On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Featured Audience Ratings

• John M

  
  A so so 007 fare ..

• Chris W

  
  Oh this movie, how mixed of a reception you (still) seem to get. That's rather unfortunate, too. The plot once again follow James Bond on the trail of SPECTRE head Ernst Stavro Blofeld. This time around Blofeld has developed quite a strong interest in genealogy and is using that… More
  Oh this movie, how mixed of a reception you (still) seem to get. That's rather unfortunate, too. The plot once again follow James Bond on the trail of SPECTRE head Ernst Stavro Blofeld. This time around Blofeld has developed quite a strong interest in genealogy and is using that as something legitimate, as well as for a bit of a cover up for a plan to take over the world via germ warfare, to be done using sleeper agents (of sorts). Yeah, it is once again global domination, but overall the film feels far more grounded in reality than most of these types of movies. The film also apparently sticks really close to the novel, and strives for a sense of greater realism, with little to no gadgets being used, as well as greater focus on a strong plot as well as wonderful character development, with Bond legitimately falling in love. What makes this film notable is that is marks George Lazenby's sole outing as Bond. Here's the deal: he's not THAT bad. He's mostly just a little stiff, underwhelming, and a tad bland. It also doesn't help that he didn't seem to have his heart in it, and that he mimics Connery too often, somethiong future Bonds pretty well avoided. Had he stayed on for more films, I think that Lazenby could have been a pretty decent Bond and made it his own. As it stands he's just so-so. Fortunately though, his presence is really the only major issue with this film. Granted that's no small thing, but still. I will give him some credit and say that he does good with the action elements and does manage to pull off the final scene nicely, which would be a challenge for anyone, not just him. I loved the cinematography, enjoyed the fact that they tried to do some different things this time around, including having the touching love story and the ballsy final scene. The love plot is well done and believable, and the plot doesn't seem all that silly or outlandish. Also, the action's pretty well done, and the bulk of the third act is filled with several chase scenes, fights, and shootouts. The music is probably the real highlight though, and John Barry once again puts in some terrific work, especially with the main title theme. Louis Armstrong's performance of "We Have All the Time in thew World" isn't too bad either. I do have some minor gripes, but unlike Lazenby, they aren't quite as big an issue. Those are the sometimes choppy editing (mostly during close up fights), the occasional speeding up of the film (noticeable during some fights) which comes off as a bit silly and distracting, and the fact that the end credits shoulsd have either featured somber music or none at all. As is, the Bond Theme, no matter how classic, is jarring compared to the emotional impact of what preceds it. Overall ,I think this is a wonderful film that deserves more attention, and that Lazenby deserves a bit of a break. I do think that the film would be less maligned had Connery done it, but I don't know if the love story and the ending would have worked as well as they do. His Bond was more superhuman, whereas Lazenby's is a bit more human amd vulnerable. You should give it a chance, because it is quite well done and does a lot of great things. It would be better had Lazenby had more time to make the role his own. I will say that you should probably pass on this if you don't like the idea of Bond growing and changing by falling in love instead of being just a suave ladies man. The film is one of the longest in the series, so yeah, if you can't get into the many scenes where the film takes a break to let the plot and characters develop gradually, then again, give it a pass, otherwise, sit back, relax and enjoy one of the strongest entries in the series.

• Alexander D

  
  In the beginning, when Lazenby spoke The Famous Line (c'mon, you know what it is), I think I might have confused him for saying, "Hello. My name is Bland. James Bland." Clearly, George Lazenby is the worst Bond. No, not Timothy Dalton. George Lazenby. And people… More
  In the beginning, when Lazenby spoke The Famous Line (c'mon, you know what it is), I think I might have confused him for saying, "Hello. My name is Bland. James Bland." Clearly, George Lazenby is the worst Bond. No, not Timothy Dalton. George Lazenby. And people wonder why the hell Broccoli only kept him for one film.

