Lazenby wasn't much of an actor, but something tells me kicking Pierce's a** is something George would be very good at.
I would certainly agree with you that Lazenby could do so easilly 30 years ago (he could have kicked the butt of probably all the Bonds) but now, I think he would have no chance. I know some people consider Brosnan to be some kind of prettyboy, but I think he's a great fighter. Have a look, for example, at the ship scene and the fight with Alec in GE, and the party scene in TND. In fact, I don't think that Brosnan is less of a fighter than Craig is, however blasphemous that may sound.
I will say this though. I don't think any of the Bonds are bad fighters. Some are better than others, but I think all get the job done convincingly.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Lazenby wasn't much of an actor, but something tells me kicking Pierce's a** is something George would be very good at.
I would certainly agree with you that Lazenby could do so easilly 30 years ago (he could have kicked the butt of probably all the Bonds) but now, I think he would have no chance. I know some people consider Brosnan to be some kind of prettyboy, but I think he's a great fighter. Have a look, for example, at the ship scene and the fight with Alec in GE, and the party scene in TND. In fact, I don't think that Brosnan is less of a fighter than Craig is, however blasphemous that may sound.
I will say this though. I don't think any of the Bonds are bad fighters. Some are better than others, but I think all get the job done convincingly.
The way Brosnan or anyone else fights in a movie has nothing to do with how they would handle themselves in real life. Movie fights are choreographed. Who would pay to watch a real one, professional martial artists aside? The real thing is a lot messier.
Now I know Connery decked Johnny Stompanato, a protege of LA gangster Mickey Cohen, back in the '50s when he threatened him with a gun over Lana Turner; and I know Lazenby was an accomplished martial artist from a stint in the Australian special forces, so I assume he could handle himself.
Now when you take age into consideration, you may be right about a Lazenby-Brosnan bout.
As for Craig-Brosnan movie fights, IMO the quality depends on how they're staged, more than the actors themselves. I found the CR fights more engaging than those of most Bond movies.
[quote=highhopes I know Lazenby was an accomplished martial artist from a stint in the Australian special forces, so I assume he could handle himself.
quote]
Mention of martial arts reminds me that Lazenby was in discussions to star alongside Bruce Lee in a film, but tragically Lee died on the night they were supposed to meet. That's a movie I'd have loved to have seen. The Little Dragon and the Bond who walked away in the same film. It's up there in my great movies we can never have list, along with David Lean's 'Nostromo.'
After seeing Casino Royale, I gushed over it on another website, proclaiming it to be "the best Bond film since On Her Majesty's Secret Service!" So then I had to rent the DVD of Lazenby's appearence just to make sure I knew what I had been saying. While the performance from Lazenby is a weak point, overall I think it's one of the top films in the series. It's Bond the way I prefer him, light on the gadgets and with a more intelligent plot. One other aspect I'd like to add to what has already been mentioned is that one of the things I like about Telly Savalas as Blofeld is that he is the only actor who seems to be a physical threat to Bond. As much as I like Donald Pleasance as a character actor, I could hardly see him chasing James Bond on skis, let alone Charles Gray doing that.
Yes, the Lazenby/Bruce Lee story is quite well known. I believe it would probably have been Game Of Death- I think Lazenby was earmarked to play a wise man at the top of the temple where Bruce Lee fights his way up steadily.
Like I said on another thread, I don't think OHMSS is an underrated film anymore. Most people seem to count it amongst their favourites or even their all time favourite, like I do. IMO, it's pretty much perfect- Lazenby is excellent, they couldn't have picked a better girl for Bond to marry than the gorgeous Diana Rigg (by FAR the best actress to appear in the series, imo), Telly Savalas was superb as a charming yet devious and evil Blofeld, the romance and drama are the best handled in the series, the action is fantastic...there's nothing I can criticise.
"If Brosnan walked into a room, I doubt anyone would look up. But this is the Nineties and women want a different man, a man who shows his feminine side. Pierce definitely has that." - George Lazenby
"George is just an old, p***** off guy. He was never an actor, but some p***** off Aussie who doesn't know how to show his feminine side. I met him, and he's got that kind of brittle edge to him." - Pierce Brosnan
Brutal )
No wonder Eon went with a blond ...
Cheers for finding that. If push comes to shove my money's on Lazenby, even at his age.
Yeah.Looks like somebody takes himself a little too seriously...
Anyway,my money's also on Lazenby--not in a prerehearsed movie fight(anybody can "win" those),but in the real thing,with no holds barred.George is a martial artist,something Pierce isn't.
