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James McMahon --
Back to Fleming basics. Hurray. This is the most human film in the series. I applaud the leisurely pace. I love Diana Rigg in anything, anywhere, any time. Great locales. Unforgettable ending. This film, along with the preceding five, comprise what I consider the classic Bond films; the cinematic orthodoxy of 007.
Robert Cotton --
The most complex story in the series, with the most rounded characterizations. Best musical score. Lazenby works fairly well, but it's the direction and writing that are put on display here.
Tom Zielinski --
Arguably the most admired Bond film among aficionados, and the most forgotten among the general movie audience. This film had almost everything. Maibaum´s fine screenplay, Peter Hunt´s dedication in bringing Ian Fleming´s sublime novel to the screen, John Barry´s best score, Louis Armstrong´s hauntingly beautiful rendition of We Have All the Time In the World, a great cast…but what´s missing? Sean Connery. George Lazenby did a surprisingly good job in his first film and kudos to him in an improbably difficult position. But had the Fleming trilogy been left intact and had Connery been at the helm of this character-driven vehicle, I am convinced that the James Bond films of the late 1960´s would be considered groundbreaking cinema, not just excellent entertainment. But as it is, On Her Majesty´s Secret Service is perhaps the best film of the series.
Paul Baack --
The artistic pinnacle of the series. Among the many "bests" this film can lay claim to are writing, direction, photography, music score, and acting (except for its leading man.) George Lazenby makes a perfectly OK James Bond, but not a great one. Actually, his lack of technical acting skills, coupled with the bare honesty and sincerity with which he tackled the role, gives us an interesting portrait of 007 as a young man. OHMSS stands as the greatest epic adventure film in the series, as well as one of the greatest in British cinema.
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Bill Koenig --
Extremely faithful adaptation of one of Fleming's best. Lazenby's inexperience is evident. On the other hand, would Connery have cried at the end? Diana Rigg is a major plus. Telly Savalas is OK as Blofeld. Probably Richard Maibaum's best script for the series. Ken Adam is gone but not really missed. John Barry hits on all cylinders.
Ed Werner --
Maybe technically not the best Bond movie and it was the first without Connery (which was
the death knell for any movie following You Only Live Twice), but it is without a doubt, my
emotional favorite. As YOLT's advertising tag line stated, "Sean Connery IS James Bond",
(in direct response to Casino Royale's release) but at this point in time it was the general
publics perception as well. The masses stayed away in droves for three reasons; the first was
due to Connery was not being in it, the second was because the spy craze of the mid sixties was
over and everyone had overdosed on the genre, lastly United Artists dumped the movie
with very little promotion due to the fact that the lead actor had announced before the film was
finished, that it would also be his last. However, the masses missed the strongest story of the
series and was not generally recognized as one of the best for fifteen or twenty years after it's
initial release.
Yes, Lazenby's acting is a little stiff in a few scenes, but overall his portrayal can't be faulted.
His fight scenes were spectacular (wonderful editing), his cool factor when you think about it,
was right there with Connery and he looked great. Diana Rigg was a Goddess in this film, pure
and simple. Telly Savalas plays a much more believable Blofeld than Pleasance. Ilse Steppat
menace as Irma Bunt is exactly how I pictured her when reading the novel. Gabriele Ferzetti
plays the second best Bond ally in the series as Draco, Tracy's father.
John Barry arguably turns in his best work of the entire series.The cinematography was
incredible thoughout. Peter Hunt's direction keeps the story extremely very close to Fleming's
original and there is an ambience that runs through the film that is present in none of the others.
Michael Reed --
A wonderful book with some unnessary changes translated to screen but overall a better than average film. Lazenby is fine and Diana Rigg is captivating. About 10 minutes too long and the midsection crawls, but the best ending in the series. The music helps drive the action.
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