Directed by: Peter R. Hunt
Written by: Richard Maibaum (screenplay), Simon Raven & Ian Fleming (novel)
Starring: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg & Telly Savalas
Tis the season to stock the snack drawer, curl up on the
sofa and watch some festive films, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. There has
been much thought and consideration from movie connoisseurs as to what are the
top alternative Christmas flicks, and Die
Hard is a film that has fully established its position at the top of the
alternative Christmas tree. I thought I may throw another film into the ring
and fight the corner for On Her Majesty’s
Secret Service this Christmas.
OHMSS is the sixth in the Bond franchise, and sees James Bond (George Lazenby) meeting Teresa ‘Tracy’ Di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg) and assumes a cover to investigate Blowfeld’s Piz Gloria base in the Swiss Alps. This is Lazenby’s first and only appearance as the vodka martini drinking, trilby sporting, lady killing, baddy beating double-o; and my god doesn’t he do it with humility with a slight peppering of brutality. For the seven years prior to OHMSS with 5 films in between (completely overlooking 1967’s Casino Royale) Sean Connery was undeniably Bond, and so should that be the case. That said, I feel poor old George was set up to fail right from the outset, after all how dare this commercial actor step into Connery’s shoes. I can’t really put my finger on exactly why OHMSS is widely considered one of the weaker Bond films, it’s almost as if critics haven’t seen Moonraker. Lazenby’s Bond may have lacked the overall menace that Connery’s portrayal oozed, however his compassion, vulnerability and awkward brutality makes for a far more complex and realistic character, Lazenby brought fans an exposed human Bond which had later completely been lost during the Roger Moore reign and then was later revisited by Timothy Dalton. Diana Rigg is an essential and compelling component to this film, her troubled character is perfectly matched with Lazenby’s Bond, and you get a complete sense of them being each other’s salvation.
The cinematography is also a huge credit to OHMSS, especially during fight scenes, chases, and other action sequences. So many elements make me consider the recent Jason Bourne franchise, the action is well paced, and makes you feel like you’re on a pair of skis being pursued through the alps by gunmen yourself.
Everything about this Bond entry screams ‘way ahead of its
time’, this may attribute to why it has been reconsidered in recent years.
Pros include: George Lazenby’s James Bond, Diana Rigg, Louis Armstrong, unforgettable storytelling and immersive action sequences.
Cons: Telly Savalas’
Blofeld – just not for me.
Die Hard can wait
until next year, with much of the action taking place in the Swiss Alps and plenty
of references to the festive season, OHMSS
is a must see alternative Christmas film.
