Bond: On Her Majesty's Secret Service

I first saw the film in the cinima in 1973 and was surprised, given all the negative reports I'd heard about it, how good it was. Although very long by Bond standards the film moves along at a fair clip and has the capacity to engage the viewer. Although several of the earlier films in the series follow the main plot lines from the novels, from which they take their names, this is the only atempt by EON to film an Ian Fleming book as written.

Watching the film on DVD all these years later was a joy. The transfer is surperb the, sound crisp and short of watching a pristine print in a film theatre this is the best vision of this film your ever going to see. The additional features particularly the director's commentry make this a must for any of the many fans that this film has.

O.H.M.S.S has a tremendous "look" and the deep purple colour that is in the opening sequence, continues in the titles and is seen through out the rest of the film in various guises. There was a kind of chic fashion just at the end of the sixties after the hippies and before the seventies gave style a bad name; this is one of the few films that captures that time. Just look at the cut of James Bond's suits or the dresses worn by the girls in Piz Gloria; it's nostalgia perhaps but I love it!

George Lazenby is element of the film that most people seem to dislike and the fact that he started out as a model is usually sited as proof of his lack of acting ability; well actually Sean Connery started out as an art college life model. At least George kept his clothes on in the "Big Fry" ads. ! But seriously, for the most part he looks great in the action sequences and when he has to play the normal affable, laughing in the face of danger, side of Bond he's at least acceptable; but when he has to step out side of that, for instance when he confronts Tracy in his hotel room early on in the film that he becomes less convincing. Compare that with Sean's Bond when he confronts Tatiana in the train in "From Russia With Love" and you'll see what I'm getting at. But actually his attempt is better than Roger Moore's confrontation with Rosie in "Live And Let Die". The only difficulty is that each line Lazenby speaks seems to be made up of several different takes, all recorded at different sound levels, which makes him sound as if he has a perminant attack of hiccups; still you do get used to it. If Lazenby lacks experience his deficiency is compenceted by the standard of acting from the rest of the cast and the superior dialogue in this film; for example, Moneypenny's devastating put down when Bond attempts to resign the Service "What did you expect, a knighthood?" is unforgetable and one of the few times Lois Maxwell's character gets the upper hand in the whole series.

The structure of this film is very different from the others in the series; Bond spends the first half of the film meeting and falling in love with Tracy. He then locates Blofeld, discovers his plan and only then does the film shift up into the frenetic pace that we more normally associate with the Bond films. The ski and car chase sequences that follow are terrifically exciting and compare favourably with the best in the series. Then we have the final confrontation with Blofeld and inevitable distruction of Piz Gloria. Incidentally Lazenby's encounter with the St. Bernard dog after the bob sleigh chase was apparently ad-libbed and for an untrained actor he does it better than many RADA graduates I can think of.

Peter Hunt, more than anyone else, was the man brought this film together as a first time director it is a brilliant debut. For instance his choice of Simon Ravan to add dialoge to the scenes between Blofeld and Tracy lifts the whole film. Almost every shot seems to reflect his feel for the book. It is only fitting that the opening shot of the film, absent form the VHS version, which containes his reflection in the brass name plate of "Universal Exports" has been restored to this print.

Many action film fans dislike this picture well they'd better stick to "Things Keep Exploding III" which at least is better than "Things Keep Exploding II" although not as good as "Things Keep Exploding" although it lacks the characterization of the other two. The rest of us can enjoy the most literate of the James Bond films. It's not better or worse than any of the others just different.


My personal favorite   September 20, 1999
Extreme72@webtv.net (Toms River, NJ)
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

You can't beat this Bond film to any other. It gets better and better every time I see it. This year is it's 30th Anniversary and UA/MGM are waiting until Spring 2000 to release it on DVD. No respect. Well, then again when did it? The laser disc version is a little grainy and needs a remaster job. I can't wait to see what great effects they will do to it then. This is no ordinary Bond movie. Connery is not here and thank God because I could never see him getting in to this Bond character. He wasn't looking very good at the time and I believe things happen for a reason. Don't get me wrong, Sean is the best but not for this movie. He gave the character all of the ingredients to success but this one needed a fresh approach and George Lazenby did it. He wasn't an actor but they didn't need one. He was the true Bond. He exhibited what a real spy would do and feel. He became someone we could relate to. His action sequences were the best of any Bond. HE knew how to throw a punch. No stunt doubles here. Unlike the statuesque Roger Boore. He looked great and he portrayed Bond the way Fleming described in the book. I give him his due. He got a bad rap and he was foolish to leave but then again if he stayed, he would have been in THE worst of them all: Diamonds Are Forever (what a joke!) His legacy then would be completely shot. Savalas was the best Blofeld, Diana Rigg carried George along in the romantic scenes and it really seemed as though they were in love; even if they couldn't stand each other in real life. No Bond movie should go unnoticed of the score. Sometimes it makes or breaks it. John Barry is superb. (When are they going to get him BACK!) (WISE UP MGM-HE IS THE BEST!) If you notice, there isn't a lot of music but what there is is special. In particular is the background suspense music when he is cracking the safe in Gumpold's office; and the beautiful arrangement played when Bray(Bond) and Irma Bunt are in the helicopter flying over Piz Gloria. It all fits magnificently. How about the quips sayed in that scene between Bond and Bunt, Lazenby is subliminally making fun of her left and right. Before the new movie comes out, watch this classic. It really gets involved into Bond's personal life. "The World Is Not Enough" is the meaning of the crest motto of his ancestry that is told to him by Sir Hillary Bray in "OHMSS". I would imagine there will be some sort of correlation between the two films. Forget that this is a Bond film and get into the story. You'll love it and you won't miss the gadgets.


