On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Seeing Bond Differently

[@Rossatron]

Hey guys I genuinely do recommend you check out www.audible.com/rossatron (or text rossatron to 500-500) if you're a reader, or just want something to do whilst you're out and about. I know I haven't done ads before, but I only plan to share what I feel is worthwhile for you -- and of course great sponsors will help keep the channel going and raise the quality of my videos. Do use my link if you check out Audible to support me!

[@lennoxmate4064]

Rossatron I believe that On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is the best Bond movie. Bond finds his true love and it’s tragic to see it taken away. This has an effect on him afterwards as we see when she is mentioned in Diamonds are Forever, The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only and Licence to Kill. The continuity was finished after Dalton. Brosnan was a reboot. I think it’s fine you believe in the SJW and PC agenda. We can all be different. I don’t agree with it invading and ruining established franchises. Star Wars is the perfect example. Disney have tried so hard to shoehorn an SJW and PC agenda into the new movies that it has ruined the franchise. They are putting an agenda at the expense of continuity and character and a good script. They make the female lead so perfect and invincible and the male villains so incompetent that there is never any sense of danger or tension. I have now decided to boycott the movies unless they can combine the agenda with tension, drama and have respect for the movies that came before and keep the continuity. James Bond is an established character, that was wrote in a certain way and has been established in that way for years. He doesn’t need to change with the times or become PC. If people want to watch a PC and SJW Spy then there are other movies out there that cater to that demographic. If you don’t like James Bond as a character just watch the other spy movies out there. This is the problem with the SJW and PC movement, it’s the forcing of their agenda on everybody else. Otherwise I’m glad you like the movie and I agree with you on it’s strong points.

[@IbizaSoundMachines]

On the off-hand chance you haven't heard it, check out the Propellerheads tribute to the OHMSS score

[@turtleflipper9935]

Dalton was daniel craig before people were ready for grittier bond

[@scottknode898]

Daniel Craig has some of the darker traits that Dalton and Lazenby had

[@Legato-2057]

Thank you! On Her Majesty’s Secret Sevice is definitely one of the best Bond movies. I’m so glad it is getting the recognition it deserves.

[@salemsaberhagen2600]

Legato 2057 I agree with you

[@tinglestingles]

A year ago we moved to Setubal, Portugal and suddenly realised today... both the wedding location and the last scene on the coastal road are so very close to our new home.

[@pxz4a22c]

the most underrated bond film.

[@Rossatron]

Listen guys, I knew this was going to cause controversy, but it's a statement from me to you so you at least know me a little better. You don't have to agree. That's what I love about this sort of thing. I respect you all enough to say here in this video that this is how I feel, but as I said multiple times this is my opinion, and our differing opinions do not have to stop our love of action cinema. This is not the first time I have said something along the lines of what some of you may refer to as SJW, and yet still you've hopefully enjoyed my videos. I will never disregard my values in the hope of getting more subs, and I don't want you to subscribe to me if you can't respect my remaining true to what I believe in. I've seen some ridiculous comments here, but I've also seen some genuine debate. I want the latter, lets keep this going.

[@gilgamesh310]

I’ve known that about you since i started watching your videos. I find it easy to tell with people, whether they’re social justice leaning or not, and while I don’t agree with this stuff, I can still enjoy the content of various KZbinrs who’s politics is don’t agree with at all. As long as they don’t act too obnoxious about it in the videos, which so far, you haven’t.

[@holcanperez9412]

Rossatron I think is great to fight for a better treatment of all races, beliefs and genders. The problem is the tokenism and overreaction that we have today (specially in the USA), there is a lot of people that create controversies out of nowhere, bastardizing the sentiment of tolerance in the process. Specifically in fiction I think representation for the sake of representation should not be a priority, and being politically correct about everything shouldn't be either. I can relate to a character independently of its sex or race, and even when a character has drastically different ideologies than mine, if it's well written at the very least I can learn something new, a new way to see the world. In the end is the writing what sets a character apart and sometimes it's race can be an important part of that writing, but when forced it feels insultingly pandering. Let us have a great diversity of characters, not in race and gender, but in writing; and let us have honest art that, if necessary, is allowed to transcend the political correctness in order to communicate and make us feel. what do you think?

[@coma4454]

Holcan Perez That's what I loved about this video, and also this film. The whole issue is presented as a complete package, instead of making her a Mary Sue she is a real, believable person who gains our hero's trust and love (also ours somewhat) not by being incredible at everything (as some recent filmmakers do in a cheap attempt at diversity), but by being her genuine, flawed, human self. This, having watched all the bond films at a very young age, remains the only "Bond girl" death that has stayed in my mind because of the genuine emotion, not just after the death but throughout the whole film.

[@mattofalltrades]

I honestly find it surprising you would even feel that this topic is controversial. This is a topic that I believe needed to be addressed, and the fact you treated the audience with respect and explained your opinion so calmly and intelligently make it so that I don't see this as controversial at all. I feel like people look at social justice as angry or something of a tainted image because of extremists. To me, this video is what fighting for social justice should be, not screaming and threats and madness.

[@pendantblade6361]

Keep being you. To hell what others say.

[@NotAurichu]

I watched the Becoming Bond documentary and how much shit George L got for this role. this movie and his role are highly underrated

[@kasrakhatir]

A lot of it he brought on himself. I like him but no matter how much the the documentary tried to make harry saltzman the villain, lazenby was too juvenile.

[@howie9751]

I liked OHMSS very much, a very underrated Bond movie. Of all the Bonds, only Lazenby could have pulled off the romance (and marriage) to Tracy. Lazenby was a little too flippant in the beginning of the movie for a Bond, and much too tall for a secret agent. But it's a Bond film I can watch several times.

