Bond Retrospective: "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"
Released: 1969
Actor: George Lazenby
Villain: Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Terry Savalas)
Henchman: Irma Bunt
Allies: None of significance
Bond Girl: Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo aka Tracy (Diana Rigg)
First Appearance: George Lazenby
Precredits sequence: Bond saves a girl, Tracy, from drowning herself, only to have her run off. Reference is made to this not happening to the "other guy."
Plot: After the precredits sequence, Bond follows Tracy to a fancy club, where he bails her out of making a card game move she couldn't afford. Then, he's kidnapped by some goons, who take her to meet Tracy's father. The father states that Tract is a bit hard to handle, and he wants Bond to marry her in exchange for information on Blofeld. At a subsequent meeting, Tracy is aware vaguely of this deal, and forces her dad tontell Bond that there's a lawyer in Sweden linked with Blofeld. On a two week leave, Bond and Tracy become very close. Meanwhile, he investigates the lawyer, and finds he's dealing with a count in the alps. Bond heads there, finding Bunt, many women, and a count with a strong research focus on allergies. Eventually, the count reveals himself as Blofeld, and his plan is to stop growth of all crops unless his ransom is accepted: complete amnesty. Fortunately, Bond and company are able to destroy the compound, stopping Blofeld's plan, which involves mind controlling several "patients." Blofeld and Bunt escape. Bond and Tracy marry, but on their first drive as a married couple, Blofeld passes by, and kills Tracy. Bond, saddened, cries into a lifeless Tracy's body. And we are promised Diamonds Are Forever.
Thoughts: Lazenby is a underrated Bond. I don't think he pulls of the macho Bond as well, and his one liners don't come out as slick as Connery's. However, he brings a certain humanity and emotion to the role that Connery lacked. Lazenby portrays Bond as more caring. Still a womanizer, but it's not as convincing. But a gentler Bond. I couldn't really see Connery convincingly falling in love with Tracy enough to marry her, but Lazenby pulled it off. The movie itself is a mixed bag. I liked the romantic parts, actually, and usually I'm not a fan of that in movies. But it helped Bond grow as a character. But the plot was just decent. I know the volcano was destroyed in YOLT, but what happened to the rest of SPECTRE? Why is Blofeld alone with Bunt? Here are his right eye scars? And how did he not recognize Bond at first? These loose ends something detract from the story. The emotional core Lazenby brings to the role really carries this movie, and makes him a standout Bond, despite being in only one film. But, for revenge, Connery's your guy, and he's returning in DAF.
Actor: George Lazenby
Villain: Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Terry Savalas)
Henchman: Irma Bunt
Allies: None of significance
Bond Girl: Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo aka Tracy (Diana Rigg)
First Appearance: George Lazenby
Precredits sequence: Bond saves a girl, Tracy, from drowning herself, only to have her run off. Reference is made to this not happening to the "other guy."
Plot: After the precredits sequence, Bond follows Tracy to a fancy club, where he bails her out of making a card game move she couldn't afford. Then, he's kidnapped by some goons, who take her to meet Tracy's father. The father states that Tract is a bit hard to handle, and he wants Bond to marry her in exchange for information on Blofeld. At a subsequent meeting, Tracy is aware vaguely of this deal, and forces her dad tontell Bond that there's a lawyer in Sweden linked with Blofeld. On a two week leave, Bond and Tracy become very close. Meanwhile, he investigates the lawyer, and finds he's dealing with a count in the alps. Bond heads there, finding Bunt, many women, and a count with a strong research focus on allergies. Eventually, the count reveals himself as Blofeld, and his plan is to stop growth of all crops unless his ransom is accepted: complete amnesty. Fortunately, Bond and company are able to destroy the compound, stopping Blofeld's plan, which involves mind controlling several "patients." Blofeld and Bunt escape. Bond and Tracy marry, but on their first drive as a married couple, Blofeld passes by, and kills Tracy. Bond, saddened, cries into a lifeless Tracy's body. And we are promised Diamonds Are Forever.
Thoughts: Lazenby is a underrated Bond. I don't think he pulls of the macho Bond as well, and his one liners don't come out as slick as Connery's. However, he brings a certain humanity and emotion to the role that Connery lacked. Lazenby portrays Bond as more caring. Still a womanizer, but it's not as convincing. But a gentler Bond. I couldn't really see Connery convincingly falling in love with Tracy enough to marry her, but Lazenby pulled it off. The movie itself is a mixed bag. I liked the romantic parts, actually, and usually I'm not a fan of that in movies. But it helped Bond grow as a character. But the plot was just decent. I know the volcano was destroyed in YOLT, but what happened to the rest of SPECTRE? Why is Blofeld alone with Bunt? Here are his right eye scars? And how did he not recognize Bond at first? These loose ends something detract from the story. The emotional core Lazenby brings to the role really carries this movie, and makes him a standout Bond, despite being in only one film. But, for revenge, Connery's your guy, and he's returning in DAF.
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