31 replies to this topic

[stamper]

I liked very much Jackanaples remarks, so here's a thread for those who fancy dreaming a full Laz run on the character. Imagine the director, the titles, etc in that spirit :

You know a friend of mine and I speculated how much cooler the Bond movies would have been if Connery had stuck around to do OHMSS then quit. Then Lazenby takes over and does LALD as a full-on blaxploitation movie -dropping Jane Seymour as Solitaire and bringing Pam Grier in as the Bond girl!

Now you've got Lazenby for TMWTGG -a kung fu Bond movie AND your actor playing Bond is a black belt! Awesome. The Roger Moore Carry On Bond era is neatly sidestepped entirely!

Part of the problem with the Bond movies is that often they try to cash in on trends (like kung fu, blaxploitation), but they go about it half-assed and noncommital.

So I start :

LIVE AND LET DIE 1971 Starring George Lazenby as James Bond 007 and Pam Grier as Solitaire & Isaac Hayes as Baron Samedi
Screenplay by Melvin Van Peebles
Directed by Guy Hamilton
Song by Issac Hayes


THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN 1973 Starring George Lazenby as James Bond 007 and Bruce Lee as chinese secret agent Lee
Screenplay by Robert Clouse and Bruce Lee
Directed by Guy Hamilton
Song by John Barry

Fill in there a different sinopsis / screen play - filmed right before Bruce Lee intimely death, this movie is an absolute smash hit everywhere

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME 1977 Starring George Lazenby as James Bond 007 and Johnny Rotten as Karl Stromberg
Screenplay by Richard Maibaum
Directed by Lewis Gilbert
Song by the Sex Pistols

After much legal wrangle behind the scenes, following the huge success of MWRGG, Eon have wons the right back in a lawsuit, and Bond is back in top form, battling the new SPECTRE, with their leader played by Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols fame, out to destroy the world and start all over again !

Always on the edge, Eon have chosen punk rock artists the Sex Pistols to also supply the movie theme, as well as their leader playing the vilain !

TBC...

Edited by stamper, 07 August 2006 - 08:31 AM.

[DamnCoffee]

I would have loved Lazenby to stay for the full 7 movies (Ohmss - FYEO) and the comic era with moore would have been missed out alltogether when i say comic era i mean with the Exception of LALD, TSWLM & FYEO

Edited by mharkin, 06 August 2006 - 02:55 PM.

[Thunderfinger]

"God save the Queen,she ain

[stamper]

haha, the idea is imagine Lazenby tenure, as if they made the fashion like in the sixties, not following them, hence Blaxploitation, kung fu craze, punk rock terrorism, always with an edge regarding screenwriters, and casting. Unlike the actual movies actually. Imagine Sid Vicious as Jaws ! Woah hahaha

[RJJB]

I would have loved Lazenby to stay for the full 7 movies (Ohmss - FYEO) and the comic era with moore would have been missed out alltogether when i say comic era i mean with the Exception of LALD, TSWLM & FYEO

How can you cite LALD as an exception to the comic era? Kanaga's demise smacks of the fate that Wile E. Coyote suffered numerous times in Road Runner cartoons. Maybe it was an Acme shark repellant capsule that Moore shoved in his mouth. Pure nonsense that completely sank the movie for me.

Edited by RJJB, 08 August 2006 - 10:34 AM.

[The Richmond Spy]

I'd probably take Laz in DAF, but I like Moore's performances and I'm not sure I'd change how anything turned out.

[DavidSomerset]

Folks, immediately after the release of OHMSS, Cubby couldnt sleep for a week as he saw that Lazenby has killed Tracy and Bond too.
So he had to BEG Connery to come back. So there was no chance in hell that Wooden Lazenby would have endured for another film let alone 7 films. And yes, Roger was a much better Bond than Wooden George.

[Andrew]

Folks, immediately after the release of OHMSS, Cubby couldnt sleep for a week as he saw that Lazenby has killed Tracy and Bond too.
So he had to BEG Connery to come back. So there was no chance in hell that Wooden Lazenby would have endured for another film let alone 7 films. And yes, Roger was a much better Bond than Wooden George.