[@kalsolarUK]

@@kasrakhatir Unfortunately at 28 this goes a long way to explaining the juvenile behaviour. That asside he's perfect for this movie even if his acting chops sometimes don't quite cut it. By far my favourite Bond movie.

[@262marcus]

OHMSS is actually a very good movie. One of the best Bond films in my opinion.

[@roadtonowherefilms]

One of the greatest bond films and spy thrillers in general, by a great director Peter Hunt. Lazenby is great in the role and makes it his own. There's so many moments in this film I couldn't imagine Connery doing.

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

The " waste of good scotch " line was Bond trying to keep his cool and not to appear weak to Silva.

[@Woesteinvuir]

I really disagree that Craig's Bond's response to Vesper was less nuanced than this one. The implication to me was always an attempt to directly echo the arc that OHMSS presents - a man who becomes emotionally unavailable as a coping mechanism. As regards the point about him gaining catharsis, I again disagree. The end of Casino Royale was always described as showing "James becoming Bond" - ie becoming the emotionally withdrawn, superficially glamorous antihero we know and love. That's at least how I always read it - the three piece suit and comically huge gun representing the "armour" Bond claimed Vesper had stripped from him. That's not even to go into Question of Sport, which for all its (many, MANY) faults, did make it very clear that the character wasn't allowing himself to fully process Vesper's death - rather just slipping back even more fully into the role of a cold blooded killer working at Her Majesty's pleasure. The end of that film makes it explicit - he confronts Vesper's killer, but doesn't kill him - just for the sake of professionalism. Skyfall continues this idea of a man shaped by trauma, with reference to his parents' death and the shadow of Vesper looming large over the film as a whole (especially when one considers that its essentially about Bond and M's relationship - a relationship which was forged explicitly over Vesper's dead body). On the other hand, Spectre explicitly gives him a happy ending where all these threads are resolved - he falls in love again and gets revenge on "the author of all [his] pain", and finds closure in his past and all that. But lets not talk about Spectre. It was fucking appalling.

[@Nimroc]

The main problem I have with Vesper at least if compared to Tracy is that Casino Royale doesn't spend as much time building up the relationship throughout the film as OHMSS did, still way better than in most Bond films though.

[@steveg261991]

Totally agree with you about (Crag's) arc. I think that is why I love Quantum so much; you see full on just how badly Bond has been broken. He 'needs' to go through his fit of revenge to get Vesper out of his head, to make sure he never falls for someone like that again. Bond focuses on nothing but killing to get himself trough and over the mourning period as he knows no one or thing can help him feel better. As anyone of us knows what it's like to go through a bad break up or loss of someone we loved, we know how terrible that feels - Bond decides not to feel at all. Aside from the flat writing and plot due to the writers strike at the time, QoS is still up there in my top 3 because of how true Bond is portrayed.

[@Byrnzi360]

When I was a kid growing up in the GoldenEye era, my friends and I were big into the bond film phase - we all watched the classics. Even when I was 11-12 years old I remember liking this movie the best. It felt so much more mature than the others. It felt as though you could skip any bond movie and still get the whole picture, but this movie was “essential” - the one that could not be skipped over.

[@GeneralBulldog54]

OHMSS the only Bond film I cried at. I mean, from their love song their courting and her death and the fact Bond cries just has this stand out. Also, the backstory of how Louie Armstrong did "We Have All the Time in the World" just strikes that tragic tone in the end a bit more.

[@bossisin2510]

“And I haven’t changed my opinion.” Gets me every time, hilarious. What a man.

[@youtubevoice1050]

I never understood the criticism Lazenby got. He did a good job in his own way. This movie shows that Bond doesn't really disregard women. His job doesn't allow him to let anyone too close. And thus women can't be much more than a source of fleeting pleasure and/or information. Bond is married to his country.

[@speedracer1945]

KZbinVoice 777

[@scottknode898]

KZbinVoice he did a good job considering he was a young inexperienced actor and had only had done tv commercials previously before landing the role of Bond and was a car salesman. Lazenby also had the hard job of following in Sean Connery’s footsteps who at the time was a big star internationally and people weren’t ready for a young upcoming actor to take over. Lazenby didn’t get a lot of publicly for the role and his name wasn’t shown on the marketing posters etc.

[@howie9751]

He did fine and it was a really good movie. He was a little too flippant in the beginning and too tall for a "secret" agent. But otherwise thumbs up!

[@RobertK1993]

howie9751 It’s better to pretend Connery is Bond in OHSS.

[@philhellmuth2771]

He did a bad job. Only some sences are good like Tracy's death. But the other times he's just shitty

[@EpictheEpicest]

The fact that Diana Rigg plays an actual character is 75% due to the fact that she was Diana Rigg. She always plays snarky and independent and she probably wouldn't have agreed to the role if she was a weak trophy.

[@STho205]

EpictheEpicest. I don't know if Rigg at the time had that much power to write her own character. She was still a very young actress and famous only for an ABC/BritCorp comedy spy show syndicated to ABC/US. In fact she got that TV job by replacing Honor Blackmon who had played the strong female against Steed until she left to become a traditional Bond Girl. I think the director just wanted to make a deeper Bond with that movie, and they went back to the cool womanizer due to public opinion. They sell tickets and popcorn in the movie business, not politics and social science.

[@howie9751]

She was not a Bond girl. She was a Bond woman.

[@STho205]

@Le Zouzou now. But then it was a toss away contemporary spy comedy. Like many shows, it grew by the next kid generation becoming obsessed. Case in point.

[@robertclark5936]

Dalton bonds were excellent

[@tokendave80]

I always go back and forth on who I like more between Lazenby and Dalton. I always felt those two were closest to capturing how Bond was in the Ian Fleming novels. Then again I haven't read those since the mid 90's.

