The Lazenby Years
I used to hold this completely unfounded opinion that George Lazenby and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service must be shit; Lazenby, because he’s Australian (and how could an Australian play Bond?) and the film, because it came after the Connery era (which I’d assumed was peak Bond) and therefore must have been a big downgrade. Little did I know that outside of two films, I’d been paying the Connery years undue reverence, and that George Lazenby’s singular outing would end up being one of my favourite Bond films.
For some background, George Lazenby and Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli met while both getting haircuts and Broccoli, possibly enamoured by Lazenby’s Superman chin, pictured him as Bond and invited him to audition. Lazenby got the role and was already half of the way through filming before he let his agent convince him that Bond would have no place in the 70s. He had already left the series by the time On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was released.
At the time his decision was validated, as the film initially received mixed reviews and part of the ire was focused on his performance and line delivery. In the decades since, however, critical opinion has softened on both the film and Lazenby.
Alas, we’ll never know what a multi-film Lazenby era might’ve looked like. At least we have this one pretty wonderful Bond film by which to remember him (he’s still alive, by the way. Just retired.)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Synopsis
Bond courts a depressed Contessa and daughter of an Italian mob boss, goes on a ski trip in Switzerland, foils Blofeld’s latest plot, partners with the mob boss (his future father-in-law) to rescue the Contessa via helicopter armada and then gets married, before losing it all and presumably developing the hardened exterior for which he is henceforth known.
Particulars
Director: Peter R. Hunt (his debut as director)
Writer/s: Richard Maibaum
Producers: Harry Saltzman & Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli
Stars: George Lazenby as James Bond, Diana Rigg as Tracy Di Vicenzo, Telly Savalas as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Gabriele Ferzetti as Marc-Ange Draco, Bernard Lee as M, Desmond Llewelyn as Q and Lois Maxwell as Moneypenny
Budget: $7 million
Shot: On location in Switzerland, England and Portugal, with interiors shot at Pinewood studios
Based on: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the 11th book in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series (and the second in the ‘Blofeld trilogy’ between Thunderball and You Only Live Twice)
The one that made me cry
It gives me great pleasure to report that, not only did On Her Majesty’s Secret Service live up to my expectations, it made me feel an emotional connection to the material and central relationship that I hadn’t felt (we’re doing some timey wimey shit here) since 2006’s Casino Royale. Here’s what I liked.
Believable romance
Bond and Tracy’s Cinderella meet cute is quite charming and while I don’t necessarily support her father Draco offering Bond a massive dowry to cure her depression (surely therapy would be cheaper), the details of their arrangement matter less than their chemistry, which is refreshingly real.
This is the first early-era Bond film where the kisses are believable; where Connery would smush his face with some aggression to the faces of his leading ladies, Lazenby and Rigg actually look like they’re enjoying themselves. The script puts work into their relationship and it pays off in the onscreen romance, as well as the raised stakes in the film’s final stretch.
While Lazenby’s performance is different, one area in which I cannot fault him is his chemistry with Diana Rigg, whose screen presence and beauty is in line with her playing one of the strongest Bond girls in terms of characterisation and impact on Bond himself. Where Pussy Galore’s strength comes from her being a complete badass, Tracy has a sadness and vulnerability that pierces Bond’s own walls and actually enriches his character.
Add to this Louis Armstrong’s gorgeous, bittersweet ‘We Have All the Time in the World’ (a song with such emotional weight that it’s used again in the closing credits of No Time to Die) and you’ve got a Bond film that hits quite a bit harder than everything that came before it – and a lot that came after it, too.
A Blofeld I can get behind
Where the Blofelds of the past were either forgettable or laughable (sorry Donald Pleasence), Telly Savalas’ Blofeld has a menace and physical presence that I much prefer for the character. He’s also got a bit of an accent and while it’s Greek (Bolfeld is supposed to be Polish of German descent), it’s better than the posh English twang of a Charles Gray.
Stunts and action sequences
The film’s action being based around the Piz Gloria (a revolving restaurant on a Swiss mountaintop) is part of what makes On Her Majesty’s Secret Service more memorable, at least from a visual and action set piece perspective. Highlights for me were the ski chases (well done to the stunt performers), the avalanche and the Draco/Bond Apocalypse Now style helicopter storming of the ski lodge.
That ending
Moneypenny crying at Bond and Tracy’s wedding, the clever foreshadowing of the gun barrel sequence where Bond takes a knee, that lingering feeling that all this happiness can’t possibly last....the film does a great job making you feel the highs and lows that Bond feels.
Its ending – with the 11th hour drive-by murder of Tracy and Bond’s distraught response – is a gutpunch and the clearest parallel to Casino Royale in explaining Bond’s proceeding unfeeling way with women. These are the two where Bond’s heart is broken and his armour is hardened and I find that very powerful.
The film isn’t perfect; I don’t think Lazenby pulls off the wordplay the way Connery did and his Aussie accent does slip through a few times (though it’s more endearing than distracting). I wasn’t a fan of the overly retrospective opening title sequence or song; a little unstylish for my liking, especially compared to some of Maurice Binder’s previous titles. I got quite lost in Blofeld’s brainwashing the angels plot and I think the middle section sags a little compared to the others, especially considering the film’s 142 minute length.
But overall, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is a standout in an era of tropes and one of the few Bond films I find myself still thinking about from time to time.
RANKING CATEGORIES (70%)
Bond execution = 6
Villain = 7
Bond girl(s) = 9
Song = 10
Opening titles = 5
Plot/action/gadgets = 7
Franchise identity = 8
PERSONAL ENJOYMENT (30%)
9/10