On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Director:

Peter R. Hunt

Writers:

Simon Raven (additional dialogue)
Richard Maibaum (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

18 December 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

James Bond 007 is back!

Plot:

James Bond woos a mob boss's daughter and goes undercover to uncover the true reason for Blofeld's allergy research in the Swiss Alps that involves beautiful women from around the world.

Plot Keywords:

Switzerland | Virus | British | Allergy | British Agent

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

George Lazenby	...	James Bond
Diana Rigg	...	Tracy Di Vicenzo
Telly Savalas	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Gabriele Ferzetti	...	Marc Ange Draco
Ilse Steppat	...	Irma Bunt
Angela Scoular	...	Ruby Bartlett
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Catherine Schell	...	Nancy (as Catherina Von Schell)
George Baker	...	Sir Hilary Bray
Bernard Lee	...	M
Bernard Horsfall	...	Shaun Campbell
Desmond Llewelyn	...	Q
Yuri Borionko	...	Grunther (as Yuri Borienko)
Virginia North	...	Olympe
Geoffrey Cheshire	...	Toussaint
Irvin Allen	...	Che Che
Terence Mountain	...	Raphael (as Terry Mountain)
James Bree	...	Gumbold
John Gay	...	Hammond
Julie Ege	...	The Scandinavian Girl
Mona Chong	...	The Chinese Girl
Sylvana Henriques	...	The Jamaican Girl
Sally Sheridan	...	The American Girl (as Dani Sheridan)
Joanna Lumley	...	The English Girl
Zaheera	...	The Indian Girl (as Zara)
Anouska Hempel	...	The Australian Girl (as Anoushka Hempel)
Ingrid Back	...	The German Girl (as Ingrit Back)
Helena Ronee	...	The Israeli Girl
Jenny Hanley	...	The Irish Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sam Ammon	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
David Brandon	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
George Cooper	...	Braun (uncredited)
Leslie Crawford	...	Felsen (uncredited)
Captain John Crewdson	...	Draco's Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
David de Keyser	...	Draco (voice) (uncredited)
Thomas Gould	...	Blofeld's Man (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	...	Draco's Driver (uncredited)
Brian Grellis	...	Aide to Sir Hilary Bray (uncredited)
Reg Harding	...	Blofeld's Driver (uncredited)
Peter R. Hunt	...	Man Reflected in Universal Export Sign (uncredited)
Dudley Jones	...	Hall Porter (uncredited)
George Leech	...	Strangled SPECTRE Skier (uncredited)
Martin Leyden	...	Chef de Jeu Hussier (uncredited)
Bessie Love	...	American Guest (uncredited)
Norman McGlen	...	Janitor (uncredited)
Bill Morgan	...	Kleff, Draco's Man (uncredited)
Willy Oehrli	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Steve Plytas	...	Greek Tycoon (uncredited)
Lenny Rabin	...	Casino Guest (uncredited)
Robert Rietty	...	Casino Baccarat Official (uncredited)
Andreas Schlunegger	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Hans Schlunegger	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Elliott Sullivan	...	American Guest (uncredited)
Joseph Vasa	...	Piz Gloria Receptionist (uncredited)
Rudi Wehren	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Brian Worth	...	Manuel (uncredited)
Bruno Zryd	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Stefan Zürcher	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter R. Hunt		(as Peter Hunt)

Writing credits
Simon Raven		(additional dialogue)
Richard Maibaum		(screenplay)
Ian Fleming		(novel) uncredited

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Harry Saltzman	....	producer
Stanley Sopel	....	associate producer

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Michael Reed		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Glen

Production Design by
Syd Cain

Art Direction by
Robert W. Laing		(as Bob Laing)

Set Decoration by
Peter Lamont

Costume Design by
Marjory Cornelius

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist
Eileen Warwick	....	hairdresser

Production Management
David Middlemas	....	production supervisor
Hubert Fröhlich	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Ernst	....	assistant director
John Glen	....	second unit director
Anthony Squire	....	stock car sequence director

