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 Over the years, 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service has been unofficially ordained the James Bond family's black sheep. Not only was this picture George Lazenby's first and last outing as 007, the film's story delves more deeply into the character's history than quite possibly any other series entry. I can understand how this would irk fans who would prefer Bond to remain a figure of fantasy to go on vicarious adventures with, but those with more open minds may come to find that On Her Majesty's Secret Service serves as one of the more enriching chapters of the superspy's saga.
As the picture opens, good ol' Bond comes to the rescue of a mystery
Diana Rigg
woman (Diana Rigg) about to commit suicide, only to be met by a couple of vicious thugs. Bond comes to learn that the beauty he saved from throwing herself into the sea is Contessa Teresa "Tracy" di Vicenzo, the spitfire daughter of an Italian crime lord (Gabriele Ferzetti).
As it turns out, the kingpin is growing weary of his child's shenanigans; so he asks that Bond romance and potentially marry Tracy, thus taming her wild ways. In return, Bond asks for some much-desired information: the whereabouts of elusive SPECTRE mastermind Ernst
Telly Savalas
Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas). But as Bond infiltrates Blofeld's Swiss fortress to get the lowdown on the madman's latest criminal plot, his feelings for Tracy bloom, leaving 007 with not only having to protect the world but to keep his first true love safe, as well.
It's been said that On Her Majesty's Secret Service follows Ian Fleming's source novel extremely closely, and from how intermittently clunky the pace feels, I can believe it. If there's anything I have to complain about the film, it's a sizable chunk of the middle act in which Bond apparently forgets that there's an audience watching him and goes off on his own personal holiday.
The same problem hit 2006's Casino Royale, both films containing agonizingly prolonged sequences in which Bond surrounds himself with a bevy of women because -- well, I guess because he's James Bond, darn it. This isn't a surprise, considering the franchise's penchant for beautiful women, but when such scenes are as obvious of time killers as the ones contained within here, you stop caring about who Bond's bedding now and start wondering when Kojak is coming back. Plus, as much of an improvement as he is over future 007 Roger Moore, Lazenby admittedly does take some getting used to in the role of Bond; there's something a little gawky about the guy (his ears just bug me), and he's a bit too much of a playful goofball at times.
But aside from a discrepancy or two, On Her Majesty's Secret Service is all aces, thanks to the filmmakers excelling in one vital department: action. A series that has always been noted for its grand set pieces, this film goes for broke by consistently packing in enough scenes to get any action junkie's blood pumping. From Bond's harrowing escape from Blofeld's mountaintop headquarters to an intense toboggan chase, On Her Majesty's Secret Service knows just how to jolt the viewer's interest back
Diana Rigg & George Lazenby
to life if it wanes even the slightest. It helps that Lazenby isn't afraid to let Bond get pretty physical, ready to launch himself into fights at the drop of a hat if that's what it takes to survive.
Director Peter Hunt and crew have just as good of a knack for developing Bond's more tender side, which especially emerges in the flick's heartbreaking final minutes. Throw in Telly Savalas doing a quietly menacing job as Blofeld, not to mention the lovely Diana Rigg as one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, Bond girls of all, and you have yourself the makings of a Bond film that utilizes all of the series' elements to its advantage.
It's a shame that both Bond buffs and regular movie fans don't hold this film in higher regard. It embraces all of the franchise's trademark elements (gorgeous women, fast-paced action, effective locales), while slapping on an extra, unexpected layer or two. Some might see this as drowning out the formula's simple but effective taste, but for me, it makes On Her Majesty's Secret Service all the more delicious.
Director: Peter Hunt
Writer: Richard Maibaum - screenplay, Ian Fleming - novel
Cast: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Gabriele Ferzetti, Ilse Steppat, George Baker, Bernard Lee
Rating: PG (violence and some sensuality)
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Run Time: 142 minutes
Studio: United Artists
Format: Color, Widescreen
Photo credits: United Artists
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