On Her Majesty's Secret Service in Review

George Lazenby was unfairly cast as one of cinema's great also-rans. His brief tenure as Bond actually expanded the range of the character and the scope of the films. A rougher, readier but more rounded 007, On Her Majesty's Secret Service also boasts an extremely taut biological warfare plot that remains among the series' most sophisticated.

Introducing himself with an arch "This never happened to the other fellow", the first section is given over to Bond's romance with Tracy (Diana Rigg). Thereafter he infiltrates the Alpine hideaway of frequent adversary Blofeld (Telly Savalas). Bond uncovers a plan for world domination that involves a dozen beautiful women.

Though hesitant to start with, Lazenby quickly gets into his stride. There's unusual emphasis on the romantic sub-plot (Bond asks Tracy to marry him) but it's carefully woven into the action and actually gives rise to a rather moving conclusion. Lazenby always claimed that his decision not to carry on in the role was the result of poor advice, but as an action man he's certainly believable, and it's a tribute to his performance that his Bond is almost a proper character. Ditching flash in favour of character development, this stylish and energetic entry is one of the best films in the series.

(FILM4)

The sole outing for George Lazenby, dismissed in '69, welcomed back in recent times. Post your review here!

OHMSS - The ABC TV edit from 1976

What were they bloody thinking...? :evil:

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) - 9/10
I had always convinced myself that George Lazenby was a substandard James Bond. But upon watching OHMSS again, I was surprised to see how wrong I was. Sure, Lazenby is not the best Bond; his acting ranges from serviceable to solid to great, but I can say I was actually fairly impressed with his performance. And the very last scene, with a dead Mrs. Bond lying in her husband’s arms may be the most tragic, emotional and powerful scene in Bond film history. Adding to that, the rest of OHMSS is near perfect; the supporting cast is one of the best casts in a Bond film (Tells Savalas as Blofeld and Diana Rigg as Tracy were spot on), John Barry’s soundtrack is phenomenal and the production values and cinematography shine. The editing of the movie is an acquired taste and some of it still baffles me, but that aside, OHMSS was the Bond movie I was most mistaken about.

Oh dear oh deary me. They have messed it up as well as cut a few scenes of mild violence.

Thirty seconds in and it's some real acting from George Lazenby. I'm impressed:

I think people are too harsh on Lazenby's acting. Sure, in first act of the film he's a little rough around the edges, he but he makes a significant improvement from finding Bunt in his bed onwards.

His performance in the barn proposal is one of the finest, most understated and tender the series has ever managed. From once he's on a level playing field with Rigg.

That's ice cream? Bloody hell. Looks like fricasseed hagfish in a red currant aspic. Shades of things to come.

Here is Lazenby in his most demanding role. 02:40 in.

Must say I'm partial to this...



weirdly good to see that ice cream advert, I thought I'd imagined it when I saw a clip of it on Room 101.

George you old devil.

Am I the only one who finds Tracy's character to be neutered in the film?

Possibly. I'll get back to this later

Vesper wrote:

Am I the only one who finds Tracy's character to be neutered in the film?

Yes.

Vesper wrote:

Am I the only one who finds Tracy's character to be neutered in the film?

No.

Vesper wrote:

Am I the only one who finds Tracy's character to be neutered in the film?

Maybe.

Vesper wrote:

Am I the only one who finds Tracy's character to be neutered in the film?

Sharky wrote:

Yes.

ambler wrote:

No.

Moore wrote:

Maybe.

just one more needed to settle the tie.

Moore wrote:

Vesper wrote:

Am I the only one who finds Tracy's character to be neutered in the film?

Maybe.

The smokestack purrs only in July.

Make of that what you will.

OHMSS 7.5/10

6/22

4. For your Eyes Only
5. A View to A Kill
6. OHMSS
7. Live And Let Die

The best gunbarrel scene of the 60's. For who whant to know Goldfinger i rank second and Yolt 3th.

My favorite John Barrey score after TLD, It made the longest Bond movie til CR more viewable. The movie not realy mis the titlesong because Louise Armstring be a good replacement.

Set up for TSWLM & FYEO. Some people underrated the movies power on future movies. OHMSS starts with the Ice chase. Also if you wachting FYEO first you like OHMSS more because it also have a ice chase.

Chacter driven. I believe this movie set together with FRWL what we also see in GE and Twine. Ally's who make James Bond better and have a lot of humor. In FRWL it be Kerim Bay, in OHMSS it be Draco.

The good things of Thunderball.

Proofs you also can make a chacter be liked from a chacter who don't like first. With Casino Royale there faild a lot in my opnion with the Vesper story. Whyle Tracy be bond his girl, OHMSS have the moost girls in it. Bond read a Playboy and be a playboy.

I always blame Yolt for the Blofeld discussion, not OHMSS. In my opnion Blofeld always should have been secret til this movie and i like Telly Savalas as Blofeld. Charles Gray always be my favorite.

I predict Sean Connery have look like this to OHMSS

Has one of my favourite fleeting moments, we see Bond ogling at a PLAYBOY centerfold while a vault is being hacked, and then he takes it with him...

Then again, back in the 60s, PLAYBOY was hugely supportive of Bond :albino:

It is to weep for a time gone by.

Vesper wrote:

Am I the only one who finds Tracy's character to be neutered in the film?

If you mean less neurotic I would say yes. I read OHMSS the novel prior to seeing the film and I didn't picture Diana Rigg in my mind at all as this character. It's easier to see why Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve were EON's first two picks for the role. However, Fleming's Tracy as written had so many issues she might not have been as well received on film. Dame Diana's Tracy seemed written more like a combination of a slightly less neurotic Tracy mixed with Mrs. Peel. As Raymond Benson wrote, if book Tracy had been kidnapped by Blofeld he and I both doubt she would've been as calm and as in control of herself as movie Tracy was.

I've been checking out the 11th season of Hawaii Five-O, whose last season was a two-hour episode where George Lazenby had "special guest star" billing but was clearly the secondary villain. It aired a decade after Majesty's. Lazenby wears a baggy white suit, is unshaven and not anything like Bond. He definitely has more polish, though.

There's a scene where Barry Bostwick, as the primary villain, shows off some supposed king-fu movies. Lazenby is staring at him. He looks like he could break Bostwick in two.

Unfortunately, Lazenby gets no scenes with Jack Lord, so Film Felix No. 1 doesn't get to encounter Film Bond No. 2.