The film's title is a reference to Connery's reported declaration in 1971 that he would "never" play that role again. Yes, it's Sean Connery playing Bond again, looking more alive and into his part than any time since the first time they made this film, in 1965 when it was called "Thunderball". [10] Connery then hired British television writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais[11] to undertake re-writes, although they went uncredited for their efforts despite much of the final shooting script being theirs. Foreign Secretary Lord Ambrose orders a reluctant M to reactivate the double-0 section, and Bond is tasked with tracking down the missing weapons. [30] Elstree also housed the Tears of Allah underwater cavern, which took three months to construct. It makes Bond's cynicism and opportunism seem the product of genuine worldliness (and world weariness) as opposed to Roger Moore's mere twirpishness. "[64] The score is still more positive than some of the Eon films, with Rotten Tomatoes ranking Never Say Never Again 16th among all Bond films in 2008. Frequent Bond composer John Barry was invited, but declined out of loyalty to Eon. Domino and Bond reunite with Leiter on a U.S. Navy submarine and track Largo to a location known as the Tears of Allah, below a desert oasis on the Ethiopian coast. [24] For the femme fatale, director Irvin Kershner selected former model and Playboy cover girl Barbara Carrera to play Fatima Blush – the name coming from one of the early scripts of Thunderball. Big T builds team chemistry with CT as she chases a Gold Skull, the competitors take on a skydiving puzzle challenge in "Spy Dive," and Kyle's relationship with Aneesa gets rockier. [4] Fleming, "always reluctant to let a good idea lie idle",[4] turned this into the novel Thunderball, for which he did not credit either McClory or Whittingham;[5] McClory then took Fleming to the High Court in London for breach of copyright[6] and the matter was settled in 1963. "[53] Malcolm summed up that "the mix remains obstinately the same – up to scratch but not surpassing it. This page was last edited on 26 March 2021, at 13:54. [78][49], This article is about the film. 'Never Say Never Again' exists as a curiosity -- a James Bond movie that isn't really a James Bond movie, a remake of 'Thunderball' that was far superior the first time Sean Connery made it. Never Say Never Again is a 1983 spy film starring Sean Connery and directed by Irvin Kershner. James Bond goes rogue and seeks vengeance on those responsible, as he infiltrates an organisation posing as a hitman. [16] By 1980, with legal issues again causing the project to flounder,[17] Connery thought himself unlikely to play the role, as he stated in an interview in the Sunday Express: "when I first worked on the script with Len I had no thought of actually being in the film". [12] Carrera's performance as Fatima Blush earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress,[25] which she lost to Cher for her role in Silkwood. [35], James Horner was both Kershner's and Schwartzman's first choice to compose the score after being impressed with his work on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. [66] Empire gives the film three of a possible five stars, observing that "Connery was perhaps wise to call it quits the first time round". ... We in the civilized world like to commemorate the atrocities of the Holocaust with the slogan “Never Again.” It’s a … [2] Fleming had worked with independent producer Kevin McClory and scriptwriter Jack Whittingham on a script for a potential Bond film, to be called Longitude 78 West,[3] which was subsequently abandoned because of the costs involved. is held ransom, the British re-activate their "00" Agents and send James Bond to recapture the warheads and kill Blofeld. [51] For Robinson, the presence of Connery and Klaus Maria Brandauer as Maximillian Largo "very nearly make it all worthwhile. [33] There was tension on set between Schwartzman and Connery, who at times barely spoke to each other. Bond is seen by Blush, who sends an assassin, Lippe, to kill him in the clinic gym, but Bond manages to kill Lippe. Just as the threat has changed, so has the … "Then I shall cut out the white bread, sir," Bond smartly replies.An early fight sequence in a spa represents the movie's high point action-wise, with Bond and an attacker fighting their way through a kitchen, a bedroom, and a laboratory before Bond finally douses his opponent, ironically with no small help from those free radicals. Tapi Obligasi memiliki sekutu dalam pacar Largo, para ramping Domino, yang jatuh untuk Obligasi dan berusaha membalas dendam. Unlike the majority of Bond films, Never Say Never Again was not produced by Eon Productions but by Jack Schwartzman's Taliafilm in association with Kevin