Diamonds Are Forever
Sean Connery returned for the seventh movie in the Bond series
with James matching wits with his nemesis, Blofeld (here played by
Charles Gray - the third Blofeld in as many films) who wants to
use the world's diamond supply to build an orbiting space laser.
Sadly, it was to be Connery's swan-song as 007, but came as a
welcome (albeit brief) return to Bond form after the dismal
performance by George Lazenby in On Her Majesty's Secret
Service.
Sean Connery quit the Bond series after 1967's You Only Live
Twice, essentially because he was fed up with all of the 007
hype and hubbub. He had also apparently experienced strained
relations with the producers. The chances of getting him to ever
return seemed non-existent, and it appeared that the franchise
would actually go for an American - John Gavin of Psycho -
as the new Bond.
However, Connery's post-Bond career hadn't exactly set the
world on fire, so his prospects weren't as promising as he might
have liked. He also wanted to set up a charity, so he negotiated a
then-astonishing salary of roughly $1.25 million plus a
percentage, all of which went to his cause.
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