Never Say Never Again

US/UK, 1983
Running Length: 2:17
MPAA Classification: PG (Sexual innuendo, violence)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.2:1
Cast: Sean Connery, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Max Von Sydow, Barbara Carrera, Kim Basinger, Bernie Casey, Edward Fox, Alec McCowen, Pamela Salem, Rowan Atkinson
Director: Irvin Kerchief
Producer: Jack Schwartzman
Screenplay: Lorenzo Semple Jr. based on the original story by Kevin McClory, Jack Wittingham, and Ian Fleming
Cinematography: Douglas Slocombe
Music: Michel Legrand
U.S. Distributor: Warner Brothers

After doing ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ Sean Connery promised not to be the James Bond again. But a $5 million check was enough to change his decision and break the promise. So the world jubilated to see him again on the screen after a long long time gap of 12 big years.

Producer Kevin Mc. Clory got his script written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. Taking up the assignment was a real putsch for Sean Connery. Seems that the heavy check carried nothing in special to bring to Connery from tiis very humorous movie. But one must admit that Sean Connery was as charming as ever and he was pretty smart enough to keep the audience seated to their places.

The Story
Though the ‘Never Say Never Again’ storyline is quite similar to that of ‘Thunderball’ as in the case of SPECTRE who blackmails the world after stealing two missiles, other details are a bit different. Largo, the main villainous role played by Klaus Maria Brandauer is more matured this time. But Domino (Kim Basinger) is a real callow. And lastly our ever praised Connery this time is orally more prominent than making those brave stunts of his.

The Stunts
The bragging car chase in ‘Never Say Never Again’ with Bond in a Q-designed bike is a hair-raising stunt quite typical of the other bond movies. Besides this there is nothing so happening about this movie. And the movie is lacking the ‘James Bond Theme’ by John Barry and Monty Norman, which just could not be replaced by Michel Legrand’s faint notes.

The Cast
The casts reveal a mixed action skill with Brandauer as a full-blown Largo and Max Bon Sydow the best Blofeld till date. The killing looks of Barbara Carrera played well for the marauding Fatima. Kim Basinger could not show a little bit of his talent even. The ‘M’ group of London comprising of M (Edward Fox), Q (Alec MacCowen) and Moneypenny (Pamela Salem) is quite deceptive. And Desmond Llewylyn perhaps being the best match with the gadgets, anyone else is never welcome.

Lastly, it may be said without any hesitation that this movie was a real blow to the James Bond series and may be this flop didn’t offer anything better than his previous ones.