On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

[zen007]

The 6th Bond film is one of the Christmas watches for many. Beautifully shot in the Swiss Alps (Piz Gloria), the film not only has stunning ski stunts but also one of the best background scores of the franchise. This is also the only adventure of George Lazenby as 007.

If I am not wrong, this was supposed to be the 5th Bond film. Since it did not snow as much as the filmmakers would have liked, they proceeded with shooting You Only Live Twice (1967).

Which brings the question -> what if Sean Connery had done this film? Looking at Connery going through the motions in You Only Live Twice, I am not sure if it would have worked as well as we may want to imagine. This film would have required a much better effort from him. By and large, George Lazenby does a good job especially in action sequences, and in the company of Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, and Gabriele Ferzetti.

Though having this as the 5th Bond film would have helped with the chronology of Blofeld's character, who actually met Bond in the previous film. Therefore, it may be best to view On Her Majesty's Secret Service more as a standalone film, and where Connery’s Bond pursues Blofeld in Diamonds Are Forever after Blofeld's escape in You Only Live Twice. Having said that, For Your Eyes Only, which begins with Bond paying his respect to Tracy, works well as On Her Majesty's Secret Service follow-up film.

After You Only Live Twice, this film goes back to following Ian Fleming's books relatively more closely. Director Peter Hunt also went for a more grounded approach.


Over the years, I have enjoyed this film for many of the points already discussed including the soundtrack, the cast, locations, stunts, and of course the story. I like how Blofeld tries to charm Tracy too. However, the film does have a few weaknesses as well such as the "Angels of Death" parts, and Bond's interaction with them may get tiring at times. The acting from the angels and Irma Bunt (played by Ilse Steppat) can appear amateurish in certain segments.

Talking about Blofeld, we have great expectations from whoever plays the character. Savalas is good but not necessarily groundbreaking in a relatively extended and hands-on role (translating to more scope) for the character (and when compared to what actors playing villains such as Dr. No and Goldfinger have achieved for example).


Overall, this remains one of the strong Bond films for its memorable background score, Alpine locations, and story, however, the weaker segments may prevent it to age as well as fans would have preferred.

ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE | Opening Scene - YouTube

How do you rate this film? ... Do you try to watch it during the Christmas Holiday Season? ... Have some of its segments aged as well as you would have liked? ... Would you have liked it if George Lazenby had been smart enough to do one more Bond film?

[Lee A Stewart]

Beginning tomorrow Amazon Prime Video will have all 25 Bond movies available. I'm going to make it a point to finally watch this one, the only Bond movie I have never seen. If you're asking why not - it just "fell through the cracks."

I was very dissappointed that Sean Connery was no longer going to play James Bond - maybe that's why I skipped it.

[smithb]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Beginning tomorrow Amazon Prime Video will have all 25 Bond movies available.

Anyone know if the current streams are based on the same masters as the original blu-ray release, or a later/improved master? Thanks.

[Winslow Leach]

I think OHMSS is another perfect Bond film. Lazenby is great (pity he didn't do more 007 adventures), Rigg is a wonderful Bond girl, and Telly Savalas is a menacing Blofeld. This isn't just one of my favorite Bond films, it's also one of my all-time favorites, period.

[sultanofcinema]

First of all, I respect your insight, opinion and observation regarding On Her Majesty's Secret Service. This is the second best 007 adventure in the series next to From Russia With Love and also the second film closest to the novel. The score IS the BEST! Saw it opening night at Totowa Cinema in Wayne and outside there was a huge snowstorm to come out of the 7:00 pm show at 10:30. So much to say here but little space. Connery would not have looked good on skis in 1969 and he quit before YOLT completed. Adam West had lunch with Cubby and turned the role down and Oliver Reed would have taken too much time to "re-engineer". Reed would have made the perfect Blofeld. Terence Stamp was asked but when he told Cubby and Harry " I know how to wear a tux", they were scared off. George was up for five but would sign the contract due to a close friend telling him the series was dead and the 60's are over. Lazenby bought it. Roger was asked but he was already identified too closely with The Saint. Patrick Mower would have landed the role but he was too full of himself, actually walking around Cubby and Harry's office humming the James Bond theme and telling the secretaries " My name is Mower, Patrick Mower"!. Glad Lazenby did one only, it's outstanding every viewing and because Lazenby did one, it makes it all the more special. NO OTHER BOND film looks as good as this film. Period!

[JDub1]

One of the most depressing endings to a film.

[Doomhunter]

Personally I think of this as the first Bond film to watch as it really is the ‘origin’ film

[anomaly7]

It's a great Bond film, but wouldn't make my top 5. There's a lot to like about it, from the action, score, setting, and story which are all great. Riggs is one of the better Bond girls from this era.

