On Her Majesty's Secret Service

With much hindsight, and having finally seen this Bond film in its original version, I have to admit that it's not bad at all. I'd even argue that it's a great pity Lazenby didn't (want to) get another chance. He plays 007 quite convincingly, although he lacks Connery's charm. He's tough and his fights, for example, are a joy to watch. The film also features the first of Bond's ski chases, an impeccably shot avalanche scene, a bobsled chase, and a final mega-action set piece with helicopters. Blofeld, with the face of Telly Savalas, once again has an admirable diabolical plan, and the Bond girl (Bond wife?), who always gives me goosebumps, is really hot. There's a wonderful song to go with it (when Louis Armstrong sings John Barry's tune, everything is perfect). Five stars. (24/04/2010)

A great Bond film with one mammoth and inherent BUT. Almost everything works the way it is supposed to for agent 007 – a very decent script, excellent action scenes (unless they happen to be spoiled by the editor with his epileptic and illogical alternation of views), a truly exceptionally charismatic Bond girl, the traditionally excellent John Barry in the orchestra pit, and Blofeld in the luxurious version of Telly Savalas. Peter R. Hunt directed the film with an overview, and the only BUT also relates to his work. The BUT is George Lazenby, playing the lead role of Agent 007, the man on which it all hinges. I have nothing against Lazenby trying to do Bond his own way, give him some warmth of the family fireplace and a desire to settle down. The real stumbling block is the lack of acting skills of the main protagonist, who takes Bond into the role of a wooden doll whose catchphrases sound so starchy and forced that after a while they get on one's nerves. Although Lazenby had excellent physical qualifications, he did not sell them in the film, because he could not smuggle real passion or aggression into Bond. He's just riding along with the rest of the movie, and his chosen Diana Rigg, even his opponent Telly Savalas, are better actors. It's a shame that Albert Broccoli met Lazenby three years before making this film at the barber's. It’s too bad he caught his eye, and it's a shame that no one noticed that this guy might have the skills to play a mannequin and an advertising actor, but he's desperately not suitable for a big film. On Her Majesty's Secret Service could have been one of the best Bond films – it has strength, momentum, tension, a touching and rough finish, but it doesn't have the main thing. A hero. Truly a pity... ___ Bond Song: John Barry: “On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (25/11/2004)

Lazenby is not charismatic but rather arrogant, the Bond girl is an unsympathetic bitch, and the bland script lets 007 sail through a story where absolutely nothing happens for the first hour. Then, documents are stolen in Switzerland, there’s a bit of skiing, and finally, the Blofeld mansion is attacked. Two and a half hours of cruel boredom. PS: The fact that Blofeld doesn't recognize Bond in their first scene together (given that the film sort of picks up from the previous film) amazes me more than the sloppy wedding. (27/12/2012)

I do not really understand the general restraint towards this particular installment in the franchise, which, despite its numerous references to the previous movies, actually works as a standalone movie and is one of the few in the Bond series to attempt a different approach and tone. You are not going to find a more emotional scene than the ending in this movie from the early Bond movies, or quite possibly from all of them. George Lazenby may have come and gone as Bond; however, his performance in this movie is excellent, and in some alternate dimension, I would have liked to have seen more movies starring Lazenby as Bond. I would have liked to have seen more Bond movies with Timothy Dalton as well. The only blemish on the beauty of this work for me personally, even after all these years, is the objectively insane editing of the action scenes; the filmmakers simply did not have a clue at the time. In addition, they should have kept the end credits quiet. (16/11/2021)

After the departure of Sean Connery (who returned in the following James Bond film as one of the highest-paid actors of his time), the expectations were high. It is very noticeable on Lazenby himself how he tried to fulfill them, maybe he was even forced to do so. Perhaps if he played a little more according to himself and not like Connery, he would have sounded a bit more believable. Nevertheless, I still think it wasn't a wrong move. But what interested me the most in this Bond movie was Diana Rigg. She is simply amazing. I literally fell in love with her in the series "The Avengers", where she was the best woman for the character of John Steed. Perfect chemistry. Here, too, she demonstrated how she can sell her charm and captivated me again. Despite its criticism, the film cannot be denied to be entertaining and action-packed, but it is a bit lengthy due to its runtime. But the ending... (03/03/2014)