Art Department
John Chisholm	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist (as Gordon McCallum)
Harry Miller	....	dubbing editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Nicholas Stevenson	....	dubbing editor
Maurice Askew	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Otto Snel	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Stears	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Cliff Culley	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Roy Field	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
George Leech	....	stunt arranger
Gillian Aldam	....	stunts (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	....	ski double: Bond (uncredited)
David Brandon	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Lane Cooper	....	stunts: Bunt henchman (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Eaves	....	stunt skier (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Gallant	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	....	stunt double: George Lazenby (uncredited)
Alf Joint	....	stunts (uncredited)
Heinz Lau	....	bobsleigh stunt double: Bond (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Powell	....	stunt double: Blofeld (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Smart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Stacey	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Street	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chris Webb	....	stunt double: George Lazenby (uncredited)
Bill Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert Zimmerman	....	bobsleigh stunt double: Blofeld (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Barbey	....	ski cameraman
Willy Bogner	....	ski cameraman (as Willy Bogner Jnr.)
Roy Ford	....	camera operator: second unit
John Jordan	....	aerial cameraman
Alec Mills	....	camera operator
Egil S. Woxholt	....	camera operator: second unit (as Egil Woxholt)
Adrian Biddle	....	assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Martin Body	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Ron Drinkwater	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Bob Penn	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jackie Cummins	....	wardrobe mistress

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
John Barry	....	music arranger
Hal David	....	lyricist
Monty Norman	....	composer: James Bond theme
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Erich Glavitza	....	rally driver and consultant (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main title
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Joan Davis	....	continuity
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
Captain John Crewdson	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Danjaq
• Eon Productions

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1969) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976) (USA) (TV)
• C.B. Films (1969) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1969) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1969) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• United Artists (1969) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (worldwide) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (worldwide) (VHS)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
• Warner Home Video (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Mi Casa Multimedia  DVD audio restoration & mastering 5.1 (uncredited)
• Ford Motor Company  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Ford Motor Company)
• Her Majesty's College of Arms and Heralds  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of
• Pinewood Studios  studio
• Schilthornbahn A.G. of Mürren, Switzerland, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of
• Studios CTS  music recorded at

Also Known As:

Ian Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)
O.H.M.S.S. (UK) (promotional abbreviation)
Au service secret de sa majesté (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
007 - Ao Serviço de Sua Majestade (Portugal) [pt]
007 A Serviço Secreto de Sua Majestade (Brazil) [pt]
007 James Bond kraliçenin hizmetinde (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
007 al servei secret de sa majestat (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
007 al servicio secreto de su majestad británica (Spain) [es]
Agent 007 i Hendes Majestæts hemmelige tjeneste (Denmark) [da]
Agente 007, al servizio segreto di sua maestà (Italy) [it]
Al servicio secreto de su majestad (Argentina) [es]
Hänen majesteettinsa salaisessa palveluksessa (Finland) [fi]
I hendes majestæts hemmelige tjeneste (Denmark) [da]
I hennes majestäts hemliga tjänst (Sweden) [sv]
James Bond 007 - Im Geheimdienst Ihrer Majestät (West Germany) [de]
James Bond, praktor 007: Stin ypiresia tis A.M. (Greece) [el]
U sluzbi njenog velicanstva (Serbia) [sr]
U sluzbi njezinog velicanstva (Croatia) [hr]
W tajnej sluzbie Jej krolewskiej mosci (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

142 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Iceland:12 | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/18 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1994) | West Germany:16 | UK:A (original rating) (cut)

Filming Locations:

St. Moritz, Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland

Company:

Danjaq

Trivia:

Ilse Steppat's only ever English language role was as Irma Bunt in this movie. She was not able to enjoy her new success. She died of a heart attack less than a week after the release of this film. The character of Irma Bunt was intended for a time to return in the next James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever (1971). But because of her passing, the character did not return.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the fourth attacker approaches Bond on the beach, he picks up a grappling hook. The grappling hook is facing towards the right on the ground. The camera cuts away quickly and cuts back, and then when the man picks up the hook, it is facing towards the left.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Q: I've been saying for years, sir, that our special equipment is obsolete. And now, computer analysis reveals an entirely new approach: miniaturization. For instance, radioactive lint. When placed in an opponent's pockets, the anti-personnel and location fix seems fairly obvious.
M: What we want is a location fix on 007.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Inside 'The Living Daylights' (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

