On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Release Date: December 18, 1969

Rated PG for violence and sexual innuendo

Directed by: Peter Hunt

Starring: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Ilse Steppat, Gabriele Ferzetti, Angela Scoular, Catherina Von Schell, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn

Plot:
Bond is pitted against Blofeld again, this time infiltrating his installation high in the Swiss Alps. Austalian-born Lazenby amply fills Connery's shoes here, briefly, as he finds himself kilted and surrounded by a gorgeous and sex-starved gaggle of women on retreat. Rigg plays James Bond's love interest who becomes his only wife in the history of the series. Bond (and Connery) returns in: "Diamonds Are Forever."

Review:
Its 1969 and Connery bails out from the role of James Bond and the producers are lost in who to cast as the next James Bond. Everyone knew Connery couldn't be James Bond forever and one day it had to come when he didn't want to be James Bond anymore. Well, You Only Live Twice wasn't the last bond film he would do because he came back to do Diamonds Are Forever as well as the unofficial bond film Never Say Never Again.

They still needed to replace Connery and they found a model who's name was George Lazenby. Having never acted before in a film, Lazenby is casted as the new James Bond. In his opening scene one of the most recognizable lines is uttered by him. That line of course is "This never happened to the other fella". Fanatics of the bond films were pretty much shocked or were having quite a laugh. Indeed, the line was to have everyone laughing because he is playing the same character as Connery, they aren't two different people.

In the opening credits of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, scenes from the bond films before it are being played to show that this is still the same person. There is a flaw significantly behind that because it places more pressure on Lazenby in the way that the audience expect a lot from him. The expectations are high being the bond after Connery and the results aren't bad, but can't be considered good either.

George Lazenby is arguably the worst bond from all the actors that have portrayed James Bond. Although he gives the weakest performance from all the other actors he still manages to give a decent performance believe it or not. With multiple viewings, you can also notice that Lazenby is actually acceptable as bond and I see no reason why he should be trashed.

He certainly had the pleasure of playing James Bond in what could be the best Bond film ever. It features a great direction, a very strong and touching story, possibly the best music in any bond film and it is the most emotional film of all. I have always said that if Connery would have been in On Her Majesty's Secret Service and if he had given a performance like he did in his first four films than without a question On Her Majesty's Secret Service would be the best James Bond film ever, no question about it.

Even with a lacking actor, the film is among the best and should be in any top five best bond film list. The visuals are also marvelous in this film and even features Bond disguising himself as an Irish man to enter Blofeld's hideout. Lazenby wears a kilt all throughout the disguising and at first it may seem odd and laughable, but it is all for the mission and its understood.

The stunts in On Her Majesty's Secret Service are spectacular as well and some of the best ones are skiing chases. Lazenby also had these different positions that he would do to shoot or to throw a knife as in bending one knee on the ground. That is actually one of the best poses in the series in my view. This bond film is very different from the others and that's a good thing.

What separates this bond film from all of the others is the fact that Bond actually falls in love, gets married and quits MI6 to live a better and normal life with his wife. Now, if you haven't seen the film I obviously spoiled a lot for you, but anyone that is alive should at least know that all of that occurred in a bond film, so I see no reason why not to write it.

Well, Bond does indeed get married and to a woman named Tracy who is played by actress Diana Rigg. She is an incredibly beautiful bond girl and has some maturity to her which is sometimes not present with some bond girls. I find humorous that even when scenes of the two falling in love are being shown, soon after when Bond goes on mission, he sleeps with two other women back to back believe it or not. Bond will always be Bond and that's the bottom line.

As far as story and direction goes On Her Majesty's Secret Service is just as good as From Russia With Love and Goldfinger, perhaps even better. What drops the film a notch is Lazenby's performance which isn't terrible, but it lacks what Connery gave to the James Bond role. Lazenby doesn't have the suaveness, charm and wit like Connery did. However, Lazenby still manages to give somewhat of a decent performance and this bond film is definitely one of the best.