Rating: 
Summary: One of Her Majesty's Best Bond Films
Review: A minor hit on it's initial release blamed on not having Sean Connery aboard. However, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE is a prime example that great writing and great direction can overcome casting even though the casting is still good. George Lazenby does a terrific performance in the film as the greatest superspy and is aided by a great cast including Diana Rigg and Telly Savalas as Bond's arch enemy Blofeld, who's latest deviant plan is to affect the world's agriculture. This Bond film has it's usual great location shots, action, and car chases but the love story (he actually gets married for himself instead of being on an assignment) instead of female conquests is what sets apart this Bond film from the others. Also, included is a surprise ending that probably still shocks Bond fans today as it did on its original release. The film still had that 1960's feel and atmosphere of the Connery/Bond films (released 1969) until Connery ushered in the 1970's feel with DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER and then finally quit the series. The movie is light on gadgetry and gimmickry, but lots of dialogue and "acting" in this Bond adventure..a real spy type movie equal to another Bond adventure that relied more on less which was FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (and that movie was a modest hit also, but revered as one of the great Bond films). Overall, this is truly one of the best of the series better and more memorable than all Timothy Dalton Bond films put together. Lastly, the film has a great theme song sung by the great jazz innovator Louis Armstrong, "We Have All the Time in the World". Classic!!
Rating:
Summary: Surprise...! Surprise...! George Lazenby is the best Bond!
Review: Now that I have seen almost the whole series, I sumit this ranking for actors who played James Bond: George Lazenby, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and last and least, Pierce Brosnan. These are the reasons why Lazenby is so good in my view: -unlike Roger Moore, he gives a sense of serioussness about the character, he seems to mean bussiness; -unlike Sean Connery, no traces of working-class plainness remain, with Lazenby all is classy; -unlike Pierce Brosnan, he is manly, virile and resolute, he is first rate in fight and action scenes.I know that Brosnan has made the character his own by now. but there are a couple of things that are flawed with him: he looks puny and wimpish, and he whispers his lines where all the other spoke in full and loud voice. "Shaken, not stirred", yes, but with a little more energy. It is certainly fascinanting to think of other actor who could have played Bond. Ian Fleming's first choices were, significantly, Roger Moore or David Niven. Not Sean Connery, although when he saw him on screen he said that he was indeed the OO7 he envisioned. Niven was too old when the series was started. So was Cary Grant, who could have been a great Bond -see his performance as Devlin in "Notoriuous"-. Roger Moore was too waggish. I'd like they thanked Brosnan's services to the cause and put Adrian Paul into the role. And "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is also one of the best Bond movies. That's because Lazenby is so good, for one thing. Then, the plot, taken directly from the book, makes the agent a more likeable and human figure, and the script is relatively more realistic -not too much, it wouldn't do for a Bond film-. The score, by John Barry sounds superior throughout, with a fine romantic theme.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable Bond film...
Review: George Lazenby: possibly Hollywood's best one-hit wonder. In this, his only Bond film and his first acting part, he plays a more down-to-earth Bond. Sure, he's still calm and cool and still gets the ladies, but he feels more real. Lazenby pulls off a very convincing performance that is a very memorable part of the series. The plot concerns Bond pursuing his arch nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas) atop a mountain resort where he is working on a new scheme to take over the world. On the way, Bond encounters Tracy, an independent countess whose beauty and instinct intrigues Bond. She is clearly the very best of the Bond women, and Bond eventually marries her. But before this, Bond must defeat Blofeld, or else a deadly virus will be released all over the world. With some great action, especially the fight scenes, and interesting characters, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is one of the very best in the Bond series.
Rating: 
Summary: Will the real James Bond please stand up...?