And if this was a fight between the young Lazenby of OHMSS and the young Brosnan of Remington Steele,I think Lazenby would step on his opponent without ever breaking a sweat.
OHMSS isn't my favorite Bond. It isn't even in my top ten, but I really like this film. The main problem with Lazenby is his inexperience, but I don't know how _anyone_ could have delivered the end of the picture any better than he did. If he hadn't hired such a bad manager he would likely have done a lot of Bond films, and would be considered one of the definitive actors for the role. But we never got the chance to see him in another picture, and that really is too bad, because I think he could have been great.
This was a good reset for the series, but I don't think it needed one yet. A friend of mine who has watched all of the bond films (borrowed my DVD's) hated the style of this film so much he almost didn't finish it. For him it wasn't Lazenby that was the problem, but the hard edge and dark tone of the film. For me, those are the elements that make OHMSS stand out, and I really enjoy the film. I recently read the book and was stunned at how faithful the film was to the book. Good stuff.
In summary, I agree with the title of this thread. OHMSS is a great bond movie, and thankfully I don't think it is underrated by many anymore. There are some who hate it, but that is true of virtually every film in the series, so there is nothing unusual there.
It's funny, just last night my friend and I were arguing over which of the Bond actors would win in a fight, if they were all the same age when they fought. He was gunning for Connery, and I'll say here the same thing I said to him: I don't care what you think of Lazenby as an actor, but he could kick everyone else's @$$. . . at the same time! :v :007)
It's funny, just last night my friend and I were arguing over which of the Bond actors would win in a fight, if they were all the same age when they fought. He was gunning for Connery, and I'll say here the same thing I said to him: I don't care what you think of Lazenby as an actor, but he could kick everyone else's @$$. . . at the same time! :v :007)
Sorry, my favouite Bond (Connery) can still beat up your favourite Bond! )
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
No it's rated right were it should be,because it is the worst Bond out of 21 of them.The movie would have been a good one I like the story but Lazenby is the worst choice for Bond they could have made back then.
Just because you hate Lazenby doesn't mean you have to hate the script, direction, score, cinematography etc. OHMSS is one of the best Bond movies regardless of one's personal reaction to it.
I see little apart from slightly hobbled one liners (even a very experienced actor in Timothy Dalton was no better at those imo) that can be criticised in Lazenby's performance. I think he was superb in the scenes between him and M, and in fact every film since had rather flat and uninspired scenes with M until Licence To Kill, imho. Also, there is a chemistry between him and Diana Rigg and their romance is very believable- I think the Bond franchise were lucky to have Diana in the film as to me she's without doubt the best actress ever to appear in the series.
It's definitely a film which improves with every viewing, rather than the more bloated last few films which Connery had done prior to this one which have nothing like the resonance of this one. I liked it instantly, but even more the next time and the next after that. I've seen it about 10 times over the last three years. Every time I see it it does appear more and more like the best film of the franchise. Little of what followed in the 70s comes close (I think only TSWLM even approaches this), that's for sure.
It's funny, just last night my friend and I were arguing over which of the Bond actors would win in a fight, if they were all the same age when they fought. He was gunning for Connery, and I'll say here the same thing I said to him: I don't care what you think of Lazenby as an actor, but he could kick everyone else's @$$. . . at the same time! :v :007)
It's obvious, Roger Moore would win. He would tell George Lazenby that Pierce Brosnan had called him a "cissy". He would then tell Pierce that George had called him a "pretty boy". He would then tell Sean Connery that Timothy Dalton had said he was "a scrooge with his money". He would then tell Timothy that Sean had called him "Dracula".
George and Sean would emerge victorious from their respective fights. Roger would then tell George and Sean that Daniel Craig had called them "planks of wood". Roger would then tell Daniel that George and Sean had called him "a buffed up pastry boy". George and Daniel would then knock each other out leaving Sean standing. Roger would then leave a five pound note on the floor, "Look Sean, there's money to be had." As Sean bends down to pick up the money Roger would kick him and knock him out like he did that karate guy in TMWTGG.
George and Daniel would then knock each other out leaving Sean standing. Roger would then leave a five pound note on the floor, "Look Sean, there's money to be had." As Sean bends down to pick up the money Roger would kick him and knock him out like he did that karate guy in TMWTGG.
) Go Roger!
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Actually i thought that OHMSS was one of the worst James Bond movies. I hate the way George Lazenby portrayed James Bond. It was good getting married, but she got killed so that just added on my hate of the movie.
