Nothing More, Nothing Less- On Her Majesty's Secret Service at 50 (1969-2019)

As a callow teen, I hated OHMSS. " It wasn't a proper Bond film " as at that time I much preferred Moonraker, Gadgets and Tech was what I loved. Then time passed, I got a little experience of life, and
began to love the Bond books and characters more and more, and suddenly OHMSS was sitting at my #1 spot. For Film, Book and score.
    Connery was an impossible act to follow but George did a fine job in my opinion. Pity he got bad advice of not doing more, as I think he would have improved as an actor. I thought he and Diana Rigg worked well together on screen. Savalas is a fantastic Blofeld, physically imposing and with a great undercurrent of menace.
    The ski sequences are amazing, the second half of the film is full of action. My admiration For OHMSS grows with every re-watch.

Nice summary, TP. Whoever followed Connery whenever, be it '69 or '71 (had he done OHMSS) would have had an impossible job to do and even now whoever becomes Bond is compared to him especially.

Contrary to Dame Diana's later interviews, I think she and Laze complimented each other well. If she was 'helping' him out or trying to shore him up, well I'm not expert.

Still appreciate that Hunt took Bond back to basics, before later films made it a thing.

Agreed, About Hunt. Such a pity he never did another, Although I know John Barry hated how Peter Hunt always wanted to put the Bond theme over the big set action pieces. Instead of letting him write something more atmospheric.

Thunderpussy wrote:

    Connery was an impossible act to follow but George did a fine job in my opinion. Pity he got bad advice of not doing more, as I think he would have improved as an actor. I thought he and Diana Rigg worked well together on screen. Savalas is a fantastic Blofeld, physically imposing and with a great undercurrent of menace.
    The ski sequences are amazing, the second half of the film is full of action. My admiration For OHMSS grows with every re-watch.

I agree. Lazenby's performance is very underrated. Is he a truly great actor? Probably not. But who he is as a person fit almost seamlessly with who Bond is. The swagger, the physicality, the physique, a sense of joie de vivre... He comes in third in my Bond actor ranking. Helps that his sole outing is perfection.

The second half is indeed full of action, but it's culminated from a well crafted first half. The stakes are there, the characters established and richly fleshed out... So when the ski/festival/car/avalanche/shoot out/bobsled run action occurs, we're so invested in the characters and the story that it doesn't feel like action for action's sake. Because it's not. It has to happen.

The more closely you study the film I think the more you realize just how key the adaptation work is. I think Maibaum really heightened the drama in the second half by streamlining events and of course by making Tracy directly involved.

hegottheboot wrote:

The more closely you study the film I think the more you realize just how key the adaptation work is. I think Maibaum really heightened the drama in the second half by streamlining events and of course by making Tracy directly involved.

Quite agree. Maibaum was a genius for this film alone.

Well chaps it's that time of year. I might not have my boxset or blu but I have my youngest brothers' Amazon.

But Hilly, we know what you think!

Well, as Max Fischer said in Rushmore: "Fuck it! I'm building it anyway."

Someone can correct me but this is the only film to have the credits prior (IE the producers)

Laze taking the knee!? Blow it, it works!

Poor Q working on lint. I guess Smithers could only take it so far.

Aye, aye the Bond theme, a gorgeous DBS....

"If there was anything Bond liked, it was being overtaken by a beautiful woman" (I quote loosely)

Of all the new Bond debuts, this is my fave but of course you'd say this Hilly. The angle on Laze as he lights his cig, the music etc. Next is Dalton in TLD.

Oh Dame Diana, as a child of 6 or 7 watching this made me pause. I had such a crush on Rigg what with seeing Avengers and yet I was none the wiser at years.

Now OHMSS is quite true to the book but obviously things need to change. Bond just sitting there until Tracy decides to do this doesn't make for good cinema I guess.

Laze might be quite chipper but I don't care. Far as he's concerned he's just saved a bit a bit of alright.

And he we go. Barry music and Laze.

Say what you will about Hunt and the quick editing but I love it. Bond laying into the bad guy in the waves, the music going all out. Yes, around the 50th Barry said he upped his game as he thought Laze was a shit actor but he also reined it back to basics like Hunt.

Bit cheeky Tracy using the Aston to get to her car but yes.

The line I love. But Hilly Bond never breaks the wall. Sure but Bond never died in a film until...

