On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Crown Jewel

Shades of Spectre “crown jewel” action footage from OHMSS and TSWLM ski scenes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kyQauA2udc

Maybe the most gratuitous fall in movie history, courtesy of Bond (George Lazenby) in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

A Gratuitous Fall

Maybe the most gratuitous fall in movie history, courtesy of Bond (George Lazenby) in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)...he just keeps falling, and falling, and falling.

Maybe the most gratuitous fall in movie history, courtesy of Bond (George Lazenby) in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)…he just keeps falling, and falling, and falling.

On its 50th Anniversary: 50 Reasons Why We Love OHMSS

The 6th James Bond movie and George Lazenby’s only outing as 007, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, is celebrating 50 years. The movie held its world premiere on December 18, 1969.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Since its release, Lazenby’s short tenure as James Bond had its ups and downs and controversies. But Bond fans have embraced the movie and is now routinely found in “Top Bond Movies” lists.

So why do fans love OHMSS? Sure, it’s a fresh departure from Connery’s first and iconic Bond and has its memorable moments, but really, who can deny its uniqueness from all Bond movies, even to this day?

The title card of On Her Majesty's Secret Service

In chronological order, please find 50 quick reminders why we love Laz’s turn as James Bond, 007:

  1. The drop-knee gunbarrel shot.
  2. M’s pipe smoking.
  3. Hiding Laz’s face painfully long as he smokes a cigarette.
  4. The over-exaggerated splashes and punches in the dramatic shore water fight sequence.
  5. Diana Rigg.
  6. “This never happened to the other fella.”
  7. The instrumental theme.
  8. Bond’s all-white suit.
  9. Tracy’s all-white dress.
  10. Bond at the baccarat table.
  11. The hotel room fight that ends with a baddie in balusters.
  12. Bond’s “poofy” shirt.
  13. Bond’s orange turtleneck.
  14. Draco’s cigarette holder.
  15. Bond’s knife throw over Draco’s shoulder.
  16. Bond and Moneypenny’s flirtatious office interaction.
  17. Bond’s ascot.
  18. The Louis Armstrong love montage – “We Have All The Time In The World.”
  19. Bond cracking a safe.
  20. Bond reading a Playboy while cracking a safe.
  21. M’s ascot.
  22. The Bond family coat of arms – Orbis Non Sufficit – The World Is Not Enough.
  23. Snow.
  24. Bond’s absurd alias (Sir Hilary Bray) and absurd alias nickname (Hilly).
  25. Piz Gloria.
  26. Bond’s circular glasses.
  27. Bond’s kilt + fluffy shirt.
  28. Telly Savalas.
  29. The look on Bond’s face when he sees Bunt’s face in bed and not Ruby’s.
  30. A Christmas reference.
  31. Blofeld’s command of his cigarette smoking.
  32. The hanging gondola sequence.
  33. Bond’s powder blue ski outfit and his bulbous ski goggles.
  34. The ski action sequence.
  35. Tracy’s driving skills.
  36. The Tracy/Bond barn scene.
  37. The second ski action sequence.
  38. Blofeld’s bulbous yellow ski goggles.
  39. The blaring Bond theme during the Piz Gloria action sequence.
  40. Bond simultaneously shooting and sliding on his stomach down an icy path.
  41. The bobsled chase.
  42. Tracy’s wedding ring.
  43. The wedding reception.
  44. The “Just Married” Aston Martin.
  45. Tracy’s tears of happiness marrying Bond.
  46. Mr. and Mrs. Bond cutting the wedding cake.
  47. Moneypenny’s sadness/happiness that Bond got married.
  48. The drive-by assassination.
  49. Bond holding his dead wife in his arms…”We have all the time in the world.”
  50. The gunshot windshield.
Poster for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

James Bond (George Lazenby) awakes to a Christmas tree in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Happy Holidays, 007!

James Bond (George Lazenby) awakes to a Christmas tree in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

James Bond (George Lazenby) awakes to a Christmas tree in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

George Lazenby advocates for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) in the form of the Change My Mind meme

How would you change Laz’s mind?

George Lazenby advocates for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) in the form of the Change My Mind meme

George Lazenby advocates for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) in the form of the Change My Mind meme

This mashup of the end of Spectre (2015) and the tragic end of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) would definitely have been amazing!

Screenshot Movie Mashup – Spectre (2015) – Spectre Alternate Ending

This mashup of the end of Spectre (2015) and the tragic end of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) would definitely have been amazing!

This mashup of the end of Spectre (2015) and the tragic end of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) would definitely have been amazing!

Would this have been a better ending for Spectre?

James Bond (George Lazenby) lights up at the beginning of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Filthy Habit

James Bond (George Lazenby) lights up at the beginning of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

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James Bond (George Lazenby) returns to his suite only to face hand-to-hand combat in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Gate crasher

Ouch! This stunt had to have hurt George Lazenby at the start of this fight sequence from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). Maybe a concussion? Whiplash?

After Bond returns to his suite 423 to see Tracy, he quickly finds himself in the middle of a fight and expertly jumps right in. Although the fight is a bit clunky and has that 1960’s sped-up feel (I guess they did that for effect back in those days), I do like the end where the defeated henchman shows signs of life but quickly gives back up and passes out. The decor and post -filled pony walls in this scene are an eyesore, like a lot of the visuals from this time period and movie, and I’m afraid the “gate crasher” quip falls a bit flat.

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George Lazenby as James Bond and Diana Rigg as Tracy Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Tracy Bond’s Wedding Ring

George Lazenby as James Bond and Diana Rigg as Tracy Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)George Lazenby as James Bond and Diana Rigg as Tracy Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

So what did Tracy Bond’s wedding ring look like?

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Diana Rigg as Tracy Draco/Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Sobering shot

Diana Rigg as Tracy Draco/Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Easily the most tragic and shocking ending to a James Bond movie ever.