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I am a huge James Bond fan and now have all the movies on DVD. On Her Majesty's Secret Service is a well written constructed story trying to make the Bond franchise/character more serious and more human. The basic story is Bond falls in loves with an amazing woman that could possibly be his equal, while having to deal with the evil terrorize organzation called Spectre. In the end after marrying her, the ruthless leader of Spectre kills her and Bond finds himself alone again. Hence the reason Bond never gets close to any woman ever again.....besides the his loves death in the 1st Bond story Casino Royale. So, it was 1969 right after the Vietnam War and the world just wasn't ready for such a serious 007 story and actor George Laznby was American.....and replacing Shawn Connery. Not a good combination. This is still actually a great story that holds up even today and I think if they redid this movie today....it would probably fly. Especially since we now have Daniel Craig's portrayl of 007 which is the most serious and down to earth out of all the actors to play Bond ever.Read full review
This has always been one of my all-time favorite Bond films, along with "From Russia With Love". "OHMSS" is unique because it's actually a love story set against the backdrop of a spy thriller. It's also the only time we see James Bond getting married and subsequently grieving over the loss of his wife, Tracy. My favorite scene, however, is the ski chase when Bond escapes from Piz Gloria. This action sequence accompanied by John Barry's thrilling score makes my heart race! Most James Bond films are gadget-laden action-packed thrillers, often crossing the line of believability. "OHMSS" was a more down-to-earth, more realistic and believable film. George Lazenby's take on Bond was very good, especially for a male model with no real acting experience. The supporting cast was first-rate, especially the lovely Diana Rigg, who was Bond's love interest throughout the film and not a typically disposable "Bond girl". It has been argued many times that this would have been a much better film with Sean Connery as Bond, but I don't agree. Connery was best as the action hero side of Bond, but even in "From Russia With Love" where we first see a tender side of 007, you just don't see the vulnerability that Lazenby's Bond shows. All in all, OHMSS gives us a more human and vulnerable man as 007 instead of the 2 dimensional character we are used to seeing.Read full review
Pros - Diana Rigg fresh off her wildly popular Emma Peel role in "The Avengers" and the beauty of the love story against the backdrop of pure evil. Cons - None. I first saw this movie when it was released in the theaters in 1969 and I still love it! For me, it is far and away the best of the Bond flicks. Australian George Lazenby took over the 007 role in OHMSS, the first actor to replace Sean Connery - which was a very tough act to follow. Mr. Lazenby took a lot of flak, but I think it was more because he wasn't Connery than anything else. I believe he handled the role capably with wit and tenderness while still coming across as a tough man's man: still a genuine secret agent yet human after all. I just can't see Sean Connery playing the range of emotions in this film; to me, Connery is Bond all right, but a cold, killing machine without feelings, not right at all for OHMSS. The beauty of this storyline is the twist on the "formulaic Bond movie" - yes, there is a madman (Telly Savalas, menacing in the role) bent on taking over the world, a bevy of "Bond girls" and action galore, but this movie has something no other James Bond movie has apart from fewer reliance on gadgets: a capable, hurting woman who steals Bond's heart. And what other woman could possibly keep up with Bond yet also capture the true affections of the roving 007 but Diana Rigg, Emma Peel herself? Ms.Rigg left her beloved role of Mrs. Peel in "The Avengers" to play Tracy in OHMSS. She should be proud! Ms. Rigg played Tracy with a hint of danger and desperation, yet she brought shades of Emma Peel with her during her adventures with Bond. Is it any wonder that James was truly smitten with Tracy? She was indeed a woman after his own heart! And her love scenes with Lazenby were "a real couple in love" type rather than the gratuitous sex notorious in Bond films. Ladies will especially appreciate the sentiment of Louis Armstrong's rendition of "We Have All the Time in the World" while James and Tracy ride horseback, stroll in the park, window shop [and find THE wedding band], and take that romantic walk on the beach. And who would ever think that James Bond would relinquish his "license to kill" in order to marry the woman of his dreams? Yet this storyline finds him doing just that! The plot, the action, the love story, the beautiful and haunting score by John Barry, and the ultimate heartbreak make OHMSS the most worthy of all the Bond films, in my opinion. In fact, it is the only one I own - and I just watched it again last night. I never tire of it. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as me. -Authorkathy123Read full review
In my opinion the best Bond movie ever. The biggest epic, and at the time one of the most expensive movies made. George Lazenby was excellent, Dianna Rigg the very essence of the beautiful English rose. Has all of the Bond standards Aston Martin, Beautiful women, Casinos, Plenty of action, and a great plot. Lazenby himself did the skiing during the amazing ski chase scenes, Telly Savalas is the ultimate Blofeld. Probably the best soundtrack of any Bond movie including Louis Armstrong. A must see for any true Bond fan.
I purchased this DVD to complete my collection of James Bond movies. I could have purchased them in the box sets but I already had quite a few and I was unable to get this disc individually in a store. I was skeptical about Georege Laznby as Bond, but I think he did a respectable job. On Her Majesty's Secret Service has plenty of action along with all one would expect from a James Bond movie.
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