On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: The Most Experimental Bond Movie

[@jonathangoode546]

This was the first bond film that I watched when I was young. And still is my most favorite . It showed how much he fell in love with someone and actually cared deeply about who he wanted to be with and how he did everything to save the contessa and the world.this bond film is very underrated but unique in its own way. Thank you for posting this video and I’m not alone on how much I feel about this movie. This is one cliffhanger of a movie .

[@benjisanderoproductions]

Thanks for watching and showing the support 🙏

[@Crwydryn-x3r]

My favorite scene in the movie is the one in which Bond sneaks into a girl's room and slips into her bed, and finds himself cuddling with Irma Bunt. I saw the film for the first time as a teenager. At my school there were several female teachers who were very much like Irma Bunt, in both character and appearance. Bond's encounter with Irma Bunt was more than just comedy. There was deeper meaning in it. Bond had let his frivolous impulses take over, and had forgotten about the serious nature of his work. Irma Bunt took Bond back to dismal reality. Someone had to do it. It's obvious that the electric doors were monitored by Blofeld's gang. They must have been curious about which rooms were most frequently visited by Bond. Blofeld was a man of science, after all.

[@joestrike8537]

Don't think they *had* greenscreen in 1969; that "skiing" footage looks more like rear projection, which was pretty standard back in the day.

[@Anymouse6457]

@@joestrike8537 I believe you are correct. And for some reason, the rear projection scenes from Pinewood Studios were kind of dodgy, even by the standards of the 1960s. To me they always looked fake, more fake than in other films.

[@joestrike8537]

@@Anymouse6457 Hitchcock's "Spellbound" also has some "oh come on" (from a modern perspective anyway) obvious rear projection in the movie's skiing scene. (Then again, that was 1945.)

[@buddyvilla7393]

Peter Hunt edited From Russia With Love”. There is nothing slow about the fight scene between Bond James Bond and Red Grant played by Robert Shaw. It was quite innovative for 1963. Peter Hunt rearranged the sequence of several scenes and should be given credit for making From Russia With Love a classic. It was Sean Connery s favorite Bond film. Also Matt Monros version is clearly heard over the end titles as Connery and Daniela Bianchi are in the boat on the canal. How is that “ not a Bond Theme?? Also when Bond is in the car with Sylvia Trench( Eunice Gayson) you can clearly here Matt Monro sing as a punter goes by.

[@happytree920]

Great video! On Her Majesty's Secret Service is my favorite Bond film. Looking forward to hearing your opinion on the Dalton films. The Living Daylights is extremely underrated.

[@benjisanderoproductions]

Thanks so much 🙏 Heard the Dalton films are underrated

[@unowen-nh9ov]

They were made under bad circumstances, AIDS era & studio regime change, production was interrupted & never recovered with Dalton.

[@joestrike8537]

Dalton was excellent in both his movies, it’s a shame he didn’t get to star as bond in more than two films

[@happytree920]

@joestrike8537 Right? I believe he was approached to return for Goldeneye, but turned it down because he felt he was too old to play Bond again. Kind of the opposite of when he was asked to be in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. He felt he was too young at that time. 😅

[@joestrike8537]

@@happytree920 Likewise, IIRC the Bond producers wanted Brosnan much earlier to play 007, but NBC wouldn't let him out of his Remington Steel TV show contract...which made me very happy because he was definitely too young looking at that point - he was much more suited to the part when they cast him in Goldeneye

[@rickdrais9737]

OHMSS is also unique because of how closely it follows the book. In fact, outside of reversing the order, and therefore Bond and Blofeld never having met (even though they met face to face in You Only Live Twice) I honestly can’t think of many changes they made from the book, right down to the death of Tracy. Sure, Goldfinger also followed the book fairly closely, but it deviated enough to be more than noticeable. Truthfully, the only other film that came as close was From Russia With Love, in which they substituted Spectre for Smersh as they wanted to be able to sell the film in Russia, a difficult task if the Russians were the main villains.

[@TheT3rr0rMask]

The early Bonds knew how to utilize their source material. Dr. No is also wick close but added Dent, leading to one of Connery's best moments as Bond. FRWL added the fight with Grant, which was just a few execution moves from Bond in the novel. Goldfinger is famous for polishing up the villain's plot which became iconic. OHMSS changed some things around but just about every major scene is in the film, even if in a different order (Bond meets Tracey before the beach scene, "He had lots of guts" takes place the night Bond escapes Pizza Gloria). They knew they had good material to work with, just asked "How do we make it better for the screen?"

[@spencerkindra8822]

@@TheT3rr0rMask Another change is that Tracy doesn't save Bond in the village, he escapes entirely on his own and Tracy isn't even there.

