Connery in On Her Majesty's Secret Service? (1 Viewer)

[billO']

It occurs to me that one of these days, as AI gets even more developed, we will be able to ask it, "Show me the movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service starring Sean Connery."

The New York Times had a piece on this recently where AI provided stills from Jorodowsky's version of Tron, which never existed. The results were scary good. Eventually, entire movies will be made this way. (<-- not advocating this, just stating a fact)

Opinion | This Film Does Not Exist (Published 2023)

How artificial intelligence can reimagine art from our past and influence our future.

www.nytimes.com

I think it was back in the late 80s or early 90s there were some TV commercials that inserted Humphrey Bogart and Marilyn Monroe (and a few others, too, but I can't remember them) into newly filmed segments. Of course these were only lifted out of their original sources so it was really just a matter of cutting and pasting the figures into the new material, but at that time it knocked my socks off to see it finally happening.

 

[Wiseguy]

One of the things that makes 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service close to the best James Bond Film (From Russia With Love is it for me) is the presence of a different James Bond, George Lazenby, whom, without any acting experience pulled it off. It is THE BEST PRODUCED film of the series hands down. Over time many discussions have arisen regarding that if Connery did this picture, it would have been the best. People take Majesty's and just put Connery in the film in their heads, but this film would NOT have been the film you saw in 1969. It would have been written with Connery in mind, Connery would have had a lot of script input (look at Diamonds Are Forever!) and I just can't see Connery on skis at that time. George had the hourglass figure and was incredible in all of the action sequences. Again, I can't stress the fact enough that the film remains unique to George's one time performance and probably close to the best score by John Barry in the series. I would love to hear your thoughts on the film and the actors.

George Lazenby did return to the role 20 years later (albeit unofficially) in an episode of Universal's Alfred Hitchcock Presents titled "Diamonds Aren't Forever." Perhaps more parody than straightforward Bond it covers many Bond tropes such as his introduction where a loud noise covers his last name so all we hear Is "My name Is (noise)... James (noise)." Even the closing credits identify him as "James ..." Worth a look unless you have no sense of humor about James Bond. Not the first TV Bond, either, that would be the very first filmed Bond, Barry Nelson as Bond in a TV production of "Casino Royale" in the late 1950s.

 

[Jack P]

I can not buy the idea of Connery in OHMSS at that phase of his career. Especially just two films removed from "Thunderball" where his rough machismo (frankly the way he forces himself on Patricia Fearing is the most disturbing scene in all of the classic Bond films for me) is so strong that just envisioning him in the more emotional, sensitive love story of OHMSS makes me snicker. As an actor I think Connery could have done it later in his career but not at that point. Lazenby's inexperience I think is what makes him more believable in terms of handling the demands of the love story. Plus, had Connery done the film the producers wouldn't have cast Diana Rigg in the movie since her presence was to use a recognized name to pair with the unknown Lazenby.

 

[dana martin]

Show me OHMSS starring Austin Powers. That would be something else. haha

back when Mike Meyers were doing those i had a idea that the best tongue in cheek cameo gag could have been pulled off, all sitting at a table in tuxedo's no tie playing cards, Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, with Brosnan walking from the bar with a pitcher and Martini glasses to the table, the all look at Powers walking in the room, Lazenby states that he " Powers" would never have what it take to be OMSS, they all look Ausin Powers up and down one more time, all laugh hysterically and start drinking and back to playing cards.

That alone would have been worth the price of admission!

 

[Jack P]

George Lazenby did return to the role 20 years later (albeit unofficially) in an episode of Universal's Alfred Hitchcock Presents titled "Diamonds Aren't Forever." Perhaps more parody than straightforward Bond it covers many Bond tropes such as his introduction where a loud noise covers his last name so all we hear Is "My name Is (noise)... James (noise)." Even the closing credits identify him as "James ..." Worth a look unless you have no sense of humor about James Bond. Not the first TV Bond, either, that would be the very first filmed Bond, Barry Nelson as Bond in a TV production of "Casino Royale" in the late 1950s.

His role in the 1983 "Return Of The Man From UNCLE" TV movie is also supposed to be Bond as he's playing a character named "J.B."

 

[Sultanofcinema]

Michael Gambon over a smoked salmon sandwich and glass of champagne with Cubby Broccoli was asked to play the rle. Michael told Cubby he was not in shape, had bad teeth and little hair. Cubby told him he could fix those things. Adam West was asked and Adam told Cubby, Bond must be English. Oliver Reed was considered but would have to be broken down and built back up and due to production scheduling, time was limited. Reed bald, would have been a tremendous Blofeld. Roger was asked and he was busy with two Saint Features. Dalton was asked and told Cubby Bond can't be as young as he was at the time. Before Diana was cast they actually met with Bridgett Bardot, who was working on Shalako with Mr. Connery. They approached Catherine Deneuve, who later approached Cubby to play a lead role in one of Roger's films. Her asking price per film was 500,000 and she told Broccoli she would cut it in half to 250,000. Cubby told her straight out, "we don't pay our leading ladies more than 80,000!" In reflection Rigg gave interviews saying she was chosen to play against George because "he was ill equipped as an actor and needed to steer him thru the film and give him gravitas".

 

[Sam Favate]

In reflection Rigg gave interviews saying she was chosen to play against George because "he was ill equipped as an actor and needed to steer him thru the film and give him gravitas".

Diana Rigg left no doubt as to her feelings about George Lazenby, and vice versa. They famously did not get along. There's a story - which may be apocryphal - that Lazenby would eat garlic before scenes in which he had to kiss Rigg.

By most reports, Lazenby had in his head he was the next big thing and was a difficult presence on the film.

