In 1969, EON Productions introduced the second actor to play James Bond. George Lazenby stepped into the role in the film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service! This will go down as the first of four reset buttons in the franchise’ history.
I don’t consider it a reset just because Connery “left” the series, but rather, this is the first time that the producers decided to go back to the well and strip 007 of his gadgets and make him a detective as opposed to a super human. I mean, once you do a hollowed out volcano lair, where can you go from there?
To be honest with you, the first time i saw this movie, i was not as thrilled as i should have been. I had loved the over the top You Only Live Twice so much, that by the time i saw OHMSS, i was ready for James Bond to be hang gliding on the moon. But this movie was down to Earth and apparently follows the Ian Fleming novel more than any other 007 movie to date. It follows the book so much, that Blofeld does not recognize James Bond at first. Apparently OHMSS, the novel, is the first time the two had come face to face.
Being that this film was the longest Bond film in the franchise, there is a lot of room for character development and story, which leads 007 into every winter sport possible, including Curling.
Diana Rigg is awesome as Tracy and is still one of my all time favorite Bond Girls. Telle Savalas is my favorite actor to play Blofeld. This movie is so great, but not suggested for those who have yet to see a Bond film.
George Lazenby puts in a great performance and up until recently, he was my favorite actor in the role. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service had also only recently been knocked down from my favorite Bond film of all time, into number two. I wish that George Lazenby had signed on for a 7 picture deal, which would have ended his career on For Your Eyes Only, which would have been a great way for him to become the greatest bond actor of them all. Unfortunately after OHMSS, George Lazenby did not return to play the role. Sadly, he is the only actor to play 007 only one time.
This movie is freaking awesome and for those of you wondering who was going to fill Lazenby’s shoes, well…
Sean Connery will return in Diamonds are Forever.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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