22 replies to this topic

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

I'm telling everyone one this site that Sean Connery was, and still is the premier Agent 007. But what if Connery stayed a little bit longer after YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and would have starred in OHMSS? Even though the film is one of the best, just imagine Connery in the role filled by George Lazenby. Would the film be a better success. It's a 'duh' question. If Connery stook around for OHMMSS, it would have been his best Bond movie. State your opinion here.

[Simon Bermuda]

I think it all depends on whether you mean the earlier, more enthusiastic Connery who enjoyed playing 007 and skilfully brought the character to life, or the later, jaded, weary Connery whose mind was clearly elsewhere. Perhaps if OHMSS had been made after GF, as was originally planned...

I would also have preferred to see Brigitte Bardot as Tracy - maybe it's just me, but I simply can't buy Diana Rigg as a Continental Contessa with a death wish.

And nor, for that matter, am I too keen on Telly 'Who loves ya, baby?' Savalas as Blofeld. He gives OHMSS too much of a TV-movie feel. I would have preferred to see, say, Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger or Klaus Kinski in the role.

As for Lazenby - I'm sorry, but he's never managed to convince me as James Bond. Too hale and hearty and Australian. (Would have made a good stunt double for Cary Grant, though.)

Other OHMSS gripes:

The frilly shirts.

That cringe-making scene where Bond has a desk drawer full of mementos from earlier adventures. Totally wrong, almost fanboyish, and dangerously close to camp.

That silly shot where Bond comes sliding along the ice on his belly, firing a machine pistol. It looks as though he'd asked two of his colleagues to grab him by the arms and slide him, because he thought it would look cool.

That camp montage of Bond and Tracy falling in love. (The Louis Armstrong song is great, but the visuals bring to mind Bruce Wayne falling for Miss Kitka in BATMAN.)


So all in all, yes, I would have preferred to see Connery - a committed, serious Connery - in OHMSS. Even at that time, he was a good enough actor to handle all the emotional stuff, and it would have been RIVETING, seeing this super-confident super-agent brought to his knees by that mysterious thing we call ... love. (Although the line 'This never happened to the other fella' would need replacing. Any suggestions?)

[Red Grant]

What if... Connery was in OHMSS?, Could the film be better?

NO.

[Qwerty]

I actually don't think so, but one can only guess. While Connery gave some terrif performances, he would have to be on his all out best to make this one right, and at the time it was made, I don't think Connery would have done his best for the film.

While Lazenby did a fine job and the film is magnificent, perhaps Connery could have done better, but I'm really not sure if would have.

[ChandlerBing]

Yes, and I'll let the attachment speak for itself.

Attached Files

•  ohmss67.jpg   174.98KB   41 downloads

[ChandlerBing]

Or even this....

Attached Files

•  OHMSS67teaser.gif   120.05KB   40 downloads

[B007GLE]

Without a doubt OHMSS would have been better with Sean and maybe even the best Bond of all.

Sean wanted out of the Bond films because three was noting to do but look smooth and hit people. OHMSS would have given him a chance to act as the character. It would have been better for him to do that as his last film. What a perfect send off!

[ChandlerBing]

Considering Connery's state of mind at that time, he would not have had to do much acting to fit the part of Bond, as he was portrayed in the book OHMSS. Bond is tired, frazzled, burned-out. When he meets Tracy, he gets his batteries recharged enough to go after Blofeld. Giving Connery the chance to work with some good actors with a good script and director would have done the same thing.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

Great Attachment ChandlerBing!

[ChandlerBing]

Go check out www.hmss.com for their article on what if Connery had done OHMSS. Very interesting read. That is where those attatchments came from.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

Go check out www.hmss.com for their article on what if Connery had done OHMSS. Very interesting read. That is where those attatchments came from.

Here's the complete link:

http://www.hmss.com/films/ohmss67

Terrific "what if?/alternate universe"-type article.

