George Lazenby as 007 AGAIN in Diamonds Aren't Forever? | Alfred Hitchcock Presents Review

[@DarthRushy]

"It's a joy to see Lazenby" 2010s Calvin would be shocked and appalled.

[@19torento]

I am still surprised and somewhat taken back.

[@Quod_Matter]

Well, fancy seeing you here

[@brucegilbert7243]

George Lazenby thought that James Bond was finished in 1969 and then spent the rest of his career chasing him.

[@BenCol]

So basically the final reveal is: “I’m really a secret agent!” “I’m also a secret agent!” “I’m a secret agent as well!” “I too am really a secret agent!” “I’m a secret agent, and so is my wife!” “Oh for the love of...! Is there anybody here who _isn’t_ a secret agent?” “Well, I didn’t want to make a scene, but, now that you mention it...”

[@calvindyson]

I wish I could say that's an exaggeration but there are quite literally at least six secret agent characters in this! That's more than most feature length Bond films

[@BenCol]

@@calvindyson Does that include the dog at the beginning? Wouldn’t surprise me if it did. It turns out it’s not just any old dog, it’s the world renown Lassie Galore!

[@davidjames579]

To namecheck a Man From UNCLE TV Movie, One Spy Too Many.

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

@Ian Phlegming that's pretty close to Mormon theology.

[@Youdontknowwhatliterallymeans]

Lazenby is a profoundly improved actor, pity he didn't stick around.

[@cookiesontoast9981]

It would have been cool to see but honestly I'm glad we got another Connery film and then a bunch of great Moore films. If Lazenby stuck around there would be no Moore Bond, and for me personally that would be such a shame..

[@ShivaOO7]

He just doesn't have the right look for Bond in my opinion. Perhaps it's because he spends a good chunk of OHMSS masquerading as Hilly, but I've never fully seen Lazenby as Bond. I think he gets more credit than he deserves because the one film he did was such a good Bond adventure. Although I didn't buy Roger Moore in the role initially either, but his performance was enough to sell himself so who knows if Lazenby would have won me over similarly.

[@DocLathropBrown]

I think it's fascinating that George's appearance in the UNCLE TV Movie was 1983--the same year Sean and Roger returned to the role as well. All three (then) Bonds were back that summer!

[@bonghunezhou5051]

🎥🤔😃

[@jamesanderson6373]

Never say never again was released in October

[@jamesanderson6373]

Man from uncle movie was released in April

[@rickdrais9737]

The Return of the Man From U.N.C.L.E. movie absolutely implied that he was Bond. He was even driving an Aston Martin! Dunno if it was a DB-5 though…

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@rickdrais9737 It was the DB-5. As Calvin said in his video on the car it's amusing that the vehicle was so associated with Bond that Lazenby in that UNCLE film and Moore in Canon Ball Run drive it even though they never did in there real Bond films!.

[@markjone671]

You should try and check Lazenby out in two Hong Kong action movies from the 70's, The Man From Hong Kong, filmed in Australia and Stoner on location in Australia and Hong Kong. These movies also traded on Lazenby's Bond connection. One of them was supposed to co-star Bruce Lee but unfortunately he passed away before the film could go into production but they recast, keeping George in the promised role and went ahead with it anyway. Lee was apparently impressed by George's performance in OHMSS which led to him approaching him and I believe the two actually met face to face in Hong Kong to discuss the project.

[@calvindyson]

Thanks for this, Mark. I've been meaning to get around to The Man From Hong Kong sometime for a little while now. I've never really seen Lazenby in the lead role for another feature film so it'd be interesting to see how he comes across!

[@markjone671]

@@calvindyson You're welcome, Calvin. I'd be very interested to see your reaction to the film. As much as I love Bond (I've been a Bond fan since the age of six) I am quite heavily into martial arts movies and Asian cinema and with martial arts in particular, it's more of a case of quantity over quality. There are some real gems that standout above all others but they can be few and far between. I'd be fascinated to discover what category you think The Man From Hong Kong falls into after you've seen it.

