On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

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  May 11, 2008

  jmanard52

  A so so 007 fare ..

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  October 14, 2011

  cosmo313

  Oh this movie, how mixed of a reception you (still) seem to get. That's rather unfortunate, too. The plot once again follow James Bond on the trail of SPECTRE head Ernst Stavro Blofeld. This time around Blofeld has developed quite a strong interest in genealogy and is using that ... read moreas something legitimate, as well as for a bit of a cover up for a plan to take over the world via germ warfare, to be done using sleeper agents (of sorts). Yeah, it is once again global domination, but overall the film feels far more grounded in reality than most of these types of movies.
  
  The film also apparently sticks really close to the novel, and strives for a sense of greater realism, with little to no gadgets being used, as well as greater focus on a strong plot as well as wonderful character development, with Bond legitimately falling in love.
  
  What makes this film notable is that is marks George Lazenby's sole outing as Bond. Here's the deal: he's not THAT bad. He's mostly just a little stiff, underwhelming, and a tad bland. It also doesn't help that he didn't seem to have his heart in it, and that he mimics Connery too often, somethiong future Bonds pretty well avoided. Had he stayed on for more films, I think that Lazenby could have been a pretty decent Bond and made it his own. As it stands he's just so-so. Fortunately though, his presence is really the only major issue with this film. Granted that's no small thing, but still. I will give him some credit and say that he does good with the action elements and does manage to pull off the final scene nicely, which would be a challenge for anyone, not just him.
  
  I loved the cinematography, enjoyed the fact that they tried to do some different things this time around, including having the touching love story and the ballsy final scene. The love plot is well done and believable, and the plot doesn't seem all that silly or outlandish. Also, the action's pretty well done, and the bulk of the third act is filled with several chase scenes, fights, and shootouts. The music is probably the real highlight though, and John Barry once again puts in some terrific work, especially with the main title theme. Louis Armstrong's performance of "We Have All the Time in thew World" isn't too bad either.
  
  I do have some minor gripes, but unlike Lazenby, they aren't quite as big an issue. Those are the sometimes choppy editing (mostly during close up fights), the occasional speeding up of the film (noticeable during some fights) which comes off as a bit silly and distracting, and the fact that the end credits shoulsd have either featured somber music or none at all. As is, the Bond Theme, no matter how classic, is jarring compared to the emotional impact of what preceds it.
  
  Overall ,I think this is a wonderful film that deserves more attention, and that Lazenby deserves a bit of a break. I do think that the film would be less maligned had Connery done it, but I don't know if the love story and the ending would have worked as well as they do. His Bond was more superhuman, whereas Lazenby's is a bit more human amd vulnerable. You should give it a chance, because it is quite well done and does a lot of great things. It would be better had Lazenby had more time to make the role his own. I will say that you should probably pass on this if you don't like the idea of Bond growing and changing by falling in love instead of being just a suave ladies man. The film is one of the longest in the series, so yeah, if you can't get into the many scenes where the film takes a break to let the plot and characters develop gradually, then again, give it a pass, otherwise, sit back, relax and enjoy one of the strongest entries in the series.

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  July 29, 2011

  spielberg00

  In the beginning, when Lazenby spoke The Famous Line (c'mon, you know what it is), I think I might have confused him for saying, "Hello. My name is Bland. James Bland." Clearly, George Lazenby is the worst Bond. No, not Timothy Dalton. George Lazenby. And people wonder why ... read morethe hell Broccoli only kept him for one film.

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  October 28, 2010

  Chiefilms

  Different kind of Bond movie, doesn't really follow the classic structure of a Bond movie much like the Craig films. Put together well, forgettable characters but it's an interesting chapter in the franchise. George Lazenby, much like Ashton Kutcher, is not an actor. He was a ... read moremodel that looked the part. Basic rundown: Lots of snow, Louis Armstrong, an absurd bobsled chase, marriage, and an absurd bobsled chase.

