007’s Farewell To Bond!
In my yearlong look at all of the James Bond films – in order – I have arrived at the fifth film in the series, and it’s known for a number of things, including this fact about just how unhappy Sean Connery was with the series by this point:
“The relationship between Sean Connery and the film’s Producers deteriorated to the point where he refused to act if they were on-set!“
WOW!
So here we are: the fifth film in five years – a hugely popular series with a VERY unhappy lead Actor!
Let’s dig into all of it, beginning with the trailer for the film:
What A Literary Pedigree – Sort Of!
This was actually the twelfth James Bond book by Ian Fleming – and the script was written by Fleming’s fellow spy during WW2 – Roald Dahl!
Dahl was a hugely successful Writer himself – he wrote “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory”, creating the character of Willy Wonka!
However, Dahl hated “You Only Live Twice”, and called it Fleming’s worst. Still, he used it as a shell to tell the story that begins when a mysterious spacecraft “swallows” another spacecraft – setting the stage for a showdown between the US and Russia!
After that opening sequence from outer space, we catch up with 007 in Hong Kong, working on a lead in the case, bedding a woman before she sets him up, as gunmen rush in to kill him…as one Cop says:
“Well, at least he died on the job!”
And with that, Bond is dead – and back!
And we are off! After these two scenes, we had into the now iconic opening credits – which now seem to always include women backlit or in silhouette – this time Asian models intercut with volcanic explosions…the silhouettes of the foursome shows they are clearly nude.
After a beautifully haunting theme song by Nancy Sinatra, Bond heads to Japan to check out where they think the renegade rocket landed – the “death scene” we witnessed in the hotel room will supposedly allow him to move about unnoticed.
Of course, he first flirts with Moneypenny about the password that he will use when he meets his contact in Tokyo:
“I LOVE YOU. Repeat it please to make sure you get it”, she says to him longingly. That is now a signature beat in every movie as Bond gets his assignment and heads to Tokyo.
After attending a sumo wrestling event and seeing some of the colorful lights of Tokyo, Bond meets with a contact who is murdered in front of him – Bond chases down the attacker, kills him, then disguises himself in order to be taken away by his accomplice.
After being taken to an office building, Bond surprises the accomplice – and meets The Rock’s Grandfather!
Meet The Rock’s “High Chief!”
The henchman Bond fights in the office was played by Samoan pro wrestler Peter Fanned Maivia – known by his ring name “The High Chief.”
Maivia was not only the film’s fight choreographer, he’s The Rock’s Grandfather! Yes, Duane Johnson’s Grandfather takes part in this terrific one-on-one battle, which includes Bond trying to stop Maivia with a sofa!
It’s as aggressive and brutal as any previous Bond fight – and leads to Bond meeting Tanaka, his Japanese contact…well, after they get past that password business:
Bond: “If you’re Tanaka, how do you feel about me?”
Tanka: “Why, I LOVE you Mr. Bond!”
Bond quips right back: “Well I’m glad we got that out of the way.”
Bond’s immersion into Tokyo culture is interrupted by several chases sequences, including this one!
More than just another car chase, Bond is saved from a car full of gunmen, when a helicopter arrives to “pick up” the car with a giant magnet – flying high over Tokyo and dumping them into the water below!
And here’s a great fun fact: it was Dana Broccoli’s idea — wife of Producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, to have a helicopter that could pick up a car with a magnet and then drop it in the water. It’s a great stunt, and leads him to one of the “Bond girls” AND “Bond villains” in the movie:
Karin Dor is Helga, the fiery redhead in the middle of this poster, but she is a clear adversary to 007:
Helga’s a high ranking SPECTRE Agent, and she is not impressed by Bond at all!
The official “Bond girl” in the film is Akiko Wakabayashi, who plays Tanaka’s Associate, and she ends up being involved in many of the action sequences before being poisoned in bed with Bond as they slept – a botched attempt to kill 007.
Which leads to one of the more “problematic” sequences in the film:
Bond Is “Turning Japanese!”
Yes, this is one of the moments in the film that hasn’t aged well – Bond undergoes some cosmetic adjusts to look more Japanese…one friend pointed lout how problematic this was – but I am torn about this.
You see, it is made very clear he is undergoing this disguise so the can go to the island they have identified as a possible location for the rogue rocket launches, and this will make him blend in with locals…still, when they have him pretend to marry a local, there is a very very “retro” feel to the movie.
In fact, there is also a scene when Tanaka teaches Bond how Japanese women are subservient to their men, and that is horribly dated as well.
It passes, and we are back to the plot, which results in Bond tracking down Blofeld inside a massive “fake volcano” set – and Blofeld is played by the legendary Actor Donald Pleasance, perhaps best known for his work in “Halloween!”
He is a bit disfigured, and it was Pleasence who came up with the idea for Blofeld’s scarred face!