[@FleetoCleve]

@@calvindyson I finally watched The Man From Hong Kong last week - it's an ok Kung Fu flick, but like this episode, the best bits feature Lazenby. He really can play charming, yet dangerous very well - I wish we had gotten to see him angry and out for revenge in DAF.

[@obscureentertainment8303]

@@calvindyson He also did an Italian giallo movie called "Who Saw Her Die?"

[@BrozzaBond4007]

@calvindyson you’ll love Lazenby in the man from Hong Kong

[@alimcmurray3428]

Roger Moore appears in an episode of the original Alfred Hitchcock Presents called 'The Avon Emeralds' from 1959.

[@tcaudiobooks737]

Calvin Dyson is Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in "Levels Of Wood"

[@travismcdowell8352]

They should have put this in the special features "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" Blu Ray

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Licensing issues must have got in the way, this seems like the perfect thing to throw on there!

[@cosmedelustrac5842]

Interestingly enough, Lazenby voiced King in the Batman Beyond animated tv series. His character complains about living in the shadow of somebody else in his final scene.

[@viking_2112]

As someone who has watched batman beyond several times, I've never noticed king is George lazenby

[@TrumbullComic]

He also says "We have all the time in the world" when the Royal Flush Gang is committing a robbery. Bruce Timm is a big OHMSS fan.

[@CorneelVf]

I'd expected a fairly decent plot, but good grief, this film gives the twist in Spectre a run for its money! Lazenby is an absolute delight on screen, however! Great to see him back as , James

[@DioBrandoWRYYYYYY]

and this is why nobody remembers this 80s revival of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

[@Professor_Fate]

"Did Kevin McClory have anything to do with this?" Classic, Calvin, classic!

[@justice4all72]

Absolute joy to watch Lazenby in the role again albeit unofficial. I’m in the rare few that think his performance in OHMSS is one of the best Bonds ever. Wish we got a Lazenby DAF, revenge film would have been awesome

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Apparently a 'revenge' script was written [which Tracey's father came back] but was deemed to be quite poor and scrapped. i do wonder if the pre-titles for Diamonds is basically that idea but reduced to 5 mins of screen time!

[@joshslater2426]

I like Diamonds are Forever as it is. A revenge plot sounds ok, but I think it was done best in License to Kill. You can just sort of watch DAF and view it as a revenge story, but I think Connery’s charm elevates the film more than Lazenby would’ve.

[@scruffylooking2184]

"This never happened to the other fella"

[@jamesatkinsonja]

It's nice to see Lazenby being looked back at more fondly in recent years [much like Dalton] as both actors were largely viewed as 'mistakes' when I was growing up with Brosnan in the mid-90's

[@neilmarktaylor4386]

Calvin is always so funny in his videos

[@calvindyson]

Thanks, Neil! I'm glad you enjoyed it :D

[@ethanmitchell5106]

This reminds me of a similar thing with Timothy Dalton who did an episode of "Tales from the Crypt" called "Werewolf Concerto", and he's like a private detective sort of character if I recall but he just oozes that Bond vibe throughout just like Lazenby does here. It's a really neat episode.

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

I maintain that Lazenby could’ve been an amazing Flemingesque Bond if he’d stayed on. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be. There is definitely an alternate universe out there where he did do seven films and I’m curious to see it.

[@royboy2926]

Hey Calvin. I looked this episode up online. That song was sung by Shirley Bassey. Lol

[@generalilbis]

I was thinking whomever the got aped Bassey perfectly....guess you can't beat the real thing ;)

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I wish Lazenby stuck around through For Your Eyes Only. How awesome would have been to see him look back on what he could have had at the end of his first film.

[@davidjames579]

I now really want a future Bond theme song to feature the line "My guy's a spy"

[@hilaryc8648]

‘Getting Whaled’ is a great expression. Let’s get it back out there.

[@SleepingHowl]

As a fan of Lazenby's 007 & OHMSS this is one of those oddities I've been aware of for some time but having checked it out now its really cool to see George doing his thing again , he looks like he's having fun with it and is a joy to watch. Brill video as always Calvin.

[@korbiniankroha1277]

Thank you for your work on your videos! Always very funny! Just the best James Bond Channel!

