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[Qwerty]

Now on the CBn main page...

On Her Majesty's Secret Service celebrates 40 years (Part I)

CommanderBond.net Forum members look back at George Lazenby's one and only James Bond film

On Her Majesty's Secret Service celebrates 40 years (Part II)

CommanderBond.net Forum members look back at George Lazenby's one and only James Bond film

On Her Majesty's Secret Service celebrates 40 years (Part III)

CommanderBond.net Forum members look back at George Lazenby's one and only James Bond film

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Following up similar threads this year for Moonraker, Licence to Kill and The World is not Enough, it's time to mark the upcoming 40th anniversary of George Lazenby's On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. So...

What was it like to see Lazenby's one-and-only performance as 007 in this 1969 James Bond film?

Where was it? Were you at a premiere? Was it your first Bond film? ...are just some of the questions to consider. If you can't remember your very first time in seeing the film, then perhaps your most memorable experience instead.

Members are encouraged to write a few paragraphs describing the event and your thoughts.

Off we go!

[Mr. Blofeld]

The first time I saw OHMSS was on DVD; I had just become a big Bond fan after watching Casino Royale, but this sudden blaze had been dampened after I decided to watch, as my first sort-of "real" Bond film after CR, the one most people had acclaimed as "iconic"; i.e., You Only Live Twice. This did not go down well with the inexperienced Bond fan that I was, so I decided to give the series one more try, just to see if it could still be good after... that, and I settled upon OHMSS as this try.

Well, let me tell you: I watched it... and those two hours whizzed by. The story, the music, the gorgeous locales; everything was fantastic. The entire cast seemed hell-bent upon giving life to their roles (unlike a certain Scotsman in the previous Bond film I had watched), and it worked.

Oh, and Lazenby? Well, there's a reason why he's my avatar; this film, this glorious film, and I truly believe that OHMSS cemented my Bond fandom for years to come.

Thank you, OHMSS.

[Major Tallon]

I saw OHMSS in its opening week in downtown Chicago. I cut my afternoon classes and joined my brother outside the theater. I'd noticed how much less advertising there had been for OHMSS, compared to earlier Bond films. I'd seen Diana Rigg on an afternoon talk show, and George Lazenby's bearded appearance with Johnny Carson, but there hadn't been much other promotion. I remember the stunning newspaper headline that had appeared the week before the premier: "New 007 Wants Out, Too," and I was concerned about that, as I'd been an early Lazenby enthusiast. Lazenby's appearance with Carson confirmed that this film would be his last.

I enjoyed the film a lot, though I had some reservations, which I've discussed elsewhere. It seemed like there was a decent-sized audience for the film, but it wasn't like "Thunderball," when I'd emerged from an early showing to find the street blocked by a huge mob wanting admission. Several of my friends saw OHMSS in the first few days, and their reactions were uniformly positive.

It was some time later that I saw a story in Variety, indicating that there was concern in the studio about the film's box office take, with EON remaining strongly positve on the subject. None of this affected my affection for the film, and its central perfromance, which remain among the best in the series.

[dogmanstar]

I was in high school and the forecast called for a huge blizzard the next day--I had seen many, but not all, of the other Bond films, though I'd already read all of Fleming.

On errands with my mother, I asked her to stop at the local video store to pick something up--figuring we wouldn't be in school the next day--in fact it had already started to snow. I browsed the shelf where the other Bonds were and quite unexpectedly found this George Lazenby Bond. I wasn't too sure about him--I hadn't read Benson's Companion yet--so I wasn't exactly sure, was this canonical? Who was this Lanzenby guy? But I knew Telly Savalas and Diana Rigg and rented it. I also rented a couple of other movies too--old time things like Arsenic and Old Lace or maybe The Big Sleep, though I don't remember exactly.

Well, the next day--it was brutal cold and true to the forecast, there was a lot of snow on the ground. No school. Even going outside was kind of dangerous. So, around mid morning, I popped in this curiosity--I wasn't sure of the chronology--after Connery, etc? And it was just about perfection! The opening action scene on the beach was so tough and breathtaking. Any concern about the film's place in the series was assuaged by the title sequence. Lazenby was a tough, smart Bond who captured the book very well. And the look of the film. Finally, I could not believe the faithfulness with which they captured the end of the film.

The smallest of ironies wasn't lost on me either--it helped that I was watching the blizzard scene in the middle of a blizzard! It has been a firm favorite in my Bond watching rotation ever since.

