Pros and Cons: On Her Majesty's Secret Service

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  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,417Chief of Staff
    Sir Miles wrote:

    Its a Manchester accent - you don't get more northern that that...

    It really ISN'T a Manchester accent - that accent hasn't been within a 100 miles of Manchester :))

    Oh well, its north of Watford Gap..

    True...but only just :))
    YNWA 97
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,417Chief of Staff
    I live in the Northwest of England and it sounds like she is going for a North Lancashire accent, spoken by somebody not really from North Lancashire. :))

    Indeed ! :D

    Morecambe is less than an hour away from me and they don't speak like that there...her accent is more 'RP with a Northern twang' :s

    Still....smashing film though -{
    YNWA 97
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Could it be because it's snowing and she's
    Only wearing a light blouse, that gives the
    Impression she's from the north ? :p :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisno1chrisno1 LondonPosts: 3,177MI6 Agent
    Cons:
    - The very first scene where M & Q are discussing radioactive mint and Bond's whereabouts is completely superfluous and spoils what should have been an excellent virtually silent introduction to the new OO7
    - George Baker's dubbing of Lazenby's voice when OO7 is Sir Hilary Bray is completely unnecessary
    - Angela Scoular's character seems out of place among all those posh birds (in the novel she was supposed to be quite wealthy, I thought
    And that's it....

    Pros:
    - Fight scenes uniformly excellent
    - Ski chases all excellent
    - Bob sleigh fight is great, as OTT as the one that ends TB, but very compelling
    - Diana Rigg, beautiful, sophisticated, sexy
    - Good overall character development for the two stars, the two villains, and the supporting cast
    - Gabrielle Ferzetti, a wonderful Draco
    - Costumes, very 60s chic
    - Design. What can you say about the Piz Gloria? Wow
    - Locations. Portugal & Switzerland never looked lovelier
    - Editing. Brash, sharp, incisive.
    - Photography. Very good, especially the aerial and ski stuff
    - Car chase / stock car rally. Wow - and it isn't even Bond driving !
    - Music. Magnificent. Recently voted one of Top 10 soundtracks of all time in some newspaper poll. (The Independent?)
    - Great screenplay, a brilliant adaptation of Fleming's work, retaining what was required, adding what is necessary, not a word wasted.
    - Gumbold's Safe; probably the most understated tension filled few minutes ever in a Bond film.
    - Direction. An all round competent consistent job. Hardly a shot wrong. The little flashes of inspiration (such as Tracy's unconscious body reflected in a London office window, or the slow pan up to her face at the baccarat table, or the fade from day to night by the swimming pool) are note worthy by their general rarity Bond movies.
    - Lazenby. More than good; not brilliant (in fact he looks most relaxed when his voice is taken away from him at Piz Gloria) but a better job than he's usually given credit for. His Bond feels more clipped than Connery. He's not larking about very much. He's at his worst when doing the stuff Connery was very smooth with, like the patter with Moneypenny & M; yet his resignation scenes are brilliant.
    - Excellent plot and set up
    - Cable car stunt - OMFG!!!
    - Violence. In your face, loud, nasty, no sentiment, few jokes (accepting 'Gatecrasher' which is quite funny.)
    - Telly Savalas. The best and most physically menacing of the three actors to play Blofeld. A proper baddie for Bond to bash, like Grant and Largo.
    - Credit sequence. Love the hourglass flashbacks.
    - The End. Brings a little lump to the throat that.

    This never happened to the other fella:
    Yeah, okay, we all cringe a bit now; I understand it was a popular joke back in 1969, a nice little wink to the audience, breaking that third wall. I don't like it, but it doesn't kill the movie for me. Lazenby could have been asked to say 'This never happened before' and it'd be just as amusing or possibly as equally annoying.
  • The Debonair BondThe Debonair Bond Posts: 48MI6 Agent
    I think this film had the potential to be the absolute best Bond of the series, but I think It had a few hiccups along the way that don't help it.

    The most jarring thing for me in this movie (and really in most of the Connery films) is the lack of attention they gave to continuity. Blofeld and Bond meet up and Blofeld doesn't even recognize Bond when they first meet. Considering how they met face to face in YOLT, it makes no sense whatsoever.

    Also, the whole Sir Hillary Bray cover up is just bizarre, as is the ordeal with the girls.

    I still think it has some of the best fighting sequences in any Bond film, and I like the love story even if it ends tragically.

    It's still one of the highlights of the series
  • blame_thatcherblame_thatcher Posts: 199MI6 Agent
    Pros:
    Just about everything.

