It’s funny as DAF is the only Bond Movie that could have been made in 1971. A revenge fuelled sequel of OHMSS the series would’ve died by the mid 70’s.
By embracing the pink tie, Bond survived Connery. Which was some feet.
I was also struck by another masquerade, the scene where Tiffany watches Bond undress, is the male gaze masquerading as the female gaze on a male. So Connery is the object of desire but invisible.
Agreed, but no film does it the way (or better) than DAF.
After I posted, I thought of an addition I needed to make (thank you all for such inspiration): DAF is a film about the 1970’s made in the genre of James Bond film (as THE SHINING is a Stanley Kubrick film made in the horror genre). In both cases, a viewer needs to have some familiarity with the tropes of the genre, but both movies bend genre to their own purposes.
Other Bond films allow the zeitgeist to influence them (OHMSS is a reflection of the 1960’s), but they are Bond films first–they prioritize their Bondness over the historical moment when they are made. The Bond of DAF is an expression of the zeitgeist–he is very much a hero of 1971–while other Bonds are timeless heroes decked out in zeitgeist couture and trimmings.
One note: MrKiddWInt has been warned that he has made 20% of the responses in this thread. Can the system be advised that this will occur when DAF is the subject of a thread? Otherwise I might have to introduce it to Bambi and Thumper.
You may have to set up an account as Peter Franks
Are you telling me to masquerade as Peter Franks?
I mean providing the collars and cuffs match
I’ve told this story elsewhere on the site so shan’t double up. But, DAF was my favourite Bond Movie when I was 7 to the extent that I knocked on a stranger’s door to watch it because my TV was broke. I denied it as my favourite in adulthood, OHMSS plainly a better film, Thunderball more Fleming etc. You sir, have reacquainted me with the love I have for this film. The glee I had re watching it as a child, the way it informed my sense of style. So thank you.
I will probably get another warning, but…
I love it. A true Bondian, and founding member/First Vice-President of the “Diamonds Are Forever is the Best Bond Society.”
And thank you for helping me to understand DAF better. When you and others point out examples I have missed and deepen my analysis, I am truly grateful. DAF specifically, and 1970’s cinema in general, is a never-ending source of joy for me. And in that spirit, I conclude with the following screenshot from a 1970’s opus released a few years after DAF. The first person to identify the film wins a one-year membership to the Society. Good luck!
The guy in the left is that Charles Bronson?
Maybe Mr. Majestic, The Mechanic, or Violent City?
If the guy in the right is Al Lettieri than it has to be the first one!
But I can’t remember a mustang in that movie, in the other two he drives one.
But in Mr. Majestic he wears a hat like that, not in the other two, so has to be that movie!
We have a winner!!
Congratulations to jamesb007nd for correctly identifying 1974’s MR. MAJESTYK by Richard Fleischer with a script by Elmore Leonard.
In addition to a Society membership, j will receive a year’s supply of Turtle Wax, the wax that gives your car that hard shell finish.
Wow! Finally I win something! Hahaha! 
I’ve been to Vegas numerous times and always think of this film when I’m there. Vegas is so different now, Bond should revisit it for an update. And yet, that would lose its charm, the city being so corporate and commercial now. And callous.
Eon was in “let’s-recapture-the-magic” mode rather than “let’s-repeat-our-successful-formula-mode.” They gathered together many old Bond hands–Connery, Hamilton, Moore, Adam, Barry, Bassey–and (here was the serendipity) added one key newcomer–Mankiewicz.
Maybe they too felt the early seriousness should be reinterpreted as more DAFt (sorry). Mankiewicz, the satirist helped them along.
I mean, it ends on a cruise ship. Even now that’s just accidentally genius.
That bridal suite must exist somewhere in Vegas!
I’m not sure I would leave an aquarium bordered bed with Jill St. John to mountain climb 20 stories high to confront a megalomaniac villain with whom I had a personal history.
And as for the pink tie …
Bronson’s best film in my opinion
Better than “Once upon a Time In The West”? Not for me, it’s my favorite not-Bond film.
I would make the distinction that OUATITW may be the greatest film that Bronson appeared in, but that MR. MAJESTYK may be the best Bronson film.
Personally I like Violent City (aka Città Violenta) more. Mr. Majestyk is a fun movie, but it lacks a good finale.
Mr. Majestyk is a fun movie, but it lacks a good finale.
Mr Majestyk lacks what?
Ending, end, climax.
I know the meaning of the word. But I don’t understand why you think it lacks one.
What did you expect? A commando raid? Bronson mowing everyone down with a machine gun? A helicopter crashing into the house?
To me it looked more like a cheap tv movie finale than a feature film.
As I prepare to finally see FRWL on the big screen - framing will be of particular interest.
I found myself thinking of DAF in a few weeks, duality, mirrors as discussed in this thread. The bed! the bloody bed and all the surrounding imagery is the film…
It’s an aquarium doubling as bed which in reality would be an implement of torture if used for its purpose. The fabulous fur draped over a furrier Connery and and the ennui on their faces, perfectly comments on transfer from idealism to cynicism.