 

[jayembee]

I really liked OHMSS when it was first released, and often defended the film against naysayers every time Bond films were discussed over the course of the next two decades. The second time I saw it was when it was released in widescreen on laserdisc, and my feeling about it then was that it didn't really hold up. Not that I thought it was bad -- it had a lot of excellent set-pieces, like the attack on Blofeld's chalet, and Diana Rigg was Bond's best gal (though both Caroline Bouquet and Michelle Yeoh give her a run for her money). But it just wasn't as good as I remembered it.

I'd gotten the Blu-ray SteelBook back in the day, but have never gotten around to watching it. I should rectify that, and see if my opinion changed again.

Rigg wasn't the only one of John Steed's partners to appear in this film. How many people recognized that one of Blofeld's women in the chalet was Joanna Lumley, eventually to become Purdy in The New Avengers?

 

[jayembee]

His role in the 1983 "Return Of The Man From UNCLE" TV movie is also supposed to be Bond as he's playing a character named "J.B."

And he was driving an Aston Martin in his scene, too, if I recall correctly.

 

[Sam Favate]

Rigg wasn't the only one of John Steed's partners to appear in this film. How many people recognized that one of Blofeld's women in the chalet was Joanna Lumley, eventually to become Purdy in The New Avengers?

And let’s not forget Honor Blackman in Goldfinger — the Bond series got a lot of mileage out of The Avengers.

 

[jayembee]

And let’s not forget Honor Blackman in Goldfinger — the Bond series got a lot of mileage out of The Avengers.

True, but I was referring to this particular film, not the whole series.

Anyway, there's even a Rigg episode of The Avengers where Steed gets a Christmas card from Cathy Gale postmarked from Fort Knox.

 

[Worth]

Probably an unpopular opinion, but I think Moore could have been very good in OHMSS, if he had been directed to play up Bond’s vulnerability a bit more. And he would have killed in the Hilary Bray scenes.

 

[Sam Favate]

True, but I was referring to this particular film, not the whole series.

Anyway, there's even a Rigg episode of The Avengers where Steed gets a Christmas card from Cathy Gale postmarked from Fort Knox.

I remember that!

Probably an unpopular opinion, but I think Moore could have been very good in OHMSS, if he had been directed to play up Bond’s vulnerability a bit more. And he would have killed in the Hilary Bray scenes.

Oh, Moore would have killed it in OHMSS.

 

[Sultanofcinema]

George was dating Jill St. John for a very short period of time as he stepped into Connery's shoes. It is true from the mouth of Mr. Lazenby that the whole Bond thing went to his head and he was bedding girls faster than anyone could count. You could have asked Lois Maxwell about that before she passed. (Lois liked George by the way). George even wanted Blood Sweat and Tears to do the soundtrack. Savalas was a personal friend and gambling companion to Cubby so that's where he comes in as Blofeld. Diana and George were seeing each other and Diana told George that is he played his cards right, things would work out between them. She warned him about fooling around with other girls and caught George in a Production tent with a secretary. Later while having a Press lunch Diana yelled over to George that she was having garlic for lunch before their love scene and the press seized on this. Rigg had said later on that this was just a joke and the press took it out of proportion. Diana also advised close friends that George felt he was a movie STAR immediately.

 

[Sultanofcinema]

Sam,
You mentioned Joanna Lumley. The girls in the film spent TWO MONTHS at Piz Gloria shooting and Joanna came up with something to occupy their spare time during production. It was crocheting. Once the girls started they were reluctant tp stop as they were making shawls, scarves and even handbags. So much so that Asst. Director Frank Ernst had to yell for the ladies to put down their crocheting and come onto the set.
Another P.S. The photos in frames when Lazenby is talking with Draco when they first meet are all of a young Diana Rigg and her mom.

 

[Keith Cobby]

All the Bonds have elements that work better than others but what makes OHMSS an enduring classic to me is the peerless score, it grabs you from the beginning and never lets go. A few other films in this category are Where Eagles Dare, The Big Country and, of course, Star Wars.

 

[Sultanofcinema]

Hey Keith!
I am right beside you with Where Eagles Dare ( Ron Goodwin!) and The Big Country theme takes my breath away EVERY TIME! Amazing how music can make you feel.

 

[Bob Cashill]

If I could change anything in film history it would be to cast Connery and Savalas in the entire "Blofeld Trilogy," with appropriate rewriting, etc. to make it all parse. I'm sure it killed Connery to see OHMSS, the character-oriented Bond he was yearning to make before he left.

 

[Sultanofcinema]

Bob,
Especially after Sean saw the finished product called Shalako. And right over the dunes of Shalako, Michael Caine was shooting Play Dirty at the same time.

 

[Mikael Soderholm]

I really liked OHMSS when it was first released, and often defended the film against naysayers every time Bond films were discussed over the course of the next two decades. The second time I saw it was when it was released in widescreen on laserdisc, and my feeling about it then was that it didn't really hold up. Not that I thought it was bad -- it had a lot of excellent set-pieces, like the attack on Blofeld's chalet, and Diana Rigg was Bond's best gal (though both Caroline Bouquet and Michelle Yeoh give her a run for her money). But it just wasn't as good as I remembered it.

I'd gotten the Blu-ray SteelBook back in the day, but have never gotten around to watching it. I should rectify that, and see if my opinion changed again.

Rigg wasn't the only one of John Steed's partners to appear in this film. How many people recognized that one of Blofeld's women in the chalet was Joanna Lumley, eventually to become Purdy in The New Avengers?

Not to mention her being Patsy in Ab Fab for twenty years.