    Cons:
    Lazenby can't deliver the Connery-style one-liners.
    Unnecessary re-recording of most dialogue in post; production sound was surely good enough.
    Teaching people to love chickens, to love their flesh and their voice.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I must point out that that's a very anti chicken post. ;)
    you'll get a roasting for that. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    Having worked on films behind the camera, I can personally say that acting for film really is a very, very difficult craft.

    When on stage an actor has to be able to be subtle in some scenes but at the same time be able to project their performance to the back of the theater. On film, wow is that a different animal. Now not only are they performing to a small group of people withing spitting distance but the delicacy of their performance is being done under a microscope. The only advantage they have is at least they can redo the scene or line to fix or improve it many times. However, there are even limits to that, and for most professional filmmakers ever take after the first starts to feel more and more like their trying to get that ring toss onto one of those milk bottles at the fair. It builds stress and makes each take that much more important to get it done.

    For an amateur like Lazenby, it must have been hell to go through. Thankfully he had Rigg and Tavalas to help, though Hunt should have had his back the whole time. The trouble was that Hunt was trained as a film editor and he guided the film from that persepective. Like Hitchcock, he knew how he wanted the scene to play out on film, but was lacking when it came to how the actor should play the scene.

    I'll always give Lazenby credit for doing the job he did despite his shortcomings. He was very lucky he got to do this particular film as it was one of the best of the series - which helped balance out his lack of experience.
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 6,030MI6 Agent
    The trouble was that Hunt was trained as a film editor and he guided the film from that persepective. Like Hitchcock, he knew how he wanted the scene to play out on film, but was lacking when it came to how the actor should play the scene.

    Many film directors begin careers as an editor it is a natural progression onto directing - David Lean, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, John Sturges and Don Siegel are just five highly respected directors who began life as editors.

    Peter Hunt directed OHMSS brilliantly, he blended action and pathos seamlessly and conjured a superb first acting performance from GL who would have only got better if he had not had listened to some silly advice from his agent.
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    This is a really good thread to have a read of from start to finish. Seems most people are on the same page when it comes to OHMSS.

    Lazenby for me is an excellent Bond and for someone who's never acted before (or much at all) - his effort is nothing short of incredible. Added to the context about Lazenby's acting ability, only doing one etc. he certainly looks the part. He's the most physically impressive. Out of all the Bonds, even Craig - the way he fights and handles action, he comes out on top. IMO he's also the best looking, particularly in the tailored suits.

    I guess what influences my opinion is that much of what I've said above is fleeting - as he only did one. This adds to the whole intrigue of the film and him as Bond. Imagine if Sean only did Dr. No, people would probably rate DN a lot higher than they do.

    Other than that here are my pros/cons.

    Pros:

    - It's something different. A nice change to the series. Overall the film is very different to anything else (CR is close).
    - The effort that EON went to, to get it right, and the chance they took with an unknown.
    - The cinematography and general direction.
    - The choreography of the fight scenes.
    - Score - it's different, and edgy.
    - Hillary Bray elements, it's fun and interesting, and sustains quite a length in the film.
    - Draco.
    - How all the recurring characters (M, Q and MP) fit well and seem to have the faith in GL.
    - Locations.
    - "Not ground, ice."
    - Only Bond with Christmas elements - and it's well done.
    - How gorgeous Diana Rigg is.
    - The best acted, most realistic, physically present Blofeld.
    - Break-in scene.

    Cons:

    - The couple of scenes where GL isn't confident.
    - Some of the clothing is far too time-warpy. Interestingly, this film seems to have the most influences to Austin Powers.
    - PTS is slightly pretentious, made worse by the "other fella" line.
    - GL only doing one.

    Those cons are really nitpicky, and show how darn good the film actually is.

    Have to say Peter Hunt's comments in the Making Of, are pretty interesting and candid. He seems proud but saddened at the same time, like a disappointed father.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    Pros:

    -While Lazenby is no Connery, he manages to do a good job in his only performance as 007. A shame he didn't show up for DAF, as I think he could've grown into the role.
    -Great dialogue.
    -Telly Savalas. While I personally prefer Pleasence out of the Blofelds in the "Blofeld Trilogy" (YOLT/OHMSS/DAF), his Blofeld for me is a solid second. A tough and serious rendition of the character, Savalas manages to be quite memorable as Bond's archnemesis.
    -Gabriele Ferzetti as Draco. Fantastic acting.
    -Diana Rigg does a great job as Tracy.
    -Great cinematography.

    Cons:

    -Gets a bit slow in the middle third.
    -For some reason, Irma Bunt doesn't impress me that much.