[@Nimroc]

OHMSS has been my favourite Bond film ever since I first watched it as a kid, mostly because it was the first film in the series where I felt I actually cared about Bond as a character, rather than as just a walking action set piece. Also I've never really understood the hate for Lazenby as Bond, personally the only actor that I possibly liked more as Bond is Dalton in Licence to Kill.

[@kayos63]

The danger with 'critics' and the 'intellectual classes' is they are often tempted to look down on the pleasures of the common man as a way to show they are more cultured. Bond films were always going to be a soft target for the disdain of anyone who despises simple pleasures. They have a very simple, basic formula repeated over and over in each movie but they work and they work precisely for all the reasons 'high minded' folks hate them. Bond is distilled escapism. What Broccoli did was take some decent books and amplify everything to the point where every film is pure bombast and everything is farcical. Bond is a joke but one to be enjoyed by all, not just those who themselves cultured. Connery is always on the best bond actor shortlists, clearly his unrefined bond resonates more with most people. Bond is not a borderline sex abuser, he merely fits within the assertive archetype that the vast majority of women find attractive. The women in all the films always enjoy themselves, however coy they may initially play it. Bond is not supposed to grow, that is the whole point, he is immutable. Why do you think every character must have an arc? Why must they all be complex and multi dimensional? Haven't they built one of the greatest film franchises on a cardboard cutout of a man who is simple and unchanging and doesn't that prove that it is a formula that works and that many of us like it?

[@Bizarro69]

In a nutshell: the common man won't pass a good chance to back-hand the missus when she gets too perky for her own good.

[@AnjanaBSubba]

@@Bizarro69 Lol

[@seank1048]

Still a good movie no doubt

[@wasifmoramen]

I really liked the themes you explored here. Certainly makes me see these films with a new perspective. Keep up the good work.

[@AmazingJoe96]

i definitely agree that this film makes him a better character, i think thats why they started craigs bond tenure off with a similar experiece, to make him more layered

[@LukeLovesRose]

They needed to execute everything in this film A LOT better. It's all so cheesy and weak. I never feel Bond's love for her. I do feel his anger toward the women he abuses. If it had been Sean and written as a fitting arc, it would've been so much better.

[@ryklatortuga4146]

I always liked the tension for the Gumbold Bank scene the music softly ramping up and up and up.

[@Rattlinghope4]

I absolutely loved OHMSS IN 1969 and I love it now. Best Bond film ever!

[@CineRanter]

Rossatron becoming more prolific nowadays

[@CssHDmonster]

I for one welcome semi-regular uploading rossatron

[@MichaelGerrard]

These are just entertainment films, it is amazing how seriously people take a fictional character. Just enjoy the films!

[@Grandmastergav86]

One thing I like about Connery there, he didn't try to deny it. These days celebs can make the most egregious comment and then try pull the wool over people's eyes.

[@adebrysi]

i think dalton was probably my favorite

[@jasonkeen9401]

He didn't come across as a sexist asshole. But thats a problem when they want bums on seats.

[@NathanDurben]

Dalton was a very good Bond who just happened to draw the short straw when it came to the movies in that they didn't offer up too many chances to show the more charming and charismatic aspects of the role. He was less Bond and more Punisher.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

dankwrasslin Dalton - must play in ''A View to a Kill''- was the right man at the right time. But he was unlucky, because he came to the end of the Cold War (a basic theme in the Bond films script) and in the years 1990- 1994 without a Bond movie.

[@ImYourHuckleberry_29]

@@NathanDurben and it was a great version.

[@NickyAztec]

"Yeah my opinion hasn't changed" what a savage

[@albertoamoruso7711]

HMSS is one of my favorite Bond movies! So happy you talked about that! And thanks for Audible!

[@Juz_P]

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Being an Aussie kid and Bond fan, I was keen to check out OHMSS when I was devouring videos from the store. I loved it. Years later I realized I didn't remember a lot of the action (skiing action scenes excepted), but I ALWAYS remembered that crushing finale. Love it. And to this day, still listen to the OHMSS theme. Maybe not my favourite Bond, but top 3 for sure.

[@liamjay6844]

This is my personal favourite Bond since it changes up the formula quite a lot. Great to see more love for it in recent years! Great video!

[@Rob_-dv6ei]

I must say every time I hear that theme from OHMSS I get chills down my spine - it's sinister but at the same time complex

[@karlfimm]

You raise some very interesting points. As for that last scene in OHMSS, I can *still* remember the gut-wrenching emotion of the moment, from when I saw it as a 10 year old, half a century ago.

[@chrisguzman4633]

You forgot to point out that in the beginning sequence of "For Your Eyes Only," Bond did get revenge on Blofeld and in the beginning sequence of "Diamonds Are Forever," he was on a rampage in finding Blofeld and "killed" him (it was a fake, but he didn't know at the time) and felt satisfied that he exacted revenge. So to say that he didn't try to get revenge is wrong.

[@pwareham61]

The book ohmss has long been my favourite Fleming novel, aged 8 I was taken to the odeon in Brum by my parents to see it. I was blown away by it, my first bond film on the big screen and I adored the action and the gadgets and the cars. So it will always hold special memories for me.

[@unsolicited577]

I gotta remark about Bond’s involvement with Severine in Skyfall. She was expecting him on the yacht. Hence the champagne and caviar on the table. She doesn’t shudder or pull away when he finally arrives because she believes her savior from a life with Silva has arrived. As for Bond’s musings about her past, he pierced her armor and in doing so, made us care about her; which made her death important because her past was a sad one. I think her death resonates with the audience and it’s one of the things that lingers in the film.

