ARTICLES:
LAZENBY IN DIAMONDS
ARE FOREVER
What if one shot wonder George Lazenby hadn't departed after On Her Majestys Secret Service ? He has always said that he wish he had done two, to dispell popular suggestions that he was canned from the role. If Lazenbys wish had been true, then the next Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever who probably have been a true follow up to OHMSS. For this article I've come up with how I think it may very well have been done. So hold on to your hats and try for a moment to picture Lazenby returning as James Bond
HARRY
SALTZMAN and ALBERT R BROCCOLI present
GEORGE LAZENBY
as JAMES BOND 007 in IAN FLEMINGs
'DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER'
Pretitle Scene:
Like director Peter Hunt intended, It could have been done so that the previous film, On Her Majestys Secret Service finished with Bond and Tracey getting into the car and drving away from the wedding to their honeymoon with all the dancing and the thousands of flowers, Then the pretitle scene for Diamonds Are Forever would be Traceys death, gunned down by Blofeld and Irma.
Song and title sequence:
Diamonds Are Forever still sung by Shirley Bassey. Bullet hole in window that was used for the closing credits of On Her Majestys Secret Service could instead lead to the main titles. But I'd keep most of the rest of the titles the same with all the diamonds.
Storyline:
Perhaps not alot different from the exisiting one, the movie could start with Bond following leads to Blofeld like the exisiting pretitle did, though ofcourse a few small changes to the overall story would be made. It might be a little later in the film before Bond and Tiffany get it on. Bond revenge on Blofeld would serve as a minor plot to Blofelds scheme very nicely, much better and more plausable that the existing film, where Tracey gets no mention in teh entire film and their appears to be little anger from Bond towards Blofeld. Perhaps Tracy's father, Draco would make an appearance in teh film. In fact, he could very well hold Bond responsible for Tracys death initally, or even if not he would be a far better ally than this films version of Felix Lieter.
Casting:
As good as Charles Grey is, he is far too different, he doesn't at all resemble the other Blofelds, take away his cat and you wouldn't know who he was. The characters looks and demeanour are far, far too different for us to be remotely convinced that this is supposed to be the same person. If Diamonds Are Forever was going to be a follow up of On Her Majestys then probably Telly Savalas would have to resume his role, for continutity and to match up with George Lazenby.
Ending:
The proper Diamonds Are Forever's ending makes it very unclear whether or not Blofeld dies, or actually gets out of his escape pod before Bond rams it into the control room. The movie could end with Bond getting rid of Blofeld. Or Blofeld could get away and the pretitle scene for the next film Live and Let Die could instead use the one from For Your Eyes Only, which would both tie up all the loose ends, and introduce the new actor, Roger Moore to the role of James Bond 007.