Here’s what I found out about the movie’s cost and box office:
“You Only Live Twice” was budgeted at $6 million, though its eventual cost may have been as high as $10.3 million. That was a huge sum at the time, but the movie returned $111 million in worldwide grosses.
Another big hit, but there is definitely too much time spent on outdated Japanese culture bits and not quite enough action – well, until the end!
The Spectacular “Volcano” Set!
Yes, the finale takes place inside the fake volcano and what a set it was!
Here is some great film trivia:
The volcano was a set built at England’s Pinewood Studios, measuring 120 feet high and 450 feet across, big enough for a helicopter to land inside and to accommodate the 100 stuntmen playing the ninja assault team. It cost about $1 million to construct, a figure equivalent to the entire budget of the first 007 movie just five years earlier!
This manufactured set was so large, it could be seen from three miles away!
And the film’s acton set piece was without a doubt thanks to a woman named “Nellie!
The film’s midpoint highlight was an aerial battle that was beautifully executed – here is Q showing Bond “Little Nellie” – a gyro-copter who takes on three real helicopters over the islands of Japan!
Look at this from the website “GeekSoup”:
“Little Nellie is based on the Wallis Autogyro – an invention by K.H. Wallis. The movie’s production designer Ken Adam heard a radio interview with Wallis, where he was discussing the Autogyro invention. Adam knew the machine would be perfect for the movie.”
“In the scenes where we see Bond flying Little Nellie, it’s actually Wallis piloting the machine. It took 85 flights to complete the sequence.”
And here is the most shocking trivia about the film – according to IMDB.com:
While scouting locations in Japan, the chief production team narrowly escaped death. On March 5, 1966, producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, director Lewis Gilbert, cinematographer Freddie Young, and production designer Sir Ken Adam were booked to leave Japan on BOAC flight 911 departing Tokyo for Hong Kong and London. Two hours before their Boeing 707 flight departed, the team was invited to an unexpected ninja demonstration, and so missed their plane. Their flight took off as scheduled, and twenty-five minutes after take-off, the plane encountered severe turbulence and disintegrated over Mt. Fuji, killing all aboard.
Wow!
So the fifth Bond film, while a hit, clearly had signs of a franchise struggling to determine next steps, especially now that Connery decided to walk away from the role!
No more Connery as 007? That’s right…and wow, wait until you see what happened next!
The next film up in the series is “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” and all I can say is…WOW! That review is coming up next!
As you know, I am reviewing all the Bond films in order, and prior to “You Only Live Twice”, 007 had his most explosive outing ever!
It was bigger and bolder than any Bond film!
Click here for my review of “Thunderball”:
It was never going to be easy to top the record-breaking success of “Goldfinger” – a film where it all came together – see my review here:
“Goldfinger” was the third in the Bond series – I also looked at the sophomore effort from 007:
“From Russia With Love” gave James Bond a worthy adversary – the incredible Robert Shaw!
See why this is a terrific entry in the series by clicking on my review here:
The story of 007 got its start with this one first entry, chosen instead of the legally entailed “Thunderball”:
Click here to see my review of “the birth of Bond!”
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Categories: Action Films, Art, British Cinema, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
Roger Moore is my favourite Bond. Perhaps because Sean Connery was before my time. I didn’t know why Connery stopped being James Bond. I wonder who was at fault.
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There will be more on the Connery battle with Producers when I review his “comeback” to the role…coming up soon!
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I look forward to reading about it.
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What a detailed, terrific 007 post! My biggest surprise was Ian Fleming and Roald Dahl being fellow spies in WWII, and Dahl writing the screenplay. Of course I loved the movie. I’m more forgiving about things that are inappropriate today, because they happened in a very different time. Thank you, John.
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Jennie, thank you for the comment – I also let go things that were more acceptable at that time…I do not want to watch these though a modern filter as that isn’t fair – but I do want to point out when there are some things that raise an eyebrow!
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Well said, John. The modern filter isn’t fair but deserves a mention.
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I have seen clips and trailers, but never bothered to watch the whole film.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love all of this, and so many side and back stories that I had no idea about. after I read your bond posts, I always want to see the movie again right away, and view it through new eyes –
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Beth, it is interesting to review them in order – I am getting close to a new Bond and a new direction for the series…will be fun! Thanks so much for reading and responding!
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these are always so interesting to me
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Great post, John, full of interesting facts that I didn’t know. Thanks.
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Thankyou so much for reading Steve!
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This was a favorite of mine….and sad that Connery had to go…..chuq
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It’s interesting as I loved it as a young kid and while it wears well, the threads holding it all together are fraying just a bit…I will really dig into this over the next two films I am ready to review in the series…thanks for the comment!
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You are very welcome and thanx for tackling this subject. chuq
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I didn’t know all this fascinating trivia about one of my favorite films.
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