[TheSaint]

Well, I don't know if Sean's performance would've been better had he been in OHMSS but, we do know he would've been heavier than he was in YOLT, though not as heavy as he was in DAF. Odds are, Pleasance would've been back as Blofeld, which meant that Sean's version of Bray would've been more heavily disguised.

Edited by TheSaint, 07 April 2004 - 10:23 PM.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

I agree.

I have always wondered why Blofeld didn't reconize Bond at first glance, even though he was played by a different actor.

It would have been more fun, and convincing if Bond, played by Connery, would have a disguise in OHMSS.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

An informative article from hmss.com!

Thanks, guys!

[Scottlee]

To the people who think Connery's mind was too distant in 1968/69 to do a decent job on OHMSS - Don't you think his motivation level would have suddenly shot up again after seeing the challenging script? The James Bond of OHMSS was required to do a lot more than just 'look smooth and hit people'. Doing this film could have re-energized Connery's enthusiasm for Bond, and kept him on for DAF and a bit beyond.

I think OHMSS would have been a better film with him. I believe that Connery is a far superior actor to Lazenby, and to say that the former's presence would not have enriched this film is quite an insult on him. (IMO)

[Janus Assassin]

I dont think that if Connery was in OHMSS, than the film would be better. I dont imagine Connery posing as Sir Hilary Bray, going undercover as a genologist, and dressing in a kilt. The part was specifically made for Lazenby. OHMSS is a good Bond film and it wouldnt be as good if Sean was in it. The parts with him falling in love with Tracy would be great, but overall, OHMSS was a film for Lazenby.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

What, Connery not wearing a kilt? I disagree totally. He's Scottish for god's sake. Of course, OHMSS was made for him. He would have loved the storyline, working for Peter Hunt, and the characters and acting. It would have been a perfect Bond effort for Connery, IF he would stepped up to par, unlike in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, where he hated the growing amount of popularity of the 'Bond hype' and how Bond was a second fiddle to gadgets and not character development.

To be honest, George Lazenby did an Ok job. If he more acting expierence he would have been a great James Bond if stayed around longer. But it wasn't made for him. But I do agree, ironically without Lazenby, OHMSS wouldn't been a critcial success. But with Connery, it would have been a critical and well commerically made Bond picture.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I agree that a 32-35 old Connery, fit,fresh looking and enthusiastic would have been better that Laz but not the bored,stagnating,looking for the next gig, increasingly out of shape Connery... I like the film as is.Besides, I can't picture Sean getting attached to some girl and actually getting married.

[Janus Assassin]

Ok, I changed my mind after seeing OHMSS again, Connery would have been good in it. But I dont see Sean falling in love with Tracy and marrying her as Lazenby did.

[doublenoughtspy]

This idea must be neck and neck with Dalton's 3rd film as one of the biggest "what if's" in the series.

The idea of Connery being better than Lazenby in OHMSS falls flat on it's face in so many areas.

1) Young, ethusiastic Connery does not get to play in this sandbox. I have YOLT reviews that call attention to Connery's weight - and I have some tabloid stories from the time of the casting of OHMSS that even say he has "A license to put on weight". A good script might "engergize" him, but he would be no where near as fit as Lazenby. And I highly doubt the premise that a good script would energize Connery anyway. He is on record as saying the Diamonds are Forever is the best Bond script he had ever seen. The man would also later turn down The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings because he didn't understand the scripts.

2) The budget would have been much different had Connery returned - he would have gotten more of it - and thus location shooting, special effects, stunts, costumes, etc would have been lessened.

3) Casting and crew would obviously be affected. Bardot instead of Rigg. Without Shalako being made that would have freed up Bob Simmons - and thus the stunts would have been a lot different. Simmons is a very talented man and a great member of the Bond team - but the most brutal fights in the series (FRWL, OHMSS) were arranged by Peter Perkins and George Leech - not Bob Simmons.

