'You Only Live Twice' marks 45th anniversary today

12-Jun-2012 • Bond News

Sean Connery's fifth James Bond film, "You Only Live Twice", turns 45 years-old as it opened on this day in 1967.

On the night of June 12th 1967, the world premiere took place at the Odeon Cinema in London's Leicester Square, sponsored by the Variety Club of Great Britain in aid of the YMCA and Imperial Cancer Research Fund. What made the premiere of You Only Live Twice all that more special was the appearance of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Phillip. The event would be their first James Bond premiere and paved the way to future attendances.

Sean Connery, in slyly macho mode as 007, goes on a mission to Japan to take on crime syndicate Spectre and its evil boss Blofeld (Donald Pleasence). Director Lewis Gilbert ensures no expense is spared (no wonder Blofeld's cat is a luxurious Persian) and designer Ken Adam puts that production money where his volcano is. As a bonus, the screenwriter was Roald Dahl.

Starring: Sean Connery, Donald Pleasence, Akiko Wakabayashi, Tetsuro Tamba, Mie Hama, Teru Shimada, Karin Dor