[@prphd555]

Yeah I recently rewatched. My main issue with the film is that sorta not much happened. I’m not entirely bought that he would’ve loved her

[@shouldershot]

The one thing I have trouble with is the pass at Connery, in context his statement is fine by my standards, he never said beat your wife into submission. MY TAKE on what he means is he deems it okay if In a bad situation if it escalates to violence a man should be allowed to strike back.

[@jamesharker5560]

Thanks for stepping out and saying these things that need to be said. Lots of respect

[@burningphoneix]

1:49 "Watching action films and wanting a diverse, more inclusive future are not mutually exclusive" I agree. What does that have to do with Bond? To make my point clearer, what does wanting the world be more diverse have to do with the media I watch? If I enjoy Bond being a "rougish scamp" it has no bearing on how I think women should be treated in real life. The same way that watching enjoying Charles Bronson gunning down gangsters in "Death Wish" doesn't make me an advocate for vigilantism. Entertainment and established characters shouldn't be changed to suit the real world morality of the time.

[@markant9534]

The next Bond girl is going to be tough and not easy to sleep with or just eye candy in the wake of the Harvey pervo situation.

[@HenkkaArtGames]

Because some people still believe that depending on what media you consume, you automatically pick up the worldviews, morality/ideas that the media presents to you. Just look at the "video games cause violence" retardation or back in the day when another group of morons thought that playing D&D meant you worshiped Satan. I mean, I have to remind myself to not run over every single pedestrian I see when I every now and then get behind the wheel. I just love to play GTA 5 so much! "Or the writers and filmmakers can just make whatever stories and characters they want." You are absolutely right. But if you are going to write a story for an established character, it'd be nice if you can still recognize who the character is meant to be. If you suddenly took out the alcoholism and the womanizing ways from Tony Stark, would he still be Tony Stark or just another genius comic book character? Or is the goatee enough to define Tony Stark?

[@tubbylumpkins4885]

If you don't care then whats the problem?

[@Tomm192]

Couldn't say it better. Bless you!

[@coma4454]

That's the thing, that aspect has not changed (apart from the changing views on what constitutes consent, which in my view is a good thing as it keeps Bond on his character while reflecting the views of his time). In the 60's, him having sex with a woman who was saying "no" would have been maybe a bit on edge. Now, that behaviour is considered flat out rape. His behaviour in recent films has shifted to accommodate our (overall) changed views, but to keep the same edge that he had in the 60's. I would argue that his character has not really changed, it has adapted to invoke the same feelings that he would have back then as he does now. This is just my opinion, if you disagree feel free to tell me how and why, I welcome a good debate.

[@Engineer_Eric_59]

I grew up with Connery as Bond and have seen them all and I don't read into them, I don't cirque them, I don't look for continuity errors, I just enjoy them for what they are, entertainment!

[@prestonowens4594]

3:27, I’m aware that Bond still has some anachronistic views but I always interpreted this response from Craig’s Bond as part of his stoic facade as he tried to remain calm and project an unnerved persona towards his enemy. Perhaps I’m just imagining what I’d like to see, but I viewed that interpretation of the character as someone that is shielding themselves behind an emotionless persona so that they cannot get emotionally hurt again as he may been before by [SPOILER FOR Casino Royale] As he may have been emotionally hurt by Eva after losing her in Venice at the end of Casino Royale. I saw that movie as the origin of the facade that becomes Bond for Daniel Craig’s character. I do think that it’d have been nice to see more moments during Craig’s run as Bond where we see this facade break a little though to let the damaged man underneath peek through or maybe a shift in how he treats women as a response to the losses he’s endured. But again, that’s just my take and I could be wrong. It’s certainly not iron-clad. Lastly thanks for the Video Ross, I appreciated the food for thought.

[@johngraves6878]

I LOVE OHMSS! Always have. Eon should have kept Lazenby. And I agree the score was delicious. I visited the Schiltorn in 2013.

[@jordel2010]

I have always loved this film ever since the first time I saw it. I think it's a bit of a silly tragedy that many people won't give this film a chance just because Connery isn't in it.

[@WTFisTingispingis]

I just gained a whole new respect for you, dude.

[@nope5657]

AtticWarrior1994 Funny, I just lost respect.

[@NMahon]

Tyler E why?

[@prariedogg2529]

Tyler E Me too (no pun intended). What I really appreciate about Rossatron is his way of finding what is objectively good in an action movie. Hearing say things like “diversity” and “problematic” makes it seem like he’s lost his objectivity behind a subjectivist Social Justice filter.

[@adsads8778]

everyone has filters, its better to acnowlege them than pretend they are not there. Also I don't see the problem with "words like diversity and problematic"

[@johnjuiceshipper4963]

Rossatron: "I don't have a problem with diversity." Commenters: "MUH SJW BOOGYMAN ROSS IS SO CUCKED NOW UNSUBBED!"

[@Bizarro69]

Lmfao "yeah... And I, haven't changed my opinion." Hilarious.

[@swanpride]

Those interviews are taken out of context...what he actually said was that if a woman hits a man, a man has the right to hit back with an open hand. Not that I don't think that a man from his generation don't have any sexist views, but let's not judge him as if he had said "yeah, men are fully in their right to abuse their wives", he didn't. (And, btw, I happen to agree with him that the "a man should never hit a woman" idea is old-fashioned nonsense, it should be "no human being should ever hit any other human being, especially not a spouse, but if you are getting attacked, you certainly have the right to defend yourself on a reasonable level").

[@Rossatron]

Actually he said (and I am paraphrasing here), that he would consider it okay to do if the woman wanted the last word, and would push and push for it. He didn't say that just if she hits him, he can hit her back. I'm not sure he said that at all in fact.