- Kino
1. Goldfinger 2. Skyfall 3. Goldeneye 4. The Spy Who Loved Me 5. OHMSS
Check out my Instagram: @livingthebondlife
"I never joke about my work, 007."
Actually i thought that OHMSS was one of the worst James Bond movies. I hate the way George Lazenby portrayed James Bond. It was good getting married, but she got killed so that just added on my hate of the movie.
Actually i thought that OHMSS was one of the worst James Bond movies. I hate the way George Lazenby portrayed James Bond. It was good getting married, but she got killed so that just added on my hate of the movie.
- Kino
Let me ask you, if Connery had played Bond, and if Tracey had lived, would your enjoyment have increased?
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
I tried to watch this the other night... I had to switch it off eventually I was so bored.
I know we've all bought into the revisionist view of OHMSS. There's a lot to recommend. It looks chic and classy. It's dated least of all those Bonds, as the hero has a solid romantic interest that lasts the duration of the film (sort of) like today's films, and the action is all fisticuffs like Bourne stuff, not like the Smokey and the Bandit car stunts of later efforts...
But the film is dead, dead, dead. It's a total bore. I know Lazenby isn't supposed to be so bad, but he still nowhere like good enough.
It doesn't help that they had superb clip show of Bond films before the film starts. Just one shot of Connery nodding and smirking at poor old Mr Osato reveals more charisma and stardom than Lazenby's whole movie.
And when you realise the script is written for Connery, I can't help but get peeved at what could have been...
Take the scenes with Tracy. Bond is calling her Countessa. With Connery's malt whisky voice, it would have a mocking undercurrent... that's how it's written. And Tracy tries to put him in his place by calling him 'Mister Bond', like she's falling back on her class superiority cos that's all she's got. With a gun in her hand stood in a nightgown, there should be something very provocative about it all, but it just doesn't work like that.
The same with Draco and Bond's meeting (btw just how long is that car drive? Bond is leaving for golf at about, say 11am, and by the time they get there it's getting dark! Even allowing for winter hours in Spain, that's a good six hour drive! Maybe we should allow highhopes 'sin of omission' explanation of plot holes to explain that... ) Like, how do we KNOW that Bond is even leaving the same day that Tracy checks out? Maybe of course Bond is nipping out at 4.30pm to go to the clubhouse to get his irons regripped, so the drive is only about an hour long!)
Anyway, with Barry's slushy music playing, the scene is rather flat when it should crackle with energy. It doesn't ring true, a gangster offering a guy one million to marry his daughter after one shag... without knowing much about the guy at all. Draco should be a simple, larger than life guy driven to distraction by his wayward daughter and clutching at straws to make her happy... almost irrational. But the actor seems a more worldly, paternalistic, sensible fellow to work this one...
There's plenty more wrong with this film. I must say I find Peter Hunt, like other editors and action directors Roger Spottiswoode and dare I say Martin Campbell, not too great with ordinary scenes involving conversation or exposition... it's like they're just padding it out before the next action scene. With OHMSS these are superb, but they're a looooooooooong time coming...
I would have to say yes ^^. Connery was a way better Bond than Lazenby, why do you think Connery played in 7 films, and Lazenby only in 1.
That doesn't really mean anything. Although I do agree that Connery was a better Bond than Lazenby, the fact that Connery made more films is arguably irrelevant. Afterall, Moore made seven films and Brosnan made four, and I consider Brosnan to be superior, while Lazenby made one film and Dalton made two, and I prefer Lazenby. If it came down to how many films actors made, then we wouldn't need those threads asking people to rank Bonds.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
I would have to say yes ^^. Connery was a way better Bond than Lazenby, why do you think Connery played in 7 films, and Lazenby only in 1.
That doesn't really mean anything. Although I do agree that Connery was a better Bond than Lazenby, the fact that Connery made more films is arguably irrelevant. Afterall, Moore made seven films and Brosnan made six, and I consider Brosnan to be superior, while Lazenby made one film and Dalton made two, and I prefer Lazenby. If it came down to how many films actors made, then we wouldn't need those threads asking people to rank Bonds.
Did Brosnan do six? I can only remember 4!
Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day. What were the other 2? Just in case I've forgotten some!
Did Brosnan do six? I can only remember 4! Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day. What were the other 2? Just in case I've forgotten some!
You're right, he did do four. It was an honest mistake. ;% (I think the reason I said he did six is because I wish he made six. )
P.S. I've now corrected it.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Sorry, didn't mean to nitpick. I was worried I'd forgotten 2 LOL
You don't need to apologise. I might not have picked up on my mistake if you hadn't pointed it out. -{
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
I tried to watch this the other night... I had to switch it off eventually I was so bored.
