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After the lamented George Lazenby was given a one-film fling at the role of James Bond, Sean Connery returned to the tux, gimmicks and catchphrases of Secret Agent 007 in Diamonds are Forever . Fragments of Ian Fleming 's original 1954 novel remain, including the characters of the alluring Tiffany Case ( Jill St. John , who wears the equivalent of a postage stamp throughout the film) and fey hit men Wynt and Mr. Kidd. The rest of Richard Maibaum and Tom Mankiewicz ' script goes its own merry way, involving Bond in a scheme by the insidious Ernst Blofeld ( Charles Gray ) to force the world powers to disarm so that he can take over the globe. Folksinger Jimmy Dean shows up briefly as a Howard Hughes -like reclusive billionaire, while Lana Wood ( Natalie 's sister) is a "human prop" in a spectacular high-and-dizzy bit. Agreeing to make Diamonds are Forever only because the money was good, Sean Connery parted company with James Bond for keeps after this film — "keeps," in this case, being until he once more answered the siren song of cold cash in 1982's Never Say Never Again . — Hal Erickson
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