Bond #6: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Finally!!! A James Bond movie that made me go OMG (in a good way)! I find it a little hard to believe that it took the often crowned "Best Bond ever" Sean Connery's departure to bring us the best Bond film in the franchise thus far. When Sean Connery resigned due to differences with the film makers, a new Bond was cast in the form of an unknown Australian male model George Lazenby. George Lazenby had the looks, and built for the role, and he definitely looked more convincing in the fight sequences. However, he lacked the confidence and devil may care attitude that Sean Connery seem to display with natural ease. And yet, despite, this short coming as the main character,  On Her Majesty's Secret Service still manages to emerge as the most entertaining and impactful Bond outing in the series so far. It had all the now familiar, franchise offerings like the fight scenes, the scannily dressed Bond girls, the sexist remarks and humour, the big explosions and car chases, and the evil nemesis the bald headed kitten stroking Blofeld from SPECTRE.

So what was it that made this Bond outing better that all its predecessors if it isn't the new Bond's acting abilities? I would say what hit me most about this film was the inclusion of a real love story as its underlying plot. Bond is depicted as a sentimental human here for the first time, able to fall madly in love with the one woman that he doesn't just have sex with! Diana Rigg gives an unforgettable performance as the head strong Tracy, who is in my opinion the best Bond girl ever. She really makes her character stand out as a worthy match to Bond in both wit, and ability to get out of tough situations. The romantic element of the story was a welcome change from the norm and provided the story with a tenderness that is touching and heartfelt.  This romantic component resonates throughout the film with John Barry's haunting romantic theme music and song "We Have All The Time In The World" sung by the legendary Louis Armstrong. This is one of my personal favourite Bond songs which is also probably most untypical of Bond songs in that it's title or lyrics did not include the film's title. It was also atypically not sung during the film's opening credit sequence but instead, played during the first's earlier act to accompany James' courting with Tracy. In fact I found myself humming this tune days after I have seen this! It is difficult to get it out of my mind, as well as difficult to accept the film's tragic and abrupt ending.

The casting of Telly Savalas as the arch villain Blofeld to replace Donald Pleasence was unfortunately not an improvement. Savalas's interpretation here was a bit too serious, and boring. I also wasn't very convinced he really liked the cat which only got stroked briefly before she was shooed away! And I also find it hard to accept that he could not recognise Bond immediately when he was masquerading (rather unconvincingly I may add) as a genealogist. Afterall he only just encountered Bond in the previous outing You Only Lived Twice when Bond was masquerading as a Japanese!

Finally, the action sequences. Shot mainly in the scenic icy mountains of Switzerland, the film offers some unforgettable and spectacular chase sequences involving cars, skis, bobsleds and an avalanche!! Overall this Bond is unique and memorable and is definitely the best entry in the series so far. Sadly despite the success of this film, George Lazenby's stint as 007 was a short lived one. Apparently he quit the role right before On Her Majesty's Secret Service premiere saying the contract was too demanding on him. He probably lived to regret his choice in hind sight!