[sharpshooter]

I didn’t always like On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

I remember the first time I saw it. I can’t pinpoint exactly how long ago it was, but it was a late night television broadcast, so I decided to tape it and watch it first thing in the morning.
The next morning I woke up, fired up the VHS and pressed play. Being the youngster I was, I didn’t find it that engaging. And being a Connery/Moore Bond person, I wasn’t totally sold on Lazenby. Because he only did one film, I wrongly dismissed him and the film he was associated with. I mostly forgot about the film and viewed it as a black sheep. I later owned it on VHS, mainly for completist purposes, and it was one of my least viewed Bond films.

It didn’t really dawn on me how good it really was until years later.

My Bond film collection only consisted of VHS, and the VHS player had been sold. I had a DVD player with no Bond DVDs for quite some time. I had gone without seeing my favourites, and I had a renewed hunger for them. I found myself very interested in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, realizing I had not given it a reasonable chance. I heard many Bond fans held it in high regard. I was eager to see it and analyze every single frame with precision – realizing it would be in reality my first proper viewing, with a more patient, sound mind.

After purchasing the Ultimate Edition DVD collection, I put On Her Majesty’s Secret Service into the DVD player first. I was blown away by the picture quality. It really was like viewing it for the first time in many ways. I couldn’t believe how I dismissed what I now view as the best Bond film in the series. The music, story, action, locations, cinematography – you name it, all exceptional.

These days, I watch On Her Majesty’s Secret Service the most. It really is the best.

[Zorin Industries]

I first saw OHMSS on British television around the Autumn (I think) of 1986. It was on as part of an inadvertent mini season of Pinewood Studios orientated films (Pinewood was celebrating its 50th Anniversary I believe). I think it was on midweek and I may have had to tape it as it could have finished after my bedtime.

I don't remember much of the film but do remember that this 11 year old thought it was very adult and slightly cool though the mushy marriage stuff was, well, mushy. Even then I do remember thinking it was a more serious Bond film but that just made the experience better as young kids need and love to watch things that are not always centred at them once in a while.

I now think it is the best Bond film (but not my favourite) and has clearly been one of the few Bond films templates still adhered to now (with GOLDFINGER and YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE being the others). Tonally, artistically, temporally and directionally it is the definitive blueprint for the Bond films. It is also that rare thing for a 007 pic - it is a beautifully rendered and stand alone film.

From that first viewing onwards I have vowed to get to Muren and Piz Gloria one day and have dinner at dusk...

[Simon]

I saw OHMSS on what must have been its premiered TV showing in the UK. I had by then seen a couple of Bonds and understood there were gadgets and fun to be viewed.

This film left me disappointed since the above was largely absent - I am pretty sure the lint gadget reference passed me by.

That said, now, it is the perfect Bond film. It has everything a generic film should have and is that much better since it is a Bond film. Tension, suspense, music, real emotions, developed characters, performances and tight action scenes and editing.

And, I think most importantly, this film would NOT have benefitted by having Connery play Bond at this juncture, slightly over weight and bored. YOLT and DAF both pale to insignificance by comparison to OHMSS.

I saw it, quite by chance, only this weekend. The one tiny, nothing, type fault I find with the film is the crashing Bond theme over the end credits. It totally takes one out of the emotion of Tracey's death. As an experiment, I decided to mute the soundtrack before the theme starts, and just watch the credits in silence.

Stunning.

It is one of cinema's most tragic stories that events conspired to prevent Lazenby from doing further Bond films.

[Safari Suit]

To my pretty-darn-good-if-I-do-say-so-myself memory OHMSS was the first Bond movie I ever watched all the way through. I watched it with my Grandfather after he taped it off ITV (not really, officer!) on the last day of the Christmas holidays, January 1996; about a month after I had turned 9. My grandfather was a long-standing casual Bond fan, and sadly this was the only Bond I would ever see with him. I had seen bits of previous films on TV and I guess a bit of James Bond Jr. before I watched OHMSS. Either from those experiences or from word of mouth I was familiar with some of the basics of the Bond franchise before I watched it; I knew who Moneypenny and Q were, that Bond had been played by several actors, most notably (at the time, at least I thought) Sean Connery and Roger Moore. I was not surprised to see Bond played by someone else, and I remember my grandfather explaining to me when the end credits rolled that this was Lazenby's only Bond film, how Connery had left the role because "he felt he was too old" (note I'm quoting what my grandfather said rather than stating what I know), and that Moore took over afterwards even though "he was older".

