TCM Comments on On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

I also agree that OHMSS is the best 007 film. My favorite film for Bond girl, the main title sequence, instrumental theme and the world's longest bobsled run.

[@jtighe7090]

The last hour of OHMSS is the best hour of Bond ever filmed. From the moment he leaves the chalet on skis to the closing scene, it is simply the best.

[@gsentinel4821]

It's a shame George Lazenby left the franchise he was excellent as Bond.

[@RobertK1993]

To the delusional he was producers regret casting him.

[@melvina628]

Many people left and rejected the franchise.

[@thomaschacko6320]

@@RobertK1993 This member of the Delusional Club disagrees. Cubby Broccoli (perpetrator of crap such as “Moonraker”) has always bad-mouthed Lazenby. But Harry Saltzman had him in mind for other projects, which unfortunately, never came to pass.

[@RobertK1993]

@@thomaschacko6320 Saltman was delusional Lazeny was all over place in OHMSS

[@davewanamaker3690]

I like this movie better every time I see it. A mature Bond movie and great cinematography. Throw in John Barry's score and you have a superb movie. I am sure Connery would have been great, but no matter what I liked it. You can find a lot to enjoy in this one.

[@melvina628]

$82 million is not the same as doing poorly at the box office, especially with a budget of $7 million. It was the #2 grossing film of that year.

[@nicoleackerman205]

It made money and I think it is one of the best Bond flims.

[@badname8501]

@@nicoleackerman205same

[@raywebster1159]

Ohmss is without doubt the best bond film ! George lazenby was brilliant as 007 and what a shame he did only the one film , it's the film Connery would have wanted rather than returning for the shocking diamonds are forever which was awful ,if it's a retro blast from the past then then George lazenby on her Majesty's secret service is the one to watch

[@markastor6740]

Spot on. I’ve said for years that this was by far the best Bond movie. As for the Lazenby, he was brilliant, this movie doesn’t work with anyone else. No CGI, no gadgets, just a great villain, great Bond girl, great fight scenes (the best until the Craig era), and a superb sound track.

[@HoldenNY22]

I thought Diamonds are Roever was a p;retty good Movie. I think it may have been more the Wirting and the Directing that amde O.HMSS a very good Bond Movie I have not seen the Movie in years, but I remember as being a really good Movie. For a guy with no Acting Traning, Lazenby mus have done a great job in the Role. I am not a fan of Daniel Craig's James Bond. He doesn't ahve the Humor and rtongue in Cheek that most of the other Bonds had like Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I don't care what anyone says, Lazenby is the best Bond outside and of Connery.

[@efan2012]

@maxwesty Yeah agreed. Connery couldn't have and I love his early Bonds. He just never added any emotional features to his performances.. he was always a perfect Superman no matter what. His Bond never suffered or went through any arcs where he grew as a person; he always found his way out of a spot cool headed and was not bothered. By Diamonds you could see how bored he was; he ruins the "revenge," scene at the start and makes what shoulda been badass laughable . Honestly he woulda ruined OHMSS as he would have been the same.. people love to argue that he woulda been challenged by the script but I doubt it due to the production fatigue. If they had done it after Goldfinger I could maybe see it happening but I think George was ultimately perfect for the movie it was meant to be. Just a shame audiences and United Artists didn't get it back then.

[@efan2012]

@maxwesty I'm sure they will try it again eventually but I dread it; it won't come close to the OG style George did. George was just so dedicated to doing it right; he even read the book a ton to get Bond's emotions perfect. He may have been foolish and young when he was making it but his heart was in the right place. Movies these days could use that kind of dedication to the source material.

[@Tabish29]

Yea. I place him 3rd in the rankings behind Sean & Tim. He could've gone on to be great. Bad decisions.

[@williambabyak1094]

George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton

[@evelk5233]

Such a fantastic film

[@thomaschacko6320]

I saw “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” during its premiere run, Christmas 1969. I thought it was the best Bond film then - and still do! The screenplay, casting, editing, action, cinematography, and music score all place it at the top of the list! Let’s not forget the direction by Peter Hunt, who from the start had the clearest vision of Ian Fleming’s world. And yes, to lead it all off: George Lazenby as James Bond! From the opening fight on the beach to the tragic ending, his focused, athletic performance made me forget all about the bored, through-the-motions Sean Connery. (The same one who would return - twenty pounds overweight - for a campy Las Vegas comedy, looking like Lazenby’s father!) No, Connery would not have done a better job; nor would the others under consideration, such as John Gavin, Adam West, or Burt Reynolds! Despite missing out on the fame and money, Lazenby was fortunate not to have done the crud created for Roger Moore. He remains the best Bond, and none of the snobbery of Diana Rigg or Desmond Llewelyn can change that. By the way, there are cast and crew members who have said how pleasant he was to work with, and what a terrific Bond he made. In fact, Harry Saltzman was planning to use him in a western and a sci-fi project, which unfortunately did not come to fruition. Thank you, George Lazenby!

