On Her Majesty's Secret Service

[mrs_emma_peel]

On Her Majesty's Secret Service - ITV1

Sunday 1st February 2009 3.10-5.45pm



One of my favourite three James Bond films (the other two being Goldfinger and From Russia With Love) is being shown on ITV1 on Sunday afternoon 1st February 2009 3.10-5.45pm (hopefully not cut too heavily).



Intelligently scripted by Richard Maibaum, superbly well paced and brilliantly directed by Peter Hunt - remaining faithful to Ian Fleming’s finest novel … superb, outstanding performances by George Lazenby and Diana Rigg … complemented by stunning Swiss alpine scenery and a quite sensationally beautiful music score by John Barry.

One of the best film music scores ever composed.

This is James Bond at his magnificent best



We Have All The Time In The World …

[batman]

My favourite Bond film .... I can watch this film over and over again!

[doojeen]

What a loss that George Lazenby didn't continue in the role for several more films.

[batman]

What a loss that George Lazenby didn't continue in the role for several more films.

Agreed.

[Allen Dace]

He wouldn't have had as good a story again though (and I really like the next few films but not as much as his one).

[davidb]

my favourite bond film as well

[cornershop15]

On Her Majesty's Secret Service on TV! Really??!! That will make a change from A Thousand Clowns and The Slender Thread being on all the time!



I've seen this James Bond film a couple of times (who hasn't?) and thought George Lazenby was quite good. He certainly looked the part. Unfortunately, he's now remembered as a One-Film Wonder but he surely deserved another chance, unlike Ewa Aulin in the pretentious Candy. I agree with those who are affected by the sad ending (to OHMSS not Candy) as well. Wonderfully done.

[Viva Fisher!]

I seem to remember that he only signed up for one despite being offered five (or maybe seven) because his agent told him that these kind of films were "on the way out". And then of course they got Sean back.



As a big Bond fan I love this for not really being an archetypal Bond film.

[Grey Wyler]

He wouldn't have had as good a story again though (and I really like the next few films but not as much as his one).

It is just a thought here, but if Lazenby had stayed on board, then the next film would have been vastly different. I am sure that a Lazenby Diamonds are Forever would have far darker and seen him hellbent on revenge for the death of his wife.



Personally i would have like to have seen Lazenby's next film with Bond being sent on a Suicide mission (Fleming's You Only Live Twice) but surviving and ending up with complete loss of memory and heading for Russia.



You can miss what you have never had.

[batman]

As a big Bond fan I love this for not really being an archetypal Bond film.

That's one of the reasons I like it .... it stands alone as a 'proper' film, not just a Bond film. I love all the Bond films, but they are conspicuously part of a 'series' .... with hindsight even Dr No is so obviously a 'pilot' film, but OHMSS can be viewed as a true original.

[Lord Brett]

As might be predicted (Bats and me have absurdly similar tastes in film) when pressed I always plump for OHMSS as my favourite Bond movie. Despite, or possibly because of, Lazenby's thespic inexperience, he manages to bring to Bond a vulnerability which Connery has never displayed in any of his roles.



It also, for me, comes closest to bringing the flavour of Ian Fleming to screen, being a quite faithful adaptation of a very good Fleming novel filmed in the right period.

[gumby1987]

Sounds like I standalone in my thoughts that OHMSS is one of the worst Bond films. Never took to George Lazenby, and maybe the fact that is does stand perfectly fine on its own outside of the Bond series is another reason I don't rate it high as a Bond film. I haven't seen it for absolutely years though, (I think, after I saw it, I made a point to dodge it ever since), so, if I'm about the house, I'll give it another chance.

[Lord Brett]

It stands up better if you've seen Thunderball and You Only Live Twice recently. The slow pace of Thunderball, and the out of shape, bored looking Connery of YOLT might change your mind. OHMSS looks absolutely ravishing as well.

[Viva Fisher!]

I don't like the fact that he breaks the fourth wall, I don't like the daft costumes he wears, I don't like the references to previous movies- but I do like the film as a thriller.



Give it another chance I say.

[maninasuitcase]

FWIW OHMSS is easily the best Bond movie, great story, beautiful foreign locations, Diana Rigg as Tracy. I really can't think of anything bad to say about the movie.

[rskershaw]

Broccoli maintained in his autobiography When the Snow Melts that he sacked Lazenby, due to George's arrogant behaviour during filming. Whereas George claims that he was offered several more Bond films but refused them on the advice of his agent at the time, Ronan O'Rielly, who had said that Bond films were on the way out.



I'm not sure if we will ever find out the truth. However, why didn't Peter Hunt direct another Bond? IMHO he was one of the finest Bond directors (not to mention his previous work as second director).



Unfortunately, Hunt didn't address any of these issues in his commentary on OHMSS, just before he passed away. And, I believe, Diana Rigg will no longer discuss the film and its filming.

[batman]

Lazenby's side of the story was confirmed by Michael G Wilson a while ago. Peter Hunt didn't direct another one because of the disappointing box-office of OHMSS and his own desire to make other films. Diana Rigg gave an interview to a magazine a few years ago in which she said she got on well with Lazenby and actually felt sorry for him due to Peter Hunt's refusal to talk to him. Lazenby himself admits his behaviour was bad, but rightly IMHO puts some of the blame onto the producers for not helping guide the young inexperienced non-actor through such a huge production. His tenure as Bond remains one of the great 'what ifs' of film.

[rskershaw]

Peter Hunt didn't direct another one because of the disappointing box-office of OHMSS and his own desire to make other films.

Sadly I think his subsequent fims were second rate. Gold for example, made good Sunday afternoon T.V. fodder , but compared to his meticulous direction on OHMSS.......

[batman]

Sadly I think his subsequent fims were second rate. Gold for example, made good Sunday afternoon T.V. fodder , but compared to his meticulous direction on OHMSS.......

I agree .... Shout at the Devil is OK IMHO, but stuff like Wild Geese 2 and Assassination are truly awful.

[rskershaw]

I agree .... Shout at the Devil is OK IMHO, but stuff like Wild Geese 2 and Assassination are truly awful.

To go back to OHMSS, Hunt's recreation of the foyer of the College of Arms, the sheer amount of flowers at the wedding, the construction work on the Shilthorn.......more akin to a David Lean epic! I also love the phone booth tracking shot you mentioned in another post.



Just an afterthought. I like Telly Savalas as Blofeld in this film, but because of my age I've always associated Savalas with Kojack. Whereas Yul Brynner ......sinister is not the word!