Celebrating 50 years of DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. The seventh 007 adventure had its world premiere in the USA on this date in 1971. | James Bond 007

Bond (Sean Connery) escapes Willard Whyte’s Techtronics research centre in a moon buggy in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971). Production designer Ken Adam said: “The moon buggy was not 100 percent based on the actual moon lunar vehicle as director Guy Hamilton wanted it to look grotesque with these flailing mechanical arms.” | James Bond 007

Sean Connery had a two-picture deal when he returned to play James Bond in “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971). However, he viewed it as a one-time comeback it seems, partly motivated by the record-breaking salary, which he donated to a Scottish education trust. The second film in the deal was never pursued - likely because Connery had no intention of continuing, and the producers were already preparing to recast Bond for a new era. | Cinneman