4) Ski & Bobsled work - you can not tell me that Connery would have been better than Lazenby in these scenes - he would have looked bloated in a ski suit.

5) Romance scenes - the Lazenby/Rigg coupling works on all kinds of levels - I doubt a Bardot/Connery coupling could work as well - lets call it even for arguments sake.

6) Straight Dialog scenes - yes Connery would have been better at these - but there aren't enough of these to make a difference. OHMSS is an adventure and romance film - the exposition dialog scenes are few and far between.

7) Time. OHMSS took 9 months of principal photography. Connery freaked out when films took over 4 months - he would not have been happy with the perfection that Peter Hunt demanded. Do you really think he would have made it through a movie that took as much time to film as Dr No, FRWL, and half of Goldfinger COMBINED?

[Turn]

One things I think works about OHMSS with Lazenby, which I believe he benefits from, is in his being the new Bond, the romance angle gets a boost. Connery played Bond as brutal and often callous toward women. He is romantic, but you never get the impression he really likes the women and that would have gotten lost with him in OHMSS.

Not having that hanging over him, Lazenby can twist Rigg's arm without it being too callous. Sure he seduces women at Piz Gloria, but we never knew at the time he would actually commit to Tracy. Once he does, it's easier to accept than it would be for the avowed bachelor Connery played. And the last scene would have never worked with Connery.

[ChandlerBing]

Ohhh, yes it would have. OHMSS is my favorite Bond ever. Would Connery have been good in it? You bet your he would have.

[Onyx2626]

what a coincidence

i just bought a used copy of Cult Movies 3 by DANNY PEARY (1987) my favorite movie critic by far. Guess what Bond film is in it?

"The film surely suffers because Lazenby hasn't Connery's polish as an actor, but I'm not sure I agree with those who insist that if Connery had played Bond it would definately be the best of the entire Bond series. I'd love to see Connery opposite Diana Rigg (it's annoying when she makes love to Lazenby), but Connery's Bond, with his boundless humor and sense of fun and self-confidence, would be out of place in this picture. It actually works better with Lazenby because he is incapable of playing Bond as a bigger-than-life hero....Lazenby's Bond hasn't the assurance of Connery's Bond and that is appropriate in the crumbling, depressing world he finds himself. He seems vunerable and jittery at all times. At the skating rink, he is actually scared. We worry about him not only when he is being chased by Blofeld's hired killers, but also when a short, unintimidating lawyer might return to his office and discover Bond inside. Connery's Bond cared about the women he met and loved, but he kept his distance because he wouldn't think of marrying and giving up his future adventures and future affairs. We believe Lazenby's Bond would court Tracy, be touched by her love and loyalty, admire her intelligence and bravery, fall in love with her, give up his dangerous, globe-trotting profession and future love affairs to marry her, and be crushed by her death on their wedding day.

OHMSS doesn't have Connery and it's impossible to ever fully adjust to Lazenby but I think that it still might be the best Bond film, as many Bond cultists claim... Moreover it's probably the most exciting Bond film, mixing high (very high) adventure and Hitchcock suspense (the scene in the lawyer's office, Bond's hand-over-hand escape on the cable wire, the fight in the shed full of bells, the sharply edited fight on the speeding bobsled). From the moment Bond is captured by Blofeld and Irma Blunt, the picture moves into high gear. There is one beautifully edited (by future director John Glen), elaborately directed, nerve-wracking scene after another. Even some macabre humor - Blofeld's men have some bizarre deaths - manages to increase the excitement. The helicopter attack on the institute is like something out of The Guns of Navarone (1961). And the Blofeld-Bond battle on the runaway bobsled almost make watching the Winter Olympics superfluous. No Bond film has such sustained suspense.

OHMSS made a great deal of money and pleased most Bond fanatics (it's amazing how large the Bond cult is!)"

I'll post the rest someday on a Lazenby thread...sorry to go on so much but this book [i have Vol 2 also] is loong out of print