The onscreen title reads "Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever. The titles by Maurice Binder (1925—1991), who designed the first and most of the subsequent Bond series opening titles through 1989, featured the signature “James Bond” style of displaying silhouettes and body parts of scantily clad women. In addition, Binder created distinctive titles specific to each Bond film. In Diamonds Are Forever, diamonds were worn or held by models, and the villain’s trademark white cat appeared wearing a diamond collar. The opening and closing cast credits differ in order. The closing credits acknowledge the cooperation of several automobile companies, ship lines and numerous Las Vegas hotels, as well as David Morris Jewellers. The final title card states: "James Bond will return in Live and Let Die."
       Diamonds Are Forever was the seventh of producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli’s James Bond series, which began with the 1962 United Artist release Dr. No (see below). The first five films in the series starred Sean Connery as the suave British secret agent "James Bond," Bernard Lee as the head of intelligence, "M" and Lois Maxwell as M's secretary, "Miss Moneypenny." The character of "Ernst Stavros Blofeld," Bond's archrival, appeared in several Bond films and was played in earlier films by Donald Pleasance and Telly Savalas. Charles Gray, who played Blofeld in Diamonds Are Forever, portrayed a colleague of Bond’s in the 1967 UA production You Only Live Twice (see below).
       In the sixth of the Bond series, the 1969 UA release On Her Majesty's Secret Service (see below), Bond was played by Australian model George Lazenby. According to a 27 Feb 1970 DV news item, the producers announced that Lazenby would not continue in the role for Diamonds Are Forever. A documentary on the making of Diamonds Are Forever, part of additional content for the film’s DVD release, reveals that disappointment in the box-office returns for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service prompted the producers to consider options to revitalize the series. One possibility was Americanizing the British agent.
       According to Broccoli’s wife Barbara, television star Adam West was considered for the part; however, well-known leading man John Gavin was signed as the new American Bond. Despite the signing, Broccoli and Saltzman sought out Connery to press him to return in the role. When the producers approved Connery’s 1.4 million dollar salary request, the actor agreed to resume the role for one picture only. Connery donated his entire salary from Diamonds Are Forever to the Scottish International Educational Trust, an organization he founded. Upon being informed of the decision to use Connery, Gavin purportedly withdrew amicably from the production and was paid his entire salary.
       A Feb 1971 Var news item indicated that Raquel Welch was under consideration for a role, depending on who was cast as Bond. A biography on Connery indicates that Jill St. John was initially to play the role of “Plenty O’Toole.” An undated HR article on the film, contained in the film’s file at the AMPAS Library, mentions that Sammy Davis, Jr. was to make a cameo appearance in the film. The documentary on the making of Diamonds Are Forever indicated that Davis’ brief appearance was shot, but cut from the final release of the film. The documentary also mentioned that songwriter Paul Williams was sought for the role of “Mr. Kidd.” Although well-known stunt woman Donna Garrett (whose name is misspelled in contemporary sources as Garratt) began the role of “Bambi,” for unknown reasons, she was later replaced by Lola Larson. In many reviews, Garrett is credited in the role. Joe Robinson, who played “Peter Franks,” was a popular stuntman who had, according to modern sources, previously taught Connery karate. Modern sources indicate that Lana Wood’s voice was dubbed, although it was not obvious in the viewed print. Diamonds Are Forever was shot on location in London, Amsterdam, Germany, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The film marked the final screen appearance of former leading man and longtime character actor Bruce Cabot (1904—1972). The character of “Willard Whyte” was very loosely based on reclusive millionaire Howard Hughes.
       Diamonds Are Forever was based on the Ian Fleming novel, but only several characters and the jewel smuggling plot were used. Co-screenwriter Richard Maibaum added Blofeld to the plot, as the most successful of the series featured a strong villain opposite Bond. Initially Maibaum conceived of creating a twin of the notorious “Auric Goldfinger,” from the 1964 UA release Goldfinger (see below), but decided on doubles of Blofeld instead. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service ended with the murder of Bond’s wife (the only time Bond ever married), “Teresa ‘Tracy’ Di Vicenzo,” by Blofeld. Although not mentioned in Diamonds Are Forever, the murder explains the opening sequence in which a wrathful Bond violently interrogates several individuals to learn of Blofeld’s whereabouts. Blofeld would reappear in future Bond films, the 1981 production, For Your Eyes Only and Never Say Never Again, released in 1984. In 1997, comedian Mike Myers wrote and starred in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the first of three feature film spoofs on the Bond character to feature 1960s “hipster” British secret agent “Austin Powers.” “Dr. Evil,” Powers’ arch-rival, who was also played by Myers, was based on Blofeld.
       The Bond series typically featured fantastic gadgetry and stunts. In Diamonds Are Forever the most popular stunt was Bond and “Tiffany Case” escaping from the Las Vegas sheriff by turning their car sideways on two wheels to pass between the narrow space of two buildings. The original American stunt drivers were able to complete the stunt, tilting the car over on its passenger side. Upon the car’s exiting from between the buildings, however, the filmed footage revealed crowds of watching fans and several police cars that could not be removed. The stunt drivers were not able to reproduce the stunt and French drivers were hired. When they succeeded in completing the stunt, however, they exited onto the street with the car titled over on the driver’s side, forcing the producers to shoot an insert that had the Mustang exiting momentarily in an alley and tilting over on the driver’s side before continuing between the next buildings.
       Diamonds Are Forever received an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound. The film marked the last appearance by Connery as Bond for Saltzman and Broccoli’s Eon Productions. The next Bond film, Live and Let Die, UA, 1973, and several others in the series starred Roger Moore. In 1987, Connery returned as James Bond in the Kevin McClory production of a Warner Brothers release, Never Say Never Again, which was a remake of the UA’s 1965 release, Thunderball. Later actors to play Bond included Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. In late 2005, British actor Daniel Craig was announced as the latest James Bond.