Diana Rigg, Star Of ‘The Avengers,’ 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service,' and ‘Game of Thrones,’ Dies at 82

As a teenager in the 1960s I had quite a crush on actress Diana Rigg, who appeared on the British TV series The Avengers. I also loved her in her role as James Bond’s doomed wife Tracy in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

I also loved her performance alongside George C. Scott in 1970's The Hospital. 

I most recently saw her outstanding performance as Lady Olenna Tyrell, “The Queen of Thorns,” in Game of Thrones.  

So I was saddened to read that Variety has reported that Diana Rigg has died.

Diana Rigg, the Tony and Emmy winner who splashed into the world of television with her commanding turn as intelligence agent Emma Peel on “The Avengers” in the 1960s and played Lady Olenna Tyrell on “Game of Thrones” decades later, died Thursday at her home in England. She was 82.

Rigg was a venerable figure in Britain’s entertainment industry who worked incessantly on stage, TV and film. She famously thumbed her nose at convention in her private life and in later years seemed to enjoy her status as a grande dame. Having a key role in the biggest TV series of the past decade was a fitting career capper for Rigg.

On HBO’s “Game of Thrones” Rigg recurred as Olenna Tyrell, also known as the Queen of Thorns, beginning with the third season in 2013. She was Emmy nominated for guest actress in a drama for her work on the show in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“She was a beautiful kind and generous human being that enhanced the lives of all that knew her as well as a great actress. She leaves a great void in my heart,” said Lionel Larner, Rigg’s longtime friend and talent agent.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/diana-rigg-dead-82-dies-avengers-game-of-thrones-1234765209/ 

Note: The top photo is of Diana Rigg in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and the above photo is of Diana Rigg in The Avengers.

A Look Back At The James Bond Film, 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'

Cinemaretro.com offers a look at Joe Dante's Trailers from Hell web site, which presents film editor Mark Goldblatt's tribute to the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. 

Goldblatt provides an insightful and very appreciative analysis of the film and correctly points out that, contrary to popular belief, George Lazenby's only Bond film was indeed a box office success. 

You can watch the video clip via the below link: 

www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/10395-TRAILERS-FROM-HELL-PRESENTS-ON-HER-MAJESTYS-SECRET-SERVICE.html

On Her Majesty's Secret Service is one of my favorite Ian Fleming novels, and the film is one of my favorite James Bond films. Although it is not a traditional Christmas film, I watch the film every Christmas season, as the film takes place in Switzerland during Christmas.

Considering that George Lazenby had not acted before, and he had to replace the great Sean Connery, I thought he gave a fine performance. He looked like Ian Fleming's Bond and he did the fight and action scenes very well.  I'd rank him as the third best Bond, after Sean Connery and Timothy Dalton.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service  was directed by Peter Hunt, the great editor of the previous Bond films. Hunt was faithful to Fleming's novel and made one of the best Bond films, in my view.

The film also offered Telly Savalas as Ernst Stavro Blofeld and the beautiful Diana Rigg as Tracy, Bond's tragic lover. 

Although I would have preferred a European actor to portray the mad, evil criminal genius, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Telly Salvalas was very good in the role. Salvalas had a great sense of command and madness and I believe he was the best Blofeld in the film series. 

The beautiful and alluring Diana Rigg was also very good as Bond's doomed girlfriend, and briefly, his wife. I loved her in the TV series The Avengers, and I loved as Tracy in this film. 

And John Barry's musical soundtrack is truly outstanding and one of his best.

It is a pity that George Lazenby did not continue in the series, as I believe he would have grown into the role and given Sean Connery a run for his money. And we would have been spared the decade of Bond-lite with Roger Moore portraying a lighthearted, comical Bond. (I loved Roger Moore as The Saint, but I didn't care for his portrayal of Bond).

Happy 79th Birthday To George Lazenby, The Actor Who Portrayed James Bond In 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'

Happy 79^th birthday to George Lazenby, the actor who portrayed James Bond in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service is one my favorite James Bond films. Although not a traditional Christmas film, I watch the film every Christmas season, as the film takes place in Switzerland during Christmas.