Seeing as I had no conception of what the romances or lack thereof in Bond movies consisted of, I had no idea this was a somewhat atypical one. I think I was somewhat surprised by the ending but not especially upset. I remember my Grandad saying that her death was a foregone conclusion given that Bond could hardly carry on being a spy if he was married, a concept I didn't really understand at the time.

Even at that age I knew the score was a good 'en. I particularly liked the music while Bond paced back and forth in his office.

I obviously enjoyed the film enough that OHMSS was one of the first Bond videos I bought when I started buying them at about 13. I was surprised to find out as my interest in Bond and film in general grew that Lazenby's acting was a constant source of derision, and that OHMSS was his only real claim to fame bar the Big Fry commercial.

[MrKidd]

I was a young kid when I saw first saw it on TV and still remember the crushing disappointmentr when I realized who James Bond was! I've tried to watch it several times over the years and just cannot get into it. I know that's not a popular thing to say around here but what can I tell you? Give me DAF or YOLT any day over OHMSS.

[plankattack]

During the mid-70s, many "older" Bond films were packaged as double-bills, playing both in London's West End and in all provincial cinemas. OHMSS did the round paired up with DAF and it was those two that I was taken to see, catching SC first and then Laz's performance second.

I remember being struck by the "Never happened to the other fella" line and at the time couldn't quite figure how to react. I was still young enough to want it all to make sense, and being no more than ten years of age, I wasn't quite comfortable with such an apparent breaking of the fourth wall!

I wasn't particularly bothered by Laz - he was James Bond and so that was that. I'd already seen Sir Rog and SC play the part, so why another actor doing it should be so unsettling was lost on me! I do remember the ending though - completely throwing me and leaving me a little upset. How could they do that to my hero?!

And since then it's been one of my favourites and I will forever remain a huge OHMSS fan and a staunch defender of Laz!

I also saw TB on the big-screen as part of a triple-bill with FYEO and OP in the mid-80s in Leicester Square. I'm curious if anyone else of my generation remembers these double and triple-bills?

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

I've rented it, curious to know how good could Mr. lazenby be as James Bond. I was 9 years old, and wile I watched the film I've liked it very much. But I was terribly dissapointed when the film ended with Tracy's death. i tought it was unfair to see the hero so brokenhearted, so I hated the movie. Some years later, i started to like it, and now, i considerit a quintaessencial Bond film.

[elizabeth]

so it was the summer going into my 8th grade year, the summer they did the bond marathon on AMC. i saw the commercial for it and i was anticipating it all day. i remember loving it and almost crying at the end when tracy died.

[AMC Hornet]

I saw DAF first, at the tender age of 12 waaaaaaaaay back in 1971. I didn't understand who Blofeld was or why Bond had such a Jones to kill him, but that was forgotten in the enjoyment of all that sexy, glittering spectacle. Over the next year I caught up with the earlier films at double bills, then, as a warmup to LALD, DAF was shown again in a double bill with OHMSS.

The moment George's face came out of the shadows and said, "good morning, my names Bond, James Bond," I thought to myself "No." Then came the titles and Bond rolling up to the hotel in Portugal, the casino scene, meeting Tracy, the fights, the spying, the mission...and I forgot all about my initial reaction. Connery was already over, Roger was on the way - so what if George only made one? It was a masterpiece, thanks to Peter Hunt's vision and determination. I can identify with George more than any of the others - given the same opportunity, who's to say whether any of us wannabes could do any better, or last any longer?

I only ever saw OHMSS on the big screen once, but it remains at the very top of my all-time favorites (along with many of the other least popular titles like DAF, TMWTGG and DAD). Next week I'll be using my son's 32" widesscreen for our annual Christmas viewing, complete with champagne and caviar (from the north of the Caspian!).

This will be the first time I've watched the remastered DVD. I've peeked at a few scenes and I must say I could never go back to my VHS copy. Just compare the clarity and shading contrast inside the helicopter during the dawn approach to Piz Gloria. And what's with that extra line of Savalas' about Draco having "his own ways of keeping it in the family"? If I've ever heard that line before, it must have been in 1973.

To anyone else out there who's more willing to give George a chance than people were back in '69, I say, "good on yer."

