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).

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.

Licence To Sell: James Bond's 1960s Rolex Watch Up For Auction

Ian Fleming's iconic character James Bond wore a Rolex Submariner diver's watch during the 1960's Bond films, as did George Lazenby in his one-time portrayal of Bond in the earlier portions of 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. 

But when Lazenby/Bond went undercover as genealogist Sir Hilary Bray and infiltrated criminal madman Ernst Stavo Blofeld's Swiss clinic, he wore another Rolex (seen in the above photo).

Hannah Ellis-Peterson at the British newspaper the Guardian offers a piece on the sale of the special Rolex watch worn by George Lazenby as Bond.

James Bond might be best known for his suave attire and explosive gadgets, but for his creator Ian Fleming “a gentleman’s choice of timepiece says as much about him as does his Savile Row suit”.

And now, one of the watches that formed a pivotal part of 007’s look almost five decades ago is to be auctioned in Monte Carlo.

... Though Bond has sported an Omega in recent outings, in his original books, Fleming was very particular about the watch his spy should wear. Writing in his 1953 novel, Casino Royale, Fleming specified that 007 “could not just wear a watch. It had to be a Rolex”. 

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

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jul/18/licence-to-sell-james-bonds-1960s-rolex-watch-up-for-auction

Below are photos of Sean Connery as James Bond wearing a Rolex Submariner in 1964's Goldfinger:

You can also read an earlier post on James Bond's Rolex Submariner via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2015/10/how-james-bond-made-submariner-rolexs.html

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/ 

Why 007's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" Is The Most Underrated James Bond Movie

I agree with Sam Moore at yahoo.com that Sean Connery is the best James Bond and From Russia With Love is the best Bond film. I also agree that On Her Majesty's Secret Service is a fine Bond film. 

Sam Moore offers a piece on the underrated Bond film at yahoo.com.

The film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' had an awful lot to live up to. In 1969 it was blasphemous to have anybody other than Sean Connery play the secret agent that was a hallmark of British cinema and responsible for transcending Connery into a global icon. And of course, nobody had heard of George Lazenby, and still, forty-something years later, 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' remains the most high profile film he's done by quite some distance. As Peter Hunt's film stuck closer to the novel than previous adaptations, it meant there would be no high-tech gadgets and distinct decrease in glamour, but what we got was one of the best James Bond films, and certainly the most underrated.

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

https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/why-007s-her-majestys-secret-most-underrated-james-110400833.html

You can also read an earlier post on HMSS via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2014/02/on-her-majestys-secret-service-recap.html

Note: I thought George Lazenby was fine as Ian Fleming's iconic character James Bond, considering that he had never acted before. He looked like Bond and he did the fights scenes very well.

I agree with Sam Moore that the Bond films after OHMSS became silly, but I would point out that although there were some silly bits in Timothy Dalton's two outings as Bond, The Living Daylights and License to Kill are two very good Bond films.   

On Her Majesty's Secret Service Recap: A 007 Outlier With A Truly Human Bond

Stuart Heritage at the British newspaper the Guardian looks back at the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.   

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (OHMSS) had a lot to live up to. As far as the entire world was concerned, Sean Connery was James Bond. And here was some impostor – worse, an impostor from the colonies, George Lazenby, whom nobody had heard of – waltzing in to take his place. It wasn't right. It wouldn't do. To rub everyone's noses in it even further, On Her Majesty's Secret Service deliberately stuck closely to the book, which meant no audience-pleasing whizz-bang gadgets. And what's with the bummer of an ending? No wonder the film only took half of the amount of You Only Live Twice at the box office.

And yet I will fight anyone who dares to tell me that they don't like On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Because they are flat out wrong. In the 45 years since it was released, it stands out as one of the best 007 films ever. Possibly even the best. It has the best soundtrack. It pushes the character into difficult new places. And that ending: that's not just a great James Bond ending, it's probably in the top 10 film endings of all time. If you've never seen On Her Majesty's Secret Service, you should watch it. If you've seen On Her Majesty's Secret Service before, you should watch it again. And if you don't like it, I'm serious about fighting you.

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

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/feb/23/on-her-majestys-secret-service-film-recap

Note: I agree. I watch the film every Christmas season, as the film takes place during the Christmas holiday and has a winter backdrop in Switzerland. I think the novel was one of Ian Fleming's best and director Peter Hunt was faithful to the novel, unlike most Bond films.

You can read an earlier post on the film via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2009/10/on-her-majestys-secret-service-is-one.html

And you can read my Crime Beat column on Cinema Crime Wave, which touches on Her Majesty's Secret Service, via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2012/11/cinema-crime-wave.html

James Bond's Toughest Cinema Fistfights

I came across a video compilation on youtube.com of Ian Fleming's iconic charcter James Bond in some of his toughest fistfights in the film series.

The fights include the greatest, Sean Connery and Robert Shaw fighting in the train compartment in  From Russia With Love, and a lame Roger Moore fight that I would have excluded.

You can watch the film fights via the below link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIDh9OJ2Qog

And as Timothy Dalton was not included in the above clip you can watch him as James Bond fighting via the below link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWzrQ-xn3Wc  

What If: An Interview With One-Time James Bond Actor George Lazenby

In an earlier post, I linked to a piece about Ian Fleming's desire to have director Alfred Hitchcock direct the first James Bond film. Now that would have been an interesting film.

Another what if to ponder is what would the Bond films been like in the 1970s had George Lazenby continued in the role after 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service?

I believe George Lazenby would have grown in the role and we would have done without Roger Moore's lighthearted and comedic approach to the role.

Of course my generation will always think of Sean Connery as the one and only Bond, but I believe Lazenby did fine considering he had never acted before. I'm very fond of On Her Majesty's Secret Service and I watch it every Christmas season.

Below is a video interview of George Lazenby sometime after On Her Majesty Secret Service was released.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8YJ4V4xqpU

You can also visit an earlier post on Her Majesty's Secret Service via the below link:

http://pauldavisoncrime.blogspot.com/2009/11/bringing-in-christmas-season-with-james.html

A Q & A With George Lazenby, The Man Who Was Once James Bond

MI6 - the James Bond web site, not the British intelligence agency - offers a good Q & A with George Lazenby, the man who portrayed James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

You can read the Q & A via the below link:

http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/event_george_lazenby_qa.php3?t=&s=&id=02886

Despite the absence of Sean Connery, I think On Her Majesty's Secret Service is a terrific Bond thriller.

You can read my earlier post on On Her Majesty's Secret Service via the below link:

http://pauldavisoncrime.blogspot.com/2009/11/bringing-in-christmas-season-with-james.html    

"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/