It was Lazenby who decided not to continue. He dropped out while shooting. I'm sure Cubby wasn't too worried.

[Jackanaples]

Folks, immediately after the release of OHMSS, Cubby couldnt sleep for a week as he saw that Lazenby has killed Tracy and Bond too.
So he had to BEG Connery to come back. So there was no chance in hell that Wooden Lazenby would have endured for another film let alone 7 films. And yes, Roger was a much better Bond than Wooden George.

Actually, Cubby said that had Lazenby stuck with the role, he could have been the best Bond of all. He did extremely well (better than anyone had any right to expect) for a man with no acting experience. His fight scenes in OHMSS are second to none.

The reason he had to beg Connery to come back is because Lazenby QUIT and left them high and dry. A decision that he (Lazenby) regrets to this day.

As for Roger Moore, he was a very good Simon Templar. He was handsome and very suave. Unfortunately, he is too lacking in what I will call the "sex & violence appeal" to be a credible Bond. The theme song to THUNDERBALL could never be believably written about 007 as played by him.

Edited by Jackanaples, 08 August 2006 - 05:23 AM.

[DamnCoffee]

well i agree with Cubby - Lazenby would have been the Bond to beat

[Agent 76]

One thing makes me think sometimes about this matter, of how would Mr Lazenby have grown more into the part, in wich way he would have taken the character into other areas not explored in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

[Sunny_on_SM]

As for Roger Moore, he was a very good Simon Templar. He was handsome and very suave. Unfortunately, he is too lacking in what I will call the "sex & violence appeal" to be a credible Bond. The theme song to THUNDERBALL could never be believably written about 007 as played by him.

I respectfully disagree on this. A part of what made Simon Templar such a big hit on TV was his sex appeal AND all the fighting and adventures in the stories. The Bond I personally find as someone with no sex appeal is Lazenby. Could once again be the case of different tastes, but to me he was the most unattractive Bond of all. Even though I am a girl who goes for tall dark and handsome types, even blond and short Daniel Craig is a hunk compared to George Lazenby.

[Skudor]

Wouldn't it have been awful to have never had Roger Moore as James Bond?

[Jackanaples]

As for Roger Moore, he was a very good Simon Templar. He was handsome and very suave. Unfortunately, he is too lacking in what I will call the "sex & violence appeal" to be a credible Bond. The theme song to THUNDERBALL could never be believably written about 007 as played by him.

I respectfully disagree on this. A part of what made Simon Templar such a big hit on TV was his sex appeal AND all the fighting and adventures in the stories. The Bond I personally find as someone with no sex appeal is Lazenby. Could once again be the case of different tastes, but to me he was the most unattractive Bond of all. Even though I am a girl who goes for tall dark and handsome types, even blond and short Daniel Craig is a hunk compared to George Lazenby.

Well, Roger Moore was a big deal... on tv. As I said, he made a great Simon Templar. As James Bond he was completely unconvincing to me. Moore didn't so much play Bond in his run as change the role to suit his strengths (which tended toward quips and light comedy).

The sense the audience got with Connery (and to a certain extent Lazenby) of a dynamic man who could stride into a room, kick till the job was done, and take any woman he wanted was completely absent with Moore. He didn't so much play Bond as change the role to suit his strengths (which tended toward quips and light comedy).

If you like that sort of thing, fine (I enjoy TSWLM for what it's worth). To me it feels like drinking watered down beer. Once you're aware of it, what's the point of drinking at that establishment?

As for Lazenby, we only have OHMSS to go on. He comes off tremendously well for a guy who'd never acted before. In real life women were (and continue to be apparently) nuts about him. His fight scenes are still the high water mark for the series. Having a black belt in martial arts will do that for you.

Oh, and I am 5'7". I am short. Daniel Craig is 5'11" and is tall. He's just the shortest of the actors to play Bond. Which considering he will be one of the most convincing, is not a bad trade at all.