[Bucky]

saw it when i was younger when i first got it and a lot of other bond films on vhs. wasnt crazy about it as i found it to be kind of slow and was just used to the other bonds (i also liked brosnan at the time, i was very confused).

after viewing it several more times it is now my favorite of all the bond films and is one of my favorite films of all time. it is simply top notch all around between the locations, directing, acting, music, and action. there is just a freshness to the entire film that has not been in a bond film since until quantum of solace.

[Simon]

During the mid-70s, many "older" Bond films were packaged as double-bills, playing both in London's West End and in all provincial cinemas. OHMSS did the round paired up with DAF .................

I also saw TB on the big-screen as part of a triple-bill with FYEO and OP in the mid-80s in Leicester Square. I'm curious if anyone else of my generation remembers these double and triple-bills?

I am amazed DAF was paired with OHMSS. Was it an official pairing in that there was poster material designed for it? I would have figured they'd be wanting to have distanced themselves from OHMSS as much as possible with Connery back on duty.

As for the triple bill, this came about due to NSNA and Brocolli's 'response'. While I did not see the bill, I do own the quad poster. Which is just horrendous.

It is a FYEO stance on a dirty blue background with Bond's face a sort mash-up of both Moore's and Connery's face. I have it from a completist's point of view.

[O.H.M.S.S.]

On Her Majesty's Secret Service is ever since I saw it for the first time my favourite Bond film. Everything else has changed since then. Favourite villains changed, favourite Bond girls switched places, etc.; but OHMSS was always the best Bond film.

My brother got the whole Bond set on VHS for his 16th birthday. One day I got ill and stayed away from school, I started to watch the Bond films chronologically. When I got to OHMSS, my brother wanted to watch Moonraker instead, it was the one he never saw. We struggled a bit and MR became the one we saw that evening. I only saw OHMSS after we saw the whole series. But I was blown away by this fantastic film, and it became my favourite and that never changed.

It's really the first in which Bond becomes more human, there is an incredible amount of character development. And still the action is thrilling. Peter Hunt gives us the most exciting action scenes in the series. George Lazenby is a physically impressive Bond and it shows.

Michael Reed's cinematography benefits the atmosphere of the movie, the Portugal scenes are beautifully colourful, Bern is rainy perfectly associating with the architecture of the city, the building site, Gumbold's office and the Central Europe feel overall. The Alps are, however, the highlight in cinematography, you can feel the snowy coldness when Bond is outside, though inside Piz Gloria the warmth of a burning fireplace comes towards you. Production designer Syd Cain contributes to these feelings with excellent sets, though not outlandish, but perfectly appropriate for the movie. Top marks for the casino seqeunces.

John Barry's score is, undoubtedly, the best in the franchise, not leaving his usual style Barry inserts also very romantic tracks and thrillingly synthesised action themes. The main theme is a fantastic piece of instrumental music which goes perfect with Maurice Binder's main titles, but also with the extened ski/car chase through the Swiss Alps. Louis Armstrong's "We Have All The Time In The World" shouldn't go unmentioned either, it is one of the most romantic and moving songs you can imagine for an emotionally loaded story as OHMSS certainly is.

The cast of course is outstanding, Diana Rigg bringing great charisma to the role of Tracy, Telly Savalas in possibly the best incarnation of SPECTRE nr. 1 Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Ilse Steppat being effective as his sidekick Fraulein Bunt, Gabriele Ferzetti incarnating one of the most memorable allies of the series to the screen, Marc Ange Draco is a major mob boss, still he's a father figure, that is great character depth if you ask me. And then there is Bernard Lee, I mean M is always great in the first 11 Bond films, but this is his finest hour in the role, angry when Bond mixes personal matters with his profession again, on the other hand he's delighted when Bond's expertise extends to different sorts of butterflies. Desmond Llewelynn not into his usual word battles with James, but this time he's prepared to, not only give him a compliment, but stand up and offer him his help if Bond needs it. Lois Maxwell might not have much screen presence, but she gives a great performance, what would we be without her?

