James Bond - On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Ultimate Edition 2 Disc Set) [1969]

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-11-11 rating:
George Lazenby is the Second Best Bond Ever!
It was not easy taking over from Connery especially for a model rather than an actor. Geroge Lazenby's biggest screen presence up until this movie was as the Big Fry man in the Fry's chocolate adds. Based on that lack of experience it is hard to credibly argue that this is anything less than a triumph for Lazenby.

There are a few who have commented on the woodeness of his acting but this just doesn't work as an argument when the same people praise Roger Moore, whom I think eventually retired due to woodworm. The reason for all the special effects and gadgets, that became such an integral part of the Moore era Bond movies, was that him acting ability only stretched todelivering a one-liner whilst raising his eyebrow. Considering that Moore had already featured in estabilished television series, such as The Saint, this makes Lazenby's performance even more admirable.

I am sure that given support and experience George Lazenby would have developed into the perfect Bond lead.

The true weak link in this movie is Telly Savalas who is just not credible (as if that was necessary in a Bond movie) as Blofeld. I know Connery came back to do Diamonds Are Forever after this one and that Lazenby found it difficult to cope with the attention thta went with being Bond but I would have much preferred if George had been persuaded to return to the role rather than the dreadful Roger Moore. I know that the Moore films seemed to work at the time but it was the gadgets and set pieces around him that carried these movies and they did lose their way somewhat.

Connery will always be number one and the new Daniel Craig Bond has reinvented the character and is very good, so out of the previous original Bonds Lazenby comes second.

This is a great Bond movie and I, like so many here, recommend it.

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review by: date: 2008-08-30 rating:
This never happened to the other fella
In recent years, George Lazenby's one and only movie in the role of Bond has come in for sympathetic critical re-evaluation, with it's fidelity to Fleming, charming performance from Diana Rigg, (comparitively) realistic action scenes, and twist ending. However, despite these plus points, the fact remains that On Her Majesty's Secret Service is an uninvolving, almost boring film. Lazenby isn't bad but he's so monumentally overshadowed by the spectre of Connery that he never has a chance of making the role his own; he lacks the emotional range to give his romantic scenes with Rigg any real charge, and you become aware as the film progresses that the whole thing is geared towards masking his shortcomings. With a dull Blofeld from Telly Savalas and oddly incongruous bits and pieces that disturb the viewer (Bond reading Playboy, Bond quitting the Secret Service after a snit with M, Bond grabbing Moneypenny's arse), it doesn't feel like a Bond movie; it doesn't feel like a good movie either.

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review by: A Smith date: 2008-04-27 rating:
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is not crap
It wasn't as well received at the box office as the pictures that preceded it or followed it, but Peter Hunt's On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the finest of the James Bond movies and also arguably the last truly great movie in the series. George Lazenby was not as bad as people thought he was, he just didn't have the same qualitys as Connery, and tell the truth who else does ? Anyway George is the best bond physically whith Craig not far behind. It is a very entertaining bond film with the song "We have all the time in the world" sung by Louis Armsrtong which is wonderful. I advise you to get this film as is is better than most(20 years worth) of the others in the series. Lazenby ain't that bad.

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review by: ramon le tigre date: 2008-03-06 rating:
the best bond there is
Over the last couple of months, I've watched all of the James Bond ultimate editions and it's reinforced my view that OHMSS is the best of all.

I've read several times that OHMSS would have been the greatest Bond without a doubt if Connery had been the lead., but I don't think it would have been the same film. Connery's films had become increasingly gimmick-led. Thunderball had been the most successful to date, but was a poor attempt to repeat the Goldfinger formula, producing and uneven, largely dull film. You Only Live Twice was a big improvement, but it was then that Connery definitely decided he wanted out.

Consequently, the aim was to produce a largely gimmick-free, tough, back to basics Bond that followed the novel's plot closely - not the last time the producers would try to do this. Peter Hunt, a key member of the set-up directed his only Bond feature with a strong desire to reinvent the character - even shooting some fight sequences at a slower speed so they they were faster on viewing to increase the impact. It's a tragedy he didn't get the chance to do another.

Lazenby acquits himself pretty well, with one of the strongest supporting casts of any Bond, both Diana Rigg and Telly Savalas being excellent. John Barry's score is also widely regarded as his best Bond, with a brilliant, mood-setting opening theme and the best song of any Bond, sung by Louis Armstrong (the last thing he recorded before his death) - We Have All The Time In The World.

The original intention was to have the film end on Bond/Tracy driving away - with her death opening the follow-up, so that the next film was about Bond tracking down Blofeld to gain his revenge. In Fleming's novels, OHMSS precedes You Only Live Twice and OHMSS was intended to be made much earlier in the series, only being put off because of issues with the alpine locations.

The film is also unique in being the only one that packs a genuine emotional punch and the closing moments are undeniably affecting.

With Lazenby deciding he wanted out, Tracy's death was included at OHMSS's climax and then the producers begged a bewigged Connery to return (OHMSS made only half of what You Only Live Twice grossed). Diamonds Are Forever was a gadget ridden, playful, largely camp romp that, with old hand Guy Hamilton back as director, set the tone for the Roger Moore era.

Had Lazenby not lost the plot and made a second Bond, it would have changed the whole pattern of the series and the follow-up could have been amazing.

So - if you've not seen it, watch it soon - and if you have, watch it again without the rose tinted Connery glasses.

PS. Brosnan on balance best Bond, Moore hands down the worst...


review by: date: 2008-01-07 rating:
One of the most important Bond films
George Lazenby seems to split Bond fans down the middle - they either love him or loath him. Personally, I'm somewhere in between, but I do consider OHMSS one of the most important Bond moments and, in many ways, one of the best films.

The most striking difference about this film is the tone, underpinned by the unthinkable notion that James Bond could fall in love. Despite Lazenby shortcomings as an actor, the relationship between Bond and Diana Rigg's Tracey is completely believable, and this is what gives the films its clout, even today.

The set-up is nothing new. Blofeld plots to brain-wash and hypnotise a group of conveniently sexy young women and use them to spread a virus for which only he has the cure. It's all very well until the hypnotism scenes, which ripped off the laughably bad ending from The Ipcress File (on which Peter Hunt, OHMSS's director, was the editor).

Location wise, the film-makers struck gold in Switzerland. Consequently, this film is graced with some of the best ski-chase sequences of the series and some beautiful cinematography too.

Some of the fights are a bit clumsy, and the editing seems particularly cack-handed in places. Ironically the director, Peter Hunt, had been the editor on four of the previous Bonds. The editor replacing him was John Glen, who went on to direct five Bond films which were among the best as far as action goes.

This is really only a small gripe though, as this film is not about the action but about character. Not until 'Casino Royale', nearly 30 years on, would we see a Bond this vulnerable again. Shame really, especially given that they subsequently followed this film with the light and largely pointless 'Diamond Are Forver'.

Whatever you may think of Lazenby, this film is an essential part of the Bond saga and, for my money, a genuinely moving piece of dramatic cinema as well.

As with all the new Bond DVDs, the picture and sound have been remasted to stunning effect. Watching these films on an upscaling DVD player, you will be amazed at how clean they look, sound and feel. Extras are superb too, with a nice 30 minute documenatry and a wealth of other tidbits.

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Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . All Action & Adventure
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . James Bond
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Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . PG
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Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 2
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1960 - 1969
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