[@calvindyson]

Thank you very much for watching! Really appreciate the kind words too :)

[@BenCol]

4:11 Thought that was the inner monologue of the plane for a second.

[@calvindyson]

HA! 😂😂

[@javix2013]

Roger Moore participated in "The Cannonbal Run" (1981), a race cars movie with many characters, and the Roger character who was a participant in that race, he was like a parody of 007. Would be nice if you make a review about this movie.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

In Roger's book he said the script writers wanted him to play a man who thought he was Bond, but Roger thought it would be funnier to play a guy who thought he was Roger Moore and really send himself up!

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Cubby Broccoli was pissed when he saw Moore lampooning himself in this manner.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

@@ricardocantoral7672 Cubby Broccoli sounds like the kind of guy who would get incredibly angry about everything.

[@jimkirk989]

James GRANT Is A Nod To "Cary Grant", WHO was originally offered to play the role of James Bond in Dr. No by Cubby Broccoli, but Cary refused to sign a contract saying he would play Bond for NO more than one movie, due to his old age of 58.

[@handsdowntoo7150]

"His hair is grey and he's obviously a more mature man". Funnily enough, in this episode Lazenby is about 49, which is only 3 years older than Roger Moore was when he started playing Bond. I would have sworn Lazenby was in his 60s based off his appearance and general demeanor here, but apparently not! :O

[@MagicAl5F4781]

Moore played Bond until he was 57. By that standard, if Lazenby hadn't quit he could have gone as far as GoldenEye! But Moore had youthful genes that helped him begin his Bond era looking like a younger successor to Connery though he was older!

[@The12thDimension.]

Damn, Lazenby's acting actually looks to have improved since OHMSS. Shame he only got 1 film

[@davidjames579]

After OHMSS he actually studied acting.

[@randallrutherford1384]

He could have done more but it was his own choice to quit the role.

[@generalilbis]

@@randallrutherford1384 More like it was his choice to listen to his manager or agent, who sold Lazenby on bailing because Bond wouldn't last past the 1960s. Hope he fired the guy once it became clear that advice was extremely poor.

[@TheQuietReader1920]

Hopefully the new Bond movie takes a leaf out of this episode's book--we could arrive at the end, in a drawing room, as Craig wanders about and says, "aha, but it was you, Mr Safin, in the algae farm with the superweapon!" Crikey indeed!

[@AB-xd8hm]

Thank you for reviewing this! So many Bond fans have no idea that this even exists, and it's a must see for big Bond fans, but especially big Lazenby fans.

I kind of like an old and wiser Bond. Sad that we never going to see that

[@neohermitist]

Agree. More subterfuge and getting the jump on the bad guys because he can't match them physically. And maybe even a little fear.

[@splitter7376]

Did you not see Roger Moore towards the end? 😆

[@AlexRider589]

Now I'm imagining Lazenby Bond films where he breaks the fourth wall like House of Cards.

[@MrVee24]

"Whole new level of wood" 😂this kid is so charming.What a great channel :).

[@Materminds187]

11:23 “Yeah, check out this picture of your face also our friend is actually dead”

[@whirlwindjourney]

I've always really loved Lazenby's portrayal of Bond. I wish he would have done more Bond films.

[@chancylvania]

I saw you in an ad once and I got really confused, then I thought “Calvin dyson? What are you doing in my ads?”

[@gamonstudios]

I saw the ad right before this video lol

[@ThatBondGuy62]

Hoping for Calvin to do a reaction to the "Help I've Skyfallen And I Cant Get Up" parody with George Lazenby

[@billkoenig1552]

Just adviced via Twitter -- Michael Sloan hired Lazenby *three times* -- Return of the Man From UNCLE, this Alfred Hitchock episode and a Sloan series called The Master starring Lee Van Cleef. Lazenby played a secret agent in that also.

[@loanaoftheshellpeople5627]

George Lazenby also played a Spy in the movie-Never Too Young To Die.

[@jamescampbell39]

I saw the mash-up presentation that had the episode of the Master in it with Lazenby, Van Cleef, and Kosugi, it would appear that Van Cleef's and Lazenby's characters had history, Van Cleef remarks that he is using a different name since last they met and Lazenby says something to the effect it is as any name, also Lazenbys driving the Aston martin I think with Q branch goodies since he was tracking the helicopter.