I've heard this theme more times than I care to remember and each time is like the first. Yes, you can't wrap OHMSS to a song and this works. The credits might be dated now but this was the first film post Connery. I love the slow mo silhouette of Bond running, the egg timer etc. The clips of the past few films are great, if you look at the context. This is 'our' Bond.

I hate the whole Bond is just a code whatsit.

Arnold should've done this for QOS, fuck the song we got.

So, presumably Laze trudges up the dunes to his car, changes into a smart suit and wearily drives up. This is an early example of what Moore said about how any secret agent who is know by bartenders etc isn't that secret. Laze rocks the suit. They say that Connery moved like a panther well Laze moved like the panther and then some.

A great example is when he descends the stairs. You get a Youngesque touch of the a woman giving him a longing gaze as he walks to the casino (such as the receptionists do in Dr No and FRWL for example).

A fantastic example of OHMSS following the book is the 'Royale' scene. The Agatha Christie type lady, the American, the weasel...and then Tracy. Did Hunt read and re-read this book until it was knackered? Surely he did.

But Hilly you get carried away!

I like how when the American says "dame can't pay up!" Bond sort of is annoyed.

Even the hint of cleavage in Tracy's dress is in line with the book.

And here we go, fantastically quotable dialogue.

"Please stay alive! At least for tonight!"

Fleming might've rolled his eyes but it could've fit for his Bond in this novel.

I'm no acting expert (obviously Hilly!) but Lazenby always has struck me as holding his own. Whatever Rigg said to Lawson and so on, he managed. For a moody, big headed 30 year old, he did well.

The fight scene in the room is great. Laze's Bond is quite prepared to kill the bastard (drawing his gun) and looks capable of killing a man. He also has a great one-liner ("gate crasher!"). Laze could do it better than Dalters.

The caviar line always comes to my mind when I see or hear something involving caviar. I like to think it could get me through a function at the Russian embassy if I ever...well, never mind.

"I seem to be accident prone."

As I am

"I can think of something more sociable to do."

The slap is up there with Moore and Anders but as much as a modern sensibility makes me wince, it kind of works. You have the angles, you have the music.

A bird with a wing down

All cats are gray in the dark.

I still think though shagging on a balcony where folk can see is a bit bold even for 007, ha

"Paid in full as well."

Bit brave showing the gun in a crowded lobby.

Since I was little I still love Lazenby in the car: "What a surprise our meeting again so soon! Mystery tour hey!"

C'mon Connery could've done the same.

"Yessssh."

Vijay plays the Bond theme but OHMSS....Goldfinger of all tunes.

Love Bond doing whatever...slamming the gate behind him.

Love the sound effects off the cabinets.

And instantly love Draco.

Plus the focus, out of focus for when Draco looks at the calendar.

Olim...oh if we only we saw more.

"...about the point of a pistol."

Not until Colombo do I warm to a character so quickly.

It's close to the book still.

It is curious that the love theme is used here but it works.

Goddamn. Can you imagine this now? Audiences wouldn't still long enough surely?

"Why I tell you this?"

"Everything!"

Yes, I know you shagged my daughter on a balcony in front of everyone you dirty English bastard.

"She's very attractive..."

Now in the book, Bond bridles at the offer of money. He has enough, he doesn't want to get involved. She needs mental health care...

I want to know where that bald bastard is....

"If I could I wouldn't tell HMSS...I might tell my future son in law...."

Draco is a bad man let's be real. He's the head of a mafia, he has had people killed and yet...we love him

Now...Penny's best scene (for Maxwell anyway) is in this film. Seriously. You add up all her scenes and this might be the most she did.

"Britain's last line of defence!"

You know it babe

Plus, I think M has his best scenes here too. Did Lee think he should bring it back as he had in Dr No/FRWL? Who knows.

"That's all...that's all!" come on that's perfect personally.

Love how Penny is serious from doing her make up when Bond asks to take a memo. The monument line is brilliant.

The medley of past adventures similarly I love.

Always dig the sorry ma'am. If HMQ dived with Bond for the Olympics, she could withstand Bond disrespecting her a little.

How brill is the "request granted" as Penny is key here. Had she not pointed things out what would Bond have done!?

"What would I do without you Miss Moneypenny thank you!" boom.

To me, yes really, that's Bond/M's relationship from the novels in a nutshell. Bond loves him as a father on the quiet and M likely loves him as a son but both are chaps and you don't own up to feelings.

"May I introduce my daughter!?"