• Lenny M

  
  Different kind of Bond movie, doesn't really follow the classic structure of a Bond movie much like the Craig films. Put together well, forgettable characters but it's an interesting chapter in the franchise. George Lazenby, much like Ashton Kutcher, is not an actor. He… More
  Different kind of Bond movie, doesn't really follow the classic structure of a Bond movie much like the Craig films. Put together well, forgettable characters but it's an interesting chapter in the franchise. George Lazenby, much like Ashton Kutcher, is not an actor. He was a model that looked the part. Basic rundown: Lots of snow, Louis Armstrong, an absurd bobsled chase, marriage, and an absurd bobsled chase.

• Richard C

  
  i liked it but it got boring in parts. B

• Jeff "

  
  Well here it is, the first James Bond dud. George Lazenby shoulders the Walther PPK in this one, and thankfully it was also his final appearance. A good cast is wasted here, and not even Telly Savalas can save this film. Theres little action in this film. Just a lot of talk. Just… More
  Well here it is, the first James Bond dud. George Lazenby shoulders the Walther PPK in this one, and thankfully it was also his final appearance. A good cast is wasted here, and not even Telly Savalas can save this film. Theres little action in this film. Just a lot of talk. Just when the action starts and it starts to get thrilling, it's too little too late. The film like the book are pretty dull and uninteresting, the ideas for both were good, but the execution was poor. The film does boast a few very thrilling moments, but it's too little too late.

• Lady D

  
  As a James Bond film it has certainly stepped up a notch in regards to Action ? it may look dated with some of the stunts etc, but it is an improvement on the scale of Action envolved in these films. Wasn?t blown away by the storyline and of course it quite evidently missed out on… More
  As a James Bond film it has certainly stepped up a notch in regards to Action ? it may look dated with some of the stunts etc, but it is an improvement on the scale of Action envolved in these films. Wasn?t blown away by the storyline and of course it quite evidently missed out on the presence of Sean Connary. George Lazenby, didn?t really come across as a suitable replacement at all, perhaps that shows why he only did one film as James Bond.

• Anthony L

  
  Great film. Poor old George Lazenby though, he was never going to be excepted even though he was quite good!

• danny d

  
  lazenby gets a bad wrap, having to follow connery, as he pulled of the role of bond for this film just fine. the film is an excellent one with great chase scenes, an interesting story, and more emotion than we're used to from a bond film. it was a bit too long for a bond film… More
  lazenby gets a bad wrap, having to follow connery, as he pulled of the role of bond for this film just fine. the film is an excellent one with great chase scenes, an interesting story, and more emotion than we're used to from a bond film. it was a bit too long for a bond film and the final scene was executed very poorly, but overall this is another solid addition to the bond legacy.

• Chris G

  
  Does anybody here remember George Lazenby? He was the first actor to take over the role of James Bond from Sean Connery, who had had enough by 1969 and wanted to end his reign as Bond (though he would come back one more time officially when they offered him an ungodly sum of money).… More
  Does anybody here remember George Lazenby? He was the first actor to take over the role of James Bond from Sean Connery, who had had enough by 1969 and wanted to end his reign as Bond (though he would come back one more time officially when they offered him an ungodly sum of money). Lazenby had the impossible task of following someone who defined a role. That's like replacing Indiana Jones or if they try to replace Heath Ledger in the next Batman movie- whoever takes that role will forever be compared to the "original". On Her Majesty's Secret Service is Lazenby's only Bond film, sandwiched in between two Connery films (You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever). It's main plot is that a gangster (Gabrielle Ferzetti) is willing to pay Bond one million pounds to wed his indulgent daughter. The film follows their budding relationship while Bond investigates Blofeld's (Tell Savalas) allergy clinic and what it's a cover for. While interesting the story is a little lackluster with the entire "Marry my daughter" storyline feeling a little pushed. The cast is adequate, though being a child that remembers Kojak it's a bit difficult for me to see Telly Savalas as Blofeld. The film ends up being an average Bond/espionage film that delivers on action (Lazenby is probably the biggest ass kicker out of all the Bonds). Even with Connery I don't think OHMSS would have been better than Goldfinger or From Russia With Love. Which brings us to Lazenby because any review of On Her Majesty's Secret Service is essentially a review of Lazenby as Bond. Is he better or worse than Connery? The answer is he's different. Just like Roger Moore was different. And Timothy Dalton. And Pierce Brosnan. And Daniel Craig. And Barry Nelson. And David Niven. Bonds are like General Motors. Yeah, there's a bunch of different styles and makes, but they're all built essentially on the same frame. The character is the frame. The actor is the one who fills it out.