[@billkoenig1552]

Oh, no! The executive producer of this 1980s Hitchcock episode was Michael Sloan. He was the writer/executive producer of The Return of the Man From UNCLE. So this was the *second* time he hired Lazenby.

[@ChrisPeteG]

Seems like he was single-handedly trying to make Lazenby's return as Bond "Happen"

[@Delmo5]

Actually he created THE EQUALIZER w/Lazenby in mind but CBS or Universal, I forget which, poo-pooed his involvement and we got a post-CALLAN Edward Woodward instead.

[@DutchBondFan]

Never saw this nor heard about this. Pretty cool!

[@hassannawaz2437]

George lazenby shouldve returned as blofeld in daf. Now that would’ve been amazing to see

[@TheZoProductions]

Great review! I remember seeing this as a rerun when I was a kid. I thought it was silly. I didn't realize that was George Lazenby until the credits rolled.

[@servalan65]

As brilliant as ever. I really have to see this now. Thank you Mr Dyson, sir.

[@ninfilms]

George Lazenby was also played a secret agent in a TV series Cover Up and a cult film Too Young To Die.

[@loanaoftheshellpeople5627]

I loved Never Too Young To Die. It had a Good Cast-John Stamos, Vanity, and Gene Simmons from Kiss

[@noahjennings6801]

9:55 There’s a mic in the up right corner! Quality 80s television.

[@BillConk]

Like Eden Cobb, I'd also like to draw your attention to "Becoming Bond", Lazenby's interview/reminiscences from 2017. Very wryly produced. Although I can't vouch for the reliability of all parts of the story, it's an insight into a bloke with almost Barry Mackenzie-like innocence who grabbed hold of a passing chance.

[@b.a.richardson4856]

I remember seeing this when it came out. Seem to remember that in the beginning there was a brief interior shot where Lazenby was fighting the Russia officer on the plane.

[@danielmkubacki]

Wow I did not know this existed Calvin.

[@captainz72100]

Very funny! I would have loved if G Lazenby had done more James Bond movies, but the trade off would have been no Roger Moore ones... There's a conundrum!

[@calvindyson]

Indeed! It's so weird to think that so many different decisions could have given us a vastly different series.

[@DocLathropBrown]

@@calvindyson I say if DAF had been made with George instead of Sean, and George vacates the role after that, leading to Moore's movies staying untouched--that's best of both worlds!

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@DocLathropBrown If OHMSS was appreciated as much then as it was now, the series would have probably stayed a lot more grounded. Diamonds [and most of the Moore era's] tone feels like a reaction against OHMSS in hindsight. United Artists' chief David Picker vetoed John Gavin's casting for Diamonds and arranged to get Sean back so feel like he'd have bought Lazenby's contract out if he hadn't already left as OHMSS was considered to have under performed back in the day. It's a real 'sliding doors' point for the whole series.

[@jennifersman7990]

Even if Lazenby had stayed, Moore would’ve eventually moved into the role

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

@@DocLathropBrown I believe as best 1) O.H.M.S.S with Connery. 2) D.A.F. as revenge film, with an aged and overweight Connery, perfect as Bond after Tracy's death. 3) Connery in ''Live and Let Die'' if had been made in 1972 to celebrate ten years of Bond films. Connery would had ended as 007 from there where he started ten years before (Jamaica).

[@joshslater2426]

I’ll be the one guy who admits he’s extremely glad that Lazenby was only in one film. I like Diamonds Are Forever with Connery more than I would’ve if wooden Bond returned.

[@samsaltwell]

1:58 Comedy gold. Loving your work Calvin!

[@NostalgiaBrit]

Except that when he introduces himself to the receptionist, even though the name is “comically” drowned out by off-screen sound effects, if you actually look at GL’s mouth he is clearly saying a name the starts with a B, not a G! 😒

[@dalebaker9109]

This is brilliant. Sorry Calvin those two guys weren’t wooden, they were dying of dry rot. Poor George in this, damn he looked old in 1969, and he was only 29/30 then. He looks frankly embalmed here, but bless him try’s his best.