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  July 31, 2010

  bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1

  i liked it but it got boring in parts. B

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  June 28, 2010

  TheDudeLebowski65

  Well here it is, the first James Bond dud. George Lazenby shoulders the Walther PPK in this one, and thankfully it was also his final appearance. A good cast is wasted here, and not even Telly Savalas can save this film. Theres little action in this film. Just a lot of talk. Jus... read moret when the action starts and it starts to get thrilling, it's too little too late. The film like the book are pretty dull and uninteresting, the ideas for both were good, but the execution was poor. The film does boast a few very thrilling moments, but it's too little too late.

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  June 19, 2010

  76Majikat

  As a James Bond film it has certainly stepped up a notch in regards to Action ? it may look dated with some of the stunts etc, but it is an improvement on the scale of Action envolved in these films.
  
  Wasn?t blown away by the storyline and of course it quite evidently missed ou... read moret on the presence of Sean Connary. George Lazenby, didn?t really come across as a suitable replacement at all, perhaps that shows why he only did one film as James Bond.

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  September 23, 2009

  SirPant

  Great film. Poor old George Lazenby though, he was never going to be excepted even though he was quite good!

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  August 26, 2009

  sanjurosamurai

  lazenby gets a bad wrap, having to follow connery, as he pulled of the role of bond for this film just fine. the film is an excellent one with great chase scenes, an interesting story, and more emotion than we're used to from a bond film. it was a bit too long for a bond film a... read morend the final scene was executed very poorly, but overall this is another solid addition to the bond legacy.

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  January 25, 2009

  sononothing

  Does anybody here remember George Lazenby? He was the first actor to take over the role of James Bond from Sean Connery, who had had enough by 1969 and wanted to end his reign as Bond (though he would come back one more time officially when they offered him an ungodly sum of mone... read morey). Lazenby had the impossible task of following someone who defined a role. That's like replacing Indiana Jones or if they try to replace Heath Ledger in the next Batman movie- whoever takes that role will forever be compared to the "original".
  
  On Her Majesty's Secret Service is Lazenby's only Bond film, sandwiched in between two Connery films (You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever). It's main plot is that a gangster (Gabrielle Ferzetti) is willing to pay Bond one million pounds to wed his indulgent daughter. The film follows their budding relationship while Bond investigates Blofeld's (Tell Savalas) allergy clinic and what it's a cover for.
  
  While interesting the story is a little lackluster with the entire "Marry my daughter" storyline feeling a little pushed. The cast is adequate, though being a child that remembers Kojak it's a bit difficult for me to see Telly Savalas as Blofeld. The film ends up being an average Bond/espionage film that delivers on action (Lazenby is probably the biggest ass kicker out of all the Bonds). Even with Connery I don't think OHMSS would have been better than Goldfinger or From Russia With Love.
  
  Which brings us to Lazenby because any review of On Her Majesty's Secret Service is essentially a review of Lazenby as Bond. Is he better or worse than Connery? The answer is he's different. Just like Roger Moore was different. And Timothy Dalton. And Pierce Brosnan. And Daniel Craig. And Barry Nelson. And David Niven. Bonds are like General Motors. Yeah, there's a bunch of different styles and makes, but they're all built essentially on the same frame. The character is the frame. The actor is the one who fills it out.

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• George Lazenby as James Bond
• Diana Rigg as Tracy Di Vicenzo
• Telly Savalas as Blofeld
• Ilse Steppat as Irma Bunt
• Gabriele Ferzetti as Draco
• Bernard Horsfall as Campbell
• George Baker as Sir Hilary Bray
• Bernard Lee as "M"
• Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny

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• Australian actor George Lazenby starred in one James Bond movie, what was it called  Answer »
• In the 1969 James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" we are told that 007's family motto is "Orbis non sufficit." What does this translate as?  Answer »
• In the bond movies, which was the only movie he was married in?  Answer »
• What 007 actor played in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"?  Answer »

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