You Only Live Twice

When an American spacecraft disappears from orbit the United states immediate suspects the Soviet Union. However, since the British tracked the craft to the Sea of Japan they decide to dispatch James Bond to Tokyo to investigate.

James Bond, assisted by Tiger Tanaka, as well as Bond girls Aki and Kissy, uncovers a plot by SPECTRE to start World War III by hijacking American and Russian spacecraft, while making it look like the work of the other side. 007 must prevent Blofeld’s plan before it is too late.

You Only Live Twice marks a turning point in the series, as it is the first James Bond film that was not based on an Ian Fleming story.

While Fleming’s novel of the same name is set in Japan and features Blofeld, little else remains apart from the characters Tiger Tanaka and Dikko Henderson – and while he is a colourful character in the book, Henderson is completely wasted in the film.

It is notable that the same basic story was reused in The Spy Who Love Me and slightly less obviously in Moonraker,both with Roger Moore.

What we say

While there are some good moments, You Only Live Twice just isn’t in the same league as the previous Bond films and paved the way for the over reliance on gadgets and excessive humour.

Locations

Original release

Premiere: 12th June 1967 at the Odeon Leicester Square
UK: 13th June 1967
US: 13th June 1967

Principal crew

Director
Lewis Gilbert
Screenplay Roald Dahl
Producer
Albert R Broccoli and Harry Saltzman
Music
John Barry
Editor
Peter Hunt
Production Designer
Ken Adam
Cinematography
Freddie Young

Cast

Sean Connery James Bond
Akiko Wakabayashi Aki
Mie Hama Kissy
Tetsurô Tanba Tiger Tanaka
Teru Shimada Mr. Osato
Karin Dor Helga Brandt
Donald Pleasence Blofeld
Bernard Lee ‘M’
Lois Maxwell Miss Moneypenny
Desmond Llewelyn ‘Q’
Charles Gray Henderson
Tsai Chin Ling, Chinese Girl in Hong Kong
Peter Fanene Maivia Car Driver
Burt Kwouk Spectre 3
Michael Chow Spectre 4
Ronald Rich Hans, Blofeld’s Bodyguard
Jeanne Roland Bond’s Masseuse
David Toguri Assassin in Bedroom
John Stone Submarine Captain
Norman Jones Astronaut – 1st American Spacecraft
Paul Carson Astronaut – 1st American Spacecraft
Laurence Herder Astronaut – Russian Spacecraft
Richard Graydon Astronaut – Russian Spacecraft
Bill Mitchell Astronaut – 2nd American Spacecraft
George Roubicek Astronaut – 2nd American Spacecraft

Drinks

  • Sake (served at 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Siamese vodka
  • Dom Perignon ’59
  • Suntory whisky

Vehicles

“Little Nellie” – Wallis WA-116 Agile autogyro

Quotes

  • “You have a lot of energy for a dead man.”
  • “Oh the things I do for England.”
  • “Well, if I’m gonna be forced to watch television, may I smoke?”
    ” Yes. Give him his cigarettes. It won’t be the nicotine that kills you, Mr. Bond.”
  • “If you’re Tanaka, then how do you feel about me?”
    ” I… love you.”
    “Well, I’m glad we got that out of the way.”

Buy You Only Live Twice DVD/Blu-Ray from Amazon

You Only Live Twice

Amazon UK

Buy DVD | Buy Blu-Ray

Amazon US

Buy DVD | Buy Blu-Ray

Poster Art


Buy a You Only Live
Twice poster or print.

Soundtrack

You Only Live Twice
Read more about the You Only Live Twice Soundtrack or buy it online.

Thunderball | On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

David Leigh founded The James Bond Dossier in 2002. A fan of 007 since the age of 8, he is also author of The Complete Guide to the Drinks of James Bond. You can order a copy here if you don't own it already.


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