[@thomaschacko6320]

Sorry, I forgot: it also had one of John Barry’s best scores!

[@michaelschramm1064]

@@thomaschacko6320 Barry’s penultimate as far as I’m concerned!

[@thomaschacko6320]

@@michaelschramm1064 Absolutely right, Michael, on an epic scale!

[@michaelschramm1064]

Excellent exposition, by the way on a 007 outing I’ve always defended and held in high esteem. Lazenby is my favorite Bond for all the reasons you cite and it is the only film in the franchise I have purchased on every format that was released over the decades. How I wish I had seen OHMSS on its initial release, age 10, with my parents in the Christmas season of 1969 as you did!

[@thomaschacko6320]

@@michaelschramm1064 Thank you, Michael. I was all of 13, and even my father, who was not a big filmgoer, said it was “quite good”! (He dozed off during “Diamonds Are Forever”!) I saw it in Times Square in New York, and the posters for major productions - including “OHMSS” - could take up one whole side of a building! There were usually long ticket lines. I, too, purchased it in different formats, even giving it as a gift; I confess, however, I never got around to Blu-Ray. And I did wish I’d had a Licence to Kill the people at ABC who mutilated it for its first broadcast!

[@donaldmcauliffe7653]

I love the james bond movies sean Connery is my favorite james bond the original and the best but on her majesty has a special place in my heart it one best james bond movies ever made most james bond fans agree on her majesty is one of best james bond movies ever made

[@peterfranks6243]

As George says in the movie "how right you are"

[@cptstephenpeacock4548]

The film had great music which added to the tone and mood of the scenes. Its amongst my top 5 bonds for sure

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

I don’t mean to nitpick these but Douglas Lewellyn???

[@jondellar]

And “straying from the United Kingdom only once“. Pierce Brosnan is indeed Irish but he was born in the Republic of Ireland which is not part of the United Kingdom.

[@brianmlevesque]

Come on man If you work for TCM you should know it’s Desmond not Douglas.

[@randyacuna3248]

Majesty and Russia are my two all time favorite bond movies and Dalton is my all time favorite bond actor.

[@VanlifewithAlan]

I believe Harrison Ford was a carpenter or maybe I am wrong!

[@Allenryan819]

He was

[@user-hi3bw6yj9v]

Lazenby made perhaps the biggest mistake any actor has ever made in walking away from the role of 007. He was given a 5 film contract and turned it down because he thought that the popularity of Bond was finished. Little did he know what the future would bring.

[@guysmith8923]

The way this commentary was filmed feels like 30 years ago. Was surprised to hear a GOT reference!

[@ReconFX7]

Lmao I did a double take too at that

[@jackcycling4403]

Yes. The best Bond movie.

[@i_stand_correct6511]

Desmond not Douglas

[@user-xp2gm8im2c]

Love and respect are not enough for Lazenby and the film. Director Peter Hunt did a great job, but the film is more like a romantic movie. Also ignored that Bond and Blofeld met in the previous film. Lazenby's Bond, relatively young, vulnerable and infinite, has some similarities with Bond in ''Casino Royale'' without the final scene. In this scene we see the character of Bond who had to play in O.H.M.S.S. A mature man with experience, like the actors in the other roles. Until the early 70s Connery is Bond for everyone. After him in this film, I believe to Stanley Baker. kzbin.info/www/bejne/maicZnWtpKdjsKc kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2KocnegrdB8i9U kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKTXo2CgnaidjLs kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqKWfoR4hcaYY6s kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIu7Z6eidsxsl7M

[@allanshulstad1783]

Harrison Ford was a carpenter.

[@SpaceCattttt]

If you close your eyes, you're listening to Steven Spielberg...

[@adamquiles2468]

Nahhh didn't really like this movie Connery was sorely missed

[@RobertK1993]

To the delusional he was producers regret casting him.

[@kieranryan7594]

I still love this movie . Lazenby was brilliant in the part. How it bombed in the Stares says a lot about Americans who could elect a complete idiot like Trump to the top office .

[@RobertK1993]

OHMSS great book mediocre movie should have cast Sean Connery.

[@Tabish29]

No

[@thomaschacko6320]

Which Sean Connery? The dull one of “Thunderball”? The sleepwalking one of “You Only Live Twice”? Or the paunchy one of “Diamonds Are Forever”? For all of the money he made, he was thoroughly unprofessional in these films!

[@michaelschramm1064]

@@thomaschacko6320 Spot on, Thomas...indubitably!

[@user-xp2gm8im2c]

@@thomaschacko6320 In “Thunderball” he is excellent, but in “You Only Live Twice” is closer to the character of Bond in O.H.M.S.S. An agent tired of his job, finds happiness in love and marriage. Also he would be perfect as Bond after Tracy's death, if “Diamonds Are Forever” was a revenge film and not a sequel of “You Only Live Twice”.

[@ekop1778]

WASNT VERY GOOD MOVIE