Diamonds Are Forever

Top 10 Fun Facts

1. After seeing Lana Wood in Playboy Magazine, "Diamonds Are Forever" producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli pegged her for the role of Plenty O'Toole. Unfortunately, her voice wasn't as pleasant as her looks, forcing the producers to dub it in the movie.
2. Burt Reynolds was originally chosen to play James Bond in "Diamonds Are Forever" but he was unavailable. Sean Connery agreed to reprise the role at the last minute, but not without the promise of an exorbitant salary.
3. The high-tech laser satellite reflector seen in "Diamonds Are Forever" is really just a low-tech device from an old camera flash attachment.
4. "Diamonds Are Forever" director Guy Hamilton wasn't a big fan of American cars. During the chase scenes in the Bond movie, Hamilton destroyed a number of American made autos and didn't shed one single tear.
5. The site used for the Willard Whyte Space Labs in "Diamonds Are Forever" was actually more earthly than spacey. It was a Johns-Manville gypsum plant located just outside of Sin City.
6. The mud bath featured in the opening teaser in "Diamonds Are Forever" was really a spud bath. And anyone who has ever prepared mashed potatoes knows that after one day unrefrigerated, the mixture becomes more gross than au gratin. The scene stunk but box office reports say the movie didn't.
7. The two fighting girls in "Diamonds Are Forever" were named Bambi and Thumper. These characters were not in the Ian Fleming novel and were made up for the film. The filmmakers must have been Disney aficionados.
8. Actresses Faye Dunaway, Jane Fonda, and Raquel Welch were considered for the role of Tiffany Case in "Diamonds Are Forever." Jill St. John got the part but only after trying out for the supporting role of Plenty O'Toole. Apparently, St. John impressed director Guy Hamilton so much that he gave her the female lead instead.
9. Actor Sean Connery's salary was so high that the "Diamonds Are Forever" special effects budget had to be significantly slashed. Connery pocketed $1.25 million to reprise his role as James Bond. This salary was astronomical at the time... the time being 1971.
10. Joe Robinson, who played Peter Franks in "Diamonds are Forever," was actor Sean Connery's real-life judo instructor. This off-camera relationship probably saved Franks from being fired after he pulled off Connery's hairpiece during one of the film's takes.

Cast

Crew