McClory, one of the original writers of the Thunderball storyline with Ian Fleming and Jack Whittingham. [31] Largo's ship, the Flying Saucer, was portrayed by the yacht Kingdom 5KR, then owned by Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi and called the Nabila. The Blu-ray has a pretty good picture transfer, all things considered, and some decent supplements. James Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads, with the help of a K.G.B. 32 of 43 people found this review helpful. "[60] Ebert went on to add, "there was never a Beatles reunion ... but here, by God, is Sean Connery as Sir James Bond. "[53] Malcolm's main issue with the film was that he had a "feeling that a constant struggle was going on between a desire to make a huge box-office success and the effort to make character as important as stunts. Bond subsequently escapes from his prison and rescues her. Bond then defuses the nuclear bomb underwater, saving the world. Never Say Never Again is the best acted Bond picture ever made, because it clearly surpasses any predecessors in the area of inventive and clever character delineation. No matter how many times he has saved the world, his new boss thinks little of his fat lifestyle. "[60] Gene Siskel of The Chicago Tribune also gave the film 3½ out of 4 stars, writing that the film was "one of the best 007 adventures ever made. [54] French concluded that "like an hour-glass full of damp sand, the picture moves with increasing slowness as it approaches a confused climax in the Persian Gulf. [14], When producer Kevin McClory had first planned the film in 1964, he held initial talks with Richard Burton for the part of Bond,[15] although the project came to nothing because of the legal issues involved. [30], Never Say Never Again opened on 7 October 1983 in 1,550 theatres grossing an October record $10,958,157 over the four-day Columbus Day weekend[1] which was reported to be "the best opening record of any James Bond film" up to that point[42] surpassing Octopussy's $8.9 million from June that year. "[34], Steven Seagal, who was a martial arts instructor for this film, broke Connery's wrist while training. Title: Brandauer is a wonderful actor, and he chooses not to play the villain as a cliché. [21], For the main villain in the film, Maximillian Largo, Connery suggested Klaus Maria Brandauer, the lead of the 1981 Academy Award-winning Hungarian film Mephisto. Agent has stolen two American nuclear warheads, and James Bond must find their targets before they are detonated. A diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas, where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon. Asset classes, sectors, and styles all come in and out of both fashion and genuine prosperity, depending on the underlying cycles. "[57] Maslin also thought highly of Connery in the role, observing that "in Never Say Never Again, the formula is broadened to accommodate an older, seasoned man of much greater stature, and Mr. Connery expertly fills the bill. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. [75] McClory died in 2006,[72] MGM's acquisition of the rights to Casino Royale finally allowed Eon Productions to make a serious, non-satirical film adaptation of that novel the same year with Daniel Craig as James Bond. "[61], Colin Greenland reviewed Never Say Never Again for Imagine magazine, and stated that "Never Say Never Again is a complacent male sexist fantasy, where women can be only femmes fatales or passive victims. A number of the crew from the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark were also appointed, including first assistant director David Tomblin, director of photography Douglas Slocombe, second unit director Mickey Moore and production designers Philip Harrison and Stephen Grimes. agent whose lover he killed. "), the new M having no use for the 00 section and Q with his reduced budgets. Never Say Never Again was released in 1983, the same year Roger Moore's Bond outing Octopussy was released. When N.A.T.O. [9], Production on the film was troubled,[33] with Connery taking on many of the production duties with assistant director David Tomblin. Never Say Never Again had its origins in the early 1960s, following the controversy over the "Too many free radicals, that's your problem...Caused by eating too much red meat, white bread, too many martinis." Secret Agent James Bond and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States. Never Say Never Again had its origins in the early 1960s, following the controversy over the 1961 Thunderball novel. But it does have Connery, proving his was the definitive take on cinema's definitive secret agent, even if he steals a page or two from my 007, Mr. Moore. On 4 December 1997, MGM announced that the company had purchased the rights to Never Say