[@jasonkoestner4630]

One of the best bond films ever he should have done more 😢

[@benjisanderoproductions]

I wouldn’t say that Lazenby’s performance in this is the best, but give him 1 or 2 more films and he would’ve fully embraced the character

[@Naedlus]

Well, considering the Bond theme started off as a slower song about a man with an unlucky sneeze, I don't think we can really hold too many judgements about the opening song...

[@zooropa04]

Also perhaps the most faithful to the original novel!

[@ianscorey5293]

Lazenby served in the Australian Army….. possibly in the Australian SAS???? So he knew how to handle himself…… Also the lived in rural New South Wales Australia….. and for entertainment on a Friday & Saturday night you would endeavour to get into a fight!!! Hence again he knew how to handle himself!!! He should have done two more Bond films….. EON offered him a contract for seven films 🎥!!!! But his EGO blew the situation!!! Peter Hunt did an amazing job on directing the film…. But as you pointed out he had a long pedigree with 007!!!! He should have directed more 007 films 🎥!!!! The other director that does an excellent job with 007 is Martin Campbell!!!! A KIWI!!!!! And he is the only director to introduce two new Bonds to the silver screen!!!! But that’s another story!!! Enjoy regards Ian 👨‍🎤🇳🇿👍🍸🍸

[@geraldherrmann787]

Well, at long last a proper examination. Wonderful. Connery/Lazenby aside, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is my personal favorite Bond film and arguably the greatest Bond-movie ever. Actually, it´s the only one in the series you can REALLY remember the story of. All the other Bond-movies are basically all the same potato mash. And don´t forget Louis Armstrong 🙂

[@JakeKilka]

My favorite is "From Russia with Love", which, by the way, here in Finland was dubbed as "007 in Istanbul" probably because "from Russia with love" is just a too abstract concept for a Finn. But "On her Majesty's Secret Service" is in my top three.

[@benjisanderoproductions]

Glad you enjoyed, and of course we’ll never forget Louis Armstrong 🙏

[@jimlubinski4731]

Thunderball was my favorite of all the Bond movies to date. I thoroughly enjoyed all the Connery movies. George Lazenby is my second favorite actor as Bond, in spite of all the undeserved criticism he received. I felt he had the look and the presence to make OHMSS exceptional. And I agree that Sean Connery wouldn't have been as effective in the final scene of OHMSS. Like your brother, I am a huge Bond fan, although I nearly lost interest in the most recent films. I'm hoping things get better with the next generation.

[@rickdrais9737]

I was a big fan of Craig but I refused to see the last film. You do NOT kill James Bond. It’s just not done. Sorry kids, you lost me after 60 damn years🤬

[@jimlubinski4731]

@@rickdrais9737 Well, I was not a fan of the Craig version of Bond. He's a great actor, but not in that role for me. Completely agree that you do not kill James Bond.

[@rickdrais9737]

Thunderball has always been my favorite too. It’s spectacular, it’s gorgeous to look at, and even though it’s clearly a product of the 60s, it doesn’t seem dated at all. Plus, it has the absolute greatest John Barry soundtrack of all. I first saw it the summer after it came out, at a drive-in theatre between Joplin and Webb City Missouri with a family whose kids I always played with when we were there every June, July and August. It was so captivating that even the kids just shut up and watched. It’s still my favorite, even all these years later

[@jimlubinski4731]

@@rickdrais9737 Couldn't agree more! And I loved Fiona and Domino!

[@unowen-nh9ov]

According to those who worked with him, he deserved the criticism & it has gotten him into trouble since Bond, he still brags about his promiscuous rule-bending behaviour in interviews. According to Tom Mankiewicz' memoirs, who joined the series after OHMSS, when shooting was done Dame Diana spat in her co-star's face, & she survived working with notorious drunks Oliver Reed & George C. Scott!

[@donaldduck7461]

Peter Hunt was an excellent director. Still think Sean Bean vs Brosnan in GoldenEye is still the best fight.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Yes, so experimental they revised film order to accommodate Swiss location shooting & veteran editor carried novel on set with him to stay true to source during his 1 & done 007 directing gig.

