23 replies to this topic

[jrdoo7]

i always heard that the film was a major disappointment which is not true. Granted the film did not do well as connery's film. however 1969 was a slow year box office wise. Ohmss did finshed 5 in the us that year and 2 worldwide. If you go by total admissions. The only way to judge the bond films via box office. Ohmss was 62.4. Going by that ohmss finshed 16 on bond list. it did better than octopussy, man with the golden gun, never say never again, a view to a kill, living daylights, and license to kill. They did offer him a 3 picture deal and he turned it down so it couldn't be that disappointing.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

Of course I don't know how reliable this source is-

http://en.wikipedia....e_and_reception

-but it does say On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the 2nd most highest grossing film of 1969, after Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. While I am an OHMSS fan, I think any film that had the character James Bond in it regardless of the actor playing him was guaranteed to be a box office hit during the 1960s and early 1970s. There were no other action movie franchises of comparable quality at that time and Bond had a monopoly on that market.

[MissDalton99]

I can't remember where I read it, but I read somewhere that OHMSS raked in 10 times the amount it cost to make, which is currently an EON record.

[jaguar007]

Dr. No cost $1 milion to make and grossed about $16million. Thunderball cost $5million and grossed about $64million, I think that holds the greatest percent to investment on a Bond movie

[MissDalton99]

Dr. No cost $1 milion to make and grossed about $16million. Thunderball cost $5million and grossed about $64million, I think that holds the greatest percent to investment on a Bond movie

I think you're right. Like I said, I couldn't remember where I got the information...it was probably an unreliable source, anyway.

[jrdoo7]

2nd worldwide. 5th in the us. this movie did show that they could have a successful bond movie both box office and quality of movie without connery. No offense to connery.

Of course I don't know how reliable this source is-

http://en.wikipedia....e_and_reception

-but it does say On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the 2nd most highest grossing film of 1969, after Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. While I am an OHMSS fan, I think any film that had the character James Bond in it regardless of the actor playing him was guaranteed to be a box office hit during the 1960s and early 1970s. There were no other action movie franchises of comparable quality at that time and Bond had a monopoly on that market.

[Publius]

The standard of "failure" changes with the times. Back then, and until 1974, it did sell the least tickets of any Bond movie, but it was immensely profitable even by today's standards. Profit margins are a lot lower nowadays.

And the percentage drop off from YOLT was smaller than the drop off from Thunderball, which is commendable considering Lazenby had replaced Connery and the film was so different from what had come before.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

2nd worldwide. 5th in the us. this movie did show that they could have a successful bond movie both box office and quality of movie without connery. No offense to connery.

Of course I don't know how reliable this source is-

http://en.wikipedia....e_and_reception

-but it does say On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the 2nd most highest grossing film of 1969, after Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. While I am an OHMSS fan, I think any film that had the character James Bond in it regardless of the actor playing him was guaranteed to be a box office hit during the 1960s and early 1970s. There were no other action movie franchises of comparable quality at that time and Bond had a monopoly on that market.

Interestingly enough, I think I read that OHMSS outgrossed all of Connery's non-Bond films he made between 1967 and 1971 combined. After Lazenby left, the opportunity for Connery to return to Bond was something Connery needed even more badly that EON needed him. And a say that as a devout Connery fan.

[jrdoo7]

connery suffered through the 70's. he had some box office failures in the 70's made soo good films but the went bust in the box office. i think it was time bandits was his first hit since daf.

2nd worldwide. 5th in the us. this movie did show that they could have a successful bond movie both box office and quality of movie without connery. No offense to connery.

Of course I don't know how reliable this source is-

http://en.wikipedia....e_and_reception

-but it does say On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the 2nd most highest grossing film of 1969, after Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. While I am an OHMSS fan, I think any film that had the character James Bond in it regardless of the actor playing him was guaranteed to be a box office hit during the 1960s and early 1970s. There were no other action movie franchises of comparable quality at that time and Bond had a monopoly on that market.

Interestingly enough, I think I read that OHMSS outgrossed all of Connery's non-Bond films he made between 1967 and 1971 combined. After Lazenby left, the opportunity for Connery to return to Bond was something Connery needed even more badly that EON needed him. And a say that as a devout Connery fan.

[RazorBlade]

Just goes to show that there is more to this than meets the eye.

[Carolinabond007]

Agreed.

[Napoleon Solo]

Just goes to show that there is more to this than meets the eye.

In 1974, Mad magazine did a parody of the first 8 Bond movies (all drawn by Mort Drucker). In the DAF parody, Connery/Bond is asked by M why he came back. He says something to the effect his best job offer was to be in the center square on "Hollywood Squares."

As he danges outside the Whyte House, the last panel of the parody has Moore/Bond leaning out the window and cutting the rope with a pair of scissors.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

Just goes to show that there is more to this than meets the eye.

In 1974, Mad magazine did a parody of the first 8 Bond movies (all drawn by Mort Drucker). In the DAF parody, Connery/Bond is asked by M why he came back. He says something to the effect his best job offer was to be in the center square on "Hollywood Squares."

As he danges outside the Whyte House, the last panel of the parody has Moore/Bond leaning out the window and cutting the rope with a pair of scissors.

That sounds hilarious, Mr. Solo. Could you post the links to it?

[Napoleon Solo]

Just goes to show that there is more to this than meets the eye.

In 1974, Mad magazine did a parody of the first 8 Bond movies (all drawn by Mort Drucker). In the DAF parody, Connery/Bond is asked by M why he came back. He says something to the effect his best job offer was to be in the center square on "Hollywood Squares."

