MovieChat Forums > Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Discussion > Why didn't Donald Pleasence return as Bl...

Why didn't Donald Pleasence return as Blofeld?


It's implied in the pre-credits teaser that the filmmakers were ignoring the events of OHMSS (although on the same token, you can theorized that the reason why Bond is so angry over Blofeld because he killed his wife in the previous movie) and picking up where, Sean Connery's last Bond movie, You Only Live Twice left off (since Connery's Bond apparently, is still in Japan).

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I wish he would have came back.

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Probably the same reason Donald wasn't in OHMSS. He either didn't want to come back, or the film-makers didn't bother to bring him back. Even before George Lazenby came on board there had been three different actors playing Felix Leiter, so I don't know how strict they were on that sort of continuity. Charles Gray had in fact appeared in YOLT as a different character.


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I think I read someplace that Donald didn't come back for OHMSS was because they wanted a more physical, intimidating actor who could ski down the slopes, so they chose Savalas

Even though Savalas is clearly an American, and the character of Blofeld is supposed to be European (specifically, half Greek, half Polish, according to the novels)

He's NOT supposed to be English, like Charles Gray was !

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I liked Charles Gray in You Only Live Twice, but they shouldn't had him play Blofeld. It was a little confusing to me as a child. The first thing I thought was why was Henderson playing the villian? Besides, he just looked WRONG for the part. It's too bad that Donald Pleascence wasn't in it.

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Because they were trying to make the crappiest movie possible.

They almost succeeded. I'd say Die Another Day competes with this one.

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That's what is so stupid about this series. The utter inconsistency of the Blofeld character. In most of the films he is bald yet in others like this one, FRWL and Thunderball, Blofeld has hair. I suppose you can explain that fact away to constant plastic surgery but it's not really implied, except in this movie. BTW Telly Savalas was my favorite version of Blofeld followed by Gray's portrayal of the character and lastly Donald Pleasance.

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Man, why the hate for The Donald? In a James Bonding episode, they found out that audiences (not the podcast's) rated Pleasance last. I have no idea why. Gray is the most unfitting Blofeld there ever was!

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His personality, I liked it the least of the visible Blofelds. I believe the actor who played Largo in Thunderball voiced Blofeld in For Your Eyes Only. That voice was excellently sinister. The best!

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Actually, it was the same guy who voiced him for FRWL and Thunderball, and another one in FYEO.

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DAF does NOT ignore the events of OHMSS. The fact that DAF starts in the Far East proves nothing. Bond has gone to the far East multiple times (TMWTGG, TND, DAD, SF, etc.) and it's revealed he went there once with M. The reason that Bond is so pissed at Blofeld at the beginning of DAF is because of Tracey's murder.

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personally i like that there are different actors in the role, it's a chance to see different portrayals and i like all performances in different ways, this was definitely the most humorous one, blofeld was always played by great actors, the first ones were voice only of course, but you expect bond to be more affected with blofeld after what happened at the end of "on her majesty's secret service", but i guess these movies are suppose to stand on their own. i guess they were finished with dubbing at this point, the guy handling the game in the casino is mumbling and you can't make out what he's saying, speaking of voices, willard whyte sure played a big part if you count his voice that is being used throughout the movie. bond seem to slap around women a lot in this. how many people are in that car rolling over... notice the cut away after they mention the sheriff's office, the scene with the police by the way reminds of that scenario in "a view to a kill", and for some reason elevators plays a big part in the franchise. man, does the cassette tapes make it look aged, i actually bought a new tape machine just a year ago or so. felix is unusually angry this time, he's usually such a jolly chap, he reminds more of q and m here.



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I don't think they were ignoring the previous picture. At the very beginning Bond is angrily looking for Blofeld, clearly with the aim of finding him and stopping him once and for all. I just think they chose not to delve into the backstory of why too much.

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I'm glad Pleasence didn't return for OHMSS. Savalas made the best Blofeld. I'm also glad they didn't strangle themselves with continuity, like today.

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No there is no reason to believe OHMSS is ignored. Also you don’t know that the film starts in Japan, that was never confirmed, along with that you’re acting like it’s impossible for Bond to visit the same place twice. There are multiple places he’s been multiple times you idiot.

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