[@nothingpersonalm8270]

Kind of a shame the movie only recently is getting attention, great video btw

[@benjisanderoproductions]

Thanks man 🙏

[@DarrylRuiz-s1w]

OHMSS is great Lazenby gives us a human Bond not a. Superspy Can you imagine Connery crying after Tracy's death? ❤ Diana Rigg

[@benjisanderoproductions]

Exactly, Bond Is meant to be a cold hearted killed, but this film helped ground him in reality which paved the way for other Bond actors interpretation of the character like Dalton and Craig

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Connery eventually won the Oscar, he could have been nominated here for 007, he started playing against type as soon as he won the role - Woman of Straw, Marnie, The Hill & others with Sidney Lumet. Connery not only returned 4 DAF, he repeated the role 4 other producers (in a remake of Bond pic he had already 🌟red in)

[@Anymouse6457]

I have seen every Bond film when it came out, except for the first two. I saw those as a double feature when they were rereleased after the success of Goldfinger. My favorite Bond movie is probably Goldfinger, and after that, OHMSS. I would have liked to see Lazenby grow into the role. Connery of course was the best Bond, and after him IMHO Daniel Craig.

[@benjisanderoproductions]

No way, that’s amazing. What was your favourite one to have seen in the cinema?

[@Anymouse6457]

@@benjisanderoproductions Well, Thunderball takes place in a beautiful location and a great deal of it takes place underwater. It looked spectacular on the big screen and really suffers if you see it on TV. I became a diver (and aquanaut) because of that movie and the TV show Sea Hunt. I have also been to The Bahamas several times. I met Martine Beswick (Paula from Thunderball) and told her “I would have a lot more money if not for that movie!”. She is a lovely and sweet woman btw.

[@benjisanderoproductions]

@Anymouse6457 That’s amazing that Thunderball has had a great impact on your life

[@Anymouse6457]

@@benjisanderoproductions I still hope to dive in Thunderball Grotto, the water filled cave where Bond is trapped by Largo and rescued by Felix Leiter. It is a real cave on Staniel Cay. Yep, it surely has had an effect on me.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Lazenby didn't grow into a career, let alone a role, the moxie that got him the role has been a problem ever since.

[@noelwalsh5898]

It was a great Bond film. 😊 It was one of the Best.😊

[@benjisanderoproductions]

Definitely in the better half of the Bond films for sure

[@spectreagent]

Just one bit of inaccuracy in this. Although I like the documentary overall. Peter Hunt wasn't the only editor/ second unit director to direct Bond films. His editor from On Her Majesty's Secret Service, John Glen, directed all of the James Bond adventures in the 1980s beginning with For Your Eyes Only (1981), and ending with Licence To Kill (1989), which I gave a four-star review in a local newspaper I wrote for when it was first released.

[@benjisanderoproductions]

I was aware that John Glen was also an editor/second unit director like Peter Hunt, but I’m unsure if I pointed out in the video if Peter Hunt wasn’t the only one so thanks for reminding me 👍

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

Part of Connery interview in Playboy November 1965 PLAYBOY: In any case, ''Dr. No'' turned out to be a hit, and you found yourself under contract for a series ... exactly what you said you wanted to avoid. CONNERY: Yes ... but it allows me to make other films, and I have only two more Bonds to do. PLAYBOY: Which ones? CONNERY: ''On Her Majesty's Secret Service'' and possibly ''You Only Live Twice''. They would like to start ''On Her Majesty's Secret Service'' in Switzerland in January (1966), but I'm not sure I'll be free in time and I don't want to rush it, although they say the snow will be at its best then. I'm not going to rush anything anymore. PLAYBOY: We'll be looking forward to both films ... especially since we were fortunate enough to serialize both books exclusively prior to their hardcover publication. Do you think the success of the series will continue to snowball? CONNERY: Well, it's a healthy market and it has been maintained because each succeeding film has got bigger and the gimmicks trickier. But we have to be careful where we go next, because I think with ''Thunderball'' we've reached the limit as far as size and gimmicks are concerned. In ''Thunderball'' we have Bond underwater for about 40 percent of the time, and there is a love scene underwater, and attacks by aquaparas from the sky, and two-man submarines under the sea, and Bond is menaced by sharks. Instead of the Aston Martin we have a hydrofoil disguised as a cabin cruiser, and Bond escapes with a self-propelling jet set attached to his back. So all the gimmicks now have been done. And they are expected. What is needed now is a change of course ... more attention to character and better dialogue.

[@vasglorious]

Should've mentioned the Bond movies connected to Tracy's Death, Diamonds Are Forever and For Your Eyes Only. And it's an odd move for the producers to not have Bond to vengeance on Irma Bunt in the follow-up, even if the actress, Ilse Steppat shortly after On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was released.