As he danges outside the Whyte House, the last panel of the parody has Moore/Bond leaning out the window and cutting the rope with a pair of scissors.

That sounds hilarious, Mr. Solo. Could you post the links to it?

I'm not sure it's online. I remember buying it at the newsstand and it may even be in my basement somewhere. Another gag I remember:

Goldfinger: Pussy Galore and Goldfinger are in a helicopter flying by a building. "That is where the world's largest treasurer is housed," Goldfinger says.

"Fort Know?" Pussy asks.

"No, it's the offices of Albert R. Croccoli and Harry Saltspeter, the producers of these movies. Fort Knox is down the road."

I'll have to do some searching to see if this is online somewhere.

Edited by Napoleon Solo, 29 November 2007 - 01:42 AM.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

Just goes to show that there is more to this than meets the eye.

In 1974, Mad magazine did a parody of the first 8 Bond movies (all drawn by Mort Drucker). In the DAF parody, Connery/Bond is asked by M why he came back. He says something to the effect his best job offer was to be in the center square on "Hollywood Squares."

As he danges outside the Whyte House, the last panel of the parody has Moore/Bond leaning out the window and cutting the rope with a pair of scissors.

That sounds hilarious, Mr. Solo. Could you post the links to it?

I'm not sure it's online. I remember buying it at the newsstand and it may even be in my basement somewhere. Another gag I remember:

Goldfinger: Pussy Galore and Goldfinger are in a helicopter flying by a building. "That is where the world's largest treasurer is housed," Goldfinger says.

"Fort Know?" Pussy asks.

"No, it's the offices of Albert R. Croccoli and Harry Saltspeter, the producers of these movies. Fort Knox is down the road."

I'll have to do some searching to see if this is online somewhere.

Thanks. Here's one they did for OHMSS called "On Her Majesty's Secret Shamus"-

http://www.ohmss.ohm.../print_mad.html

[Napoleon Solo]

Thanks. Here's one they did for OHMSS called "On Her Majesty's Secret Shamus"-

http://www.ohmss.ohm.../print_mad.html

"Make love to a girl who will soon have her own TV series."

Background: Diana Rigg had recently starred in a sitcom on U.S. television (NBC) that only ran one season.

I also like the panel where Lazenby/Bond ("Lazybee") confronts Connery/Bond ("Crockery")

[PrinceKamalKhan]

Thanks. Here's one they did for OHMSS called "On Her Majesty's Secret Shamus"-

http://www.ohmss.ohm.../print_mad.html

"Make love to a girl who will soon have her own TV series."

Background: Diana Rigg had recently starred in a sitcom on U.S. television (NBC) that only ran one season.

I also like the panel where Lazenby/Bond ("Lazybee") confronts Connery/Bond ("Crockery")

Indeed. In retrospect, it's funny how prophetic Mad Magazine turned out to be in this case.


I also like "For Her Thighs Only"-

http://www.universal...net/00Mad.shtml

[triviachamp]

Indeed. In retrospect, it's funny how prophetic Mad Magazine turned out to be in this case.

I believe MAD parodied the first Eight Bond Movies around 1974, so no this they were not prophetic.

[tambourineman]

LTK has the same stigma, that it was some kind of commercial failure. And thats totally incorrect. Its true that LTK didnt gross as highly as the movies immediately preceeding it, but I put that mostly down to its R rating, effectively cutting off a large section of Bond's traditional demographic. It was still one of the highest grossing movies of the year and made almost triple its budget back. Most movies only dream of that sort of box office success.

[Col. Sun]

LTK has the same stigma, that it was some kind of commercial failure. And thats totally incorrect. Its true that LTK didnt gross as highly as the movies immediately preceeding it, but I put that mostly down to its R rating, effectively cutting off a large section of Bond's traditional demographic. It was still one of the highest grossing movies of the year and made almost triple its budget back. Most movies only dream of that sort of box office success.

You're quite right, LTK was still a popular film; but it did fail in the US and made only around $35 million at the BO there. It was thrashed by Batman and Lethal Weapon 2. However in Europe it even broke some house records, even out-grossed Batman in a few of those places, and did good business in the UK, although nearly a third down on TLD in the Brit market.

It was no flop, but it did concern Eon and MGM that Dalton wasn't proving to be a draw in himself.

Eon would, and wanted, to stick with Dalton -- and if the next film had come quicker, then Dalton would have done his third film - although I'm pretty sure that would have been it for him.

[Napoleon Solo]

Eon would, and wanted, to stick with Dalton -- and if the next film had come quicker, then Dalton would have done his third film - although I'm pretty sure that would have been it for him.

You might be right. MGM was in such a weakened condition in the early '90s, the patience of executives would be pretty thin.

[triviachamp]

You might be right. MGM was in such a weakened condition in the early '90s, the patience of executives would be pretty thin.

It sounds like Credit Lyonnais just wanted more Bond and Pink Panther movies made so someone would buy MGM/UA.

As for OHMSS, it seems in Hollywood anytime a film doesn't perform to expectations its perfomance is exaggerated until it becomes a catastrophe.

[BS 007]

I'm agree with the fact George would have been 007 for 3 films. OHMSS is underratted just because it's not starring Sean.

[RazorBlade]

Aw, hard to beat Mad mag for spoofs and satire. Love it.

As for MGM's patience wearing thin, any of the major studios at any time, feast or famine, is pretty thin. I don't know why, they always claim none of the movies make any money. Even though they are rolling in dough.