BEST BOND AFTER GOLDFINGER AND SPY WHO LOVED ME   May 10, 2000
Kendrik Lau (New York City)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

On Her Majesty's Secret Service emerged as one of the best of the series after its disastrous debut. George Lazenby had the bad luck to be the first to replace Sean Connery, and the only actor after Sean to be a complete unknown when he took over the role. Lazenby seems to be an awkward Bond in the movie's first half hour...but eventually he seem to grow into it (it is as if they were filming the movie in sequence). The film itself is helped by a great storyline and script (which actually delve deeper into Bond's relationship with M and Moneypenny), Peter Hunt's direction, John Barry's rousing score, a great supporting cast in Angela Schoular, Ilse Steppat, Gabriele Ferzetti, and Telly Savalas. But special mention must be made to the great Diana Rigg. She can actually make you beleive that Teresa di Vicenzo can actually steal James Bond's heart. One critic said that every time when they try to make Bond more human, it doesn't work. Well, she was WRONG. One of the complaints about OHMSS was its excessive length, but it is neccessary because of the storyline regarding Bond's relationship with Teresa. It need time to develop realistically and the film more than deliver it. The end is touching... almost uncharacteristic. Sometimes you may have to remind yourself that this is a Bond film. It is my favorite Bond film after Goldfinger and The Spy Who Love Me. I am glad to see that years later, this movie has been reconsidered and vindicated.


The Forgotten Bond Is A Real Gem!   June 15, 2000
J.C. Correa (New York, USA)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Over the years, few people seem to remember "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." One reason for that is that it didn't have a star actor playing Bond, and instead featured Australian model George Lazenby in the role, a fellow with little previous acting experience. The other is that the film didn't perform as well at the box office as the others, primarily due to Lazenby's casting. However, after thirty years it's only fair that I acknowledge something that should've been blatantly obvious back in 1969: "OHMSS" is a treasure! Not only is this among the best Bond films ever, it is the most loyal adaptation of an Ian Fleming novel, which also happens to be his best one! Granted, Lazenby had the inenviable job of being the first actor to take over Sean Connery. But the truth is, he is not bad, particularly in the action sequences, and by the time we're in the second hour, we almost forget he's even in it, which is a tribute to the film itself. It is expertly directed by Peter Hunt, and features a brilliant supporting cast who tell the story of a James Bond in love. The film also has amazing cinematography, enhancing its already beautiful locations, and features what are still the best ski sequences ever filmmed. John's Barry's score is posititvely his best in the series, and his memorable song, "We Have All The Time In The World" is the last thing that Louis Armstrong ever recorded. C'mon folks, what more could you ask for?


At the very worst, one of the three best Bond films ever...   December 3, 2002
Carlos R. Pastrana (Taneytown)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

OHMSS suffers from a clear lack of respect granted it because of the fact that, even as he neared completion of the film, its star, George Lazenby, had already announced this would be his only Bond film. Consecuently, Eon (the company that produces these movies), never really acknowledged this as a full-fledged "Bond": there were very few promotional items, Lazenby's name was not displayed prominently in the film's billboards and posters, and, even more troubling, Tracy's death is not followed-up, or even acknowledged, until 1981's For Your Eyes Only... The pathetic next installment of the series, 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, even features some ghastly marriage jokes made by Moneypenny, which somewhat signifies that Eon would have had you believe that the events depicted in OHMSS never even happened!!

Nevertheless, and notwithstanding the clear 60's hipster/Mod feel of this movie, it's probably the Bond film which has aged best. That owes in no small part to the breathtaking direction and photography, the killer soundtrack by John Barry (his best ever, I believe... and that's saying a lot!!), and the screen-play, which gives Bond more depth and human qualities than any other Bond movie before or since.

George Lazenby is, contrary to popular belief, phenomenal in the role, especially considering that this was his movie DEBUT...!! He clearly would have made a great Bond in due time, had he not heeded the ridiculous career advice given him, and not left the series. He is arguably the most physically-imposing Bond ever, and is great in the action sequences. His acting might seem on the lighter side of things (though not as much as the insufferable Roger Moore), but is generally adequate, peaking at the poignant final scene, when Tracy is taken away from him.

And now for the Contessa Theresa Draco De Vicenzo, a.k.a. Tracy Bond... Dame Diana Rigg is astounding in every sense of the word: she is the most gorgeous "Bond girl" ever, she is bar-none, and with apologies to Halle Berry, the greatest actress to ever play in this series, and she is almost literally Bond's equal and soul-mate. Mrs. Rigg is given more screen-time than any other "Bond girl", and yet it does not seem nearly enough: her Tracy is so complex a character that a mere two-hour-plus film could not possibly suffice... Mrs. Rigg proves that, as Sean Connery also proved, great actors cannot be type-cast, and we believe we are looking at the only woman James Bond ever loved, and not at Mrs. Emma Peel, or even a typical "Bond girl".

The rest of the cast is superb, especially Gabriel Ferzetti, as James Bond's father-in-law Marc Ange Draco, and Lois Maxwell's reliable Moneypenny, who is finally able to show what a warm character she actually is, far exceeding the previous depictions of her as Bond's mere toy.

All in all, one gets the feeling that if Connery had done this film, or at least if Lazenby had done more films, OHMSS would be universally recognized as Goldfinger's and FRWL's superior, which it actually is... This is the only Bond film that will stay with you days after having watched it.