[@swanpride]

As far as I remember that this is what he said in the original interview (the one which is referred to in the one you used). I remember looking into the whole story a while back and discovering that it was way less clear cut than people make it out to be...not quite the outright lie "Walt Disney was an Antisemit" is, but there is enough ambiguity in it that I don't think that one should label him quite that easily. Not that I disagree that the Bond movie DO have uncomfortable undertones...ironically Goldfinger is still my favourite of all of them. I guess mostly because no matter how sexist the movie is, doesn't change the fact that Bond is utterly useless in it, and Pussy Galore is the actual heroine of the story. Plus, great villain with a believable plan. For a bond movie.

[@wtfronsson]

Dude is like 100 years old. I can respect his right to views that were popular in his day. It's not the sort of thing that really relates to current times. It's like when everyone used to be a racist. You can't really pick out anyone and point out their racism, because everyone was like that. And yes, Connery was talking about smacking a woman into her senses. That kind of mentality comes from the same era that hadn't yet even invented things like psychology. It doesn't relate to modern people, and it doesn't need to.

[@NMahon]

swanpride "as far as I remember" so what you're saying is you dont KNOW what he said, you're just remembering? I think you're remembering what you want to remember, perhaps you need to watch the interview again

[@fuckenps3]

Jesus, look at all the scum in these comments...

[@toddblackwood129]

If you haven’t read the novels, I highly recommend you do so, you’ll be glad; Among other overlooked aspects of this film is how faithful it was to the novel, as well as the middle of a trilogy, and Bond’s finest, defining moment. Not only that, but You Only Live Twice was the great lost opportunity of a Bond film, and the template of how to make a follow up revenge film in the Bond series. The fact that Craig’s Bond didn’t cull more from the Blofeld trilogy is the true waste of good scotch here. The only part superior from the novel is that Diana Rigg’s portrayal of Tracy elevated the character and was a godsend for the entire film franchise.

[@sugarnads]

Daltons bond was the least flamboyant. The most spylike. Which is why i like them.

[@MrPainkiller910]

I think Bond's chauvinism (much like his alcoholism) is what makes him a good character. It's a character flaw, that keeps him from being a Gary Stu.

[@MrPainkiller910]

Cipher Yes, I would say it still is. While it may help him in his job as a spy, from what we see of his personal life, he is kinda messed up. He doesn't really have a lot of personal connections to anyone.

[@xxxaragon]

it's not presented as a flaw though, at least not in the older films of the series (which of course makes sense considering how the general attitudes regarding women still were at the time).

[@speedracer1945]

Tim Morris Looking at some of these comments, if an adult hits you or threatens you then you have the right to protect yourself. In the Connery Bonds where he slaps a woman ,it's usually a woman on the other side . Does that make it okay ? Depends on the situation . It's not okay but we are living in a PC world where everything is sensitive and many grew up in this era where the sixties had different values . Should this had been shown in the films ? Well back then no one question it , Bond was abusive and smoked and ate bad food in the novels . He was much more PC hateful in them. They put some of that in the films .

[@luqas99]

I love flawed characters, but chauvinism is stupid and immature. James Bond is supposed to be intelligent and mature.

[@womble1981]

Chauvinism is an extreme belief in national superiority and glory. Bond is a patriot but describing him as a chauvinist seems a bit much. What's all this got to do rejecting women though?

[@kevangeorge1357]

Like a Fine Wine this Film gets Better as time gors on....Loved it in 69 and still is my Fav 50 yrs later.

[@thomaschacko6320]

Thank you for your perspective on my favourite Bond film - and my favourite Bond actor. Peter Hunt said, “I wanted this to be my James Bond film. My style, no one else’s.” He loved the novel, and had the clearest sense of Ian Fleming’s world. Notice that Q has a smaller part; Hunt was determined to avoid gadgets (aside from the safecracker/photocopier). Bond relies more on his mental and physical abilities and, as you point out, is more human. George Lazenby was superb and no, I did not miss Sean Connery one bit. From the fight on the beach and “This never happened to the other fellow,” I knew I was off on a grand adventure! Hunt’s fidelity to the novel included the tragic ending. In fact, Lazenby’s words are taken directly from the book. Connery would not have done better - certainly not Moore!

[@Aoi84]

OHMSS was one of the final Bonds I got around to watching because so many people talked low of it. Afterwards, I was frustrated with how good it was and stumbled on this same theme that I could link to all the other films I saw. Distinctly, I knew why he was so bitter and cynical and able to use women, which gave me a new outlook re-watching the library. To this day, OHMSS is my favorite Bond film, Lazenby my favorite Bond, and it's probably the one I re-watch the most. I'm glad, decades later, to finally see it getting so much positive attention.

[@Narkafet]

Hey Rossatron, I'd watch a 10 minute unskippable ad to watch your content. Thank you for posting awesome stuff.

[@mrblobby7864]

My dad has had a copy of this film for years and I've never actually seen it. Now I feel like I have to see it.

[@hypatiastanhope4716]

Agreed , I'm a fanatic of the bonds books and films , sometimes I'm slightly annoyed with the misaginy but I let it slide because of the times they were made or written, I feel On Her Majisty's secret service was an amazing film, made him more real and more human 💖

[@chrisclarke3880]

Great video and agreed, ONMSS is one of top 3 fave Bonds. I have a feeling the next Bond might copy this, I have heard that rumour.

[@thetramp123]

Nice. I know OHMSS has become kind of divisive as far as Bond movies go but it is one of my favorites. And yeah, I really like the sensitivity of Bond in that end. It reminded me of how the character in the books genuinely falls for and cares about the women he meets rather than just enjoys bedding them. Also why I like Dalton's performance so much even if I don't think the movies around him are quite as good as they could have been.