• David L

  
  Some Spoilers here***************************** If Sergio Leone, maker of those gritty '60s spaghetti westerns, had ever made a 007 film, it would look like OHMMS. (That's a compliment.) The sixth installment in the James Bond film franchise is the most experimental of… More
  Some Spoilers here***************************** If Sergio Leone, maker of those gritty '60s spaghetti westerns, had ever made a 007 film, it would look like OHMMS. (That's a compliment.) The sixth installment in the James Bond film franchise is the most experimental of the lot. It's cinematography, with an abundance of close-ups and quasi-surreal quick-cut editing, makes it a uniquely visual movie. It even has a built-in music video for the song "(We Have) All The Time In The World" sung by the great Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. The producers' most obvious experiment was casting. This is the first 007 film without Sean Connery. The coveted role went to George Lazenby, a rugged square-jawed Australian who does a very competent and believable job as the secret agent, and does a lot of athletic action never seen done by the older actor he replaced. Connery announced while making the 1967 film "You Only Live Twice", that he was walking away from the character that made him world-famous. Hoping to do Oscar-worthy roles with far less pop culture publicity, he swore to hang up his tuxedo and never do another 007 film. His loss. OHMSS is a great script. Connery messed up by not doing OHMSS for it doesn't have the exaggerated super-hero space-race gadgetry that he's known to have despised about some of the previous Bond movies. OHMSS is a rough & tough thinking-man's espionage thriller with a lot of heart. But the film, and Lazenby, first in a long line of other Bond actors, arrived with mixed reviews. The movie-going public of 1969 were not so pleased that Connery was gone. Plus the film's running time (2 1/2 hours) scared many people away from the theaters. A Christmas holiday winter theme in its third act, and having a real love story develop and unfold throughout the whole thing, were elements foreign to the established 007 style people expected. It isn't a Bahamas summer beachparty bikini/scuba type of film. Far from it. It's Autumn...It's Winter...It's Cold. The One Romance Noir, and The One Dark Drama, of the whole 007 canon. Oh, it has humor, enthralling chase sequences, and a great music score, and those familiar faces of M, Q and Miss Moneypenny, but it has a grim underbelly to its epic-sized bastion of cloak & dagger pursuits. Only in hindsight, as time has passed, has OHMSS received the appreciation it deserves. Lazenby, unfortunately no second outing as 007, did a job well done for Her Majesty's Secret Service, and he can take pride in doing an original Fleming story, and not a spy-composite new script like the Bond films since 1985. The OHMSS script was a faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's 1963 book, a book Fleming wrote, incidentally, at a time when he already knew what a fan that President Kennedy was of the Bond books/films. Had Fleming, who died in 1964, lived to see OHMSS, he might've been very happy with the resulting film. No matter who played Bond. Of course, it wouldn't be a true 007 film without sexy girls. And decorated with a bevy of beauties, they are relevant to the plot: Young female patients in a high-security Swiss Alps allergy clinic are being brainwashed. They're becoming naive pawns who'll secretly traffic pocket-sized WMDs into their homelands. It's a biological warfare scheme orchestrated by the sinister evil genius Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Bond, undercover and unarmed (no Q gadgets either), infiltrates the mountaintop complex by invitation. Masquerading as a geek-like geneologist, Bond is intent on capturing Blofeld after a two-year search for the elusive criminal mastermind. Telly Savalas (as Blofeld) is a dry macho villain, a sharp contrast to the effeminate squeaky-voiced Blofeld of the previous Bond film. Personally this is one of my favorite films out of the James Bond film series. A series that for me is more miss than hit.

• Mark E

  
  My fave 007 movie..great story,nice christmassy settings and an unusually downbeat ending for a Bond film..everybody get off Lazenby's back,he's faultless!