    Overall, I enjoy OHMSS, and give it a 9/10.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • IanTIanT Posts: 573MI6 Agent
    I live in the Northwest of England and it sounds like she is going for a North Lancashire accent, spoken by somebody not really from North Lancashire. :))
    As far as OHMSS goes I agree with anybody who ranks it number one on their list of favourite Bond films. It's tremendous. Or as us Northerners would say that film is well mint.
    Reet black pudding for tea and then I can race me greyhounds down't ginnel.

    As a North West resident too, I agree. A rough parody of a Morecambe Bay accent with a dash of Derbyshire thrown in. Like Sir Miles, I'm only a hour away from Morecambe (well by my driving anyway :)) ) and I've yet to come across anyone who speaks like that. In fact, I've lived all over Lancashire and no-one speaks like Ruby, so that annoys me.

    I absolutely love this film! It is my Christmas Bond film and the Christmas Trees song is on my Christmas Music playlist, much to the annoyance of Mrs T and the bin lids.

    The casting is superb. Not a single person is poorly cast. Telly as Blofeld is the best Blofeld ever. He's thuggish, a brute, but intelligent and gets stuck in. Can you imagine Donnie P or Charles G skiing after Bond or bombing along in a bob sled. I don't think even Christopher Waltz could pull that one off!

    Some have picked up on Blofeld not recognizing Bond. I can go two ways on this:

    1 - He recognised him but played along to see what was going on (Blofeld always looks suspicious of Bond as Sir Hilary)
    2 - That the film is standalone from YOLT (I know that in the PTS credits Kissy Suzuki's face appears but just accept it and move on)

    Some of the camera work is immense. The safe cracking scene is done incredibly well and with the score it creates the right amount of tension.

    George did a great job, and I have to agree with whoever mentioned the ice rink scene, he does look absolutely done in.

    I could go on, but I wont. This is still my favourite Bond film. My only gripe - the James Bond theme at the end. It should have just faded to black.
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    IanT wrote:
    I live in the Northwest of England and it sounds like she is going for a North Lancashire accent, spoken by somebody not really from North Lancashire. :))
    As far as OHMSS goes I agree with anybody who ranks it number one on their list of favourite Bond films. It's tremendous. Or as us Northerners would say that film is well mint.
    Reet black pudding for tea and then I can race me greyhounds down't ginnel.

    As a North West resident too, I agree. A rough parody of a Morecambe Bay accent with a dash of Derbyshire thrown in. Like Sir Miles, I'm only a hour away from Morecambe (well by my driving anyway :)) ) and I've yet to come across anyone who speaks like that. In fact, I've lived all over Lancashire and no-one speaks like Ruby, so that annoys me.

    I absolutely love this film! It is my Christmas Bond film and the Christmas Trees song is on my Christmas Music playlist, much to the annoyance of Mrs T and the bin lids.

    I agree. It's my favourite as well (FRWL alternates for first place with me ) My only gripe is with the Dubbing.Apart from that it's about as perfect as a Bond movie could be. George is fantastic in two scenes that I don't think anyone (except possibly DC) would have pulled off as well

    The casting is superb. Not a single person is poorly cast. Telly as Blofeld is the best Blofeld ever. He's thuggish, a brute, but intelligent and gets stuck in. Can you imagine Donnie P or Charles G skiing after Bond or bombing along in a bob sled. I don't think even Christopher Waltz could pull that one off!

    Some have picked up on Blofeld not recognizing Bond. I can go two ways on this:

    1 - He recognised him but played along to see what was going on (Blofeld always looks suspicious of Bond as Sir Hilary)
    2 - That the film is standalone from YOLT (I know that in the PTS credits Kissy Suzuki's face appears but just accept it and move on)

    Some of the camera work is immense. The safe cracking scene is done incredibly well and with the score it creates the right amount of tension.

    George did a great job, and I have to agree with whoever mentioned the ice rink scene, he does look absolutely done in.

    I could go on, but I wont. This is still my favourite Bond film. My only gripe - the James Bond theme at the end. It should have just faded to black.
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    IanT wrote:

    Some have picked up on Blofeld not recognizing Bond. I can go two ways on this:

    1 - He recognised him but played along to see what was going on (Blofeld always looks suspicious of Bond as Sir Hilary)
    2 - That the film is standalone from YOLT (I know that in the PTS credits Kissy Suzuki's face appears but just accept it and move on)

    #2. OHMSS was supposed to be seen as a standalone film .... and Fleming's OHMSS was also released earlier than YOLT. OHMSS was supposed to be the 5th 007 film. However due to weather restrictions, the shooting could not take place in Switzerland so the producers decided to go with YOLT
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    A couple of Lazenby one-liners:

    "He had lots of guts!"