Never Again from Schwartzman's company Taliafilm. [20] Subsequent to Connery reprising the role, the script has several references to Bond's advancing years – playing on Connery being 52 at the time of filming[20] – and academic Jeremy Black has pointed out that there are other aspects of age and disillusionment in the film, such as the Shrubland's porter referring to Bond's car ("They don't make them like that anymore. [59] Roger Ebert gave the film 3½ out of 4 stars, and wrote that Never Say Never Again, while consisting of a basic "Bond plot", was different from other Bond films: "For one thing, there's more of a human element in the movie, and it comes from Klaus Maria Brandauer, as Largo. At one point, he allows Bond free roam of his situation room, with a martini to boot, and his dancing eyes and mad, engaging grin make for compelling company throughout.The best thing in this film, other than Connery, are the Bond girls, shot with more attention to personality than normal in Bond films, a testament to cinematographer Douglas Slocombe and director Irvin Kirshner. [30] After the production ran out of money, Schwartzman had to fund further production out of his own pocket and later admitted he had underestimated the amount the film would cost to make. Bond distracts her with promises, then uses his Q-branch-issue fountain pen gun to kill Blush with an explosive dart. Never Say Never Again James Bond returns as the secret agent 007 one more time to battle the evil organization SPECTRE. Humor is liberally applied in the film, rather more cleverly than most of Moore's outings, though Connery seems to be having more fun sending himself up as a result of Moore's less egotistic example.Was it because he was making a good chunk of the gross? Forget first impressions. Bond is informed by Nigel Small-Fawcett of the British High Commission that Largo's yacht is now heading for Nice, France. Films with screenplays by Lorenzo Semple Jr. It would be one of the best Bond films if the finale weren't disappointing. ", "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. announces acquisition of Never Say Never Again James Bond assets", Considerations for the role of James Bond, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Never_Say_Never_Again&oldid=1014329952. Never Say Never Again was released the same year as Octopussy, hence the media-driven “Battle of the Bonds” (no rivalry existed between Roger and Sean). The film had its UK premiere at the Warner West End cinema in Leicester Square on 14 December 1983. After a vehicle chase on his Q-branch motorbike, Bond finds himself in an ambush and is eventually captured by Blush. [40], Many of the elements of the Eon-produced Bond films were not present in Never Say Never Again for legal reasons. Dave Jenkins . [59] According to Scott, the director, with high-quality support cast, resulted in the "classiest of all the Bonds". While doing so, he replaces the dummy warheads of two AGM-86B cruise missiles with live nuclear warheads; SPECTRE then steals the warheads, intending to extort billions of dollars from NATO governments. Never Say Never Again (1983) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. [30] Largo's Palmyran fortress was actually historic Fort Carré in Antibes. is held ransom, the British re-activate their "00" Agents and send James Bond to recapture the warheads and kill Blofeld. In the confusion, Largo makes a getaway with the second of the warheads, the first already defused in Washington, D.C. McClory retained the filming rights of the novel following a long legal battle dating from the 1960s. After losing a few games, Bond ultimately wins. [70] Berardinelli concludes that "it's a major disappointment that, having lured back the original 007, the film makers couldn't offer him something better than this drawn-out, hackneyed story. [55] Richard Schickel, writing in Time magazine praised the film and its cast. There were new fashions for the 1980s, and Connery’s soldier-type look at the start of 1983’s Never Say Never Again may have been inspired by 1982’s John Rambo in First Blood.The Rambo series set a new standard for the action film, and Connery’s outfit possibly could have been a response to it. Definition of never say never in the Idioms Dictionary. And on the day he left, I crossed my heart and said, I will be stong instead, Ready to stand my ground, This time enoughs enough, Don't want a another love to let me down, And though forget, It's over now and yet, You know I did my best to leave it all in the past, But boy I guess I never counted on my heart, "[53] Writing in The Observer, Philip French noted that "this curiously muted film ends up making no contribution of its own and inviting damaging comparisons with the original, hyper-confident Thunderball". Bond follows a lead