• Cassandra M

  
  On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) in my opinion was the best film of the series. I felt that George Lazenby was unfairly slagged by the critics for his performance. He did the best that he could. His acting fit very well for his character. The direction moved the film at… More
  On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) in my opinion was the best film of the series. I felt that George Lazenby was unfairly slagged by the critics for his performance. He did the best that he could. His acting fit very well for his character. The direction moved the film at an even pace. The action set pieces were impressive and Diana Rigg was hot. Telly Savalas was excellent as Blofield, he gave the character a suave touch. But you call tell that underneath his mack daddy act he was all business, and violent business indeed. Everything about this movie had a cool aura to it. The stunt scenes were amazing (for it's era) and the cinematography was beautifully shot. I had one bone to pick with the film. The in jokes got a bit heavy handed. Other than that it's a fun film. Too bad George Lazenby was demoted to B-Movie hell after this flick (at least he got a three picture deal with Golden Harvest where he made three classic action films). I have to give this movie a high recommendation. If you love the James Bond series you'll enjoy this one.

• Curtis L

  
  Oops. Forgot to rate this one, but I remember thinking it was okay. Lazenby was fine as bond, and there was some good old fashion bond stuff. They certainly like to put bond into 'snowy' situations.

• Derek D

  
  True, if Sean Connery had done this one it would've been the best in the entire series, but Lazenby isn't Connery. Get over it. George does a pretty outstanding job in his only outing as 007, combining style, humour, passion and even kicking ass unlike any other Bond to… More
  True, if Sean Connery had done this one it would've been the best in the entire series, but Lazenby isn't Connery. Get over it. George does a pretty outstanding job in his only outing as 007, combining style, humour, passion and even kicking ass unlike any other Bond to brand his mark into the series (though by now largely forgotten). Telly is a great Blofeld and they couldn't have picked anyone hotter to be the only Mrs Bond in Diana Rigg. Taking it all into account, this was definitely one of the better Bond movies and ranks right up there with Ishtar on the list of movies that got unjustly screwed throughout history. It's a great one, folks. Too bad few of you out there agree with me. Extra points to Lazenby for dropping to one knee for his gun intro. Very stylish.

• Ken S

  
  This is a great James Bond film. Don't let the "rumors" that this is the blacksheep of the series dissuade you from seeing it. It's even got Emma Peel as the Bond girl. How cool is that?

• Pierluigi P

  
  the most sensible, touching and special 007 film. Bond's more human side ever potrayed on screen. the only film Lazenby starred as 007, with no less than AMAZING results...

• Lafe F

  
  A new James Bond actor George Lazenby takes over and it's a whole lot of cheery fun. Sensational 60's opening titles music and graphics. The plot is corny, with beautiful girls being brainwashed into deadly terrorists at a private ski lodge in Switzerland by Blofeld (Telly… More
  A new James Bond actor George Lazenby takes over and it's a whole lot of cheery fun. Sensational 60's opening titles music and graphics. The plot is corny, with beautiful girls being brainwashed into deadly terrorists at a private ski lodge in Switzerland by Blofeld (Telly Savalas). Bond falls in love with beautiful Tracy (Diana Rigg). They make a great team. Lots of snow and romance with some wacky bobsled and ski action scenes.

• Michael G

  
  I was reluctant to watch this for the longest time because of Lazenby and it being one of the few black sheep of the Bond franchise. But oddly enough it's incredible and it made me wish that Lazenby wasn't such a douche about the whole thing. It's actually now one of my… More
  I was reluctant to watch this for the longest time because of Lazenby and it being one of the few black sheep of the Bond franchise. But oddly enough it's incredible and it made me wish that Lazenby wasn't such a douche about the whole thing. It's actually now one of my favorite Bond movies and the Casino Royale of its day.

• xGary X

  
  George Lazenby's solitary outing as Bond, and it's easy to see why. The excellent ending with the exquisite Diana Rigg and a great soundtrack is really all there is to commend it, as the rest is weak action and the usual dumb innuendo spouted by a kilted Blue Peter… More
  George Lazenby's solitary outing as Bond, and it's easy to see why. The excellent ending with the exquisite Diana Rigg and a great soundtrack is really all there is to commend it, as the rest is weak action and the usual dumb innuendo spouted by a kilted Blue Peter presenter.

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