humor." In 2004, the American Film Institute nominated the song "Live and Let Die" from the film for AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs.
Live and Let Die (film) | Retrospective reviews
Charles Gray appears as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971). In the earlier "You Only Live Twice" (1967), he had played a British agent, Henderson, (though Australian in the novel) making him one of a small number of actors to have played a villain and a Bond ally in the series.
List of recurring actors and actresses in the James Bond film series | Charles Gray
"You Only Live Twice", performed by Nancy Sinatra, is the theme song to the 1967 James Bond film of the same name. The music was by veteran Bond film composer John Barry, with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. The song is widely recognized for its striking opening bars, featuring a simple 2-bar theme in the high octaves of the violins and lush harmonies from French horns. It is considered by some to be among the best James Bond theme songs, and has become one of Nancy Sinatra's best known hits. Shortly after Barry's production, Sinatra's producer Lee Hazlewood released a more guitar-based single version.
You Only Live Twice (song) | Introduction
According to Griswold, the Fleming novels take place between around May 1951, to February 1964, by which time Bond was aged 42. It was not until the penultimate novel, "You Only Live Twice", that Fleming gave Bond a sense of family background, using a fictional obituary, purportedly from "The Times". The book was the first to be written after the release of "Dr. No" in cinemas and Sean Connery's depiction of Bond affected Fleming's interpretation of the character. The novel reveals Bond is the son of a Scottish father, Andrew Bond, of Glencoe, and a Swiss mother, Monique Delacroix, of the Canton de Vaud.
James Bond (literary character) | Background
Endowed with a bald head, a penetrating stare, and an intense voice, usually quiet but capable of a piercing scream, he specialised in portraying insane, fanatical, or evil characters, including the title role in "Dr Crippen" (1962), the double agent Dr Michaels in the science-fiction film "Fantastic Voyage" (1966), the white trader who sells guns to the Cheyenne Indians in the revisionist western "Soldier Blue" (1970), the mad Doctor in the Bud Spencer–Terence Hill film "Watch Out, We're Mad!" (1974), Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler in "The Eagle Has Landed" (1976), and the Bond arch-villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in "You Only Live Twice" (1967), the first film in which Blofeld's face is clearly seen.
Donald Pleasence | Film
Leonard Maltin, who gave it a grade of 1 1/2 stars, stated, "Breslin should stick to his typewriter." At the 1978 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, the movie won Worst Picture. When the Stinkers Ballot Expansion Project launched in 2003, the movie received the following notes: The film's reputation did not improve with time. In 2011, an article in "New York" magazine termed it an "obscure flop".
If Ever I See You Again (film) | Reception
Live and Let Die is a 1973 spy film and the eighth film in the "James Bond" series produced by Eon Productions and the first to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It was directed by Guy Hamilton and produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman. Although the producers had wanted Sean Connery to return after his role in the previous Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever", he declined, sparking a search for a new actor to play Bond; Moore was signed for the lead role. The film is based on Ian Fleming's 1954 novel of the same name.
Live and Let Die (film) | Introduction
Ian Christie, writing in the "Daily Express", said that it was not "much of a plot, but it has a touch of credibility which is a welcome change from some of its predecessors." Overall, Christie thought, "For Your Eyes Only" was "one of the better Bonds, with a nice balance between humour and excitement and the usual bevy of beautiful girls." Christie's colleague in the "Sunday Express", Richard Barkley, praised the film, saying that "For Your Eyes Only" "is one of the most exciting yet". Barkley describes Moore's Bond as having an "accustomed debonair calm and quiet authority". All told, Barkley thought "this Bond movie is smashing entertainment." David Robinson, writing in "The Times" bemoaned the fact that the "dramatic bits between the set pieces don't count for much." Like other critics at the time his praise was more directed towards the stunt crews; they were "better than ever in this one." The film critic for the magazine "Time Out" was brief and pithy: "no plot and poor dialogue, and Moore really is old enough to be the uncle of those girls."
For Your Eyes Only (film) | Contemporary reviews
Modern reception of the film has been more favorable. Film critic James Berardinelli summed this up in his review of the movie: "with the exception of one production aspect, [it] is by far the best entry of the long-running James Bond series. The film contains some of the most exhilarating action sequences ever to reach the screen, a touching love story, and a nice subplot that has agent 007 crossing (and even threatening to resign from) Her Majesty's Secret Service." Lazenby is frequently quoted as the weakest Bond, although Connery, Moore, Dalton, and Craig have rated his performance. The American film reviewer Leonard Maltin has suggested that if it had been Connery in the leading role instead of Lazenby, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" would have epitomised the series.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film) | Retrospective reviews
Richard Schickel, writing in "Time" magazine praised the film and its cast. He wrote that Klaus Maria Brandauer's character was "played with silky, neurotic charm", while Barbara Carrera, playing Fatima Blush, "deftly parodies all the fatal femmes who have slithered through Bond's career". Schickel's highest praise was saved for the return of Connery, observing "it is good to see Connery's grave stylishness in this role again. It makes Bond's cynicism and opportunism seem the product of genuine worldliness (and world weariness) as opposed to Roger Moore's mere twirpishness."
Never Say Never Again | Contemporary reviews
... the descriptions are adequate and the action writing excellent." T. J. Binyon, writing in "The Times Literary Supplement" said, "Christopher Wood's style is lusher than Ian Fleming's, and teeters throughout on the brink of parody." Maurice Richardson in "The Observer" called "The latest licensed ersatz Bond"" a ""[s]uitable silly season read."