[@handsdowntoo7150]

Wow, I had no idea Lazenby was so young when he played Bond. That means he was about 49 when this episode aired, but he looks like he's well into his 60s! :O

[@Romans8-9]

Didn't think he looked that old in OHMSS. Would have thought 35 tops. He did age quickly though but probably due to his excessive lifestyle.

[@billkoenig1552]

Last comment from me: This particular episode may have been for syndication (meaning the budget was less.) The revival started on NBC. This has a 1988 copyright date. I vaguely remember that NBC canceled the rival but some later episodes were made for syndication.

[@Delmo5]

You're right Bill-this aired on the USA network. I saw it when it originally aired.

[@jamaral81]

Great timing Calvin, I literally just watched this last weekend. So glad to hear your take on it. Dude, you are so funny in your reviews. Bond is my favorite movie franchise and I love the amazing love you put into James Bond for your channel. Thanks so much. Lazenby was great as Bond in this.

[@EthanKnight97]

Moonraker's pre-title sequence would be way more exciting had it been off screen and focused on a random guy chopping wood.

[@davidjames579]

James fell into the very hotel he's booked into. Jaws could only manage a random circus.

[@karlmelvinpsychotherapy4700]

Love these lost gems, thanks for sharing Calvin. Check out the Tales from the crypt episode with Tim Dalton (1992 I think), which features a cool bond-esc scene with Walter Gotell.

[@nickbutterworth6001]

I managed to see this via KZbin a few years ago. Yes, it's cheesy but I actually liked it properly for all the wrong reasons.

[@SJKPJR007]

Remember watching this back when it was broadcast. I loved seeing George back in Bond mode. Couldn't help but think how wonderful it would have been to see him grow into the role. Still, we got Sir Roger so every cloud ...

[@ebismusic8813]

Many thanks Calvin and your delivery had me in stitches

[@repulore13]

me just imagining Calvin's neighbor looking through their window and seeing Calvin and a Hitchcock box set in bed together with Calvin saying "its not what it looks like" lol sorry Calvin

[@SolarDragon007]

If Lazenby had stuck around for Diamonds Are Forever, I imagine it would've been more of a direct sequel to OHMSS and stuck with the slightly grittier feel. Lazenby's wooden acting aside, I would've much preferred that DAF than the one we got.

[@davidjames579]

Def more personal. Plus we would have got Tele Savalas back as Blofeld. But I wonder what they would have done about Irma Bunt, since Ilse Steppat died 4 days after OHMSS released. Her character would have to face off against Lazenby's Bond since she killed Tracy.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Apparantly Richard Maibaum first script was a direct sequel to OHMSS but Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman were unimpressed with his efforts. As much as OHMSS is respected now, it underperformed by Bond standards back in the day which promited Dimaonds to try and resemble Goldfinger instead. Comments on the DVD extra's by United Artists' chief David Picker [Who arranged for Sean Connery to return] indicates Lazenby jumped before he was pushed.

[@SolarDragon007]

@@jamesatkinsonja I wonder what that script looks like. If you're making a sequel to OHMSS, the logical choice would be to adapt parts of the You Only Live Twice novel and combine it with Diamonds. Considering the fact that Tiffany Case was one of the few women Bond actually considered being monogamous with in the books, and what a broken state he's in at the beginning of YOLT, it would've been cool to see those two stories blended together. It's a bit annoying at times that many of the human/character moments are cut out in the early films

[@davidjames579]

@@jamesatkinsonja As much as I enjoy Diamonds and Connery in it, I feel that getting him back after his first replacement faltered was a big weakness. It signifies Bond can't be Bond without Connery. UA clearly believed this as they offered him an unprecedented 5 Million (he got 1 million plus sweeteners for Diamonds) to do Live And Let Die. Even with Lazenby leaving, or if UA had felt he wasn't what they wanted, recast with a new actor. The fact EON contemplated getting Gert Frobe back to play Auric's twin brother signifies how desperate they were to recreate the Bond Mania of Goldfinger.

