Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Last updated:
August 16, 2025

Diamonds Are Forever is the seventh official James Bond film, marking Sean Connery’s return to the role after skipping On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). Directed by Guy Hamilton, the film blends spy intrigue with campy humor, Las Vegas glitz, and a plot involving diamond smuggling and world domination.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Opening: The Hunt for Blofeld

The film begins with James Bond (Sean Connery) on a relentless pursuit of his nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Charles Gray). Bond travels across the world—Japan, Cairo, and beyond—torturing and interrogating henchmen until he tracks down Blofeld in a secret facility, where clones of Blofeld are being created. Bond kills the real one (or so it seems) by drowning him in superheated mud.

The Diamond Smuggling Investigation

Bond is then assigned by M to investigate a diamond smuggling operation from South Africa. Disguised as smuggler Peter Franks, Bond travels to Amsterdam and meets Tiffany Case (Jill St. John), a glamorous but suspicious diamond dealer. Bond kills the real Franks and continues the mission while posing as him.

Arrival in Las Vegas

Bond follows the diamond trail to Las Vegas, where the gems are being funneled into a satellite construction project. Along the way, he encounters the assassins Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd (Bruce Glover and Putter Smith), a quirky yet deadly pair who leave a trail of bodies behind.

Blofeld’s Return and the Satellite Plot

Bond discovers that Blofeld is alive and hiding in Las Vegas, using a casino as his base. The diamonds are part of a laser-equipped satellite capable of destroying targets anywhere on Earth. Blofeld’s plan is to sell global superpowers a monopoly on peace by threatening destruction. Bond finds that there are multiple Blofeld doubles again, making it harder to stop him.

The Oil Rig Showdown

The climax takes place at Blofeld’s offshore oil rig, where the satellite control system is housed. Bond, working with CIA ally Felix Leiter (Norman Burton), plants explosives and manages to destroy the controls, sending the satellite tumbling into space. In the chaos, Blofeld attempts to escape in a miniature submarine, but Bond uses a crane to drop him into the sea—seemingly killing him (though Bond fans know better).

Movie Ending

After the destruction of Blofeld’s satellite and the oil rig, Bond and Tiffany set sail on a luxury cruise. However, Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd have stowed away on board to exact revenge. They attempt to kill Bond with an explosive hidden in a dessert, but Bond catches on. In a darkly comic fight, Bond sets Kidd on fire and throws Wint overboard—along with the bomb, which explodes in the sea. The film ends with Bond and Tiffany sharing a quiet moment, with Tiffany nervously asking if the diamonds are now safe, hinting that the world may never truly be free from such threats.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. Diamonds Are Forever ends with the cruise ship scene and the traditional “James Bond Will Return” message. There are no mid- or post-credits scenes.

Type of Movie

Spy thriller with elements of action, adventure, and camp comedy.

Cast

Sean Connery – James Bond
Jill St. John – Tiffany Case
Charles Gray – Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Bruce Glover – Mr. Wint
Putter Smith – Mr. Kidd
Norman Burton – Felix Leiter
Jimmy Dean – Willard Whyte
Lana Wood – Plenty O’Toole

Film Music and Composer

Composed by John Barry, the soundtrack includes the sultry title song “Diamonds Are Forever” performed by Shirley Bassey, marking her second Bond theme after Goldfinger. Barry’s score mixes smooth lounge arrangements with tense orchestral spy cues.

Filming Locations

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Diamond smuggling scenes.
Las Vegas, Nevada – Casino, hotel, and street scenes that give the film its glitzy energy.
Baja California, Mexico – Oil rig finale.
Pinewood Studios, UK – Interior sets including Blofeld’s lair and casino interiors.

Awards and Nominations

No major awards won, though the film is remembered for its stylish music and Bond’s iconic return.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Sean Connery was lured back with a then-record salary and the promise to fund two of his own projects.
Bruce Glover and Putter Smith’s portrayal of Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd was intentionally eccentric to make them stand out among Bond villains.
The Vegas scenes were shot with real casino patrons in the background, leading to unplanned extras in shots.

Inspirations and References

Based loosely on Ian Fleming’s 1956 novel Diamonds Are Forever, though the film greatly expands the plot into a more science-fiction direction with the diamond-laser satellite.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

A longer oil rig battle was planned but cut due to filming difficulties with the set’s real explosion effects. There were also deleted moments of Tiffany’s backstory to make her more sympathetic.

Book Adaptations and Differences

In Fleming’s novel, the diamond smuggling plot is tied to American organized crime, and Blofeld is absent. The book has a more grounded, noir-like tone, without satellites or large-scale destruction.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Bond strangling a woman with her bikini top in the pre-credits fight.
Tiffany’s introduction in Amsterdam.
Bond being chased through the Las Vegas Strip in a Mustang Mach 1.
The fight in the elevator between Bond and Peter Franks.
The oil rig destruction sequence.

Iconic Quotes

Bond: “That’s a nice little nothing you’re almost wearing.”
Blofeld: “If we destroy Kansas, the world may not hear about it for years.”
Mr. Wint: “If God had wanted man to fly…” (before an ironic death).

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The “007” theme is used subtly in elevator fight scene to emphasize tension.
The Las Vegas casino exterior was the real Circus Circus, still operating today.
Blofeld’s cat appears in a way that subtly reveals the real Blofeld among his doubles.

Trivia

This was Sean Connery’s last official Bond film until Never Say Never Again (1983).
Lana Wood, who plays Plenty O’Toole, is Natalie Wood’s sister.
Shirley Bassey recorded multiple takes of the theme; one early take was considered “too sexy” for release.

Why Watch?

If you enjoy a campy, glamorous take on James Bond with outrageous villains, over-the-top set pieces, and classic Connery charm, Diamonds Are Forever delivers in full. It’s a bridge between the more grounded spy thrillers and the extravagant, gadget-heavy Bonds of the 1970s.

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)