An then there is George Lazenby, in my opinion absolutely perfect as James Bond here. Bond was different here then in any other of the previous films. It's a good thing to have an unknown actor portray a Bond we didn't know before. He delivers some truly brilliant acting here, two examples at the end of the movie to prove this: first throwing his hat to Moneypenny, look at his face when he waves to her, almost an apologizing look. Of course the final scene is the one that proves his acting skills the most. You can't watch that scene objectively without admitting Lazenby delivered it wonderfully. When he says "We have all the time in the world" his voice breaks as almost like a metaphor of a perfect life that now has to end so quick and so suddenly. The eternal spy, hero of the nation, condemned to continue to live as he has lived before, condemned of not having a loving wife of his own, of not having a happy normal life. This scene is the strongest of the franchise and the sad, emotional ending of one of the best (Bond) films ever. Top marks for George Lazenby, who sadly did not come back to the role.

Maybe audiences back then where not ready for such a dramatic change, but the appreciation the movie gets these days proves that Bond fans have matured enough to embrace this gem of a movie.

Edited by O.H.M.S.S., 10 December 2009 - 01:41 PM.

[Major Tallon]

During the mid-70s, many "older" Bond films were packaged as double-bills, playing both in London's West End and in all provincial cinemas. OHMSS did the round paired up with DAF .................

I also saw TB on the big-screen as part of a triple-bill with FYEO and OP in the mid-80s in Leicester Square. I'm curious if anyone else of my generation remembers these double and triple-bills?

I am amazed DAF was paired with OHMSS. Was it an official pairing in that there was poster material designed for it? I would have figured they'd be wanting to have distanced themselves from OHMSS as much as possible with Connery back on duty.

As for the triple bill, this came about due to NSNA and Brocolli's 'response'. While I did not see the bill, I do own the quad poster. Which is just horrendous.

It is a FYEO stance on a dirty blue background with Bond's face a sort mash-up of both Moore's and Connery's face. I have it from a completist's point of view.

DAF/OHMSS was indeed an official pairing, in approximately February 1973. They showed the two films out of order, wth DAF first, so that any hint of continuity was destroyed. When the second film began, I could tell from the audience response that not all that many were familiar with OHMSS. When Lazenby first introduced himself as Bond, a guy behind me in the audience replied audibly, "No, it isn't."

I don't remember there being a poster, though I can't say for sure that there wasn't one. I've seen many, many double bills, starting in the 60's. These have allowed me to see OHMSS, among other films, theatrically on several occasions. Alas, the advent of home video seems to have killed these off. I've never seen a triple bill, but it would have been amazing.

[BoogieBond]

I can't remember every detail about my very first time seeing OHMSS but I remember being about 8 or 9 years old and seeing it on TV and taping it, then watching it back over and over. I remember thinking the action was very exciting, didn't much care about the romance and more grounded angle at that age. One of my most memorable viewings was watching it with my dad and us both thinking it was a great Bond film, even though Dad is a staunch Connery fan. I never really took to Laz's portrayal at that age, preferring Sean and Rog, but since the first viewing of OHMSS I have been a fan of the film.
I remember watching a couple of Bond double bills at the cinema, Spy and Moonraker was one, and Moonraker and FYEO was another. I don't ever recall a triple bill though. I would have liked to see a triple bill Bond extravaganza though.

Edited by BoogieBond, 08 December 2009 - 02:30 PM.

[DamnCoffee]

I didn’t always like On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

I remember the first time I saw it. I can’t pinpoint exactly how long ago it was, but it was a late night television broadcast, so I decided to tape it and watch it first thing in the morning.
The next morning I woke up, fired up the VHS and pressed play. Being the youngster I was, I didn’t find it that engaging. And being a Connery/Moore Bond person, I wasn’t totally sold on Lazenby. Because he only did one film, I wrongly dismissed him and the film he was associated with. I mostly forgot about the film and viewed it as a black sheep. I later owned it on VHS, mainly for completist purposes, and it was one of my least viewed Bond films.

It didn’t really dawn on me how good it really was until years later.

My Bond film collection only consisted of VHS, and the VHS player had been sold. I had a DVD player with no Bond DVDs for quite some time. I had gone without seeing my favourites, and I had a renewed hunger for them. I found myself very interested in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, realizing I had not given it a reasonable chance. I heard many Bond fans held it in high regard. I was eager to see it and analyze every single frame with precision – realizing it would be in reality my first proper viewing, with a more patient, sound mind.

After purchasing the Ultimate Edition DVD collection, I put On Her Majesty’s Secret Service into the DVD player first. I was blown away by the picture quality. It really was like viewing it for the first time in many ways. I couldn’t believe how I dismissed what I now view as the best Bond film in the series. The music, story, action, locations, cinematography – you name it, all exceptional.