Review: This is the James Bond film that nobody ever watches... Which is a pity since it is perhaps the best of the franchise. The all-but-forgotten Aussie actor George Lazenby plays Bond as a rough, utilitarian hardass -- when the action starts, he is swift, silent, brutal, and entirely more believable as a secret agent than any of the campier Bond incarnations. Plus... "Avengers" actress *Diana Rigg* as the ultimate "Bond girl..." Whew, baby!! There's plenty of the patented Playboy-ish Bond sexism, but Lazenby is also strangely sentimental. The plot's good, the skiing is good, the villains are scary, the violence is exciting and the ending's a doozy. If you haven't watched this one yet, you really should give it a whirl... it's a cool film.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best in the Series
Review: OHMSS is one of the best Bond movies out there. It is also one of the most underrated due to many peoples dislike of the Bond in this film, George Lazenby. In my opinion Lazenby did a very good job, though of course he doesnt match Connery. This is one of the most action packed of the Bond movies. The ski scenes will keep you on the edge of your seat as will the awesome climax. Another good thing about the movie is the music, which accompanies each seen excellently. The villians are also great, Ernst Blofeld is played really great by Telly Savalas, best out of the three in my opinion. My only complaint was a little streched out story and a little to much chit chat in certain parts of the movie. Overall its one of the best... Anyone who enjoys Bond should see it.
Rating:
Summary: At the very worst, one of the three best Bond films ever...
Review: OHMSS suffers from a clear lack of respect granted it because of the fact that, even as he neared completion of the film, its star, George Lazenby, had already announced this would be his only Bond film. Consecuently, Eon (the company that produces these movies), never really acknowledged this as a full-fledged "Bond": there were very few promotional items, Lazenby's name was not displayed prominently in the film's billboards and posters, and, even more troubling, Tracy's death is not followed-up, or even acknowledged, until 1981's For Your Eyes Only... The pathetic next installment of the series, 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, even features some ghastly marriage jokes made by Moneypenny, which somewhat signifies that Eon would have had you believe that the events depicted in OHMSS never even happened!! Nevertheless, and notwithstanding the clear 60's hipster/Mod feel of this movie, it's probably the Bond film which has aged best. That owes in no small part to the breathtaking direction and photography, the killer soundtrack by John Barry (his best ever, I believe... and that's saying a lot!!), and the screen-play, which gives Bond more depth and human qualities than any other Bond movie before or since. George Lazenby is, contrary to popular belief, phenomenal in the role, especially considering that this was his movie DEBUT...!! He clearly would have made a great Bond in due time, had he not heeded the ridiculous career advice given him, and not left the series. He is arguably the most physically-imposing Bond ever, and is great in the action sequences. His acting might seem on the lighter side of things (though not as much as the insufferable Roger Moore), but is generally adequate, peaking at the poignant final scene, when Tracy is taken away from him. And now for the Contessa Theresa Draco De Vicenzo, a.k.a. Tracy Bond... Dame Diana Rigg is astounding in every sense of the word: she is the most gorgeous "Bond girl" ever, she is bar-none, and with apologies to Halle Berry, the greatest actress to ever play in this series, and she is almost literally Bond's equal and soul-mate. Mrs. Rigg is given more screen-time than any other "Bond girl", and yet it does not seem nearly enough: her Tracy is so complex a character that a mere two-hour-plus film could not possibly suffice... Mrs. Rigg proves that, as Sean Connery also proved, great actors cannot be type-cast, and we believe we are looking at the only woman James Bond ever loved, and not at Mrs. Emma Peel, or even a typical "Bond girl". The rest of the cast is superb, especially Gabriel Ferzetti, as James Bond's father-in-law Marc Ange Draco, and Lois Maxwell's reliable Moneypenny, who is finally able to show what a warm character she actually is, far exceeding the previous depictions of her as Bond's mere toy. All in all, one gets the feeling that if Connery had done this film, or at least if Lazenby had done more films, OHMSS would be universally recognized as Goldfinger's and FRWL's superior, which it actually is... This is the only Bond film that will stay with you days after having watched it.