[@lexgil6520]

Agree with the Skyfall shower scene. On the other hand, for how great it looks it's my least fave Bond film. On the other hand, for all its flaws (and there A LOT of them), TLD has my fave seduction by Bond of a Bond girl. I found it down to earth, the way he goes about romancing her, while always having his mind on the job. He doesn't just give her a few slaps or a sling couple of flirty lines or whatever.

[@Ellis007Bond]

My Favourite Bond Film and Bond Actor! Its been said if Lazenby stayed Diamonds would of been a revenge story of Bond finding Blofeld and getting revenge for Tracys death.

[@koomo801]

I'm sure the movie wasn't filmed in sequence, as most movies aren't, but it's fascinating to see Lazenby's acting improve as the film progresses. Definitely my favorite Bond film; has been since it came out. No Bond girl will ever come close to Tracy.

[@philipdonmichaeljohnsontho4184]

As many have already pointed out in these comments, OHMSS is wildly underrated. From Lazenby's performance to John Barry's fantastic score to Louis Armstrong's beautiful "We Have All the Time in the World" to Diana Rigg and Telly Savalas and Bond's gorgeous Aston Martin DBS. In the past, I've told friends who aren't familiar with or necessarily into Bond films who ask me which Bond films they should watch - I tell them to watch 'em all if they can - but, regardless, every time I put OHMSS on the short list.

[@jamesfleming9837]

Being a jerk is part of Bond's character. So, the day he'll become politically correct is the day Bond dies for me. M straight up says it: "You are misogynistic dinosaur." It's called "Anti-Hero". Nothing's wrong with that. It's a really really common thing in movies.

[@jamesfleming9837]

She was criticizing his methods. Not his job. U misunderstood the line

[@coma4454]

I really liked that part, myself (no one has to agree with me) because it felt almost like an acknowledgement of the ways that Bond is flawed, without diluting his character. To me, it's a nod to changing values whilst keeping the (flawed) character roughly the same.

[@jasonkeen9401]

The best anti hero is Porter.

[@luqas99]

"M straight up says it: "You are misogynistic dinosaur."" M was supposed to be WRONG in saying that. It was a retort to the suggeston Bond and some of the others at MI6 regarded the Judy Dench M as weak because she was a woman with a desk job. The whole point of that dialogue was that appearances can be miseleading and neither Bond nor M were exactly as they appeared to be.

[@JackOsborneFilm]

Excellently put. What’s more questionable is the way people aspire to be like him. An Anti-hero he is... truly.

[@marcfleetwood7865]

It's my favourite film, because it is so much closer to the book than a lot of the other films. Lazenby is massively underrated.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

The character of Bond is underrated in the film. As in the book and like the actors in the other roles, Bond is a man with experience. In his position we see a relatively young, vulnerable and infinite Bond like ''Casino Royale'' without the final scene. Also i can't ignore that Bond and Blofeld have met in the previous film and in this film doesn't know each other.

[@skiptrace1888]

Thanks for posting! I am a huge Bond fan & I too, think Dalton did the best job of capturing Fleming's character. His portrayal is closest to the books. I think though, that if you analyze a character too closely, you lose his impact upon you. It's a visceral thing that won't give in to logical processes. As one author put it, "You don't want to have dinner with Bond; you want to be him."

[@TheLKX]

I have only seen this movie dubbed in Portuguese. Lazenby's voice, trying not to cry while speaking to the policeman, got lost in the translation. They did a good work overall, but certainly adds and extra layer of drama to the scene. Very good, man. I agree with pretty much everything you said.

[@krisinsaigon]

Yeah i've always loved this one, its more complex than the others, he's a real person in it

[@CARETAKER89able]

Lazenby proved himself in one bond film in OHMSS only matched by Craig's realistic brute bond style in Casino Royale. For they are the most realistic bond films period. For both these bonds loved women in tracy and vesper and lost, that's why they are the best and soulful bonds as well.

[@1Heirborn]

I honestly don't think we should look at this differently; Bond's attitude towards women was a reflection of the times. Yes, older Bond movies will age poorly in societies that value gender equality highly, but you shouldn't tamper with the legacy and characters of the original. If people want a spy thriller with contemporary sensibilities there are dozens of books to read. In the meantime, we should enjoy OHMSS for the flawed diamond it is :D

[@tomfurstyfield]

I remember watching it years ago after hearing it was the worst but I remember thinking (even though I was in my teens) it had more to it than the Connery bonds I'd grown up with. Need to rewatch it especially because I love inception

[@cookieface80]

No one says the film is the worst, rather that it has the worst bond.

[@tomfurstyfield]

cookieface80 You have no idea what I was told about this film when I was younger, have you surveyed everyone who's ever watched it?

[@pedroalexandredillemburg3751]

Agreed, I think that the only actor who tried to make a continuity for George Lazenby's work in OHMSS was Timothy Dalton, because besides the small reference in License to Kill (1989) he did a cold, veteran looking and affected by the time on his job decades before the Daniel Craig's films where it was intended to be more darker than the previous ones (exept for License to Kill). So much that Timothy was the first actor to do his own stunts, the only one that read all the Ian Fleming's 007 books and he was one of the actors who where an option to play the James Bond character in OHMSS.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

Timothy Dalton was too young to play the character of James Bond in O.H.M.S.S. In this film - as in the book - Bond is a man with experience, like the actors in the other roles. After Connery i believe in Stanley Baker (1928-1976). He looks like Connery and play like Bond (see ”Ιnnocent Βystanders” 1972 and secondly ”Last Grenade” 1969 ) and he was one of the best actors in his time. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2mmhWBqgdukfsU kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKTXo2CgnaidjLs kzbin.info/www/bejne/maicZnWtpKdjsKc www.youtube.co/watch?v=GU2QOMoHbgw&t=0s kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2bXgYRumcqNqLs kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpupn6WcYs2Jjbs kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2KocnegrdB8i9U kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqWZhp9-lM2Ca5o

[@pedroalexandredillemburg3751]

Yeah, I knew about Dalton and the books (I've read some of then), he turned out the role due his age, that wasn't just the producers. I've never seen Stanley Baker Films, but I'll take a look soon to see his work.