These days, I watch On Her Majesty’s Secret Service the most. It really is the best.

Amazing story!

I recorded On Her Majesty’s Secret Service as well, but since the damn thing's too long, the tape ran out. So I had to wait a few years before seeing it in it's entirety. Man, it was worth the wait.

I love everything about this. It's the perfect Bond movie for me, and it always will be.

[BryanHerbert]

First time I saw it i thought it was one of those unofficial bond movies that no one cared about. It always taunted me ever time i passed it in the video store, one night my older brother was like i got to show you this movie "OHMSS" and i was like i don't want to watch that. But low and behold i did anyways. 2 minutes later i heard, DA DA DUM, DA DA DUM, DA DA DA DA DA DUM, and I had finally Seen George Lazenby For the first time. By the way, i have the same Birthday as he does. The 2 main scenes come to mind when i think of this movie. The beach scene when Bond brutally beats the hell out of those thugs, and the second was the huge fight sequence at the end on the mountain. Great Movie. When i saw Bond wearing a kilt, i laughed, by now i think of it, it doesn't make sense, first off, because George Lazenby was an Aussie, and Scottish people are the ones wearing the kilt so yeah. All and all i thought it was a pretty good experience for me .

[Dekard77]

Fell asleep, was utterly confused and wondered what the hell made JB look so bad. Eventually I grew to love the movie and preferred and completely unknown actor portraying 007.

[john.steed]

I was in 8th grade when it came out in December of 1969. I tagged along with my older brother and his friend when they went into downttown Boston to see the movie. While I knew of Bond and had enjoyed some of his imitators, such as Wild, Wild, West, this was to be my first Bond film. I simply loved it as this was far better the the TV imitations. I loved seeing Diana Rigg as I was already a big fan of The Avengers and I am sure that I had some tears in my eyes at the end of the film. These were the good old days- the screen was huge and, as, they did not clear the theater, we stayed for 2 showings.

Seeing OHMSS was the first of a three-step process that turned into a Bond fan. The second was reading Thunderball after buying it at my church's bazzar that same winter. The third step was seeing a twinbill of Thunderball and You Only Live Twice that spring.

While my initial seeing of OHMSS was, along with that twinbill that I just mentioned, my most memorable viewing of a Bond film, the second time that I saw it was my worst viewing of a Bond film. That was the infamous two part showing on ABC in 1976.

[MarkA]

I first saw OHMSS on its original release in 69. It was a Sunday night and as always my father took me. Not letting on until afterwards that he had already seen it a couple of days before and had been disappointed. I had already seen every James Bond film up until then apart from FRWL. I loved it. In my young mind it didn't matter to me Connery wasn't in it. Lazenby looked like James Bond, moved like James Bond so to me he was Bond. (Something I'm afraid never happened when I saw Moore a few years later. Why was the Saint playing James Bond?). I even vividly remember Tracy's death having a profound effect on me even at that young age. In the years afterwards it was the one film that never seemed to be re-released. So I never saw it again until I was in my late teens when it was first shown on British TV. The only thing that struck me then was how Lazenby was trying to do a Sean Connery impersonation. No wonder on that early viewing he seemed to fit for me. Even now I consider it the last really great Bond up until Casino Royale. The first four, OHMSS and Casino Royale. None of the others come close. Funny they all owe a lot to the source novels.

[Mark_Hazard]

I had read the Bond books and seen the Connery Bond films by the time OHMSS appeared in 1969, I had then just turned 17.

My first sighting of George Lazenby was a little earlier in the famous Big Fry ads on (what was then) ATV television (now Central) and remember my mom saying the "he'd make a good Bond".

Then came the newspaper cuttings which hailed the new Bond where the Daily Mirror (and others) teased us with pictures from the set whilst the new Bond film OHMSS was being made.

With all this I was quite prepared for a new Bond when I went along to my local Odeon to see OHMSS, and was blown away by the film, not even giving a second thought that 007's face and voice had changed, to me Lazenby seemed to perfectly fit the vacated shoulder holster with ease.