Rating: 
Summary: We have all the corniness in the world
Review: I cannot think of an adequate word to describe On Her Majesty's Secret Service. "Corny" doesn't even come close. At times it's tedious, but its corniness is enduring. At other times it's confusing, or touching, or just plain weird, but its corniness is enduring. I'm not going to bother going over the plot...you can find many good summaries elsewhere. Instead I'll tick off the major points: The People, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Memorable Quotes, and of course Things That Make You Go "Huh?". The People: That said, I have to admit I rather liked this movie. George Lazenby is an enjoyable actor, despite the fact that he obviously had NO CLUE how to play James Bond. I know 17-year-olds who can do a better job. He acted as if he were a reformed Bond, a kind and gentle soul, a cheerful fellow full of smiles and with a heart overflowing with love for any beautiful young woman who threatens to "kill him for a thrill". Whoop dee doo. To his credit he obviously tried very hard to be 007 - he continually raised one eyebrow just enough to look cool, and, needless to say, smoked like a chimney. (And I'm not even going to mention the run-in with a copy of Playboy.) Still, he fell just short of the mark, coming across as a sort of modernized Rhett Butler. Tracy (Diana Rigg), Bond's love interest, was quite well done. You could believe she's the sort of girl Connery's Bond would have fallen for - reckless, ruthless, witty, but with a heart of gold. Just like James himself. (Needless to say, you could believe Lazenby's Bond to fall in love with Mary Goodnight if she'd only had the good fortune to meet him.) Ernst "Bad Guy" Blofeld (Telly Savalas) was creepy, but not quite creepy enough. I wasn't really afraid of him, and his threats sounded ridiculous. (Compare that to Goldfinger - he was very creepy, and his threats weren't just threats.) I mean, a sterility virus? Come ON. His whole diabolical plan depended on his hypnotozation of a bunch of ditzy chicks. I wouldn't trust them with a Cuisinart. Blofeld is trusting them to help him take over the world. The Good: I've already mentioned Tracy, but she bears mentioning again. Rigg's a talented actress and she plays the part to a T. As Bond would say, "good girl!" The scene where James arranges clandestine meetings with the girls reminded me of Dumas' fourth musketeer, D'Artagnan, scheduling a series of duels, one right after the other, and I found it quite amusing. Albeit in a sick way. The final scene is so VERY good that it deserves its own paragraph. Artistically perfect, beautifully written, splendidly acted...I could wax poetic about it for days. Somewhere I saw Lazenby's Bond described as a "whimpering jelly muffin", but he never quite lives up to that name until the last scene. But he's a BELIEVABLE whimpering jelly muffin, goshdarnit...and I wanted so badly to give him a hug. Not many actors could show a crying Bond and make it look real...Lazenby does it. Rock on, dude. The Bad: There were times when this movie didn't quite live up to the Bond standard. After Tracy's dad Draco convinces Bond and Tracy to give their love affair a chance, and Bond sentimentally wipes Tracy's tears away (why on earth is she crying if she's so darn tough, anyway?), Louis Armstrong's sappy, beautiful song "We Have All the Time in the World" begins to play. In short, the creators have set us up for a montage of silent shots - Bond and Tracy riding horses together, meeting her pet cat, kissing on the beach, etc. Then they deliver...just that. What happened to the legendary 007 wit, the shock factor, the joy of the unexpected? All gone, as this movie continues to be predictable. Later, in Piz Gloria, Bond walks into a room full of beautiful, scantily clad women, and engages in innuendo-laden banter. Then, suprise! He seduces two of them that very night! Gosh. We didn't see THAT one coming. Wouldn't this new, sentitive-and-caring Bond have any qualms about such actions? Apparently not. The filmmakers were evidently hoping that Lazenby's wearing a kilt would distract the viewers...yes, you heard me, a KILT. But I'm getting ahead of myself... The Ugly: The kilt. Oi, oi, oi. Why on earth was Lazenby wearing a kilt on Piz Gloria? Was the person Bond was pretending to be at the time (Sir Hillary Bray), supposed to be Scottish? Did it somehow lend credibility
to his supposed profession as a geneaolagist? Or, more likely, was it just so Ruby, one of the aforementioned "ditzy chicks", could write her room number on his leg in lipstick? And, most importantly, If he HAD to wear a kilt, couldn't it have been plaid? The black one he was outfitted with just looked like a pleated skirt. (Granted, if I have to see any guy in a kilt, I'd prefer that it be someone with a body like Lazenby had, but still. I'd rather not see it at all.) Memorable Quotes: Bond, after Draco tries to convince him to spend more time with Tracy: "Let's just say I'll...sleep on the idea." The Things That Make You Go "Huh?": The kilt, Blofeld's diabolical plan, Tracy's tears, and all the skiis...why are they always just the right size? And does Bond really perform all those stunts in ski boots? THAT would be truly impressive.