James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me | Reception
The site's critical consensus reads: "While the rehashed story feels rather uninspired and unnecessary, the return of both Sean Connery and a more understated Bond make "Never Say Never Again" a watchable retread." The score is still more positive than some of the Eon films, with Rotten Tomatoes ranking "Never Say Never Again" 16th among all Bond films in 2008. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating generally favourable reviews. "Empire" gives the film three of a possible five stars, observing that "Connery was perhaps wise to call it quits the first time round".
Never Say Never Again | Reflective reviews
The film was a box office disappointment.
We Live Again | Reception
In his review in "The Washington Post", Desson Howe wrote, "Jewison directs "Only You" with sure, comic instinct." He singled out Bonnie Hunt's performance, noting, "Jewison's best asset of all is Hunt, an adroit comedian whose retorts and mannerisms—as she helps her friend along in this wacky mess—are priceless."
Only You (1994 film) | Critical response
The film was received slightly positively by critics and currently holds a 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. Collider's Matt Goldberg recommended that the film be required viewing in classrooms, yet had an overall negative reaction to the movie and its evidence.
The Mask You Live In | Reception
British actor George Baker, who originally appeared in an uncredited role as a NASA engineer in "You Only Live Twice" (1967), is known for his roles as Sir Hilary Bray in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and as Captain Benson in "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977).
List of recurring actors and actresses in the James Bond film series | George Baker
Bond chases and kills the assailant, taking the assailant's clothing as a disguise, and is driven in the getaway car to Osato Chemicals. Once there, Bond subdues the driver and breaks into the office safe of the company's president, Mr. Osato. After obtaining secret documents, Bond is pursued by armed security, but is rescued by Aki, who flees to a secluded subway station. Bond chases her, but falls down a trap door leading to the office of the head of the Japanese secret service, Tiger Tanaka. The stolen documents are examined, and found to include a photograph of the cargo ship "Ning-Po", with a microdot message saying the tourist who took the photo was killed as a security precaution.
You Only Live Twice (film) | Plot
Leonard Maltin gave the film two stars, calling it an "Unexciting suspenser."
Some May Live | Critical reception
It starred George Lazenby in his only appearance in the Bond role. With the films being produced in a different order to the books, the continuity of storylines was broken and the films altered accordingly. Even so, the character of Blofeld was present in the previous film, "You Only Live Twice", and he and Bond had met: this previous meeting was ignored for the plot of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". The film is often considered, by fans and critics, one of the series most faithful film adaptations and only made minor changes to plot.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (novel) | Adaptations
He also gave uncredited performances in the James Bond films "You Only Live Twice" (1967) and "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971).
David Healy (actor) | Introduction
As mentioned before, the figure of Paul Doubleday—suspected of irresponsibility but in fact thoroughly dependable—might have made for a clever James short story. But when such a character gets ground into a farce meant to be brainless entertainment, any real interest he might have generated disappears. By the way, "The Reprobate" did receive a few performances after James' death. The reviews were mixed. The Times critic liked it: "a plain tale in plain language, an action all bustle and snap, characters all the broadest, drollest caricatures." But Arnold Bennett gave the usual verdict on James in his playwriting efforts: "an unusually able and gifted man trying to so something for which his talents were utterly unfitted."
Theatricals: Second Series | Critical evaluation
Kidd and Mr. Wint are similar to characters you'd find on "The Avengers", but not nearly as amusing – and the trouble Bond gets into, even Maxwell Smart could escape." IGN chose it as the third worst James Bond film, behind only "The Man with the Golden Gun" and "Die Another Day". "Total Film" listed Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd, and Bambi and Thumper, as the first and second worst villains in the Bond series (respectively). The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound for Gordon McCallum, John W. Mitchell and Al Overton.
Diamonds Are Forever (film) | Retrospective reviews
In "The New York Times", Renata Adler found it "a modest third-rate film...But the plotting is tight and Mr. Brynner looks exotic and stony enough to keep one's mind off the title; when the denouement comes it is a moderate surprise;" while more recently, "Cinema Retro" called it "one of the better spy films of the era thanks in no small part to the direction of Franklin J. Schaffner."
The Double Man (1967 film) | Critical reception
For Robinson, the presence of Connery and Klaus Maria Brandauer as Maximillian Largo "very nearly make it all worthwhile." The reviewer for "Time Out" summed up "Never Say Never Again" saying "The action's good, the photography excellent, the sets decent; but the real clincher is the fact that Bond is once more played by a man with the right stuff." Derek Malcolm in "The Guardian" showed himself to be a fan of Connery's Bond, saying the film contains "the best Bond in the business", but nevertheless did not find "Never Say Never Again" any more enjoyable than the recently released "Octopussy" (starring Roger Moore), or "that either of them came very near to matching "Dr.
Never Say Never Again | Contemporary reviews
You Only Live Once () is a 1952 West German comedy film directed by Ernst Neubach and starring Theo Lingen, Marina Ried and Rudolf Platte. It was a remake of the 1931 film "The Man in Search of His Murderer". It was shot at the Spandau Studios in Berlin. The film's sets were designed by Emil Hasler and Walter Kutz.
You Only Live Once (1952 film) | Introduction