[@davidjames579]

@@SolarDragon007 It's interesting if Diamonds would have had Bond going off the rails ala Fleming's YOLT. How would he have reacted to Tracy's death. At the beginning of OHMSS he's so rabid to find Blofeld that he resigns over it. What would he have been like this time? Even as OHMSS was an unconventional Bond film, then Diamonds would have been even more so. But I would have liked to have seen Marc Ange be involved. Maybe he goes mental, and uses his Union Corse to carry out almost terrorist like activities in the pursuit of Blofeld and Bunt. And Bond becomes the calmer one. Or Bond is like he is Licence To Kill. Goes rogue, and has to be reigned in. I also would have liked Peter Hunt to have returned and continued his style. I feel this is a great two part story we never got.

[@neohermitist]

In the 80s there was a revival of a lot of 50s anthology series after The Twilight Zone movie. There was The Outer Limits, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone and a couple of others. They were typically low budget syndicated shows to fill in time slots with lower viewership. Since I didn't have any girlfriend, I sadly filled my time with such shows. Haha.

[@4leafclover611]

Diana Rigg gave the movie watching power

[@notstirred1417]

"Whole new level of wood." Deserves a BAFTA.

[@georgejones8481]

Lazenby seems like a cool dude & OHMSS is a good film despite of Lazenbys acting skills. At the end of the day, he really just wasn't a good actor so I can't understand people saying he should have returned. It's also become quite a niche thing to say OHMSS is your favourite film when it's really just not. Not hating on Lazenby but one film was enough

[@jamesatkinsonja]

17:00 When Star Trek Deep Space Nine did a James Bond homage episode 'Our Man Bahir in 1995, MGM complained meaning a planed follow up was cancelled and future Bond references had to be toned down and be less direct so they were probably right to play safe.

[@TheAdam159]

Ah yes, my two loves. Bond and Hitchcock

[@ralphroshia9247]

Other than OHMSS the only movie i ever seen of George Lazenby is Gettysburg where Lazenby has a small role as Confederate General Johnston Pettigrew

[@calvindyson]

I haven't seen him in any other feature film I don't think... I believe Universal Soldier is on KZbin though and I wouldn't mind checking that out sometime.

[@davidjames579]

​@@calvindyson Universal Soldier is interesting because it gives you an insight into where Lazenby's head was at after quitting Bond. He used his momentary celebrity to get this financed, and he wrote and partially directed it. It fitted Lazenby's ideas of now being anti-gun and anti-violence, playing a mercenary who renounces his old life and basically becomes a Hippie. As Lazenby had from being Bond. As it was the film was barely released and made a large loss on it's budget.

[@robinanwaldt]

I think it’s quite weird how they named the character "James Grant", since Lazenby clearly says "James Bo-" when he’s interrupted the second time at the register. 5:35

[@JamesTobiasStewart]

Well I did not wake up expecting to see this, but now I have and I can't say I regret it.

[@cookieface80]

He also played a spy in a really bad FMV game from the 90's called Fox Hunt. He even references the opening to OHMSS in it.

[@timelordvictorious]

I imagined Alfred Hitchcock turned in his grave when this came out.

[@mrdoctorgilmore]

This just makes me wish we had more of Lazenby as Bond.

[@samharrison5058]

It would have been interesting to see Lazenby in Diamonds Are Forever but I’m glad that Connery came back as I think he’s a much better actor and I love Diamonds Are Forever the movie. It’s one of my favourite Bond films.

[@sashaking1111]

Diamonds are Forever would have been a LOT better with Lazenby

[@samharrison5058]

@@sashaking1111 I disagree but fair enough.

[@EditedAF987]

@Qasim Hussain we probably would’ve gotten the Garden of Death on the big screen

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

@@sashaking1111 Connery looking aged and overwight, would be perfect as Bond after Tracy's death, if D.A.F. was a revenge film and not a sequel of ''You Only Live Twice''.

[@AcidRayne100]

Saw this a few years ago. Absolutely loved it - a huge dollop of hokey and deliberately wooden fun. Kudos for George for doing it, too.

