Never Say "Never" Again

It's 1983 and Roger Moore is James Bond. It's 1983 and Sean Connery is James Bond. Is this right? How can this be? How did this even happen? 

ROGER MOORE and SEAN CONNERY both 007

McClory, Kevin McClory

Ian Fleming, Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham come up with a story about the capture of two nuclear warheads and it's up to 007 to stop it. Long story short, the screenplay never came into fruition as there were many obstacles in the way to get it made into a film. So, Ian Fleming decides to turn it into a novel. The problem is he doesn't give his co-writers any credit to the story. This naturally infuriates Mr. McClory and he vows that even though Fleming did indeed create the character of 007, the story and characters featured there-in were his creation and he basically fights the rest of his life to ensure this up until his death in November, 2006.

In 1965, Thunderball is finally made into a film. Fleming is dead as he passed a year before and Jack Whittingham is out of the picture. Kevin McClory demands that if the film is to be made, he produce it since he co-wrote the original story. Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman agree to this and step back as producers for the first time in the Bond series. As I mentioned earlier, McClory created certain elements of Thunderball that he should have gotten credit for: The evil SPECTRE organization and the character of Ernst Stavro Blofeld. 

Thunderball is the 4th James Bond film. Note McClory as producer.

Once Thunderball is completed, EON Productions makes a deal with McClory that they can use the Blofeld character the following 10 years and after that, all the rights go solely back to Kevin. In addition, Kevin wanted to make his own James Bond film series himself as a way to step up to the studio that used his character. He wouldn't be able to do so until 1975, which was part of the agreement. So, since 1965 up until 1983, he focused his entire life on protecting and vowing that the premise of Thunderball is indeed his.

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It's 1983 and Sean Connery is 53 years old. With the role of 007 well behind him, his career has its ups and downs. Thinking it over, Connery decides to come back when he gets a call from Kevin McClory on the idea of doing another 007 picture. It wouldn't be a part of the EON series, but in fact a Warner Bros. remake of Thunderball with some minor changes to the story dealing with his age and leaving the Secret Service for good. Seeing as this is not part of the main 007 series of films, none of the crew worked on this picture. So, McClory gets the help of businessman Jack Schwartzman to fund the production with company Taliafilm, named after wife Talia Shire. With production trouble happening in and out and Connery not having a good time either, the film soon loses funds and it's up to Schwartzman to continue bankrolling the production out of his own pocket. You can see that near the end of the film, it starts to lose it's wow factor and becomes a bit bland.

                                              Theatrical Trailer 

Now, as some consider this to be unworthy as a Bond film, it still is in my mind and no collection would be complete without it. Sure it doesn't include the classic Gun Barrel in the beginning, or the James Bond Theme, but it does have similar elements of action, entertainment and what most see as the best James Bond ever: Sean Connery. Even in his prime he looks sharper, snazzier and more effective as the secret agent than his last appearance in 1971's Diamonds are Forever. Be on the lookout for a young Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean; Johnny English) in a supporting role as Nigel Smallfaucet.

The villain in Never Say Never Again is also Largo, but rather than his name being Emilio Largo, it's Maximillian. These are the various little changes that were able to be made to an already existing story. I've got to say, I find this version of Largo to be far superior than Adolfo Celli's version in Thunderball. This time around, he's played by French actor Klaus Maria Brandauer and although he may not have any deformities on his face, he's just as evil if not more so and he tries to undermine Bond's mission no matter how the cost. There is a scene when 007 walks into a casino and ends up in a room with arcades. This is when he meets Bond Girl Domino Petacchi played by Kim Bassinger; not a very memorable role but it still gives her recognition for her large career to follow.

An interesting way to compete with a villain wouldn't you say? But I love it!

The music, however is not the best. The soundtrack throughout the picture is of a jazzy almost soft rock like tone and it does take a bit away from the action. With what little action music there is, it doesn't compete what is seen on the screen and for that, I can see the movie falling a bit flat. But, McClory does what he can with this production. 

Meanwhile, EON Productions and the crew of the James Bond motion pictures are pressed with a dilemma. Wanting to get a new 007 and even asking Timothy Dalton as a successor to the part, the producers change their mind and stick with 5-time 007 Roger Moore. What better way to compete with Sean Connery's rival film than have a Bond the world has already known. So, Moore is on board for his sixth film, Octopussy. Now, while I personally prefer to watch Never Say Never Again over this movie, I can understand why EON continue to make the films. This has been a series since 1962 and with the way it's going, they will not let a rival unofficial Bond film take over the focus.

Yet, the world over loves Sean Connery and many consider him to be the best 007, so Kevin McClory made the right choice to get Connery back. The film was a financial success and thought not making as much as Octopussy, Never Say Never Again is a worthy entry in the