[Jackanaples]

Since it was something that I wrote that inspired this whole thread I guess it might be interesting to post what I would imagine a seven film Lazenby era to be like. Here we go:

One thing that I think should be obvious is that if Lazenby had stuck with the role the series would have changed to fit his strengths. By which I mean we would have been treated to some truly fantastic and elaborate action sequences.

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)
would have picked up right where OHMSS was supposed to end with Bond and Tracy driving away from the wedding in the car. She gets killed and he spends the movie tracking down Blofeld to get revenge.

Toward this end he reunites with his father-in-law Marc Ange Draco. They use his underworld connections to uncover the criminal mastermind's trail. What starts with a huge diamond smuggling operation leads to uncovering Blofeld's true plan --which has absolutely nothing to do with satellites and solar energy weapons.

You can forget Charles Gray, as I'd have had Telly Savalas return as Blofeld. Wint and Kidd would have been far more imposing henchmen, both funnier and scarier. The fight between Bond and Bambi & Thumper would have been a great martial arts set piece.

The movie ends with Bond getting his revenge and instead of going off with another woman, he visits Tracy's grave.

LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)
I'd have played up the voodoo and piratical elements of this story big time. As said before, Pam Grier would have been brought in to play Solitaire, with a white actress for the sacrificial lamb. That would have been really controversial for the time but offending bigots is always in fashion.

For the song, much as I like what Wings did, I would have gone with James Brown, Marvin Gaye, or maybe Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield.

Oh, and I would have kept the keel haul sequence from the novel for this one too.

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974)
This one would have seen east meet west quite dramatically. Most of the adventure would have been in places like Hong Kong and throughout Asia. The martial arts sequences seen in the previous two films would reach an apex here.

It's doubtful that I would have cast Christopher Lee as Scaramanga, opting instead for a more fit Latin actor in the role. The climactic gunfight would have mixed secret agent cool with Sergio Leone-like spaghetti western intensity and action.

More later...

Edited by Jackanaples, 28 August 2006 - 06:02 AM.

[Sunny_on_SM]

The sense the audience got with Connery (and to a certain extent Lazenby) of a dynamic man who could stride into a room, kick till the job was done, and take any woman he wanted was completely absent with Moore. He didn't so much play Bond as change the role to suit his strengths (which tended toward quips and light comedy).

If you like that sort of thing, fine (I enjoy TSWLM for what it's worth). To me it feels like drinking watered down beer. Once you're aware of it, what's the point of drinking at that establishment?

As for Lazenby, we only have OHMSS to go on. He comes off tremendously well for a guy who'd never acted before. In real life women were (and continue to be apparently) nuts about him. His fight scenes are still the high water mark for the series. Having a black belt in martial arts will do that for you.

Roger Moore once said something along the lines of James Bond being an unrealistic character, that no spy would survive in real life being like him and doing what he does. That is how he explained his lighter approach to Bond. But what I like about Roger Bonds is the variety they have. They have elements of comedy and the ridiculousness - yes, that is true. But at the same time he's got some very serious moments, scenes with extreme violence, scenes that show this character as multi-dimensional. I can't say this about any other Bond, not even Sean's. I think that Roger opened the door for other actors to come and play Bond afterwards with success. He played him somewhat differently from Sean, and who can blame him for not wanting to copy anyone.

I don't think Lazenby could have done the same.

As for looks and sex appeal, I don't really know how women feel about George in real life. Real life is different from movies. In reality many men, especially rich and famous, would have women dripping all over them. And in reality Lazenby is probably great in every way. It's just that on screen, I personally don't find him convincing as someone who can seduce any woman. Oh well, what a girl to do, ? Maybe I am in the minority here, just don't find his looks all that special for the role like James Bond.

[Jericho_One]

Folks, immediately after the release of OHMSS, Cubby couldnt sleep for a week as he saw that Lazenby has killed Tracy and Bond too.
So he had to BEG Connery to come back. So there was no chance in hell that Wooden Lazenby would have endured for another film let alone 7 films. And yes, Roger was a much better Bond than Wooden George.

Actually, Cubby said that had Lazenby stuck with the role, he could have been the best Bond of all. He did extremely well (better than anyone had any right to expect) for a man with no acting experience. His fight scenes in OHMSS are second to none.