I can't remember if I saw the film in December '69 or held off until January '70 but just before Christmas '69 George announced that he was quitting the series - Sunday Mirror (23 Dec 1969): "New 007: I Quit". I had enjoyed his potrayal that much after Connery, that I couldn't see who could replace him, other than Sean Connery - I even had a bet with my cousin on Connery's "retirement" from Bond after YOLT that he would be back again (I won that bet and later another bet after DAF that he would return yet again - admittedly I had to wait quite a few years to collect my winnings that time ).

Lazenby looked like James Bond, moved like James Bond so to me he was Bond. (Something I'm afraid never happened when I saw Moore a few years later. Why was the Saint playing James Bond?).

I felt the same way, and to a certain extent still do. To me Roger was and is The Saint first and formost, not 007.

[Mr. Blofeld]

You lucky buggers; I wish I could have been there in December 1969.

[Simon]

What is enlightening about this thread is the sheer number of people who saw this film for the first time - On Its Release Date.

No longer will I feel to be the oldest chap on the boards.

[Joe Bond]

I didn’t always like On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

I remember the first time I saw it. I can’t pinpoint exactly how long ago it was, but it was a late night television broadcast, so I decided to tape it and watch it first thing in the morning.
The next morning I woke up, fired up the VHS and pressed play. Being the youngster I was, I didn’t find it that engaging. And being a Connery/Moore Bond person, I wasn’t totally sold on Lazenby. Because he only did one film, I wrongly dismissed him and the film he was associated with. I mostly forgot about the film and viewed it as a black sheep. I later owned it on VHS, mainly for completist purposes, and it was one of my least viewed Bond films.

It didn’t really dawn on me how good it really was until years later.

My Bond film collection only consisted of VHS, and the VHS player had been sold. I had a DVD player with no Bond DVDs for quite some time. I had gone without seeing my favourites, and I had a renewed hunger for them. I found myself very interested in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, realizing I had not given it a reasonable chance. I heard many Bond fans held it in high regard. I was eager to see it and analyze every single frame with precision – realizing it would be in reality my first proper viewing, with a more patient, sound mind.

After purchasing the Ultimate Edition DVD collection, I put On Her Majesty’s Secret Service into the DVD player first. I was blown away by the picture quality. It really was like viewing it for the first time in many ways. I couldn’t believe how I dismissed what I now view as the best Bond film in the series. The music, story, action, locations, cinematography – you name it, all exceptional.

These days, I watch On Her Majesty’s Secret Service the most. It really is the best.

I had a similar experience when I first saw it on the first Thanksgiving Bond marathon that Spike TV, The New TNN at the time, had and after I realized that Connery was not in it I stopped watching it for some reason. I guess it was because I was still in High School at the time. I think in 2003 during that years Thanksgiving marathon I saw it all the way through for the first time and I really liked it and wondered why I did not see it all the way through before. Watching it in HD recently gives me a renewed pleasure in the beautiful cinematography which is so colorful and is about one of the best looking Bond films.

[jaguar007]

My mom was a James Bond fan and I grew up watching the Bond films on ABC during the 70s whenever they would air (TSWLM was the first Bond film I saw in the theater, but had seen several on TV prior). I remember sometime in the late 70s OHMSS was going to be on TV. I was aware of that movie, but had not yet seen it. The only conflict was that the annual TV showing of The Wizard of Oz was on the same night. I had not missed TWoO for as far back as I could remember. OHMSS was the only Bond film my mother had not seen and she said that she had heard it was not that good. We watched The Wizard of Oz.

A few years later as I really was getting into Bond (1981 I think) I remember regretting that decision as OHMSS was at that point the only Bond film I had not seen. Luckily The Guild theater in Portland OR started their annual James Bond film Festival in January 1982. They ran this festival for several years in the early 80s (until all the films came out on VHS). We had gone the previous week to see GF and TB. They showed the old previews for the Bond movies the following week and I was taken by the trailer for OHMSS. I could not wait to see this movie. The week that YOLT and OHMSS were playing my father was out of town. I was trying to convince my mother to take me to see the double feature on the last night it was showing but she did not really want to drive downtown by herself. She said if we could get another adult to go with us we could go. I called a friend of hers who also liked James Bond (my mom did not really think her friend would go)and she said yes, so the three of us went to see the double feature. I liked the movie quite a bit from day one. As I had already known Bond get married and his wife dies, I was not shocked by the downbeat ending. My mother was surprised as well and liked it better than any of the Roger Moore films (she was always a Connery fan, never cared much for Moore, Dalton or Brosnan. She does love Craig however).