We have all the time in the world

Best (and the ONLY) James Bond film ever

Once, at the library, I had a flashback of something my history teacher once told me. "Without Soviet Union, we wouldn't have had a lot of things." Then, someone mentioned, accurately, that Bond films owe their existence to the hammer and the sickle. Then he said, "Pooh, the Bond FILMS! Read the BOOKS. They're good stuff. The films are just bunch of women and gadgets." So I went to look for Ian Fleming, and the title that caught my eye was On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which is recognized as one of the best books in the series. I started reading the book. I was surprised at how slow pace and dark it was, and how Bond wasn't this confident, suave character who always knows what to do. Sean Connery is not, I repeat, not, Ian Fleming's James Bond. Of course, he is the best film version of James Bond, but he is too good a suave character to be Bond. I can't imagine a superspy who'd say "Yeesss" as Connery does.

I must say, more than anyone, George Lazenby is the James Bond of Ian Fleming's novels. He is like Bond in the books, trying to be smooth but always somewhat unsure. He has a command of the screen, that he isn't afraid to tell you he's there. The biggest gripe I have about Pierce Brosnan is how he sometimes doesn't get a grip of things on set and his somewhat higher, softer voice (and also how he pumps endless rounds of automatic fire upon enemies who have a propensity for getting hit while he himself has to be missed by endless rounds of enemy fire). Lazenby has a voice that I imagine Bond would certainly have. I certainly don't think he was a bad Bond. I think he WAS Bond. The other four actors have played their versions of Bond, but Lazenby is the only believable, human, imperfect James Bond. And his lines aren't that bad, come on. The only poorly delivered line was, "He had lots of guts." I think he should have delivered that with a bit more Connery, but that's a minor detail.

The stunts are great and so is the scenery, and the only bad cinematics are in the ski scenes when they show closeups from the front. They look very fake, but that must be forgiven for 1969 when it was made. They did not have Handicams and they certainly did not have Photoshop to blend projected images as well as we can nowadays. But they certainly do not distract the excitement from some of the best snow scenes in 007 films. The ski chases which became trademark of James Bond started here. It's funny how in the book, Bond is very worried about skiing, since he's rusty from not having skied for a long time. The sled chase is excellent also.

OHMSS is the only film where Bond drinks beer and gets married. Which brings me up to the next point, that Diana Riggs as Tracy Draco (later Bond) happens to be perhaps the best Bond girl ever. Without doubt, she is full of excitement and danger, not afraid to strap on a couple of skis amid gunfire and avalanche. Certainly not a certain Natalya Simonova. She is Bond's identical counterpart, experienced but having gotten nothing out of relationships, and quite a driver also. She's the only Bond girl to really connect with the audience, to make herself more important in comparison to Bond, but that's part of the excellent novel on which the movie is based. Whatever happens to her touches the audience more than whatever happens to Bond (who, as we all know, will always somehow make it). Her surprise appearance at the Christmas celebration brightens up everything in an instant, and the ending is probably the only genuinely sad scene in all 20 of the Bond films.

The opening scene is great in terms of action, but I found it rather disappointing that for no apparent reason, baddies want to kill Bond. The book does it a lot better, and it wouldn't have been much more difficult to do what the book did, although that would not have provided the proper material to introduce the new Bond with the immortal, "This never happened to the other fellow." See, how it is told in the novel is he spies on Tracy as she tries to drown herself, and by this time Bond knows her. He is spied on by Draco's men who take him in, and the rest of the story is told in flashback, with a car chase leading up to the casino scene and rendezvous, without all this fighting mysterious bad guys in between. But I thought the opening sequence was quite good, even with the change-up. It's just, with what proof does Bond try to rescue Tracy? She could have been just going out for a swim. It makes much more sense when he has already met Tracy. Yet some of the additions to the movie are good, such as having Tracy with Blofeld when SPECTRE headquarters is attacked. It makes it that much more personal.

This is my first review on IMDB, and OHMSS gets a well-deserved 10 out of 10. Bond in kilts, hypnosis, world domination, and Blofeld's cat combine to make it a worthy experience. Lazenby was not the best Bond, but perhaps the only real Bond. OHMSS is easily the best Bond film, and dare I say, the ONLY Bond film.