On Her Majesty's Secret Service

 

 

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This was the first Bond movie I ever saw in the theater, Dec.31, 1969. For a young kid like me, it was the greatest way on earth to usher out the Sixties. Years of Bond hype, Bond toys, and Sean Connery worship finally came to a head. Yet this was the new guy, a somewhat blasphemous situation to be in. Still, no one ever entered a movie theater with higher expectations.

Let me just say this: from the opening credits I was transported to a wonderland of excitement and delight. The music, the villain, the fights, the women, and especially George Lazenby made it a great, great, great Bond movie. To this day, I regard it as possibly the film I have enjoyed more than any other I have seen. Briefly, let me dissect what made it such a great 007 film:

1.The Villain-Telly Savalas should have been Blofeld many more times. He is menacing and a good physical opponent for Bond. Savalas was doing many villains at this time in his career (Dirty Dozen, etc.) mainly because he was so good at it. Telly's Blofeld is very true to Ian Fleming. Along with Robert Shaw and Gert Frobe, I rate him among the best of the Bond villains.

2. The fights-the editing is outstanding, creating fast, violent brawls. Lazenby is quite formidable and believably dangerous-the way Bond should be and hasn't been since. The best Bond fight scene that stands alone is certainly with Oddjob, but the numerous fights in OHMSS are the most realistic and violent.

3.The Women-Diana Rigg (need we say more)-a real actress and the fantasy of every pubescent boy watching The Avengers. Also plenty of eye-candy in the chalet of Blofeld. And throw in Frau Bunt who seems resurrected in the Austin Power movies-she's a pure Fleming character: an evil sexless matron.

4.The music-definitely high-style John Barry. It is a departure from his earlier Connery films and very original. It's just great adventure music and the main title is damn dangerous to be listening to when driving your car. For fun, my kids and I have synchronized it to driving the mountain route in Sega Gt 2002-it's the perfect soundtrack. As an Album alone OHMSS is a proud possesion in my record collection.

5.Finally, (and ladies and gentlemen, I could go on and on about this) dear Mr. Lazenby. How anyone could be at the top, with the highest profile movie persona in the world, and then drop to almost total obscurity is lamentable to the most Shakespearean proportions. George was so young (stil in his twenties!) during OHMSS, he could have been Bond into the mid-nineties. I saw him playing a Bond-like character in some cheap John Stamos movie and he was still exciting to watch-too bad Stamos was the star. Bond must provoke intrigue, sophistication, sex, and violence. George Lazenby had it all. To you, Mr. Lazenby, wherever you are, I lift my glass in a toast to your James Bond of OHMSS.

I promised to be brief and so I end with so much unsaid about this terrific movie. New Year's Eve 1969 was an unforgettable movie experience. How many films can you remember the exact date you first saw them?

XXXXX

This is the sixth "official" (meaning EON productions) movie in the James Bond series.

It is based on the 1963 novel of the same name by the late Ian Flaming. This movie follows the plot of this novel quite closely.

This is the only Bond movie to star George Lazenby as fictional MI6 agent James Bond, code number 007. (Sean Connery had quit after starring in five Bond movies.)

After "Dr. No" (1962), this is the only Bond movie with solely instrumental opening credits theme music. (This music is still quite thrilling to hear after all these years.)

Yes, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, head of SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion) is Bond's nemesis in this movie. In fact, this is the second in what is considered to be the "Blofeld Trilogy." (This means that the Bond movie before this one had Blofeld and the Bond movie after this one had Blofeld. In all three cases, Blofeld was played by a different actor. In this movie, the legendary Telly Savalas plays a superb Blofeld.)

What is especially unique about this movie is that Bond meets, falls in love with, and eventually marries Contessa Teresa "Tracy" di Vicenzo (well-acted by Diana Rigg). Note that Rigg is the main Bond girl but there are twelve more. These dozen Bond girls are Blofeld's unwitting "Angels of Death."

During the Bond and Tracy courtship, there is the song "We have all the time in the world" sung by the incomparable Louis Armstrong. This song is special since this is his last recorded song.

I liked the little things the writers put into this movie. I'll mention just a few of them:

(1) The gun-barrel sequence was slightly different from the ones Bond fans were used to seeing at that time. (2) At the end of the opening sequence, Bond actually talks to the audience. (I don't think this has occurred in any other Bond movie.) (3) During the opening credits sequence, there are outtakes from previous Bond movies. (4) In one scene in this movie, Bond visits his office and takes out from his desk drawer gadgets from the previous Bond movies "Dr. No," "From Russia with Love," and "Thunderball." (Interestingly, this movie has minimal gadgets.) (5) In another scene, a janitor can be heard whistling the theme from "Goldfinger."

There is much debate about George Lazenby's James Bond. Personally, I liked him as Bond since he looks and moves like Bond. Due to the nature of the double plot, he had to be both sensitive and ruthless. He pulls it off. Unfortunately, Sean Connery was so closely identified with the role at the time such that people had a hard time seeing Lazenby in the role. (Lazenby, despite being offered a seven-movie contract deal, quit the role on advice from his agent.)