Still OHMSS ranks in my top five favorite Bond films.

[AMC Hornet]

My older brother was a Bond fan before me. Actually, he was a Sean Connery as James Bond fan. He went to see OHMSS and declared the series over. He may have seen DAF because Connery was back, but then he turned his nose up at Roger Moore and abandoned interest in all that followed. I don't know or care what he thought of NSNA.

I became a fan when I saw DAF in 71. I didn't care who played Bond - I trusted the producers to make the right choice when the time came for change, and as far as I am concerned they have always come through (Are there really any CraigNotBond holdouts left out there?). I can like Craig without having to despise Brosnan, just as I could like Dalton without turning around and despising Moore. It's everything about Bond movies that I like, not just the actor in the lead role. So bring on #23, and whatever follows.

[lazenbyland]

My first film was DAF in 1972, when I was seven, at the local cinema. I was ready for seeing Connery as Bond as I had the toy moonbuggy. There was no mention of anyone called George Lazenby. I'll admit that then, I thought DAF was fantastic, particularly Barry's soundtrack.

After that it was Roger Moore in LALD and TMWTGG. I didn't really have a problem with Moore as Bond at that stage. This is probably because they followed the same jokey format started with DAF. And Moore is SO different to Connery that there was no way he would be compared.

After TMWTGG the Bond films came to TV in the UK. In April 1975 we had Doctor No which still holds the record for the largest power surge during a commercial break. The streets were emptied for this.

Then it was a Bond film every 6 months or so. So we had FRWL in late 1975. Again a major viewing event in a country with three TV channels. No VCRs then.

Goldfinger and Thunderball followed in 1976 plus the occasional repeat of the other films. They consistently topped the ratings.

You Only Live Twice came in the first half of 1977 and then the cinematic release of The Spy Who Loved Me. It was very obvious that the plots of the two films were similar.

So I had seen every single James Bond film except one. OHMSS.

I read the book which I found amazing and I thought if the film follows the book we're in for a treat. In a pre-internet age though, there was very little information about the film. I had a small still photograph of Lazenby from a TV tie-in magazine called "Look-In" and that was about it. There had been a picture of Jenny Hanley with a caption saying she had been in a Bond film. With her blond hair then when she was presenting a children's show called "Magpie", I thought she played Tracy as described in the book.

Alas if the films had continued with the 6 month gap I would have seen OHMSS in late 1977. I think there was a strike at ITV which may have delayed things.

I was hugely disappointed when the film didn't appear. The film was being shown in a double bill with DAF at a nearby cinema but I couldn't convince my father to drive and see it.

So it wasn't until Sept 78 that I saw a trailer on ITV for the showing of OHMSS. I thought 'fantastic'. The trailers looked great and concentrated on the beach fight.

A friend had told me that Telly Savalas played Blofeld which was big news as he was popular as Kojak at the time.

But it wasn't until the TV listings came out that I saw the full casting with Diana Rigg as Tracy! There was the poster in the TV guide too with a caption saying it was the film with the most action.

It was still a major event on TV. I loved the way Lazenby knelt down and shot in the gunbarrel and also Barry's rearrangement of the Bond theme. The 'This Never Happened to the Other Feller' line was perfectly timed in the film and the music was brilliant.

As the film largely followed the book, it engrossed me throughout and apart from the fact that Lazenby was Bond I thought of this as a mainstream Connery era film. With Bond falling in love to 'All The Time In The World' only made it more powerful.

What surprised was the largely negative reaction to Lazenby. Most of my schoolmates thought the film was great but were completely indoctrinated to be against Lazenby. This is where I saw at first-hand the sheep mentality that had obviously affected the critics' reviews in 1969/70.

It WAS a life changing event. I had to wait another two years before seeing it again in 1980 and then three more till 1983. 1983 was a major showing as Diana Rigg had new set of fans from The Avengers which were being shown on the new Channel 4 at the time.

Of course the next film couldn't have been more different, Moon raker!

And I do feel very sorry for the americans who had the criminal edit imposed on them by the cretins at ABC. So they were robbed of seeing the film in its original form FIRST. That was so important for this film.

I had my honeymoon in the Bernese Oberland and since set up the Lazenbyland website. Ironically it was only this year that I finally saw the film on the big screen appropriately enough with my own seven year old son, who thought it was great!

Edited by lazenbyland, 11 December 2009 - 12:12 AM.