Cubby was right. Nowadays, Laz must be one of the most frustrated guys on Earth. So much potential wasted when he could have grown into the role.

[00Twelve]

Yeah...I think that if he had had a big 7-film arc or whatnot, he'd have really hit his stride both in this specific character and as an actor in general by his fourth or fifth. Pity. Now we'll never see Tracy really avenged...unless the remake route prevails...

[Mike00spy]

I think OHMSS would have become weaker movie if Tracy didn't die at the end.... I always thought the "decision" to save her for Diamonds to be a horrible one.

Lazenby's films probably would have become light hearted as well in the 70's, so in that respect, I'm glad Roger Moore was Bond.

I just wish LALD, TMWTGG were better movies.

[DamnCoffee]

it would be cool if someone made the Lazenby gunbarrel so it opened up into the end of OHMSS(Pretitles of DAF if Laz stayed ) and fade into the DAF titles when Laz says "We have all the time in the world"

[Jackanaples]

I think OHMSS would have become weaker movie if Tracy didn't die at the end.... I always thought the "decision" to save her for Diamonds to be a horrible one.

Lazenby's films probably would have become light hearted as well in the 70's, so in that respect, I'm glad Roger Moore was Bond.

I just wish LALD, TMWTGG were better movies.

It's extremely doubtful had Lazenby remained his resulting films would have resembled Moore's much at all. The two men are 180 degrees away from one another in terms of their respective strengths as actors. Moore's forte was comedy. Lazenby's was action.

[stamper]

If DAF was the revenge LAZ movie, I'm pretty sure OHMSS ending would have still remained the same, with DAF opening with a different edit of the same scene, to set up back the story, and then continue. When OHMSS final edit was done, Laz was still going to do another one I think.

[Shaun Forever]

I thought it was just me who rated George, indeed he should have done more. I'll say that OHMSS is one of the most unique films in the series.

[Asim]

I think O would be better, dont you?

[JimmyBond]

If DAF was the revenge LAZ movie, I'm pretty sure OHMSS ending would have still remained the same, with DAF opening with a different edit of the same scene, to set up back the story, and then continue. When OHMSS final edit was done, Laz was still going to do another one I think.

Peter Hunt claims (or claimed, RIP) otherwise.

[col_007]

yeah on the old special edition dvd peter hunt said you would of seen them driving away from the wedding where the camrea pans away then it would of ended and at the start of daf you would of seen tracy get killed

Edited by col_007, 07 November 2006 - 05:54 PM.

[nJamesBaum]

INTERESTING...

AND IN REFERENCE TO LAZENBY'S SHORT RUN AS OO7-IN THE WORDS OF MISS SILVIA TRENCH TO BOND:

"TOO BAD YOU HAD TO GO, JUST AS THINGS WERE GETTING INTERESTING."

OR IN THE WORDS OF CONNERY AS OO7: "I'LL BE SORRY TO GO."

BEST WISHES, GEORGE "OHMSS" LAZENBY. YOU ARE MISSED.

[Dikko's Back]

OHMSS stands out as a unique film, which has grown better with age.

[col_007]

it would be cool if someone made the Lazenby gunbarrel so it opened up into the end of OHMSS(Pretitles of DAF if Laz stayed ) and fade into the DAF titles when Laz says "We have all the time in the world"

do you think someone could do that

[Double-Oh Agent]

I think OHMSS would have become weaker movie if Tracy didn't die at the end.... I always thought the "decision" to save her for Diamonds to be a horrible one.

I completely agree. On Her Majesty's Secret Service's impact--certainly emotionally--would have been lost had the film ended with Bond and Tracy driving off on their honeymoon. The split story also might have negatively affected the beginning of Diamonds Are Forever as some viewers may not have quite fully captured the significance of Tracy's death in the PTS.

No, the best decision was the one EON ultimately took--to include Tracy's death at the end of OHMSS. (I'm not sure if George Lazenby had decided to walk away from Bond prior to EON's decision regarding Tracy's death, but if he had, than this might be the one good thing to have come from it.)