    "He's branched off!"

    Right now, I'd say it's close between him and Craig for the title of least fave Bond, had Lazenby been in a more serious version of DAF, it might be easier for me to call.
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • Willard WhyteWillard Whyte Posts: 166MI6 Agent
    Ruby does say she is from Lancashire in the film.

    "Ah ah it's true" ;)
    I smell a rat
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    The 2015 steel book cover is fantastic:

    m2217912.jpg



    PS Other steelbook covers from 2015

    james-bond-steelbooks-350.jpg

    ^ Basically, images from the theme song sequences
  • IanTIanT Posts: 573MI6 Agent
    @AM747 Yeah, I just pretend YOLT didn't happen. For me OHMSS is almost a reboot. George is young, he's cocky and arrogant, inexperienced and it all shows in his interpretation of Bond which, whenever I watch it, I imagine him as quite new to the 00 section.
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    IanT wrote:
    @AM747 Yeah, I just pretend YOLT didn't happen.

    Wow, such hate for YOLT... :o

    I do prefer OHMSS to it, but I still like YOLT, and it's by no means my least fave of the official Connery 007s (DAF gets that distinction for me easily).
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • IanTIanT Posts: 573MI6 Agent
    I don't like the casual racism in YOLT.

    Nor do I like the hollowed out volcano, or the idea of someone having all that money to develop their megalomaniac plan, build space ships etc etc and no one notice.

    No wonder Austin Powers was so successful as a parody.
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    Not only is OHMSS my favourite Bond film it also contains my favourite scene from a Bond film. Bond sitting near the ice rink, collar turned up, fearing for his life, looking at all the skaters passing him by and then a skater stops in front of him, the camera pans up and we see Tracy. Magical. -{
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    Not only is OHMSS my favourite Bond film it also contains my favourite scene from a Bond film. Bond sitting near the ice rink, collar turned up, fearing for his life, looking at all the skaters passing him by and then a skater stops in front of him, the camera pans up and we see Tracy. Magical. -{

    It's a great 007 moment for sure. :007) {[]
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Not only is OHMSS my favourite Bond film it also contains my favourite scene from a Bond film. Bond sitting near the ice rink, collar turned up, fearing for his life, looking at all the skaters passing him by and then a skater stops in front of him, the camera pans up and we see Tracy. Magical. -{

    That is certainly one of the best scenes of the entire series!
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • Willard WhyteWillard Whyte Posts: 166MI6 Agent
    am747 wrote:
    The 2015 steel book cover is fantastic:

    m2217912.jpg



    PS Other steelbook covers from 2015

    james-bond-steelbooks-350.jpg

    ^ Basically, images from the theme song sequences


    I got Thunderball on BR the other day and the cover was cardboard, over the box ?:)
    I smell a rat
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,292MI6 Agent
    am747 wrote:
    The 2015 steel book cover is fantastic:

    m2217912.jpg



    PS Other steelbook covers from 2015

    james-bond-steelbooks-350.jpg

    ^ Basically, images from the theme song sequences


    I got Thunderball on BR the other day and the cover was cardboard, over the box ?:)

    yeah the steelbook version was limited and then the cardboard cover version came out
    Instagram - bondclothes007
  • Willard WhyteWillard Whyte Posts: 166MI6 Agent
    welshboy78 wrote:
    am747 wrote:
    The 2015 steel book cover is fantastic:

    m2217912.jpg



    PS Other steelbook covers from 2015

    james-bond-steelbooks-350.jpg

    ^ Basically, images from the theme song sequences


    I got Thunderball on BR the other day and the cover was cardboard, over the box ?:)

    yeah the steelbook version was limited and then the cardboard cover version came out

    Oh, I missed out
    I smell a rat
  • am747am747 Posts: 720MI6 Agent
    IMO, The OHMSS steelbook limited version looks the best compared to the others released in 2015 .... TB one is cool too. You can feel those bubbles underwater :)
  • Agent PurpleAgent Purple Posts: 857MI6 Agent
    Man, Ferzetti is so great.

    Ofc, he was an Italian actor, so it was an easy role for him.

    Still, he pretty much steals every scene he's in.

    Love the way he says "mercy flight". He just rocked.

    http://m.imdb.com/name/nm0275213/
    "Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
    New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
    1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
    Bond actors to be re-ranked later
  • IanTIanT Posts: 573MI6 Agent
    Who doesn't want Draco as a father-in-law. Ferzetti was perfect for the role.
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    How brilliant would it have been (following on from OHMSS) to have had Bond join forces with Draco and together find Blofeld and avenge Tracy's death.
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
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