Yes, well, I know her inside and out mush.

"You must give me the the name of your oculist!"

I think Olim had a few too many shandies by the "I think there's" a few things about Mr Bond line.

Poor bastards in the ring though.

Rigg is or was a force of nature.

Draco surely sees his late wife in her face and knows he can't say no.

Where's he gone? This is Bond my man.

"I was always taught mistakes should be remedied. Especially between friends... or lovers...."

Yes...yes...every time

The montage is one of the most surreal moments in a Bond film (and in a good way). It's the best way to show how they fall in love but it also has a song. Not until DAD does a second song feature in a Bond film.

Fuck NTTD (if you like it fine) but this song was for Laze/Rigg.

It might seem cheesy now but I do like how Bond and Tracy look at each other and Draco in the middle is awkward.

The Gumbold music still ratchets up tension.

What a measure of time. In 69 Bond has to use this stupidly device but 10 years later he can use a cigarette case.

Look at the long shadow of Gumboldt returning.

I do believe even for a second Bond looks at the camera as he leaves the office.

Cut to Quarterdeck. Sadly by the time I got to Marlow, the house itself had been destroyed by fire.

Now, maybe in a period piece the Christmas Day scene (the man from ag and fish) would be great but in 1969 not so much.
Barry to his credit kicks in with the "French form of Blofeld."
Until the Craig Era this is as much as we see of M outside of work.
I do love though how Bond is that damn keen on pushing Blofeld that the moment where he says the French form is a subtle dig. Well, not a dig but Bond has good reason to show M that this is hot stuff.
Having been in the College the set here is a little off but the lady was kind enough to entertain me and Kitty for a few minutes. “Apparently some Bond film was set here”.
Of course the chap who thanks Hilly is meant to be pursued by Bond and killed on the Royal Mail railway. The only mention is on the newspaper Campbell is reading. The railway itself now is a tourist attraction.
Now, though it’d have likely slowed things down, reading the novel as I am at the moment, Bond being faced with Griffon Or would be a delight. But in the book ol’ Hilly never features, as he’s not the Sable Basilisk but blow it.
The only fault with this movie is the dubbing. Maybe if he had done more films I’d not have minded but Laze only has 2hs15 and a chunk of it is dubbed. Surely someone somewhere has a copy of the print? Does it matter? Well, not massively I suppose but it’d be nice to see this film with Lazenby’s voice in the scenes just to ponder.
With respect to the late Ilse Steppat, she is the living personification of Fleming’s descriptive of Bunt.
Journey to Blofeld’s Hideaway remains a sumptuous piece of music and film.
The film does the best it can with the heraldry stuff. It would be interesting to read Fleming’s thinking behind this novel. Clearly he thought it would be a decent enough plot device.
Like the book there is this assumption they’re onto him from the off. It is bizarre that both Bond and Blofeld don’t react as such when they meet having been in the previous film but so be it.
Got to love how Ruby revealing she’s from Morecambe Bay makes Bond/Hilly’s voice rise an octave: “How did you get here?!”
It gets a bit trippy but what are you to do? Savalas is a champ in this film. Growing up he was Kojak then Big Joe in Kelly’s Heroes and in between this.
OHMSS my favourite or not I think it has some of the best film and scenery. Can only imagine what Deakins could’ve done here.
Such is the power of Bond, that Bernard Horsfall inhabits this legend status by doing and saying so little. I remember him in an episode of the Saint and the TV series Enemy at the Door but it’s here that he has this larger than life feel. He’s in a Bond film. Interesting that Hunt and co decided that Campbell should have more to do whereas in the book he is effectively dumped into Piz Gloria half-crazed and begging Bond to help.
In effect Campbell is better in the film. For whatever reason he’s the chap SIS have seeing how Bond is but also (again) for whatever reason climbing the alp. Perhaps Bond didn’t check in when he was meant to or as he was meant to.
Check the sunflare as Campbell is brought to Blofeld. Bond in silhouette, Blofeld too…that little look to Bond is as close as we get to the book.
Sounds mad but I like his wardrobe for this film. Even his clobber as he goes to ‘Ruby’ is alright.
Got to chuckle though: “Fancy meeting you here fraulein!”
Lazenby has the right expression here. Is that a ruddy Christmas tree? Close my eyes. Open…no it IS a ruddy tree!
Something about Lazenby as Blofeld points out ‘Hilly’s’ factual error. A little annoyance as if to say: my dick got in the way of me being true to facts.
Only in this film can a villain decorating a bloody tree not be too bad.
“That will remain my secret”
Yeah, why should this villain reveal all, mush?
Much like Goldfinger, Blofeld here seems to enjoy watching Bond figure things out.
And there’s Bond seized by bloodlust after seeing Campbell but Blofeld nonplussed.
Personally, Bond should be imprisoned in a box no bigger than himself. Leaving him in this cable car barn is…well, never mind.
There is always something about Bond hanging on the cable (c1h27) and the music as you see snowflakes about him. A sort of epic feel. At the same time I remember from the making off the stuntman who did it saying what with all the ice on the cable, he was very close to speeding off down to the bottom!
Once again Bunt’s punch is a knock out.
Still think the way Lazenby takes down the goon from the desk is savage. The editing probably helps but he gets a few licks in before the guy hits the deck.
“Maybe you should’ve been giftwrapped!”
And here we go. One of the best damn scenes in any Bond film.
“der Engländer ist entkommen!“
Brilliant shots, brilliant angles. Using the main theme as the escape works in every sense.
No California Girls here, Bond gets on with the one ski and how
Again I believe it was Vic Armstrong who said he almost went off the ledge doubling as Bond and there’s a cable you see in shot stopping him.
Bond’s face as he throttles the goon with his ski.
Have some of that you bastard
The desperation of Bond in the novel reveals itself in the shed. The damn bells startling Bond, his expression as he starts clawing to freedom. The enemy are nipping at his heels now. He’s surrounded, out of options. Being startled by the shitting polar bear. He’s on edge. The next hand on his shoulder could be a goon. He huddles by the rink, there’s no hope...
Hang on...
Tracy!
Of course she had a tip off from pa but her showing up is a delight. The way she skids in and Rigg’s face. This isn’t the girl he last saw. She’s on an even keel now.
Also, she takes charge. I do think Rigg had just come off the back of playing Emma Peel helped her here but Tracy takes charge as Bond is a little shell-shocked. He’s knackered from skiing, he’s living on adrenalin.
„I expect they’re trying to kill me.“
Now what’s the damn international code for GB?
„“JAMES!“
Only time you get that shout being worthwhile.
She overcooks the corner but cool as as a cucumber back into the straight.
Bunt is one right back-seat driver. SHOOT AT HIM!