[@alexandersun1611]

Great video. Fully concede that his treatment of women/people may be a essential part of his character (along with being ruthless, charming, suave, etc) but to not show it having any negative consequences on the characters around him has been a missed opportunity to make the character more complex and fleshed out. That’s what the new Bond movies (excluding Spectre anyway) have mostly done right.

[@obakpo88]

I'll check it out. Bond is a huge influence on one of my favorite characters, Golgo 13. I have yet to see OHMSS, so this video is the push I need to do so.

[@kenshiroFNS]

Golgo > Bond

[@taragwendolyn]

For years, I've been derided for thinking Lazenby is my favourite Bond, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service is my favourite Bond film... you've finally put into words why I love it so much. So very much everything you said.

[@sismag1195]

My Bond is , Sean Correnry, George Lezenby, Sir Roger Moore n Daniel Craig

[@Erkki_Mela]

Just to check: Did you watch the entire Sean Connery interview, or just the short clip?

[@miguelhernandez6489]

I totally agree one of the best Bond if not the best Bond in the whole series

[@justaddafan]

Thank you for the insight. This is my favorite Bond movie for the humanization of the character that isn't present in others.

[@r.dbergman4034]

This ones in my top 5. Telly Savalas is a great villian, Lazenby a great bond, and the woman are the most beautiful and plentiful of the series..

[@Dominator1k7]

I feel this movie and quantum of solace, are two of the most understated bond films. Both are in my top 10.

[@chasx7062]

Moonraker too

[@InReserveProductions]

The reason this can be seen as an inspiration for Christopher Nolan is because it is his favourite Bond film and he has stated this on a number of occasions. This is probably why I support the idea of him directing a Bond film so strongly.

[@trexguy]

You nailed it!! This is why OHMSS IS THE BEST. Thank you

[@mrb5791]

Okay, so I have a couple of things to say. First off great job putting the video together, and I’m very happy that you touched on the impact Tracy’s death had on Bond as a character. As a matter of fact, you forgot to list some of the other times Tracy was given a reference in other Bond films, like The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldeneye, and The World Is Not Enough. I also like how you pointed out that after Tracy’s death, the character of Bond started to get much more layered in the following films, for me, the best example is For Your Eyes Only, where after he kills Blofeld in the opening, he’s telling the main Bond girl how revenge is not the way, and trying to keep her from letting her anger run coarse, so that she doesn’t go down the path he went down. It’s that part of For Your Eyes Only that makes it a nice continuation of Majesty’s for me. However, I do have some things I disagree with. I think it’s absolutely crucial when looking at older films to understand, if not out right forget about your political beliefs for the time being; it’s something I do when I watch a classic Bond film. You’re welcome to disagree with me, but I think it’s doing a bit of a disservice to go into an older film knocking it down for not having the political ideology you have, and especially with the Classic Bond films. To talk about Connery, I agree to an extent, and also disagree. I do not condone Connery’s comments and opinions on hitting women, I’ll be the first to call him out for that behavior, and I’m a huge fan of the man as an actor, but like I said earlier, I think it’s important to have some context into the time. Yeah Connery’s Bond did horrible things to women, but it’s not like they were innocent bystanders. The woman he had arrested in Dr. No was part of the plot to kill him; he beat Tatiana in From Russia With Love because she was playing mind games with him, leading him on into a trap, which in turn led to Kerim Bay’s death, and although Tatiana was doing what she had too in order to live, Bond didn’t know that. In Thunderball, Fiona Volpe was desperate to kill Bond, and if he hadn’t thrown her in the way of the bullet, she would’ve. And a lot of the other things Connery did in those early Bond films were him being flirtatious. He was the man’s man, and whether or not you agree, or disagree, you can’t deny that the was the natural attitude/behavior of men back in the day. Again, I’m not excusing it, but it’s important, especially when talking about Bond, to look through the lenses of context, and how things were back then. Now to give you credit, the rape scene in Goldfinger is where I think they went too far, it’s incredibly naive and a bit fucked to think you can change someone’s preferences by forcing yourself into them, and I believe a lot of the misogynistic attitudes shown in Diamonds Are Forever was them trying to overcompensate for Majesty’s (which a lot of people back then didn’t like the emotional Bond of that film), and its when they get to Roger Moore in The Man With The Golden Gun where a lot of that sexist, misogynistic behavior that Connery had falls short because they tried to force that onto Moore. I’ll agree with you on Craig and Casino Royale, it does feel like less of a gut punch compared to the ending of Majesty’s. I think it’s because it’s coming after a big action scene, and coming before the “Bond, James Bond” ending of the film. I think Vesper’s death plays much better in the book, where she goes quietly in the middle of the night, and you feel for Bond more because it feels more personal. Other than that, I really enjoyed your video, I always have a biggest grin on my face whenever I see people praising Majesty’s and Lazenby because it’s a film I love, a film I could talk about for hours, and a film that never ceases to entertain me; a strong contender for my favorite Bond film, and one of my personal favorites of all time. BTW James Bond Radio did an excellent podcast where they interview Bond expert Charles Helfenstein on the entire making of the film, and the difficulties going into it, if you haven’t listened to it, I highly recommend you do, they also have one with the same guy on the making of The Living Daylights if you’re interested, in the end, great video, I liked it, I subbed, keep up the great work!

