I write these Bond reviews with the expectation that everyone has seen all the movies, if not read the all the books. So, tread as carefully as it seems prudent.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service pits Bond against his arch-enemy Blofeld for the second time, as tries to stop the fiend from trying to poison the livestock and crops of England. It's a pretty out-sized plot and the action is pretty extreme. Along for the ride is the woman who becomes the love of Bond's life and briefly his wife.
Actually, we have two main stories in this one. Bond becomes involved with Tracy, the daughter of an Italian gangster who has become distraught and has attempted suicide. Her dad wants Bond to help her as she seems to respond to him. The second plot is the one about Blofeld. The two intertwine when Bond goes to Switzerland under the guise of an expert in heraldry, an attempt to lure Blofeld out and hopefully capture him.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is low on my list of Bond movies, in fact it's in last place. George Lazenby is dutiful and earnest in the role, but the snap just isn't there. His quips fall flat throughout. Telly Savalas is an adequate villain, but he doesn't bring anything new to the franchise. The movie is salvaged by the presence of Diana Rigg, fresh from her role as Emma Peel in The Avengers. That role alas gave her more to do than this one does. The tragic ending of the movie loses its punch because frankly I haven't been moved to care that much all the way through. And to be honest it's hard to imagine Bond being bereft for long.
James Bond Returns in You Only Live Twice!
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Poster artwork is another combination - Bond and Tracy by McGinnis, everything else by McCarthy. They don't make 'em like that anymore...
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