It's time for me to confess that I tried to show OHMSS to my wife a few weeks ago. She is no Bond fan at all but I thought she might like this one because it's different from the usual outlandish plotlines. I promised that we could stop watching it if she got bored. A bit more than 30 minutes in, she said: "Okay, I'm bored."
I tried to watch this the other night... I had to switch it off eventually I was so bored.
It's time for me to confess that I tried to show OHMSS to my wife a few weeks ago. She is no Bond fan at all but I thought she might like this one because it's different from the usual outlandish plotlines. I promised that we could stop watching it if she got bored. A bit more than 30 minutes in, she said: "Okay, I'm bored."
You know, having just watched OHMSS for the first time, I think getting past the first half hour is the toughest thing. However, bear with it because the second half is fantastic IMO capped off with the tremendous `storming of Piz Gloria` which was one of the most exciting sequences in any of the films. Unfashionably, I thought |Lazenby was pretty good too!
While I'll certainly admit that the beginning of OHMSS is not action packed, I feel it's necessary to establish the characters and to advance the plot of the movie. It's a good reminder that espionage can be a lot less spectacular than endless car chases and explosions. And it proves that a good script requires attention on the part of the audience. OHMSS was the final good Bond movie that appeared before the cinematic wasteland that did not end until The Living Daylights, some 18 years later.
OHMSS was the final good Bond movie that appeared before the cinematic wasteland that did not end until The Living Daylights, some 18 years later.
I don't agree. I consider the 'cinematic wasteland' to have began with AVTAK and ended with LTK, while the previous 18 years produced come of the best Bond films ever made (such as LALD, FYEO, OP) including arguably the greatest non-Connery Bond film of all time; TSWLM, which IMO was a superior film to OHMSS, Bond or otherwise. In fact while I consider the 60's to be Bond's golden era, I consider the years from 1973 to 1983 to be Bond's silver era.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
In fact while I consider the 60's to be Bond's golden era, I consider the years from 1973 to 1983 to be Bond's silver era.
That may be, but the the silver age is heavily, heavily tarnished. If I were to name the age of the Moore films, I would list them as being in the "garb-age".
Comments
I will say this though. I don't think any of the Bonds are bad fighters. Some are better than others, but I think all get the job done convincingly.
The way Brosnan or anyone else fights in a movie has nothing to do with how they would handle themselves in real life. Movie fights are choreographed. Who would pay to watch a real one, professional martial artists aside? The real thing is a lot messier.
Now I know Connery decked Johnny Stompanato, a protege of LA gangster Mickey Cohen, back in the '50s when he threatened him with a gun over Lana Turner; and I know Lazenby was an accomplished martial artist from a stint in the Australian special forces, so I assume he could handle himself.
Now when you take age into consideration, you may be right about a Lazenby-Brosnan bout.
As for Craig-Brosnan movie fights, IMO the quality depends on how they're staged, more than the actors themselves. I found the CR fights more engaging than those of most Bond movies.
quote]
Mention of martial arts reminds me that Lazenby was in discussions to star alongside Bruce Lee in a film, but tragically Lee died on the night they were supposed to meet. That's a movie I'd have loved to have seen. The Little Dragon and the Bond who walked away in the same film. It's up there in my great movies we can never have list, along with David Lean's 'Nostromo.'
Like I said on another thread, I don't think OHMSS is an underrated film anymore. Most people seem to count it amongst their favourites or even their all time favourite, like I do. IMO, it's pretty much perfect- Lazenby is excellent, they couldn't have picked a better girl for Bond to marry than the gorgeous Diana Rigg (by FAR the best actress to appear in the series, imo), Telly Savalas was superb as a charming yet devious and evil Blofeld, the romance and drama are the best handled in the series, the action is fantastic...there's nothing I can criticise.
Yeah.Looks like somebody takes himself a little too seriously...
Anyway,my money's also on Lazenby--not in a prerehearsed movie fight(anybody can "win" those),but in the real thing,with no holds barred.George is a martial artist,something Pierce isn't.
And if this was a fight between the young Lazenby of OHMSS and the young Brosnan of Remington Steele,I think Lazenby would step on his opponent without ever breaking a sweat.
