On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

[Darev]

Originally Posted by zen007

What are your top 5 (the other 4)?

Casino Royale (Craig)
Dr. No (Connery)
The Man with the Golden Gun (Moore)
Goldeneye (Brosnan)


So I didn't set this up as a "one of each" thing.

Casino Royale and Goldeneye I have on the list for nearly the same reason, they ushered in a "new" interest in Bond movies. Reinvigorating it in the public view.

Golden Gun's spot was ALMOST Goldfinger

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Darev

Golden Gun's spot was ALMOST Goldfinger

Good to see TMWTGG get a mention! ... One of the strengths of the Bond franchise is that almost every film has its set of followers.

[Winslow Leach]

My top five constantly changes, but as of today these are my favorites:

GOLDFINGER
THUNDERBALL
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
LICENCE TO KILL

[Darev]

Originally Posted by zen007

Good to see TMWTGG get a mention! ... One of the strengths of the Bond franchise is that almost every film has its set of followers.

To me that movie stands out because it's about Bond's skill.
It's a long setup for a duel between two people who are supposed to be the best at what they do, and only one can win.

[Martoto]

Yeah Bond's skill at looking like a dummy.

[jtu128]

Originally Posted by zen007

In 2022, OHMSS moves out of my top-tier Bond films list for some of the weaknesses mentioned in the OP ... However, remains one of my favorite Bond films.

I think it's the best movie until Casino Royal. If Connery were starring I think it would be the great debate of which is better OHMSS or Goldfinger. Goldfinger established the formula but I think it very overrated in the same way people say The Exorcist is the scariest movie ever made.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by jtu128

I think it's the best movie until Casino Royal. If Connery were starring I think it would be the great debate of which is better OHMSS or Goldfinger. Goldfinger established the formula but I think it very overrated in the same way people say The Exorcist is the scariest movie ever made.

Good to know that you prefer OHMSS (Hope it is not like the critics rating Jeanne Dielman in S&S poll ). I like almost all Bond films more or less the same so tend to judge them on factors such as story/Fleming material, direction, score, action, acting, locations, "Bondness", etc. OHMSS works on most factors but has some weak segments relative to some of the other top Bond films, but still remains a strong Bond film.

Yeah, I agree with The Exorcist. I laugh when I watch some of its scary sequences!

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by zen007

Yeah, I agree with The Exorcist. I laugh when I watch some of its scary sequences!

[zen007]

Reconnected with OHMSS during this holiday season. The film remains evergreen!

The escape from Piz Gloria and the hunt for 007 segments remain exceptional. John Barry’s score is top notch.

[sultanofcinema]

Even in 1968 Connery still wanted to play the role, but for 10% of the gross. The excellent (HA HA) Shalako became his choice. Connery would have been able to have idea and casting choices. Actors should act and directors should direct. Blofeld was going to be revealed to be Goldfinger's twin brother. 007 was to have rescued Tracy in an Aston Martin capable of driving underwater and equipped with a harpoon device. Bond would have also been equipped with ski poles that were blow pipes, ski strap grenades and a 3d television. Instead of the wonderful cable car wheelhouse prison sequence we now have for Mr. Lazenby, Mr. Connery was to be trapped inside a chimpanzee cage, an idea that Harry kept trying to put into one of the future Bond films. Two things constantly bothered Mr. Connery. The time it took to do one film and money. It was suggested to the Producers by Terence Young and others that he should become a third partner. I simply could not see Sean on skis in 1969, whereas Lazenby had the wonderful hourglass figure (opening beach scene). The score is magnificent! From Russia With Love and On Her majesty's Secret Service remain the best books to film adaptions.

[Eidolon]

Has there ever been any kind of official announcement as to why Blofeld didn't recognise Bond in this one? It's not as if Bond's 'disguise' made it remotely possible to not recognise who he was after all.

[mechamacbeth]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

Has there ever been any kind of official announcement as to why Blofeld didn't recognise Bond in this one? It's not as if Bond's 'disguise' made it remotely possible to not recognise who he was after all.

Blofeld was too distracted by Bond's kilt.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by zen007

The film (OHMSS) remains evergreen!

Agreed.

OHMSS was the first first-run Bond film that I saw in theaters, for my eighth birthday, January 1970. In the company of my parents, my brother and two of my closest friends and their parents, it was a constant topic of conversation and related play-acting. While I had seen all of the preceding films when reissued in US theaters in 1968 & 69, it's a special memory.

James Bond was unquestionably the coolest man on the planet, and every 8 year boy wanted to emulate him and own his gadgets. Naturally, even at that age, there was no denying Diana Rigg's beauty, the sadness which followed, and questioning why did the film have to end on that note.

This film, along with Diamonds Are Forever and Live And Let Die, with three different actors, remain my most vivid Bond theatrical memories after Dr. No, the first Bond film I saw in theaters.

