I cried at the end of this movie, and so did James Bond. This was the first film that allowed James Bond’s human side to show. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is also the first Bond film with the new actor, George Lazenby. Here are some things that stood out for me about the movie. (There will be spoilers.)
By the way, if you’d like to know why I, a non Bond fan, am watching all 25 James Bond movies you can read about it in detail here: Who Is The Next James Bond? A Non Bond Fan Makes Her Prediction.
George Lazenby As The New James Bond
This was the first James Bond movie without Sean Connery. Connery was tired of the role and quit. George Lazenby was hired as the new Bond, even though he had no previous acting roles other than commercials and a part in an Italian made film.
Lazenby is tall and handsome enough, but doesn’t have the flair and magnetism that Sean Connery had as Bond. But still, he’s a great Bond and gets the job done. The good thing is he doesn’t try to emulate Sean Connery. He’s his own Bond.
Lazenby was nine years younger than Sean Connery and was only twenty-nine when he did this film.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service–My Likes and Dislikes
There were a few parts in this movie that were boring because some action scenes went on and on unnecessarily. In some ways it reminded me of Goldfinger in that the movie was all over the place. As I’ve said before, when the characters lack depth, you have to keep the action going almost non stop, even when it’s not necessary.
One difference with Lazenby and Connery is that Connery’s magnetism draws you in. Lazenby looks just as good as the next guy in the movie. Connery stood out from the rest–his looks and flair alone made you want to keep watching (except for the underwater scenes in Thunderball…ho hum, yawn, no thanks).
What I liked best about On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is the love story between James Bond and Tracy (played by Diana Rigg). The main plot is for Bond to go after the SPECTRE villain, Blofeld, but it would have been better had the main plot been more straightforward, replacing some of the unnecessary action with more scenes connected to Bond’s and Tracy’s relationship.
Speaking of Tracy, what I liked about her is that she isn’t a caricature of a woman. She is a real woman with real emotions, thoughts and complexities. She’s the only character thus far in any of the Bond movies whose character has been developed to that degree.
I Cried At The End of This Movie and So Did James Bond
This is definitely a spoiler so don’t read any further if you don’t want to know.
The most shocking thing ever…James Bond falls in love and gets married in this movie. Tracy is a good match for him. She’s complicated, feisty, has brains and is beautiful. But no sooner than they get married, she’s killed by a bullet that’s likely meant for Bond.
Prime Video Xray provided an interesting fact about Bond’s wife’s (Tracy’s) death scene. George Lazenby–Bond–literally cries in that scene on the first take, but the director made him do the scene over because James Bond doesn’t cry. Lazenby talked the director into allowing Bond to exhibit some emotion, because even Bond would shed tears over his wife who was killed.
Perhaps Lazenby as James Bond was way ahead of his time. He wanted James Bond, the human, to show, while the producers and director were stuck in what they had created with Sean Connery…a super hero without emotion. They weren’t ready to move on from that Bond because if the super hero Bond is what created the box office hits, why mess with it?
George Lazenby Quits His Role As Bond After This Movie
Right before On Her Majesty’s Secret Service premiered, Lazenby quit his role as James Bond. This was his one and only James Bond movie.
There are various stories out there about why he quit. Overall, he said it was because the role was too demanding. It’s also said he didn’t feel his input was valued by the producers. Even so, he’s most known for playing the second James Bond.
New York Times has a good article on Lazenby: 50 Years Later, This Bond Film Should Finally Get Its Due . Just the fact that he quit after one Bond movie makes George Lazenby quite interesting. Surely, it was a coveted role by many male actors.
More Thoughts on James Bond Falling in Love
In the movie, when James Bond declares his love for Tracy, he says that being a secret service agent is all about himself, but because he’s in love and wants to marry her he’s willing to let go of his job as 007. This is waaaaay outside the norm for James Bond.
I can’t imagine the Sean Connery Bond playing this role. It’s a good thing Sean Connery quit before this film, because I don’t know that it could have worked. I don’t know that the audience would have bought into it because the Sean Connery Bond was all about himself and lusting after women.
The Lazenby Bond wanted more out of life, and it was believable.
Background
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was filmed from October 1968-May 1969 and in theaters in December 1969.