On Her Majesty's Secret Service (5 Stars)

James Bond is back! The poster means that there's a new James Bond film after a two year gap. He was hardly missed. But he's also back in my blog. This is the sixth James Bond film, made in 1969. I reviewed the first film, "Dr. No", in 2017, and the following four films in 2020. It's time for me to continue watching the Classic James Bond films, where Classic has a capital C. The first 20 films are what I call the Classic James Bond films. "Casino Royale" (2006) was a reboot of the James Bond franchise, retelling the original stories. I shan't get into arguments about which films are better, the Classic films or the reboots. There are so many different factors to consider.

This is the first film made without Sean Connery. He said that "You only live twice" would be his last film. He didn't want to be typecast by playing Bond for the rest of his life. The Australian actor George Lazenby was picked, even though he'd previously only acted in commercials. He was offered a contract for seven films, but he turned it down for several reasons. He said that he thought the days of spy films were over. He's still alive today, so he must be kicking himself for making such a foolish statement. Apart from that, his fellow actors said that he had an arrogant attitude. He complained that the director told him what to do and how to do it. That's why they call it directing! He was in an envious position, being picked as the main actor for a top film in his first role. If he'd listened to advice and had done what he was told for the next seven Bond films, he'd be one of the world's top actors today. As it turned out, his following film roles became smaller and smaller. If it weren't for playing James Bond he'd be totally forgotten today.

After saying that, I have to admit that he's very good in the role. He's a remarkably good imitation of Sean Connery, even though he's slightly less rugged. He has the same suave, sophisticated charm when he sits in a casino. He delivers the infamous James Bond one-liners with the same casual look on his face as Sean Connery.

There's a hilarious moment in the scene before the opening credits, in which he makes an out-of-character statement. Bond rescues a women from drowning, and then she steals his car and drives away. He says that "This never happened to the other fellow", referring to Sean Connery. No girl ever resisted his charms, and he never suffered the shame of having his car stolen, even though he got it back a few minutes later.

Bond's main opponent, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, returns after being seen in the last film. In "You only live twice" he was played by Donald Pleasance, now he's played by Telly Savalas. This change of actors doesn't work well, in my opinion. They have a similar physical appearance, but their facial expressions and their mannerisms are totally different. Donald Pleasance's Blofeld had a manic, almost comical quality. Telly Savalas is deadly serious.

I don't mean this as a slight on the acting abilities of Telly Savalas. I'm sure he could have acted more like Donald Pleasance if he'd wanted to. It was a new director for this film, and he probably wanted to make Blofeld more sinister.

Most James Bond films have at least two Bond girls, the Good Bond Girl and the Bad Bond Girl. This film only has one. Diana Rigg plays the Countess Teresa de Vincenzo, who prefers to call herself Tracy. There's no Bad Bond Girl in the film, unless you include Ilse Steppat as Blofeld's assistant, Irma Bunt.

This should have been a recurring role, but she died of a heart attack shortly after making the film.

What a ferocious looking woman! She deserves to be called a Bond Girl, even if she doesn't succumb to Bond's charms.

And while we're talking about Bond's charms, Miss Moneypenny still can't resist him. Bond is bad to her. He flirts furiously with her, but he always breaks his promise of going on a date with her. She's not pretty enough for him.

This is a very sexist (mis)representation of women. Miss Moneypenny is the ugly woman in the office who's fallen for an attractive man who's out of her league. Bond has no hesitation sleeping with one woman after another, but he won't even take Miss Moneypenny out for dinner.

So that's his excuse? I feel like slapping him.

And yet sexism is an important feature of the James Bond films. There are calls for the films to be brought up to date, but if James Bond were no longer sexist he wouldn't be James Bond any more. We smile forgivingly when he uses women for his own pleasure. It's only fiction, isn't it? Bond is a perfect gentleman, outwardly, but it's all a ploy to get women into his bed. 

I have more respect for Blofeld. He's also attracted to Tracy, understandably, but instead of trying to seduce her he makes a serious offer of marriage.

As always, the film includes a spectacular car chase. It also has two chases on skis and one chase in bobsleighs. It's been more than 12 years since I last watched this film. I shouldn't wait so long before watching it again. But first let me work my way through the Classic James Bond films.

Success Rate:  + 9.7

	Order from Amazon.com
	Order from Amazon.co.uk
	Order from Amazon.de