to the Bahamas where he meets Domino Petachi, the pilot's sister, and her wealthy lover Maximillian Largo, who is SPECTRE's top agent. The only serious Bond film not made under the aegis of the classic Eon Bond series, "Never Say Never Again" is an irreverent return to the well. I tried various other options but nothing was doing it for me, so I peddled back a bit and dug out the birds. Never Say Never Again can boast only one -- a wild car chase with Bond on a Q-designed motorbike -- and that's choreographed without flair. "[52], Derek Malcolm in The Guardian showed himself to be a fan of Connery's Bond, saying the film contains "the best Bond in the business",[53] but nevertheless did not find Never Say Never Again any more enjoyable than the recently released Octopussy (starring Roger Moore), or "that either of them came very near to matching Dr. No or From Russia with Love. [49], Never Say Never Again was broadly welcomed and praised by the critics: Ian Christie, writing in the Daily Express, said that Never Say Never Again was "one of the better Bonds",[50] finding the film "superbly witty and entertaining, ... the dialogue is crisp and the fight scenes imaginative. She admits that she is impressed with him, and forces Bond to declare in writing that she is his "Number One" sexual partner. View production, box office, & company info. Or was it working for less stingy producers? [30] Worldwide, Never Say Never Again grossed $160 million,[43] which was a solid return on the budget of $36 million. McClory retained the filming rights of the n… The film is based on the 1961 James Bond novel Thunderball, which had been previously adapted in a 1965 film under that name. Bond catches and fights Largo underwater. This was because of a restriction by the Writers Guild of America. [8], In 1978, the working title James Bond of the Secret Service was being used and Connery was in the frame once again, potentially going head-to-head with the next Eon Bond film, Moonraker. She doesn't last the whole movie; you almost need her gone in order to focus on the others.Kim Basinger's breasts and buttocks should have had their own agents for the screen time they get in this film, but I'm not complaining. James Bond is targeted by the world's most expensive assassin, while he attempts to recover sensitive solar cell technology that is being sold to the highest bidder. The site's critical consensus reads: "While the rehashed story feels rather uninspired and unnecessary, the return of both Sean Connery and a more understated Bond make Never Say Never Again a watchable retread. The film was a commercial success, grossing $160 million at the box office, although less overall than the Eon-produced Octopussy released earlier the same year. [36] The music for Never Say Never Again was written by Michel Legrand, who composed a score similar to his work as a jazz pianist. Whatever it is, the screenplay serves his laid-back style well, and the result is richer and more entertaining than Connery's prior two Eon Bond outings, "You Only Live Twice" and "Diamonds Are Forever".The 1980s were not a good decade for Bond, whether it was Connery, Moore, or Timothy Dalton. [26] Nothing is impossible, anything can happen, as in Mary said Tom would never call her again, but I told her, "Never say never." [63] Retrospective reviews of the film remain positive. Agents under the command of Ernst Blofeld infiltrate a U.S. Air Force base situated in the U.K. and steal two Tomahawk cruise missiles. Brandauer's role as the chief villain, Maximilian Largo, is one of the best in any Bond film, with Brandauer enjoyably playing up his character's menace and mania. Petachi has undergone an operation on his right eye to make it match the retinal pattern of the US President, which he uses to circumvent iris recognition security at RAF Station Swadley, an American military base in England. "[57] Writing in The Washington Post, Gary Arnold was fulsome in his praise, saying that Never Say Never Again is "one of the best James Bond adventure thrillers ever made",[58] going on to say that "this picture is likely to remain a cherished, savory example of commercial filmmaking at its most astute and accomplished. Agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme. "[70] Critic Danny Peary wrote that "it was great to see Sean Connery return as James Bond after a dozen years". "[51] The reviewer for Time Out summed up Never Say Never Again saying "The action's good, the photography excellent, the sets decent; but the real clincher is the fact that Bond is once more played by a man with the right stuff. [37] The score has been criticised as "anachronistic and misjudged",[30] "bizarrely intermittent"[29] and "the most disappointing feature of the film". 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