Recommended music: Shirley Bassey – Diamonds Are Forever (Mantronik 007 Mix)
It’s #WhateverWednesday, and I have a bit of an unfortunate announcement today. Along with my action figures and other items from my collections, my vinyl albums are also all packed away, awaiting a new space for Bond music to play…
At the end of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1969, the title card announcing “James Bond will return in Diamonds Are Forever” was meant to continue the series’ signature post-credits tradition. A script was already in development by the time OHMSS hit theaters, as the filmmakers originally planned to adapt Ian Fleming’s novel Diamonds Are Forever next to maintain narrative continuity immediately following the tragic ending of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
However, this title card took on unexpected significance because of major behind-the-scenes turmoil. George Lazenby, who had just made his debut as Bond, announced during production that he would not return for another film. This sudden departure forced producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman to quickly rethink the franchise’s long-term strategy.
After Lazenby left, the producers brought back the original 007, Sean Connery, by offering him a record $1.25 million salary for 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. While showing the next movie’s title was normal for EON Productions, this title card gave no indication of who would be appearing in the role, sort of like our current situation of waiting for a successor to Daniel Craig…
Anyways, I was hoping to share this year’s daily selection of Bond on Vinyl posts with you starting tomorrow like I’ve done the past five Octobers, but I’ll have to wait until next year since I can’t photograph and review the 31 new Bond albums right now. Don’t worry, though; we’ll still be listening to music from this year’s anniversary films: For Your Eyes Only, Diamonds Are Forever, Casino Royale, and No Time to Die, among others, even if it’s in the following calendar year. 😛
Until next time, Bond fans, cheers! 🍸😎
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