Some say we don’t need the car race. Blow it. Desperate times, desperate measures.
Plus, Rigg seems to be enjoying herself. They seem to dub in “how we do get out!“ to compensate for Rigg grinning a lot.
Had this been a different Bond, they would’ve stopped for the prize.
Yes, yes.
Bond still on edge is jumped by the doors banging open.
And there we are. What Star Trek perfected by 1969, the image of the woman looking all beautiful and crystal clear. Something about Tracy as she catches Bond staring. Bashful.
„Then why are you thinking about it now?“
Look at these angles, the way it’s filmed. Alright it’s not earthshattering but it focuses on them. Only them. Little of the barn is shown.
„I love you. I know i’ll never find another girl like you. Will you marry me?“
Boom.
For a moment i find myself imaginging these two as a couple. Living in London or Paris or whatever. Very much in love, very much enjoying life. Then you remember what comes.
‚It’s not new year yet!“
Imagine you’re the chap who owns that barn. You’ve hidden from the snowstorm and in the morning you find this bit of alright car and some skis. Result.
Another corker of a scene is Ski Chase. Musically too.
It’s all done for real. Overhead camera-work, people on the slopes. No trickery but for the bits of back projection.
I don’t think Tracy partricularly liked the guts line but it’s genius.
As someone, maybe Lazenby once said, if Hunt wanted an avalanche he went and did it.
Had Hunt directed DAD somehow, he’d have dragged a crew and Brozzer down to Antarctica, blown up a chunk of iceberg and filmed it.
Great scene with M. The lighting, M himself and Bond.
Tracy knows her side.
-I’m already a countess.
Nice rendition of theme for Over and Out
The battle is one of the best in how real it looks. It was copied in a way for DAF and the oil rig but mountains can’t be too easy to film about. Laze’s belly slide is still great.
The bobsled fight similarly is still great.
The wedding. Well. In any other film this would be it. Bond parting the old ways –his line to Q, his acknowledgement of Penny’s tearful face and driving off...
...“Three girls, three boys.“
Now we have all the time in the world. You do. Or did.
The book has the car shot up and careering into trees. This locale is as troubling.
Damn it man there’s a car dawdling towards you. You never got the big man.
Bad actor or not Lazenby has that devastation and shock at just losing a woman he married minutes before. And he cries. So be it. It is and always will be a devastating scene.
In an ideal world we’d go to the next film with Lazenby and a revenge driven plot but we don’t and so OHMSS continues to exist in its bubble thanks to its actor maybe, its plot. Other films have tried to be it, tried to ape it but there’s always be this.
Nothing more...nothing less...

