Sean Connery as Bond in OHMSS
Bruce_007
Posts: 46MI6 Agent
No disrespect to George Lazenby, but I feel that with Connery in the title role of OHMSS it could have been better than any other Bond film hands down! First of all, Connery's bond getting married would've been great because it would make you remember all the women he personally had been with prior and now to think the player was finally settling down.:D Also, the PTS of DAF would have been sweeter because one could relate Bond's emotion far better if it was Connery's bond who had lost his wife. To me, the PTS of DAF reminds me of one man doing another's dirty work. My final point is the fact that armed with a good performance from Connery and arguably the best Fleming story, how can you beat it? What's your take on this subject?
Comments
I just feel that everyone from the studio to the camera man tried harder to make the film a success because of Connery's absence and had he been in the film it would have turned out to be another DAF or YOLT. Plus I have seen every film that Sean Connery has made, I do not think he could have pulled off the 2 most critical scenes in the film - proposal and tragic ending.
Interesting point-- I've always marveled at how much better he looked in NSNA than DAF or, to some degree, YOLT. He certainly looked much more suited to the role than a similarly aged Moore in AVTAK.
He definitely wouldn't have handled them in the same way as Lazenby, but if the same movie (with the same direction etc.) had been made with a FRWL to TB era Connery I have no doubts that Connery would have added his own unique charm to the romantic side of the story and possibly made it just as great-- just a little different.
However, if Connery was in YOLT mode (bored, dis-interested, makes no effort to hide it) then we are better off with Lazenby.
The action scenes were awesome, though. The opening fight on the beach, the "gatecrasher" fight, the fight outside Draco's office, the ski chases, the attack on Piz Gloria-- all of this was infused with a youthful magnetism and physical power that had waned considerably in the Connery of YOLT. I am always surprised at how many people complain about Lazenby's performance and then mention "oh, but he was good in the action sequences" as if they weren't really significant. The action in OHMSS was incredible (with that music, to boot)!-- and a huge part of what (to me) made that movie such a success.
Connery in '65 would've been perfect for OHMSS. I blame McClory that we were robbed of this Bond performance that never was...I believe Catherine Deneuve was being considered for Tracy even? That paring would've done it for me.
If it weren't for McClory Thunderball would have been the first Bond movie, followed by, presumably, a 1963 OHMSS. Now that would have been something.
I like Deneuve, but regardlesss of whom played Bond, I would prefer to have stuck with Diana Rigg. She ws magnificent. :x
1968 Eon Productions office.
Cubby Broccoli and co-producer Harry Saltzman are meeting with their star Sean Connery to discuss preparations for the next James Bond film, the sixth in the series.
Cubby: Now Sean, we’ve decided what your next mission as 007 will be.
Connery: Ah great Cubby. What Ian Fleming novel are we adapting next? Could it be ‘Live and Let Die?' Or maybe. ‘The Man with the Golden Gun? Or ‘Moonraker’ I quite like that one.
Cubby: It’s neither of those Sean. It’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Connery: Oh really, On Her Majeshty’sh Shecret Shervish,
Cubby and Harry hit the deck laughing.
Connery: Bashtardsh. That’s it. I’m going to America to star in ‘Shalako.’
That's an interesting way to look at it.
http://www.hmss.com/films/ohmss67/
In retrospect, I wonder if they would have been as faithful to OHMSS the novel, replete with its downbeat ending if it had been filmed in 1965. With the world going Bond and spy crazy at the time, and all the competitors coming out of the wood work(i.e., The Man From UNCLE, Derek Flint, Matt Helm, etc.), I have a feeling the 1965 Bond film would have been a gadget bedecked spectacle with a happy ending whether it had been TB, YOLT or OHMSS.
I agree there. Miss Deneuve is the best-Bond-girl-that-never-was IMHO. As fond as I am of Dame Diana, Deneuve's Tracy probably would have been closer to the character as described in the original novel. However, Catherine Deneuve was only offered the role after George Lazenby took the role as EON thought a name actress would help the Box Office of an unknown Bond actor.
Indeed; that's why I've often thought a 1963 OHMSS would have been very interesting.
Agree. I think it suits the film and what happened to Lazenby after, his career just tailing off and becoming an entire missed opportunity, adds pathos to OHMSS.