Never Say Never Again is one of few unofficial James Bond movies, and a lot of viewers missed the title’s subtle, good-natured joke at the expense of returning star Sean Connery. Beginning with 1962’s Dr. No, the late Sean Connery was the first actor to portray Ian Fleming’s iconic super-spy James Bond on the big screen, long before No Time to Die's Daniel Craig took over the part.
Connery’s influential version of Bond lasted through nine years and six cinematic outings (briefly punctuated by George Lazenby’s lone movie in the role), but 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever was not the last time that Connery took on the part. Over a decade later, Connery followed in the footsteps of Casino Royale’s David Niven and starred in an unofficial Bond movie, the campy 1983 outing Never Say Never Again.
Produced by competing creators during Roger Moore’s tenure as the “official” Eon Productions Bond, Never Say Never Again was an agreeable (if goofy) swan song for Connery’s Bond. The movie brought back much of the charming, silly humor of Connery’s Diamonds Are Forever, with even the title of Never Say Never Again being a sly bit of humor at the actor’s expense. It’s a cute in-joke alluding to the fact that this unofficial Bond outing brought Connery back to the franchise, despite the actor claiming he’d never revisit 007 after Diamonds Are Forever. In case viewers didn’t pick up on the joke, Connery says the title practically straight to the camera with a knowing nod at the close of the movie’s action.
Never Say Never Again was filled with these sort of playful references despite an action-packed plot, and the movie’s inconsistent tone, bouncing between the humor of early, fun Bond and more serious moments, was one of many elements that left Connery at odds with the creators. Tensions were high during the making of Never Say Never Again, as the creators were constantly pressured to shut down production by Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli, and couldn’t access many of the character's best-known elements (such as his iconic gun barrel opening sequence) due to rights issues. Despite all this, Never Say Never Again was nonetheless praised upon release for its sharp wit and stylish set-pieces.
However as campy and self-aware as this final Connery Bond was, Never Say Never Again was up against an even more silly and over-the-top outing from Moore’s Bond. Octopussy and Never Say Never Again may have both fared relatively well with critics upon release in 1983 and both movies were huge hits at the box office, but the aging Moore’s second-last Bond movie did make a bigger profit on a slightly smaller budget, and Never Say Never Again remains one of the less-remembered Bond outings from the decade. Still, the solid reviews and fond recollections of Never Say Never Again are a testament to Connery’s enduring appeal, and mark an impressive legacy for a James Bond movie that isn’t even technically part of the series.
