On Her Majesty's Secret Service

ZorinIndustries

There are a lot of people who really dislike OHMSS for their own reasons. Whether it be Lazenby, or the storyline which reveals the soft side of Bond, viewers' thoughts can vary. I just wrapped up OHMSS and I quite honestly feel it is one of the best James Bond films to this date. It has just the right amount of action and there's no excess drama. What do you all think of the film?

Thunderpussy

On first seeing OHMSS,as a young teen I hated it, luckily as I matured I began to appreciate it more, until it climbed its way up my list of favourite Bonds untill it reached Number One. IMHO It is the Best Bond ever, fantastic score and photography even Lazenby works for me as I think his Insecureity as an actor helped portray the more Human aspects of Bond, making him more vulnerable and less of the superman he became in later movies.

ZorinIndustries

Exactly. The score is probably my favorite aspect of it all. This is John Barry at his best. And as far as appreciation, I have experienced many things regarding love and all that (Corny, i know haha) and I can understanding the pain that Bond goes through and all of the different events. But the film is by far one of the best. Thanks for the reply!

Thunderpussy

Also just my opinion ,but I like the feeling of Bond being totally on his own and having basicly only his guile and witts to get him out of trouble. Spectre itself is a smaller group more like what it was in the novel, Some I know Hate Telly Savalas as Blofeld but I think he's great, suave and menacing,even the way he holds his cigarette when laying out his Plan to Bond looks cool, I might make a point of watching it again today. -{

Golrush007

One of the very best in my opinion...I like all aspects of the film - story, villains, locations, action, music etc. I also think that Peter Hunt brought an edgy and powerful touch in the fight scenes. His fast cutting style as an editor seemed to translate into his approach as a director.

If there is a weak link, I guess it is Lazenby - although I think to be fair he does a good job. His acting in the tragic final scene isn't bad at all, and his work in the fight scenes is very good.

Mister Greene

I too didnt like this film when I was younger, but have grown to like this film alot especially after reading the book. I only wish they would have made YOLT more like the book as well.

Mister Greene

oh and now when I watch it I just wish the clothing was better because it was horrible

ZorinIndustries

Hahaha i have to agree on that one. Sir Hilary Bray's costume was not the sharpest hahaha. But hey... Bond's gotta go what Bond's gotta do.

Mister Greene

and what was up with the purple walls in the casino. the late 60's were crazy looking.

ZorinIndustries

Hahaha i wish i was around for em

Colonel Johns

I saw OHMSS for the first time on TV in the late '70s when I was about 11 years old. Actually, I only saw about half of it because I wasn't allowed to stay up late enough to watch the whole thing! I really didn't know anything about the series or the history of the character, but I was mesmerized by what I saw, particularly the scene where Bond breaks into the lawyer's office and cracks the safe to copy the letters from Blofeld. (And let's face it, seeing the cover of Playboy like that at the age of 11 was quite a thrill !)

My love of the film has only grown with subsequent viewings. I think they made great use of the Fleming source material, the action is crisp, and the final scene has unexpected emotional impact. While Lazenby's delivery may be lacking at times I felt he brought physical intensity and a sense of danger to the role. And the early scene of him lighting the cigarette in the car before we've seen his face is to me one of the truly iconic moments in the series, much like our first view of Connery in DN.

Tokyo Matt

hello Colonel, let's say - er - Johns.

I'd forgotten about that. The bit with the cigarette was cool. A good director can do a lot with the a cigarette.

Mr. ZorinIndustries. I'm another who liked the film.

Especially little touches like the lighting of the ciggy.
Duffin' the baddies up before he enters the room goes down on one knee with a throwing knife ready.
Ripping the inside of his trouser pockets out so he could climb hand over hand along the steel wire rope.

Didn't like the way he spoke to the camera, "this never happened to the other guy." thingy. Glad that never became a habit.
When I watch that bit, I always wish, while Lazenby was busy talking to the camera, one of the baddies had taken the opportunity to smack him across the back of the head.

Number24

I rank OHMSS among the top three Bond films, along with FRWL and CR. Good story, music action etc. Lazenby is exelent in the fight scenes (If all the Bond actors had fought each other when they were in their prime, I think he would have won) moves well, and he can convey cockieness, romance and the end scene is touching.

thesecretagent

I didn't like OHMSS the first time I saw it, and always thought of George Lazenby as a rubbish Bond. However, I watched it again in my late twenties and loved it. I guess I'd experienced a few more emotions by then, had read all of Fleming's books and appreciated the series more by then. It's now up there in my ever-reorganised top five Bond films. Lazenby could have improved with more films, that said, he is pretty good throughout (except for dubbed voice etc). A great Bond film, gorgeous Bond girl in Diana Rigg and a great Aston Martin. The scenery is great and the fact Bond is out there with little resources and acting on his wits makes it a good film. I also like the lovestory throughout.

Napoleon Plural

"It was the best of Bonds, it was the worst of Bonds" as Dickens might have put it.

Tokyo Matt

"It was George Lazenby's best Bond movie, it was George Lazenby's worst Bond movie" as Tokyo Matt might have put it.

You can't really argue with that.

Tracy

OHMSS is generally well-regarded among AJBers, and I'm no exception. I love the movie more with each viewing, and I already find it among my top 3 favorites next to FRWL and TLD. The cast is one of the strongest overall, and the storyline holds up pretty well from a contemporary perspective; I wouldn't be embarrased to introduce OHMSS to a friend who grew up on Brosnan Bond, which wouldn't be the case for some of the Moore films. Lazenby's delivery wasn't the strongest, but he always felt like a believable and more human Bond to me, knowing when he was out of his depth yet still navigating his way through improbable situations while standing up for his convictions.

That said, his courtship with Tracy does feel a little short, but it's not hard to see why Bond falls for her once we see how awesome she is. Rigg conveys a sense of vulnerability that doesn't undermine the character's strength. Tracy is my favorite Bond girl of all time. I hero worshipped Diana Rigg on the Avengers, and I still wish I could be more like her.

zaphod

Tracy is the best, the complete package. She puts all the others in the shade, and beautifully realised by the lovely Diana Rigg. Vesper could have arguably come close, but not played by Eva Green.

Barry Nelson

Many a review of OHMSS on this this thread which funny enough has the same title.

http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/32089/on-her-majastys-secret-service/

ZorinIndustries

Haha I'm sorry. I didn't realize there was already a thread on this film. Thanks for the post though!

Thunderpussy

I think it's a good enough Movie to have Many threads )