On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Barry Nelson
ChicagoPosts: 1,508MI6 Agent
Using the search function I looked everywhere for an OHMSS review thread, but didn't see one, so I guess I will start one. Feel free to move my post, if I missed it.
My cable provider, Comcast, has all the Bond films in HD available for viewing, so last night I watched OHMSS, which I had not seen in awhile. Glad I did, because this is a very good film.
The first film to star someone other than Connery as Bond, it failed at the box office, mostly in the States, but it shouldn't have. The only thing holding this film back from being in my top five is the lead actor, and he isn't all that bad. This film hits the mark on all your basic bond elements.
Villain, Telly Savales as Blofeld, Savales is easily the best Blofeld in my book, clever, ruthless and diabolical.
Bond Girl - Diana Rigg as Tracy, attractive, smart and able to hold her own in a tough situation. She is something of a Cinderella figure in the movie, as Bond saves her in the opening scene, but is left holding just her shoes as she escapes. Rigg is definitely one of the best Bond girls of all time. The other women in the film are fine, but are mostly background.
Henchman/woman Ilse Steppat as Helga Bundt is a good one; she is the strict Blofeld disciple who insures Blofeld's plan is followed. She is smart and although she is not physically menacing, she is menacing none-the-less.
Action - Some of the best action in any of the Bond films. Bond's escape from Piz Gloria, and later, the assault on Piz Gloria are wonderfully shot and put the viewer right in the action. The bobsled chase was especially well done.
Cinematography - the film is glorious to look at, both the interiors and exteriors are gorgeous, perhaps the most beautiful Bond film ever.
Bond - George Lazenby plays Bond in OHMSS, his one and only Bond appearance, which I think is too bad, because he may have been a good one. For a virtual unknown, with little acting experience, to take on this iconic role and do as well as he did is impressive. He handles the action scenes very well, I also think, for the most part; he does well in the romantic scenes. He does seem stiff delivering the comedic one liners, but most of the lines were lame to begin with. All in all not a bad performance.
Other Bond Moments - the scenes with Moneypenny and Q (limited in this film), are played well. Moneypenny not writing Bond's resignation is a nice touch, as was her few tears at Bond's wedding. We also get some real spying and Bond using his ingenuity. I like how Bond breaks into the lawyer’s office safe to get the Blofeld correspondence and also like how he escapes from Piz Gloria with nothing to use, but his wits. Scenes like what I just mentioned are what are missing from some of the newer Bond films.
I am moving OHMSS up to #7, behind, GF, TB, TWINE, LTK, GE and DN.
My cable provider, Comcast, has all the Bond films in HD available for viewing, so last night I watched OHMSS, which I had not seen in awhile. Glad I did, because this is a very good film.
The first film to star someone other than Connery as Bond, it failed at the box office, mostly in the States, but it shouldn't have. The only thing holding this film back from being in my top five is the lead actor, and he isn't all that bad. This film hits the mark on all your basic bond elements.
Villain, Telly Savales as Blofeld, Savales is easily the best Blofeld in my book, clever, ruthless and diabolical.
Bond Girl - Diana Rigg as Tracy, attractive, smart and able to hold her own in a tough situation. She is something of a Cinderella figure in the movie, as Bond saves her in the opening scene, but is left holding just her shoes as she escapes. Rigg is definitely one of the best Bond girls of all time. The other women in the film are fine, but are mostly background.
Henchman/woman Ilse Steppat as Helga Bundt is a good one; she is the strict Blofeld disciple who insures Blofeld's plan is followed. She is smart and although she is not physically menacing, she is menacing none-the-less.
Action - Some of the best action in any of the Bond films. Bond's escape from Piz Gloria, and later, the assault on Piz Gloria are wonderfully shot and put the viewer right in the action. The bobsled chase was especially well done.
Cinematography - the film is glorious to look at, both the interiors and exteriors are gorgeous, perhaps the most beautiful Bond film ever.
Bond - George Lazenby plays Bond in OHMSS, his one and only Bond appearance, which I think is too bad, because he may have been a good one. For a virtual unknown, with little acting experience, to take on this iconic role and do as well as he did is impressive. He handles the action scenes very well, I also think, for the most part; he does well in the romantic scenes. He does seem stiff delivering the comedic one liners, but most of the lines were lame to begin with. All in all not a bad performance.
Other Bond Moments - the scenes with Moneypenny and Q (limited in this film), are played well. Moneypenny not writing Bond's resignation is a nice touch, as was her few tears at Bond's wedding. We also get some real spying and Bond using his ingenuity. I like how Bond breaks into the lawyer’s office safe to get the Blofeld correspondence and also like how he escapes from Piz Gloria with nothing to use, but his wits. Scenes like what I just mentioned are what are missing from some of the newer Bond films.