Considering that George Lazenby had not acted before, I thought he gave a fine performance. He looked like Ian Fleming's Bond and he did the fight and action scenes very well.  

On Her Majesty's Secret Service  was directed by Peter Hunt, the great editor of the previous Bond films. Hunt was faithful to Fleming's novel and made one of the best Bond films, in my view.

The film also offered Telly Savalas as Ernst Stavro Blofeld and the beautiful Diana Rigg as Tracy, Bond's tragic lover. 

Although I would have preferred a European actor to portray the mad, evil criminal genius, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Telly Salvalas was very good in the role. Salvalas had a great sense of command and madness and I believe he was the best Blofeld in the film series. 

The beautiful and alluring Diana Rigg was also very good as Bond's doomed girlfriend, and briefly, his wife.

Lastly, John Barry's musical soundtrack is truly outstanding.

It is a pity that George Lazenby did not continue in the series, as I believe he would have grown into the role and given Connery a run for his money. And we would have been spared the decade of Bond-lite with Roger Moore portraying a lighthearted, comical Bond.

Merry Christmas From James Bond (And John Barry & Louie Armstrong)

One may not think of a James Bond film as traditional holiday fare, but every Christmas season I watch On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

The film, which was released in December of 1969, has a Christmas setting and takes place in the snow-covered Swiss Alps.

The film, despite not having the great Sean Connery as Bond, is one the best in the series in my view. 

Considering that the new Bond, George Lazenby, had to follow Connery in the role, and that he had not acted before, I believe he delivered a better than fair portrayal of Bond. 

 He looked like Ian Fleming's Bond and he was very good in the fight and action scenes.

The film was also graced with Diana Rigg as Tracy, a strong, yet troubled woman with whom Bond has a serious - if ultimately tragic - love affair. 

Although I would have preferred a European actor to portray Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Telly Savalas was a commanding, brilliant and truly mad  Blofeld. The supporting actors were also very good.

The director of this fine film was Peter Hunt. Hunt, who edited the earlier Bond films, was faithful to Ian Fleming's novel, even going with the thriller's dark ending. Peter Hunt gave us a true Bond thriller.

The film also offers a terrific soundtrack by John Barry. 

You can watch a trailer of the film via the below link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVP2n_GcdlQ

And you can listen to John Barry's great love song sung by the late, jazz great Louie Armstrong via the below link:

Louis Armstrong - We Have All The Time in The World - 007 At Her Majesty' Secret Service (Lyrics) - YouTube

Merry Christmas from Bond, James Bond.

George Lazenby Served Only Once On Her Majesty's Secret Service: How He Bluffed His Way Into Being James Bond, Then Bumbled It

Although most people don't associate James Bond with Christmas, I include 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service with my short list of films I try to watch during the Christmas season.

The film takes place during Christmas in Switzerland, where there is abundant snow and holiday cheer (along with the girls, crime, espionage and terrorism).

The great Sean Connery had retired as Bond and George Lazenby, a former Australian model, took up the role. He looked like Ian Fleming's iconic character and he was very good in the fight scenes. Considering that he had never acted before, I thought he was fairly good as Bond. He was supported in the film by Diana Rigg as his doomed lover and by Telly Salvalas as Bond's great enemy, Blofeld.

But the main reason I love the film, as do many other Ian Fleming/James Bond aficionados, is the director, Peter Hunt, was faithful to Ian Fleming's novel. I've always thought that the best Bond films were the ones who were the most faithful to Ian Fleming.

It is a shame that George Lazenby did not do a few more Bond films, as I believe he would have grown as an actor and as James Bond.

Larry Getlen at the New York Post offers a piece on why Lazenby got the coveted role but only portrayed Bond in the one film.

George Lazenby certainly looked the part. But could the 28 year old, who had no acting experience and was more himbo than sophisticate, really play James Bond?

After considering candidates such as Oliver Reed and “Batman” actor Adam West, as well as future Bonds Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton, they became fixated on Lazenby, a successful Australian male model who had bluffed his way into the room.

