After You Only Live Twice producers of James Bond films found themselves faced with a serious problem. Departure of Sean Connery from the main role made the future of the series doubtful. Like many producers in such desperate situations, they decided to try something different. The result was On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969 film directed by Peter Hunt, which initially became one of the most controversial films in the series which, to a certain degree, divides James Bond fans to this day.
The plot, based on the eponymous novel by Ian Fleming, begins when British secret agent James Bond (played by John Lazenby), while on mission in Portugal, notices beautiful woman (played by Diana Rigg), which is just about to commit suicide by drowning at the beach. He rescues her only to have to deal with mysterious thugs, while the woman disappears. He later finds her in casino where she is discovers that her name is Countess Teresa “Tracy” di Vincenzo. Two of them are immediately attracted to each other and begin passionate romance. Afterwards, Bond is abducted by thugs and brought to Marc-Ange Draco (played by Gabriele Ferzetti), rich businessman who also happens to be the head of Unione Corse a.k.a. Corsican mafia. He explains to Bond that Tracy is his daughter who needs a husband at this stage of her life and that Bond happens to be the most suitable candidate. Bond initially rejects the offer, but agrees to continue romance if Draco helps him with his assignment – locating the whereabouts of Ernst Stavro Blofeld (played by Telly Savallas), head of criminal organisation SPECTRE. Using Draco’s help, Bond traces Blofeld to health research facility at the top of Swiss mountain. He infiltrates it while using the cover of a genealogy expert who is supposed to find proof of Blofeld’s noble ancestry. There he also finds that Blofeld developed a virus that makes crops and livestock sterile and that he plans to use it in global blackmail scheme.
The most important change in comparison with previous film is the film’s down-to-earth realism and the plot which is clearly within the limits of real life. In this film there aren’t vast underground lairs or spectacular displays of futuristic technology (apart from somewhat clumsily introduced motive of hypnosis and mind control). On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is actually the most faithful of all adaptation of Fleming’s work and James Bond presented here is supposed to be the closest to his creator’s original vision. Film features some real life practical solutions to the problems clandestine operatives could expect in real life. Even the action, which features spectacular car, ski and bobsleigh chases, is ingrained with reality, with stunts being performed either by actors or by athletes. One of the most spectacular scene, featuring avalanche, is actually made by starting the real avalanche (with some stock footage). Finally, Blofeld’s impressive mountaintop headquarters is actually Piz Gloria, real life restaurant that was being opened during the production and today serves as popular tourist destination. Change of direction can be seen even in soundtrack by John Barry, whose main theme is the first one to use synthesizers and electric guitar, but also feature “All the Time in World”, powerful melancholic ballad which was the last song recorded by Louis Armstrong.
The more important change is, however, in the character of Bond. In previous five films he was portrayed as hedonistic playboy and womaniser, but in this one the audience can for the first time see some genuine emotion, like fear or the tears during the devastating finale. Furthermore, by making Bond more human, On Her Majesty’s Service makes his embrace of monogamous lifestyle and marriage more believable. This change is helped by Diana Rigg, an attractive but also accomplished actress (best known for playing character Emma Peel in popular 1960s spy series The Avengers) who plays one of the most complex Bond Girls. Tracy Bond looks and acts just like the character Bond would spend the rest of his life.
However, the most important casting – of Bond himself – proved to the most problematic. Australian model George Lazenby looked the part and handled action scenes competently, but he simply wasn’t an experienced actor. Despite him doing good job at certain moments, Lazenby is far below the high standards set by Connery who would return to the series in the next film Diamonds Are Forever. Another problem was created by producers’ decision to make You Only Live Twice before this film, despite Fleming’s novel being direct sequel of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. That meant that some elements of the plot and characters had to be changed, but even with such interventions, this film was left with huge holes in continuity. One example is Blofeld not recognising Bond despite having him met in previous film. Blofeld is here played by Telly Savallas who does somewhat solid job and displays Bond’s arch-villain as a person who likes to make his hands dirty, but who nevertheless lacks menacing charisma of Donald Pleasance. Although its reputation rose through the years and although it represents a very good entry in the series, it is understandable why On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is still being rejected by certain segments of Bond fandom.
RATING: 7/10 (++)
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