[@johnrigs6540]

He actually looked better as 007 here Than did in OHMSS lol! More mature,smooth and polished - it really is obvious that he would have grown very nicely into James Bond had he chosen to continue - and proof that they really did know what they were doing when they casted him! (I love Alfred Hitchcock Presents....but boy, this was a BAD episode lol) Still - just seeing him as “Bond” again was a lot of fun- and your review -as always- was hilarious! I remember watching that Man From Uncle TV movie and being just thrilled seeing his Cameo. **P.S. fun trivia - as he was filming that scene , Sean was filming Never Say Never and Roger was doing Octopussy... So every single Bond actor up to that time was playing 007 at the EXACT SAME TIME! AND each performance came out in 1983! Great times.....

[@xBaphomet666x]

The name’s James... James- *unskippable KZbin ad pops up* Well played Calvin... well played 👌🏻🤣

[@rickdrais9737]

There was an action adventure series about twenty or twenty five years ago concerning a young, handsome savant on the run from a government agency who was so brilliant that he could masquerade as anyone from a surgeon to an attorney, and near the end of the series his father was revealed. The father was none other than George Lazenby and they all but said he was James Bond, but were vague enough to escape being sued for plagiarism. Similar to how they hinted Sean Connery was actually Bond in “The Rock”… wink, wink…

[@loanaoftheshellpeople5627]

That was called the Pretender. It was on UPN for a few seasons.

[@IcePakOG]

Thanks for sharing this, Calvin. This proves how great Lazenby could have been if he had continued as Bond and had some acting training. I wonder how many films he would have done. DAF and all of the Roger Moore era? All of the 70s? Or would he have gotten sick of the films after just a few and left?

[@nethinge9829]

Well. If he followed his 7 movie deal agreement it could be like this. 1. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service { 1969 } 2. Diamonds are Forever { 1971 } 3. Live and Let Die { 1973 } 4. The Man with the Golden Gun { 1974-5 } 5. The Spy Who Loved Me { 1977 } 6. For your Eyes Only (or Moonraker){ 1979 } 7. Octopussy ( or AVTAK ) { 1981 } Besides that it would be perfect for Lazenby to end at FYEO and let Dalton to take the rest of the 80s. Plus we could get finally have a Property of a Lady movie in 1989. Besides that this might be it.

[@andrewpragasam]

Wow, that episode looks fascinating. Bizarre, not especially funny and about as Hitchcockian as an episode of Friends, but genuinely fascinating.

[@andrewoldham3675]

I think it goes without saying that a much better executed former James Bond in a drawing room murder mystery film comes in the form of Daniel Craig (and yes, I am referring to him as a former Bond even though his final film has yet to come out due to COVID delays) in Rian Johnson's Knives Out. Still, this was fun for a James Bond enthusiast curiosity item.

[@lukejmcgrath]

What a find! Can we get a supercut of “crikey” reactions to deaths across the series? Starting with M in Skyfall naturally.

[@yvonnerogers6429]

Thanks 🙏 for the awesome review! FYI, if you can get Disney + in the UK, check to see if it has The Muppet Show. The show just landed on Disney + in the US, and you’ve got to check out the episodes with Roger Moore and Shirley Bassey! John Cleese guest-starred, too. Best!

[@MatthewHarkin]

Super interesting. I haven't seen this before either! We all need to watch this together and get completely and utterly whaled! EDIT: Hahahahaha I don't even know if this was intentional or not but did you... did you just time the advert so it cut off Bond's name during the mission briefing!? Hahahahahaha ffs Calvin 😂

[@travismcdowell8352]

Calvin if you never saw the short of George Lazenby in Kentucky fried movie I recommend it it's hilarious 😅

[@davidjames579]

I feel that Lazenby fulfilled the 7 film contract he was supposed to sign to play Bond.

