"I suspect, they're trying to kill me."
James Bond (Lazenby) is trying to find Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the head of SPECTRE. During the investigation he rescues Countess Tracy di Vicenzo (Rigg). He first saves her from injury and then he saves her from embarassment. He is captivated, she is irritated, but their paths continue to cross. Tracy is the only daughter of European crime boss Marc-Ange Draco (Ferzetti), who agrees to help Bond find Bloefeld when Bond and Tracy begin dating.
Bond takes a vacation from MI-6 to go to Switzerland and follow a lead. He poses as Sir Hilary Bray to infiltrate an allergy clinic run by the Comte Balthazar de Bleuchamp (Savalas). The clinic is populated by young, beautiful women and shrouded in secrecy. Can Bond discover the clinics true purpose and find true love?
This is the sixth James Bond film based on author Ian Fleming's novels. This is the first and only film to star George Lazenby as Bond. Sean Connery left the franchise after making You Only Live Twice, and Eon Productions hired Lazenby, an unknown actor, to replace him. While still film, Lazenby announced that he would not return as Bond.
The film is based on Fleming's 1963 novel. Unlike the previous Bond films, the script stayed close to the novel and it was a more realistic film (with minimal gadgets). Peter Hunt, who served as an editor on the previous Bond films, made his directorial debut with this film.
The music was composed by John Barry, who opted for a instrumental opening theme "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Barry also wrote a love song for the film, "We Have All the Time in the World," which was performed by Louis Armstrong.
This film tends to get a bad rap. When it was released, it had the difficult job of being the first Bond film without Connery... could the franchise succeed, were audiences willing to accept another actor (and an unknown actor) in the role? For many fans, the main issue with this film is that Lazenby didn't play the character exactly the same as Connery... which was a trend that carried on with subsequent protrayals. Each actor that takes on the mantle, like Lazenby, makes the character their own, and that is something that fans have come to expect. He is ok in the role, not my favorite Bond but he isn't terrible.
It was the longest Bond film (until Casino Royale in 2006), and the only one that have Bond in a serious relationship.
It isn't a terrible film, but it is very different from the other films in the franchise. Diana Rigg is great as Tracy. She is strong and capable and isn't willing to just let Bond save her and puts up a fight at every turn. She is compelling and interesting and I wish she was in more of the film. Telly Savalas is always interesting, but he's too much here.
I don't love this film, but I am intrigued by the background and behind the scenes drama and look forward to watching Becoming Bond to see Lazenby's story.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) 140 minutes
Director: Peter Hunt
Starring: George Lazenby as James Bond
Diana Rigg as Countess Tracy di Vicenzo
Telly Savalas as Comte Balthazar de Bleuchamp
Gabrielle Ferzetti as Marc-Ange Draco
Ilse Steppate as Irma Bunt
Bernard Horsfall as Shaun Campbell
George Baker as Sir Hilary Bray
Yuri Borienko as Grunther
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