I am moving OHMSS up to #7, behind, GF, TB, TWINE, LTK, GE and DN.
Comments
I've never felt that the film was measurably compromised by Lazenby's performance at all. If anything, it could very well have been even more jarring to see the theretofore unflappable Connery version of Bond fall in love and end up utterly broken by the end.
Even though Diana Rigg was great in the film, and I completely bought into the fact that Bond could fall in love with Tracy so quickly, she doesn't resonate with me as much as other Bond girls. Maybe its because as a fan of The Avengers I still see a few too many traces of the unflappable Mrs. Peel. Or it could just be my subconscious way of coping with her sad ending.
I thought the other Bond girls were cute, especially Caterina Von Schell, later Catherine Schell of Return of the Pink Panther and Space: 1999 fame.
Telly Savalas is often unfairly maligned for his portrayal of Blofeld. I always thought he struck a very good balance of snobbery, menace and even charm when it was required; though having the marriage bug bite him was a bit much.
OHMSS ranks pretty high for me as well. Its #5 on my list and I would be remiss in not pointing out that I found the whole romance between Bond and his leading lady more organic, believable and ultimately moving than what we were given in the Overrated Casino Royale TM.
I've got OHMSS at my own #5 as well; it's a classic that took the clarity of posterity to bring it into focus.
The most Fleming of all Bond films, IMRO {[]
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I also think Savalas is great as Blofeld, he's a big imposing actor, with a heavy controlled delivery which fits perfectly to his role, unlike Pleasance and Grey who frankly are wall flowers in comparison.
Incidently Barry, for more of my opinions on OHMSS, read my review in the thread "Two Weeks of Bondage"
One of the many reasons it sits #1 on my list.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I think George Lazenby should have kept his actual voice when impersonating Sir Hilary Bray.
There are many fashion faux pauxs. Kilts on a man make me cringe. Ruffled collars and ruffled cuffs push the Royalty motif too far. I would take Tracy out of those Doris Day outfits and put her into sexy practical clothes. I would replace the peacock gown at the beginning with skimpy lingerie when she tries for the long swim.
I wish that Tracey's self-destructive habits were a little more desperate. I said a little; not over-the-top. The point is to illustrate what her father really meant when he said "Something is eating at her soul." Instead of a romantic walk through the park, I would rather see Bond slap her face and keep her on her feet to prevent an O.D. Saving Tracy from herself requires a harsh physical intimacy that is a discovery for both of them. I wish Tracy had been played more dissipated and strung out in the first half, so that we could see a change, a personal growth, in her during the second half as her relationship with Bond deepens.
That having been said, OHMSS has been one of the top five films in my life ever since I first saw it on a double-bill with the second-run of Diamonds Are Forever in the fall of 1972. I love everything about the film. Especially the screenplay by Richard Maibaum, which is literate, intelligent, and refreshingly faithful to Ian Fleming. For once the music by John Barry is not playing over a hollow shell. It defines the film, but the underlying drama and sophistication are present on the screen. The score compliments rather than fills in the blank. I listen to it often. The impeccable direction by the late great Peter Hunt. I respond to the narrative drive he brings to the piece. There are many memorable scenes; like when Miss Moneypenny catches Bond's hat and tries to restrain her tears.
Not only is OHMSS a superior Bond film, it's superior cinema. I think it's one of the best movies I've ever seen.
I just watched it today and it is indeed a classic. In fact it has moved up to my #1 overall Bond film. I had to dvr it because of the time slot it air in this weekend. On a cool majesty side note: I just saw "inception" last week and it has a tribute to Majesty in it with the ski scene ( The director Chris Nolan said the movie was inspired/ a tribute to Bond movies) and he chose to showcase a OHMSS scene, that says alot indeed. Also just want to say it's fun to post on here with all you other Bond geeks hahaha It's good to know I'm no alone.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I always got a strong "disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" vibe off of Richard's posts. Maybe he's just busy firing off irate letters to various newspapers.....
He always maintained he wasn't whom we thought/knew he was...guess he got fed up and moved on...
One of my absolute favorites was the avalanche scene. Not very memorable, but i feel it was done so well. The camerawork was awesome and the editing, the sound dubbing, and even the monologue from Blofeld - "A grave deep enough i think to prevent even 007 from walking."
1. GoldenEye 2. Goldfinger 3. Skyfall 4. OHMSS 5. TWINE
"Now leave me alone! All of you!"
Roger Moore 1927-2017