[@drjwww]

The episode was just a pastiche of all sorts of thrillers, haplessly dropping giddily obvious references everywhere they could (Psycho, Maltese Falcon, Bond movies, etc.) as a lark. Worth remembering that they're playing this in roughly the same period as the first Naked Gun movie. It's not meant to be taken even slightly seriously. And, FWIW, though this was an "American" series (produced for NBC and later the USA Network), it was pretty much a Canadian series. It was shot there, most of the writers were Canadian, so were most of the directors and about 60-80% of the extras and second-tier cast, with only the lead parts dealt out to the Yanks or Brits. The leads probably accounted for 80% of the show's budget, as was pretty typical of Canadian-made-for-US-TV shows at the time (like The Littlest Hobo, for example). That's why everything looks so cheap. It was. It remains largely true today, BTW, with so many US shows still being made the same way (Supernatural, Arrow, Supergirl, The Flash, The Expanse, etc., etc.).

[@davidjames579]

Yeah Vancouver is referred to as Hollywood North. The X-Files was shot there till it got so big that Duchovny and Anderson pressured the network into shooting in L.A. so they didn't have to be away from home for a large part of each year.

[@loanaoftheshellpeople5627]

Why do the film so many Krappy Shows up in Canada? I know It's Cheaper but the Shows are all Horrible.

[@richardvinsen2385]

Speaking of wood: The wood cutter doesn’t actually split a single log.

[@briangonigal3974]

Hey, if they're not returned to the prop rental place intact the show has to pay full price for each damaged log! Does this show look like it has any extra money to throw around?

[@bradbruhn9586]

Excellent point Brian

[@mr.pudding51]

Calvin, thank you for talking about the elephant wood in the room.

[@richardtwyning]

Excellent video as usual Calvin. I feel sorry for you having to sit through that so your viewers don't have to! However, I did watch all the Hitchcock Presents "re-run" in 1989 as I would have been 19, but I don't remember that episode. Then, again, it looks about as memorable as a hole in the head :-) Glad George got a bit of work out of it though :-)

[@davidjames579]

I've found that Bernard Lee and Lois Maxwell did ANOTHER Bond cash-in. As well as OK Connery, they also appeared in From Hong Kong With Love (1975), actually playing characters called M and Miss Moneypenny! I guess UA really weren't paying them much, but why did they let them get away with doing these!

[@willbutler2850]

Lazenby looks like he’s playing Count Dracula on the thumbnail

[@sinnermax]

🤣🤣🤣

[@therealmovieman]

Need to watch this thanks for great review great as always

[@EntropicDecayGaming]

5:47 Maybe it's because I'm just exhausted after a long week at work but for some reason that "Getting whaled" bit absolutely popped me! XD I think Lazenby would have actually made a decent Bond had he been given the chance to stretch his legs in the role over a few films but that said, had that happened, we may never have gotten Moore in the role at all which would lead to Brolin indeed being cast in Octopussy or Dalton may have been brought in a few films sooner. How would that have affected Brosnan's tenure? Would the series still reboot after him? There's just so many "What ifs" surrounding Lazenby, you could write a book about.

[@calvindyson]

Indeed! It's so weird to think of the knock on effects that these things would have had... John Gavin's casting had Connery not agreed to return etc... It's fun to hypothetsise about what we might have had but I'm so in love with the series as it is I don't think I'd want to sacrifice any of it for something different... Even when it comes to the films that I'm not too fussed on!

[@jamesatkinsonja]

There are various 'sliding doors' moments for the series [such as Sean never leaving the role until the 80's or a third Dalton film], fun to speculate but the fact the series is still going after nearly 60 years is amazing.

[@zanemurcha9742]

I saw this movie a few years back and in that version the part where the bartender is holding his sickle was cut. So it actually was a mystery as to who killed the lady.

[@edencobb7365]

Can you review “becoming bond”, in my view it’s the best bond documentary there. It’s the story of George Lazenby’s journey from an Australian car mechanic to becoming James Bond. Lazenby himself talks about how and why he walked away from a contract that would see him portray bond in six more films and a £1million signing bonus. It’s worth a watch, as a passionate bond fan, it made me see a different side to George Lazenby and I respected him and enjoyed his performance in OHMSS more as a result. Just a fact... science fact

[@Rattlinghope4]

He was my favourite Bond and it is without the finest 007 film with a beautiful score. I wish he’d done more.

[@dennisjames6753]

Another great review! Classic!

[@andyb9675]

Haha, awesome! Never knew about this! But got a MASSIVE soft spot for seeing former Bond's in other roles that "almost could be" :)