I could never get into Lazenby as Bond, but he still does a good job. Salvas as Blofeld didn't quite work for me either, and I still never understood why they didn't bring back Pleasance. Salvas just seemed to lack the criminal mastermind element of the character, and came across more like a crime boss to me.

Luckily the good far outweighs the bad, and even the bad stuff isn't that bad. Except for the end credits when the Bond theme kicks in after Tracy's death. It's one of the most jarring score transitions I've ever heard in a film and really ruins the emotional punch of those final moments.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by anomaly7

It's a great Bond film, but wouldn't make my top 5. There's a lot to like about it, from the action, score, setting, and story which are all great. Riggs is one of the better Bond girls from this era.

I could never get into Lazenby as Bond, but he still does a good job. Salvas as Blofeld didn't quite work for me either, and I still never understood why they didn't bring back Pleasance. Salvas just seemed to lack the criminal mastermind element of the character, and came across more like a crime boss to me.

Luckily the good far outweighs the bad, and even the bad stuff isn't that bad. Except for the end credits when the Bond theme kicks in after Tracy's death. It's one of the most jarring score transitions I've ever heard in a film and really ruins the emotional punch of those final moments.

For some reason, the franchise kept changing the Blofeld actor until Waltz. Pleasance could be been interesting, however, not sure how he would appear doing all those stunts. May be a strong henchman would have been introduced for the action.

Btw, what is your top 5?

[anomaly7]

Originally Posted by zen007

For some reason, the franchise kept changing the Blofeld actor until Waltz. Pleasance could be been interesting, however, not sure how he would appear doing all those stunts. May be a strong henchman would have been introduced for the action.

Btw, what is your top 5?

1. From Russia with Love
2. Casino Royale
3. Goldeneye
4. The Spy Who Loved Me
5. The World is Not Enough

OHMSS is #9 on my list.

[Doomhunter]

Originally Posted by zen007

For some reason, the franchise kept changing the Blofeld actor until Waltz. Pleasance could be been interesting, however, not sure how he would appear doing all those stunts. May be a strong henchman would have been introduced for the action.

Btw, what is your top 5?

Like when they dropped that one Blofield actor down the smokestack. That must have hurt

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Doomhunter

Like when they dropped that one Blofield actor down the smokestack. That must have hurt

Blofeld is a great character. The impactful ones are probably those that remain behind the curtains like in FRWL & TB.

[Zechs Merquise]

Originally Posted by zen007

For some reason, the franchise kept changing the Blofeld actor until Waltz

Well, in the books, Fleming describes Blofeld as having undergone plastic surgery, presumably to avoid being captured. So it makes a certain amount of sense that the Blofeld actor kept changing.

Originally Posted by smithb

My Favorite of all the Bond's. Despite Lazenby being an acting newbie, it was best with him in the role because Connery was no longer into it

Ironically Connery said years later that OHMSS is exactly the kind of Bond film he wanted to make

[Ernest Rister]

Easily my favorite "Bond song" comes from this...not the title track, this one...

We Have All The Time In The World (Remastered) - YouTube

[Dunemoon]

Bond’s best.

[Star Lord]

I wish I liked the movie as everyone else. I love the opening, obviously it has my favorite theme song and one of my fav Bond girls but the pacing kills it for me. I think Lazenby did a decent job as a newbie actor, but his lip sync in some scenes always takes me out of the movie.

Still think the ending was pretty ballsy for a Bond movie in the 60s though.

[levcore]

This is great Bond but i HATE that Lazenby is dubbed for such a lengthy portion of the movie, it's really distracting and ridiculous and spoils the movie a bit IMO.

[Martoto]

The undercranked footage makes some of the action scenes look like a Herbie movie at times. Lazenby can only act half of the time. Blofeld's defeat on the toboggan run is weak and the drive by with the neck brace is pathetic.

Half the movie is set in one building with Bond creeping about the rooms to either bed a woman or kill a guy. It's pretty by the numbers.

Action is generally ok but you don't get much of a sense of a set piece. Pacing is generally weird throughout.

Otherwise there's good stunt work and nice music. But it's not the general public's favourite or most admired Bond film for a reason.

And Bond getting married was a terrible idea.

[smithb]

My Favorite of all the Bond's. Despite Lazenby being an acting newbie, it was best with him in the role because Connery was no longer into it and Moore couldn't have handled the physicality. It works as a one off in this case with a one-time Bond, and a different approach to the Bond girl. Sad as it is, the ending is what it had to be, and works for the character. Getting married in this production was a great idea. It helps establish why Bond can't every get that close to a woman again, which we see continuously in the other productions.

Best song and best Bond girl.

[Lee A Stewart]

Well . . . I quit half way. What a steaming pile of garbage.