[@unclenogbad1509]

Thanks for this - it's definitely a one-off in the canon and doesn't seem to get the amount of discussion I've always thought it deserves. Nice depth to your assessment here. Always felt Lazenby should have been given more - not just Bond, but parts in general. Went from male model to leading role in his first actual film role, and did such a great job with it. Then, of course, we got Roger Moore whose acting ranged from male model to shop-window dummy. Oh well. NB - you compare with From Russia w Love, which probably the closest Connery came to such character focus, but have you also considered Robert Shaw's character in that? I mean, who is he if not... Bond. Surely he's the Bond who went freelance instead of joining MI6.

[@benjisanderoproductions]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed the vid 🙏

[@unclenogbad1509]

@@benjisanderoproductions No prob.

[@joestrike8537]

Talking about Robert Shaw being an anti-Bond, check out "Man with the Golden Gun" (that gun being one of the most idiotic gimmicks in any 007 film) with Christopher Lee playing cat & mouse with Moore - *Lee would have been 10 times more impressive as Bond* than Moore was ever capable of.

[@unclenogbad1509]

@@joestrike8537 Got to agree there.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

Although Lazenby received much support from Broccoli and Saltzman, he had a less easy ride from the board of United Artists who were none too keen to see him take over the mantle of Bond. On 7 July 1968, test footage of Lazenby and Rigg had been sent to United Artists in New York - and the were less than impressed by what they saw. On 23 September 1968, UA's head man David Picker even flew into London, desperate to tempt Connery back into the fold. But Connery was adamant that he wasn't coming back - EON and UA had made him a star and Connery was now a major player, capable of picking only the roles that interested him. And at this moment, Bond simply didn't interest him at all. It was only reluctantly that UA accepted EON's recommendation that Lazenby be given the part (ΜΙ6 Production Notes - On Her Majesty's Secret Service).

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Connery made 007 global phenomenon & the producers $tiffed him, Lazenby sabotaged himself, announcing he was quitting b4 filming was completed & showing up unknown & unrecognizable @ premiere.

[@mattclements1348]

Casino Royale with Daniel craig got me into it

[@benjisanderoproductions]

Same here with me, but with Skyfall, though I can’t deny that Casino Royale is a top tier Bond film

[@Vonslik69]

OHMSS still remains my favorite Bond movie? Connery is my favorite Bond actor, but OHMSS is my favorite? From the novel, the film, to the main title instrumental score by John Barry, to the Olive metallic colored Aston Martin DBS, to Piz Gloria , to Diana Rigg and Telly Savalas , to Peter Hunt's directorial debut.....OHMSS holds a special reservation in my humbled opinion?

[@benjisanderoproductions]

Couldn’t agree more, it just stands out so much compared any JB film before and after it

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Not according to the box office, which is the basis for longest running movie franchise, they had to bump up budget for Spy Who Loved Me to remain viable.

[@Fredrik-iz4ou]

It's my second favourite Bond film. For your eyes only remains the best, and it is also the only exciting one.

[@zacharyzapata8559]

😅 you're funny.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

The film comes at the right time, when the messages are ''make love, not war'' and ''all you need is love''. Has the right actors to the other roles (better for Blofeld is Yul Brynner), but not in Bond. Here Bond is not relatively young, vulnerable and infinite, but a mature man with experience, like the actors to the other roles. Connery in ''You Only Live Twice'' is the character of Bond here. An agent tired of his job, finds happiness in love and marriage. Peter Hunt did a great job, but plot is more like a romantic movie, and ignored Bond and Blofeld metting in previous film. With Connery, Bond and Tracy romance would be like him and Bardot in ''Shalako''. Until early 70s Connery is Bond for everyone. We also see this when Lazenby breaks the 4th wall (didn't say ''This never happened to the other movies''). After Connery here, I believe to Stanley Baker. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKTXo2CgnaidjLs kzbin.info/www/bejne/maicZnWtpKdjsKc kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2KocnegrdB8i9U kzbin.info/www/bejne/e32Zf4Z6iqqkqq8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHbIqJ5-gsyMqck

[@joestrike8537]

The line actually was, "this never happened to the other fellow."🤣🤣🤣

[@ricogomez4020]

I still don't like this movie but not because of the actor but because of the plot.

[@per-arnemoa103]

007 is supposed to be in love and to be married, and then he beds other women? Yuck. A bad movie. The novel is a 100 times better. So glad Connery didn't star in this one.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

Bond is on mission and the main reason he beds with other women is the information.

[@brerrabbit9585]

Weak , unmemorable and very dull entry in the Bond franchise. 'Lazy' Lazeby never had it as Bond and his non acting left a lot to be desired. Almost unwatchable, but it`s NOT the worst Bond. That dubious distinction goes to 'Die Another Day' with 'No Time To Die' in a sloppy second place.Let`s not fool ourselves.

[@olesrensen5020]

Nonsense, Lazenby is awfull😂😂😂