Rating:
Summary: A different type of James Bond
Review: George Lazenby is a fine James Bond. He's tough, rugged, handsome and smart. The plot is interesting, and the supporting cast excellent. This Bond movie has a different feel to it that I can't quite explain. It's definitely unique. I've read several versions as to why Lazenby didn't appear in any more Bond films, but regardless, it's a shame he didn't.
Rating:
Summary: The Bond film for the people who read the books first
Review: I'm an unusual James Bond fan. The first Bond movie I ever saw was "Never Say Never Again" at the ripe old age of 12. The violence, the sex, the decadence all made quite an impression on me. Needless to say, my parents didn't let me watch any more Bond when I was a kid. A few years later, I came across a pile of Bond novels in paperback form at a library discard sale. So I bought them - all of the original Fleming novels. Since my parents still controlled the TV, and Bond was still forbidden in their house (though I was in high school, my younger siblings were not), I got to know James Bond through the novels. As a retult, Timothy Dalton (who reread the Fleming novels when he got the role) is my favorite Bond. But he's not in my favorite Bond film. The people who watch Bond for big explosions and stupid gadget tricks won't like OHMSS. The people who see James Bond as Superman without the cape won't be impressed. If you're looking for James Bond, the camp hero of 1977's "Moonraker", look elsewhere. The people who read the books, however, will recognize and appreciate the amount of work that went into this film, and might understand why OHMSS is my favorite Bond flick. First of all, the film is visually stunning - the sets, the costumes, the location shots are above and beyond anything done anywhere else in Bond. Piz Gloria looks like it was plucked right out of the novel. (The director insisted that ceilings be built on all of the interior sets to make them look more like "real" places.) Second, Diana Rigg might not have looked like the daughter of a Corsican crime baron, but few other actresses had the self-confidence - to say nothing of the reputation, having portrayed Emma Peel (a role shared with "Goldfinger" star Honor Blackman) - to play the take-no-backtalk Tracy. Third, the lack of gadgets and toys forces James Bond to think or fight his way through this film. Certainly, his great athleticism helps him escape from Piz Gloria, but there's nothing superhuman about what he does, and nothing "over the top" about the tools he uses. The "special edition" DVD adds some nice touches. A "making-of" featurette and commentary from the Director give you a much better sense of the work that they put into this film. Truly the climax of the Bond films; it was all downhill from here.
Rating: 
Summary: It doesn't seem like a real Bond movie
Review: I will admit that I haven't seen "On Her Majesty's Secret Service on VHS or DVD, just television.
This movie strikes me as being a stepchild of the Bond family. Only "Casino Royale" has less in common with the series. Even the independently-produced "Never Say Never Again" had the familiar presence of Sean Connery.
From what I've read on the Internet, OHMSS was intended to be closer to the book on which it was based than the previous Bond movies, and George Lazenby's portrayal of James Bond was supposed to be more like the Agent 007 in Ian Fleming's novels. Since I haven't read any of them, I can't make a judgment on that.
I feel somewhat sorry for George Lazenby. He strikes me as being a man who had an incredible stroke of good luck but lacked the skills to make the best of it. His subsequent career in B-movies, perhaps unfairly, seems to vindicate those who criticized his inexperience as an actor.
I believe Telly Savalas as Blofeld was an interesting portrayal, although he struggled to maintain the European "accent" Donald Pleseance and Charles Gray gave the character. Diana Rigg's turn as vulnerable Tracy Draco was quite a departure from those accustomed to seeing her as the plucky and steely Emma Peel in "The Avengers". I think she screamed "James!" a few times too many. I thought Ilse Steppat made her character, henchwoman Irma Bunt, as memorable as Richard Kiel's "Jaws". Sadly, she died the same year "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" was released.
One scene I thought inappropriate was where one of Blofeld's skiing henchmen got killed in a manner that would more likely be seen in a "Friday the 13th" movie.
After watching "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" a few nights' ago, I could imagine a scene, right after the ending, where Sean Connery woke up, thus revealing the previous events to be one of 007's dreams. That's the way the movie seemed to me.
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