Hilly wrote:

Fuck NTTD (if you like it fine) but this song was for Laze/Rigg.

Too fek'n true.

Great summary, as always. It's indeed getting to that time of year where an OHMSS viewing is a sacrament, so to speak.

Great as always to get your stream of consciousness pov Hilly.

What I can't believe is how long it took me to realize that Hunt's inspiration for the film's pacing and flow was not just the more lavish feel of big budget films he described in his commentary track but actually the pacing and structure of Thunderball. OHMSS is enormously full of TB's DNA in terms of its pacing.

I rewatched on Xmas Eve afternoon, still magnificent of course. Switching to the mono sound option fixed a previous problem I'd had with the Blu (We Have All The Time In The World sounding tinny), but it also seemed to make other parts very quiet ('Hilly, you old devil' was just about audible, for example).

The monos and original audios are essential for all the films. Especially the mono era. OHMSS has a lot of issues and screwups in the awful remix. The original mono is quite punchy. Unfortunately while the lossy versions included on the UE DVDs and BDs are okay none compare to how they should sound and do on the old Laserdisc releases.
Mono will also be made to sound quiet if you're watching on TV speakers or via a soundbar.

Ah, TV's own speakers it must've been.

Movie has a couple of noticeable dubbing 'afterthoughts' ... when Bond makes the 'Guns make me nervous!' crack to Tracy during the Piz Gloria assault, Lazenby's mouth isn't moving. And neither is Rigg's when she wonders aloud for the second time about where to get out during the stock-car race.

Watched OHMSS last night and something caught my eye. During the Great Ice Carnival sequence where Bond is being hounded by SPECTRE agents, one of the goons has long sideburns. I'm pretty sure he's the same sideburny SPECTRE agent Bond offs in DAF's PTS.

Thanks chaps.

Yes, PK, he's the same goon in DAF. In fact my Dad dubbed him the Bruce Forsyth lookalike which is a very British thing I suppose but if you google Bruce Forsyth in the 1970s, they're quite similar.

I'm taking my Bond DVD's back south soon and if people don't mind, I might inflict more stream of consciousness nonsense as I work my way through.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Ah, TV's own speakers it must've been.

Movie has a couple of noticeable dubbing 'afterthoughts' ... when Bond makes the 'Guns make me nervous!' crack to Tracy during the Piz Gloria assault, Lazenby's mouth isn't moving. And neither is Rigg's when she wonders aloud for the second time about where to get out during the stock-car race.  

I'm sure the Hilly line dub was an in-joke done in editing or they felt Lazenby couldn't pull it off. Tracy's line in the ice rally has always been just thrown in there and is wonderfully not dubbed on any movement. Then again there's been a few weird edits of that sequence crop up over the years-some versions its totally not there.

If you want better sound a receiver and decent speakers are a must. It doesn't take a whole lot of money to do and you can just start with stereo left and right if you want instead of going into full 5.1 right off the bat.

Hilly wrote:

Thanks chaps.

Yes, PK, he's the same goon in DAF. In fact my Dad dubbed him the Bruce Forsyth lookalike which is a very British thing I suppose but if you google Bruce Forsyth in the 1970s, they're quite similar.

I'm taking my Bond DVD's back south soon and if people don't mind, I might inflict more stream of consciousness nonsense as I work my way through.

You should post pics of them in my Separated at Birth thread, Hilly.

Perilagu Khan wrote:

Hilly wrote:

Thanks chaps.

Yes, PK, he's the same goon in DAF. In fact my Dad dubbed him the Bruce Forsyth lookalike which is a very British thing I suppose but if you google Bruce Forsyth in the 1970s, they're quite similar.

I'm taking my Bond DVD's back south soon and if people don't mind, I might inflict more stream of consciousness nonsense as I work my way through.

You should post pics of them in my Separated at Birth thread, Hilly.

I will do shortly.