... Blessed with dashing good looks, Lazenby was the sort who excelled at everything he did. “Champion darts player, best shot in the army,” he said. “I didn’t show fear.”

Before Bond came calling, Lazenby was already living every man’s dream as a top model in London, later saying he had “more money and girls” before Bond than after.

... But Lazenby folded before the film’s director, Peter Hunt, when, driven by fear, he ignored his fake bio and blurted out the truth.

“I don’t know what came over me,” said Lazenby. “I said, ‘Peter, I’ve never acted a day in my life. I’ve modeled but never spoken in front of a camera.’ And he’s looking at me, ‘What? And you say you can’t act? You’ve fooled two of the most ruthless men I’ve ever met in my life. Stick to your story, and I’ll make you the next James Bond.’ ”

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link: 

http://nypost.com/2015/12/13/george-lazenby-bluffed-his-way-into-being-james-bond-then-bumbled-it/ 

Happy 76th Birthday To James Bond Actor George Lazenby

Happy birthday to George Lazenby.

The actor, who portrayed James Bond in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, turned 76 yesterday.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service is one my favorite James Bond films, despite not having the great Sean Connery as Bond. I watch the film every Christmas season, as the film takes place in Switzerland during Christmas.

Considering that George Lazenby had not acted before, I thought he gave a fine performance. He looked like Ian Fleming's Bond and he did the fight and action scenes very well. I regret he did not continue in the role.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service  was directed by Peter Hunt, who was faithful to Fleming's novel and the film also offered Telly Savalas as the mad criminal Ernst Stavro Blofeld and the beautiful Diana Rigg as Tracy, Bond's tragic lover.

I believe that On Her Majesty's Secret Service is one of the best Bond films.

You can read more about George Lazenby via the below link:

https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/bonds/lazenby.php3 

Bringing in the Christmas Season With James Bond (and John Barry & Louie Armstrong)

One may not think of a James Bond film as traditional holiday fare, but every Christmas season I watch On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

The film, which was released in December of 1969, has a Christmas setting and takes place in the snow-covered Swiss Alps.

The film, despite not having the great Sean Connery as Bond, is one the best in the series, in my view.

Considering that the new Bond, George Lazenby, had to follow Connery in the role, and that he had not acted before, I believe he delivered a better than fair portrayal of Bond.

He looked like Ian Fleming's Bond and he was very good in the fight and action scenes.

The film was also graced with Diana Rigg as Tracy, a strong, yet troubled woman with whom Bond has a serious - if ultimately tragic - love affair.

Telly Savalas was a commanding and truly mad Ernst Stavro Blofeld and the supporting actors were also very good.

The director of this fine film was Peter Hunt. Hunt, who edited the earlier Bond films, was faithful to Ian Fleming's novel, even going with the thriller's dark ending. Hunt gave us a true Bond thriller.

You can watch a trailer of the film via the below link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVP2n_GcdlQ

And you can listen to John Barry's great love song song by the late jazz great Louie Armstrong via the below link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-BQTnw7g-s

Merry Christmas from Bond, James Bond.

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" Is One Of The Best Bond Films In The Series

Cinematical takes a look back at the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

 

The reviewer, like me, believes the film is one is one of the best in the film series. Peter Hunt, previously an editor on the Bond series, directed this film and he was faithful to the Ian Fleming novel.

Although I dearly missed the great Sean Connery, George Lazenby was a fairly good Bond, especially when you consider that he had never acted before. He looks like Fleming's Bond and he  handled the fight and action scenes well.

Although I would have preferred an European actor to portray the mad, evil genius, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Telly Salvalas was very good in the role. Salvalas had a great sense of command and madness and I believe he was the best Blofeld in the film series.

The beautiful and alluring Diana Rigg was also very good as Bond's doomed girlfriend, and briefly, his wife.

Lastly, John Barry's musical soundtrack is truly outstanding.

It is a pity that Lazenby did not continue in the series, as I believe he would have grown into the role and perhaps given Connery a run for his money. And we would have been spared the decade of Bond-lite with Roger Moore portraying a lighthearted, comical Bond

The below link is to the piece:

http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/29/shelf-life-on-her-majestys-secret-service/