George Lazenby’s only time in the legendary tux, On Her
Majesty’s Secret Service sees Bond tracking
his nemesis Blofeld to Switzerland where he is engaged in a plan to destroy the
world’s food crops. Along the way, Bond falls in love with a troubled young
woman named Tracy. But will this be a happy ever after for 007?
The opening credits show clips from the first five films.
It’s almost as if, with a change of lead actor, they needed to affirm that this
Bond is the same Bond as in the previous ones. There’s a similar scene later on
when Bond’s clearing his desk out and certain props and musical cues from the
previous films are used. This back-referencing doesn’t help Lazenby to create
his own take on the character- sadly, the spirit of Connery looms too large.
I just have to get it out there. Lazenby’s ‘Well, this never
happened to the other guy’ still rankles. It’s totally unnecessary. Also,
Lazenby doesn’t have the same wit and charisma that Connery had so the one-liners
and quips fall somewhat flat. A lot of the tough-guy stuff seems a little
forced with Lazenby too- he’s certainly not as macho as Connery. However, one
thing Lazenby does have in his favour is vulnerability: the proposal scene is
played very nicely (and there’s a lovely chemistry between Rigg and Lazenby)
Diana Rigg is pretty good as Tracy, alternating between
fragile and determined. She is nobody’s fool, cottoning on very quickly to her
father’s plans. Draco’s plans are incredibly suspect- suggesting his daughter
needs a man to dominate her and offering information on the basis that Bond
will marry Tracy. Their courtship takes a back seat when Bond goes to
Switzerland to track Blofeld down and it seems a bit of a contrivance that she
happens to be in Switzerland when he needs help, even though the car chase is
occasionally thrilling (if it goes on too long)
Blofeld’s plan, masquerading as a philanthropist hoping to
cure allergies, is to use the female patients as carriers for a virus to
contaminate the world’s food supplies. Even as Bond villain plans go, that has
to rank as one of the most ridiculous and overblown plans in the franchise.
Savalas’ performance as Blofeld falls a lot short of the iconic performance by
Donald Pleasence in You Only Live Twice.
There is one issue which is troubling: why doesn’t Blofeld recognise Bond when
they first meet? Granted both men have changed appearance but if they are the
same characters then that recognition should be there. Ilse Steppat is a
formidable presence as Irma Bunt, Blofeld’s henchwoman, a stern matron in the
Rosa Klebb mode.
The film is at least half an hour too long; there are lots
of scenes (especially within Piz Gloria) that feel like extraneous padding. The
various chases- by ski, by bobsled- just keep on and on. It would have been
better to have reduced Blofeld kidnapping Tracy and kept the storming of the
base as the final act set-piece.
Despite what you may think about this film, it is important
within the Bond franchise for the final scenes- Bond marries Tracy and is
prepared to leave MI6 behind. There’s a nice moment between Q and Bond where
they affirm their friendship. Bond and Tracy drive off… only to get ruthlessly
gunned down by Bunt and Blofeld. This is also rare within the Bond franchise as
neither villain nor henchman is punished or killed. I defy anyone not to be
moved by Lazenby’s performance as he cradles his dying wife.
A mish-mash of a film, some good bits but for me it's an entirely so-so movie.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Tez