[sultanofcinema]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

Has there ever been any kind of official announcement as to why Blofeld didn't recognise Bond in this one? It's not as if Bond's 'disguise' made it remotely possible to not recognise who he was after all.

Simply because You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty's Secret Service were shot out of order. Mr. Connery did not want to take the time to go to Switzerland and shoot the film because of the length of the shoot as well as it was a light year for snow for the locations chosen. So he chose a great film to make, (ha ha ) Shalako with Ms. Bardot and Ms. Blackman, Honor Blackman.

[sultanofcinema]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Agreed.

OHMSS was the first first-run Bond film that I saw in theaters, for my eighth birthday, January 1970. In the company of my parents, my brother and two of my closest friends and their parents, it was a constant topic of conversation and related play-acting. While I had seen all of the preceding films when reissued in US theaters in 1968 & 69, it's a special memory.

James Bond was unquestionably the coolest man on the planet, and every 8 year boy wanted to emulate him and own his gadgets. Naturally, even at that age, there was no denying Diana Rigg's beauty, the sadness which followed, and questioning why did the film have to end on that note.

This film, along with Diamonds Are Forever and Live And Let Die, with three different actors, remain my most vivid Bond theatrical memories after Dr. No, the first Bond film I saw in theaters.

I saw the film opening night at Totowa Cinema on RT 46 in NJ. December 18, 1969 at 7:00 am. It was already snowing and while in that sold out theater, when we came out, there was a few feet of snow on the ground and it was snowing as much as it was when Bond pulls into the barn with Tracey. Because the parking lot was filled with cars, plows were actually plowing up and down in front and in back of parked cars burying them in and as our car was warming up, people were going backwards and forwards to flatten the snow to get out of the spaces. This was the perfect weather and atmosphere to see this film. In the meantime across the street, Totowa drive in was playing On Her Majesty's Secret Service on a double feature with Guns Of The Magnificent Seven. As we pulled out of the paring lot, I could see on the drive in screen Bond giving Tracey a piece of the wedding cake.

[Eidolon]

Originally Posted by sultanofcinema

Simply because You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty's Secret Service were shot out of order. Mr. Connery did not want to take the time to go to Switzerland and shoot the film because of the length of the shoot as well as it was a light year for snow for the locations chosen. So he chose a great film to make, (ha ha ) Shalako with Ms. Bardot and Ms. Blackman, Honor Blackman.

That's not exactly accurate, the Bond series never followed the books in order, it was nothing new here.
It's either a totally inept continuity matter (almost certainly the real reason), or there was some kind of reason that didn't come across in the film.

[sultanofcinema]

In speaking with Cubby many years ago, You Only Live Twice came after Thunderball, ( although if you saw Thunderball in some first run venues, it stated at credits end, James Bond will be back in On Her Majesty's Secret Service) because they wanted to accommodate Sean, who was told OHMSS had a start date of February 1966 and he just devoted 5-6 months of his life to Thunderball. So they went with Twice as they could delay production of Twice until summer 1966, giving a delay for a 2nd time to OHMSS.

[OABJYU]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

Has there ever been any kind of official announcement as to why Blofeld didn't recognise Bond in this one? It's not as if Bond's 'disguise' made it remotely possible to not recognise who he was after all.

An early draft of the script had Bond undergo plastic surgery as his face had become too well known to his enemies. It was abandoned as it was thought the audience wouldn't buy it. It seems a reference of Blofeld not knowing who Bond was made it into the final cut.

[sultanofcinema]

The film order would change again with For Your Eyes Only, which was to follow The Spy Who Loved Me. But Michael (Wilson) convinced Cubby they needed to cash in on the space craze, so it was Moonraker next.
Interesting note that two of the best books On Her Majesty's Secret Service and From Russia With Love became two of the best of the series, with wonderful, colorful European looks to them. There is NO better produced 007 entry than On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

[Eidolon]

Originally Posted by OABJYU

An early draft of the script had Bond undergo plastic surgery as his face had become too well known to his enemies. It was abandoned as it was thought the audience wouldn't buy it. It seems a reference of Blofeld not knowing who Bond was made it into the final cut.

That makes the most sense.
I haven't watched my BD (or accompanying digital copy) of OHMSS yet, last time I watched it was the dvd, which apparently has quite a bit of footage missing.
A few years ago I started to rewatch all the Bonds in order, and was fine doing one every two weeks until I got past For Your Eyes Only, at which point the series takes a downturn in my eyes. Apart from one or two exceptions (Licence to Kill, Goldeneye and Skyfall mainly), I'm just not enthusiastic about the Bond series after that point, and it gradually slowed down to one film every few months.
Last one was Goldeneye, and the dvd I have is appalling bad, which surprised me as all the others have been good releases. Currently feeling in the mood to revisit earlier Bond films, including OHMSS.