This was a good reset for the series, but I don't think it needed one yet. A friend of mine who has watched all of the bond films (borrowed my DVD's) hated the style of this film so much he almost didn't finish it. For him it wasn't Lazenby that was the problem, but the hard edge and dark tone of the film. For me, those are the elements that make OHMSS stand out, and I really enjoy the film. I recently read the book and was stunned at how faithful the film was to the book. Good stuff.
In summary, I agree with the title of this thread. OHMSS is a great bond movie, and thankfully I don't think it is underrated by many anymore. There are some who hate it, but that is true of virtually every film in the series, so there is nothing unusual there.
Joel
It's definitely a film which improves with every viewing, rather than the more bloated last few films which Connery had done prior to this one which have nothing like the resonance of this one. I liked it instantly, but even more the next time and the next after that. I've seen it about 10 times over the last three years. Every time I see it it does appear more and more like the best film of the franchise. Little of what followed in the 70s comes close (I think only TSWLM even approaches this), that's for sure.
It's obvious, Roger Moore would win. He would tell George Lazenby that Pierce Brosnan had called him a "cissy". He would then tell Pierce that George had called him a "pretty boy". He would then tell Sean Connery that Timothy Dalton had said he was "a scrooge with his money". He would then tell Timothy that Sean had called him "Dracula".
George and Sean would emerge victorious from their respective fights. Roger would then tell George and Sean that Daniel Craig had called them "planks of wood". Roger would then tell Daniel that George and Sean had called him "a buffed up pastry boy". George and Daniel would then knock each other out leaving Sean standing. Roger would then leave a five pound note on the floor, "Look Sean, there's money to be had." As Sean bends down to pick up the money Roger would kick him and knock him out like he did that karate guy in TMWTGG.
Roger is TRIUMPHANT AND VICTORIOUS! {[]
- Kino
Check out my Instagram: @livingthebondlife
"I never joke about my work, 007."
I'm sorry
Check out my Instagram: @livingthebondlife
"I never joke about my work, 007."
I know we've all bought into the revisionist view of OHMSS. There's a lot to recommend. It looks chic and classy. It's dated least of all those Bonds, as the hero has a solid romantic interest that lasts the duration of the film (sort of) like today's films, and the action is all fisticuffs like Bourne stuff, not like the Smokey and the Bandit car stunts of later efforts...
But the film is dead, dead, dead. It's a total bore. I know Lazenby isn't supposed to be so bad, but he still nowhere like good enough.
It doesn't help that they had superb clip show of Bond films before the film starts. Just one shot of Connery nodding and smirking at poor old Mr Osato reveals more charisma and stardom than Lazenby's whole movie.
And when you realise the script is written for Connery, I can't help but get peeved at what could have been...
Take the scenes with Tracy. Bond is calling her Countessa. With Connery's malt whisky voice, it would have a mocking undercurrent... that's how it's written. And Tracy tries to put him in his place by calling him 'Mister Bond', like she's falling back on her class superiority cos that's all she's got. With a gun in her hand stood in a nightgown, there should be something very provocative about it all, but it just doesn't work like that.
The same with Draco and Bond's meeting (btw just how long is that car drive? Bond is leaving for golf at about, say 11am, and by the time they get there it's getting dark! Even allowing for winter hours in Spain, that's a good six hour drive! Maybe we should allow highhopes 'sin of omission' explanation of plot holes to explain that...
Anyway, with Barry's slushy music playing, the scene is rather flat when it should crackle with energy. It doesn't ring true, a gangster offering a guy one million to marry his daughter after one shag... without knowing much about the guy at all. Draco should be a simple, larger than life guy driven to distraction by his wayward daughter and clutching at straws to make her happy... almost irrational. But the actor seems a more worldly, paternalistic, sensible fellow to work this one...
There's plenty more wrong with this film. I must say I find Peter Hunt, like other editors and action directors Roger Spottiswoode and dare I say Martin Campbell, not too great with ordinary scenes involving conversation or exposition... it's like they're just padding it out before the next action scene. With OHMSS these are superb, but they're a looooooooooong time coming...
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Did Brosnan do six? I can only remember 4!
Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day. What were the other 2? Just in case I've forgotten some!
P.S. I've now corrected it.
It's time for me to confess that I tried to show OHMSS to my wife a few weeks ago. She is no Bond fan at all but I thought she might like this one because it's different from the usual outlandish plotlines. I promised that we could stop watching it if she got bored. A bit more than 30 minutes in, she said: "Okay, I'm bored."
Roger Moore 1927-2017
That may be, but the the silver age is heavily, heavily tarnished. If I were to name the age of the Moore films, I would list them as being in the "garb-age".