[@burkepota]

Although Sean's Bond was/remains the template... Lazenby brought a raw realism (probably because he so wanted the part, didn't have the acting bug or chops that come through process... and because he physically could really handle the part). The film is the best in the series because of the story, because of the directing, action sequences in relation to 'story' (and not squeezing story out for action)... because of Barry's greatest score for Bond but not enough is ever said about George actually 'filling the shoes nicely' after the other fellow's huge success. None of the other Bond's had to follow 'directly after Sean Connery'... Lazenby did. And for my money... he did it well and deserves the credit that has sadly, slowly mounted over the years. Brocolli should have given him the second shot he later requested but if Lazenby only did one... he was Bond. James Bond.

[@docheckfire3979]

Great video and extremely well-spoken! I love this film and always thought Lazenby got a raw deal. The ending was so well done and I think you're dead-on in how it brought weight to his character and really set the movie apart as trying something different. Not to mention it's a genuinely super sad scene. I applaud your respect for your audience in that you welcome disagreement and debate on this. It's too bad some people can't handle critique of/recognize elements of content they love as being problematic without taking it as a personal attack against them and a bash against everything in said content. You clearly have knowledge, reverence, and love for the medium and the films in question so how they dismiss it and you so quickly is a shame. Oh well. Also side note I was so happy to see/hear you give props to Dalton. I don't know if I can objectively say he's the best Bond as he was the first I saw on the big screen so that might be tinting my rose-coloured glasses, but he's always been my favourite Bond so it's awesome when he gets some love. Thanks for the great video and really excited for more!

[@chasx7062]

Now that OHMSS is no longer underrated, people need to re discover Moonraker!!!! Whereas Bond is humanized in OHMSS, the Henchman is humanized in Moonraker.... OHMSS, TSWLM, and Moonraker are the three classic Bond, where whilst still damsels in distress, the females get some major roles

[@satyakibanerjee21888]

Though I'm a little biased with the Daniel Craig's era, but still Timothy Dalton is one of my favourite bonds. Many bond fans say that he is void of humour. But that's partly untrue. In the movie living daylights, he finally got up in the plane cutting his shoe's lace which the henchman was holding. When his curious girlfriend asked, he told, "he got my boot."

[@QHarefield]

i agree with pretty much everything you say. when i was a teenager, i hated lazenby - because he wasn't connery. now i am an adult, i can see what an excellent job he made of it. it's a terrific film and probably the closest to the book. i will have to rewatch all the films post-OHMSS to see whether i agree with your theory (which is a hard undertaking, as i really dislike the roger moore bonds. no problem with RH - he just did what the director wanted - but the films are awful. thanks for posting.

[@racewiththefalcons1]

I love your videos, dude. Keep doing your thing.

[@BigBangMike]

I like that there is context to why Bond is the way he is to women. I think the problem is though that his chauvinism isn't portrayed as "Needed to get the Job Done". There was an awesome scene in Casino Royal where this happened, it looked like he was going to sleep with a woman when he called for Champagne and Caviar from the hotel... but when asked if the meal was for two he responded "No. For one" then he hung up, left the woman cold and went to do work. I think that if they shifted his womanizing ways to a requirement that job sometimes needs, then the character can get a lot less flack for his actions. Steer into the fact that because of the death of his loved ones... he doesn't even "like" bedding women per say.

[@RudieObias]

My favorite Bond movies are ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, SKYFALL, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, CASINO ROYALE, and GOLDENEYE. Sorry Timothy Dalton. (also, unofficially that 20 minute South Korea casino bit from BLACK PANTHER).

[@masudashizue777]

I wish they would remake "On Her Majesty's Secret Service and get it absolutely right this time.

[@CRITTERBUSTERS]

Solid analysis on this film, while not my all time favourite, I would definitely say it’s an important film. I do think personally however Dalton’s two films were a continuation of bonds character development, and both are solid bond films IMO I always thought dalton never got the respect he deserved.

[@MonteLeeMyPOV]

This is my favorite Bond movie and im a die hard,seen them all,read them all,Bond fan.

[@jfglv1505]

I'll admit I was a hater but when i first watched this movie I was 8 years old and never saw it again. My tastes have changed so I'm probably better suited now to appreciate this film.

[@NelsonStJames]

I was the same. I was a kid when I saw OHMMS and this just wasn't the Bond I was used to. Looking back at it now, it's really a fun and thoroughly enjoyable Bond film, and my goodness, it's got the soundtrack that I probably listen to more than any other Bond sndtrk.

[@grumpyoldman3458]

In "The Return of the Man From Uncle" George Lazenby plays an unnamed character. He drives a silver Aston Martin with the registration "JB". It's only a short scene but it shows what he could have done with the part if he'd been in more films. IMO his big mistake was leaving after OHMSS.

[@agentblackacid]

This was the best Bond movie until Casino Royale IMO. I championed it since I was a kid but people rarely agreed, I'm glad it's being re-appraised. It was the closest to the source material and as you say, it fleshed the character out in way that would inspire Skyfall etc.

[@TequilaToothpick]

Goldfinger, Spy Who Loved Me, Goldeneye, Casino Royale, OHMSS and the Daltons. Great taste. They are 7 of my top 9 along with Russia with Love and Thunderball.

[@willblaster3469]

Damn Ross is going hard now that he's back...

[@ptonpc]

It's one of my favourite Bond films. It shows him as human.

[@Joegb68]

To me much of the womanizing is essentially bond doing his job trying to get information to complete the mission granted it may not always look great but if you look at it in the prisom of the mission comes first then it's somewhat understandable considering Bond is trying to save the world or at least trying to eliminate threats that could change the world as we know it