The only problem I had with this movie is that it take a long time to set up and viewers may get bored because of this. But the wait is worth it! The last hour of the movie is essentially one long, thrilling action sequence. After watching this accompanied by the specially-composed instrumental music (described above), you might feel like going out and saving the world from evil!!

Beware that this movie ends on a sad note but the ending is realistic considering the nature of Bond`s job.

This movie was filmed on location in Switzerland, Portugal, and London, England.

It grossed eighty-seven million dollars worldwide (that's a respectable five-hundred and thirteen million in today's dollars). It was one of the highest grossing movies worldwide at that time.

The DVD (released in 2009) is flawless in picture and sound quality. This movie has been digitally restored and I'm sure the picture is just as good (if not better) than when it was released forty years ago. There is one extra, an audio commentary.

Finally, here is some information to consider. This DVD is actually the first disc of the two disc "Ultimate Edition." Bond fanatics may want to purchase this two-disc Ultimate Edition since the second disc has "the best collection of special features ever assembled for Bond." (Unfortunately, the Ultimate Edition is no longer available but can be purchased second-hand.)

In conclusion, this is a unique and exciting James Bond movie that has been overlooked!!

(1969; 2 hr, 20 min; wide screen; 32 scenes)

<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>

XXXXX

The most underrated movie in the biggest film franchise of all time,OHMSS is highly regarded by 007 movie fans as the best movie.One of the reasons it hasn't topped Goldfinger ,due to the fact James Bond was not portrayed by Sean Connery, but an Australian model in his first acting job.
George Lazenby took on the role of 007 when Connery exited after You Only Live Twice (1967).Although lacking Connery's charisma (like the later Bond actors), Lazenby was a superb choice and did a wonderful job despite filling some big shoes.
But what really makes this movie so great is the story itself.Based from one of Ian Fleming's last Bond novels,It deals with Bond taking a leave from MI6 to track down Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savales).He teams up with Italian crime boss Draco (Gabriele Ferzetti) who offers to help Bond in exchange for him to marry his daughter Tracy (Diana Rigg).Bond goes undercover to Blofeld's mountaintop lair in Switzerland to uncover Blofeld's new plot of world domination,all the while in an uncharacteristic move, he falls in love with Tracy and marries her.
OHMSS spectacular scenes includes chases on skis, cars and bobsleds,as well as the destruction of the villian's lair.The most disturbing image of all Bond movies is the end scene after Bond and Tracy's wedding.
Although a hit at the box office in late 1969, it didn't perform as well as previous Bond films.Lazenby also departed the role, fearing that Bond pics would disappear after a while (!!!).Connery would return for one last time in Diamonds are Forever(1971), while Lazenby became a footnote in the Bond legacy.Many have wondered if Connery would've stuck it out to play in OHMSS (or Lazenby doing DAF).Either way,OHMSS will always be the most debated if not the most spectacular Bond film of all time.

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1.0 out of 5 stars What film were you watching?
Speaking as someone who saw this a young person in the '60's I can tell you it ranks up there as a pretty bad Bond film but by far not the worst. Read more

Published on Jan 22 2010 by Russ Crossley

2.0 out of 5 stars The weakest ending for any Bond film
It's no surprise there were no other Lazenby Bond movies. This one almost makes you root for the bad guys. Read more

Published on Jun 10 2004 by Ardeal

4.0 out of 5 stars Best or Worst??
Some say it's the worst of the Bond's, some say it's the best. What's the truth? Well, here's my take: Lazenby is more human, more boyish and more vulnerable than Connery,... Read more

Published on Jun 9 2004 by jbn 63

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best of the Bonds
A lot of 007 fans argue over this one to this day, but I still think this is one of the best James Bond films ever made. Read more

Published on Jun 2 2004 by The JuRK

5.0 out of 5 stars The most intimate of the Bond's
My title refers to the character of James Bond, not the film itself. In all the arguments over the REAL James Bond one usually advances Sean Connery (my pick), Roger Moore (the... Read more

Published on May 31 2004 by Avid Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD....
Is the clasic line in the best bond movie of all time. George Lazenby is outstanding as James Bond. Unfourtunatly, he was right after Sean Connery so he wasn't considered the best... Read more

Published on May 29 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars The best
Most people can't get beyond George Lazenby replacing the beloved Sean Connery as James Bond. It's too bad. Read more

Published on May 26 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars the sleeper with the best bond girl of all
a litte too subtle bond from lazenby, a suprisingly bland villian in telly savalas and awkwardly staged fight scenes dont matter one bit in the best bond since goldfinger... Read more

Published on May 24 2004 by ageofanxiety

1.0 out of 5 stars You Should at Least See the Ending
Pretty much bored until the end. It surprised me. The whole sequence of the marriage and then the after effect was very well done. It pulled at my heart-strings.

Published on April 23 2004 by Angela R. Monahan

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey, this really is the most memorable Bond film
In between Connery and Moore was one Bond film with George Lazenby. It's too bad that they did not bring him back for more as this film is quite different from the rest of the... Read more

Published on April 18 2004

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