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OHMSS a seemingly very popular film with fans but why?
OHMSS was a good film but some say it had the wrong actor. And I agree Lazenby did not fit Bond at all but despite this the film remains the most popular. The only reason i can think of it remains true to Flemings book but for me is let down by Lazenby he was a bad choice not even a actor they went for a look over talent and I feel made the wrong choice. I had to remind myself i was watching a Bond the first time iIsaw it. And I am not alone with this many people said the same so how did it remain a very popular film? I as to be the story or the fact its so close to Fleming or is it the many women what ever it is it will remain popular and i would agree if only they found a different Bond
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Barry, Hunt, Rigg, I could go on and feels like a Bond film so much, couldn'nt disagree more.
Also, next to Casino Royale, it is perhaps the most emotionally complex and interesting film in terms of character.
There is a whole load more going for it, but I think it's one of those films you either like it or you don't. It is an acquired taste, perhaps.
For me, OHMSS ties for first place as the best Bond film.
It's rather tiresome having to try and explain the bleeding obvious dont you find? Somewhat like explaining to children not to run into the middle of the road.
I can see the guys a new member who perhaps needs educating in the ways of the great Laz (not to mention in how to string a coherent sentence together) to fully see the light but I'm not a Jehovahs -or even a Georges- Witness and if he cant see it its really not my concern.
So I'll just agree wholeheartedly with doubleonothings eloquent words and toss into the mix that along with Sean in DN and FRWL, Tim in TLD and Dan in CR I would say that Laz is up there as the embodiment of Flemings Bond and difficult to say which of those performances I prefer. Still deciding whether Dan in SF is Flemings Bond or not.
Having said that, I find it a curious film. After losing the iconic Connery, you would think the film would want to establish the new guy as 007, and yet it seems to be pining for Connery. With the 4th wall being broken in the PTS, the titles showing clips of old Connery films, Moneypenny comparing them both saying something like "same old 007, only more so", Lazenby routing through Connery's souvenir collection, the cleaner whistling Goldfinger tune, Lazenby wearing a kilt etc. etc.
Lazenby then decides to go off on holiday! It must be at least an hour before he gets back to work and start acting as a 00. Not what you would expect from an action-thriller...
Lazenby doesnt have the avting chops to pull off some scenes, and is a little too cock sure. That said, I can't imagine Connery in the film, nor Moore. Craig yes, and maybe Dalton.
The first 20 mins is a bit mis match, whereas the beach scene in the book is much more plausible, but it soon picks up.
One for bond fans only I think rather than the casual viewer but it's comfortably in my top ten. Maybe top 5
Lazenby was good, but unfortunately did not have the acting skill to fully replicate Fleming's Bond.
George Baker, the actor we see give him his coat of arms, overdubbed the parts for Lazenby where he needed to sound like he is from aristocracy. Also Peter Hunt should take a lot of the credit for making Lazenby the male model a reasonably credible Bond.
But OHMSS is a beautiful film. A one off.
Unfortunately, I would have preferred Connery in this one as it is Peter Hunt's only shot at directing Bond and he could have done more with Connery. But there is no denying that even with Lazenby the film works.
And Diana Rigg is something else.
Rigg and Savalas gave amazing performances though, the sets and scenery was beautiful, the plot was tightly wound, the film had great emotional moments, the directing was perfect by Hunt (awful he never got another), and Barry gave the best of his scores. My personal number 1 Bond film.
A fantastic one off.
Lazenby of course is the low point, but I you forget his introduction in the pre-titles and the funny lines (which he can't put out well) at the begining, you'll find a solid performance, of course in the fight but not only there. His weekness were the on-lineres. If you ignore them, his acting is not as worst as many people think.
I thought that was Skyfall? ;)
I must admit, while I probably would put Dalts above Laz, there is a slightly more "natural" manner about Lazenby (at least judging from the last time I saw it).
That's interesting because I thought Lazenby was stiff in parts. Not his fault, but not being used to being an actor, it shows on screen. Natural is a very subjective word. Lazenby certainly looks like Bond and he has his moments where he is far better in some parts than others. But Telly Savalas as well as Diana Rigg are the acting heavyweights in this film. They are natural if I am to use that word.:)
Dalton on the other hand as described by Cubby Broccoli was the ultimate professional and even helped other actors on set with their parts. He would raise their performance and helped them with some scenes. I thought Dalton was very natural as Bond and it felt like he had done a few Bond films before. Testament to how brilliant actors can get their aims for a character from the outset.
But you need to know the books. If you base your opinion of Dalton in contrast to Moore then anyone misses the point. And many did sadly because Bond had been so comedic and OTT. Entertaining but far removed from the real deal.
Did you know that Dalton asked the producers to cut his dialogue in TLD so that you can see Bond's inner workings through his face?
That takes supreme confidence and unfortunately many casual fans missed it totally. They took it as a sign he was uncomfortable. In fact in the novels you notice how Bond thinks more than he talks. He is not a big talker as a character and very internalised. Even some of the sex parts in Fleming are how Bond fantasises without saying it.
But OHMSS captures Fleming phenomenally well! And that is the important thing to me.
As for the wrong actor playing Bond, you might be right, I wish that Dalton hadnt decided (even if he was correct) that he was too young for the role, as an actor of his capability would have been the icing on the cake, that said Lazenby, for a guy who had never acted before (and slack should be cut for him because of that) is pretty amazing really...
the best Bond by far
Also Hunt apparently kept him on edge for a long time before filming began - and hence managed to pry a good performance from him. Thats really what I mean.
One of the things that has bothered me about Dalts sometimes is that his expressions don't always feel "off the cuff". That story from TLD doesn't suprise me at all. You can kind of tell that from his performance.
Never forget my eleventh birthday. Up until that point only Roger Moore and Sean Connery were Bond. Then this new guy who only made one Bond film appeared. I'll admit it did take some time to get used to Lazenby (we're talking several years before I really appreciated him), but from the first viewing I liked the film as a whole.
It was completely different from any of the other films, with an actual love story driving the film, and an ending that no only shocked, but brought genuine emotion. Few Bond films can achieve this.
The action is superb for 1969, and still looks impressive today, (aside from the 60's style skiwear and googles), the casting is excellent, with the leads all performing wonderfully. and that brings me back to Lazenby.
Over the many years he really has grown on me, and having read, and re-read the Fleming novels, I believe he comes closer to Flemings Bond than he is often given credit.
He is in my opinion far from wooden, as some have claimed, and given another film or two, could've really made Bond his own.
OHMSS is a Bond classic in my opinion, and has not dropped in my rankings for many many years. I can never see a reason for it to either.