on her majesty's secret service

On its 50th Anniversary: 50 Reasons Why We Love OHMSS

The 6th James Bond movie and George Lazenby’s only outing as 007, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, is celebrating 50 years. The movie held its world premiere on December 18, 1969.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Since its release, Lazenby’s short tenure as James Bond had its ups and downs and controversies. But Bond fans have embraced the movie and is now routinely found in “Top Bond Movies” lists.

So why do fans love OHMSS? Sure, it’s a fresh departure from Connery’s first and iconic Bond and has its memorable moments, but really, who can deny its uniqueness from all Bond movies, even to this day?

The title card of On Her Majesty's Secret Service

In chronological order, please find 50 quick reminders why we love Laz’s turn as James Bond, 007:

  1. The drop-knee gunbarrel shot.
  2. M’s pipe smoking.
  3. Hiding Laz’s face painfully long as he smokes a cigarette.
  4. The over-exaggerated splashes and punches in the dramatic shore water fight sequence.
  5. Diana Rigg.
  6. “This never happened to the other fella.”
  7. The instrumental theme.
  8. Bond’s all-white suit.
  9. Tracy’s all-white dress.
  10. Bond at the baccarat table.
  11. The hotel room fight that ends with a baddie in balusters.
  12. Bond’s “poofy” shirt.
  13. Bond’s orange turtleneck.
  14. Draco’s cigarette holder.
  15. Bond’s knife throw over Draco’s shoulder.
  16. Bond and Moneypenny’s flirtatious office interaction.
  17. Bond’s ascot.
  18. The Louis Armstrong love montage – “We Have All The Time In The World.”
  19. Bond cracking a safe.
  20. Bond reading a Playboy while cracking a safe.
  21. M’s ascot.
  22. The Bond family coat of arms – Orbis Non Sufficit – The World Is Not Enough.
  23. Snow.
  24. Bond’s absurd alias (Sir Hilary Bray) and absurd alias nickname (Hilly).
  25. Piz Gloria.
  26. Bond’s circular glasses.
  27. Bond’s kilt + fluffy shirt.
  28. Telly Savalas.
  29. The look on Bond’s face when he sees Bunt’s face in bed and not Ruby’s.
  30. A Christmas reference.
  31. Blofeld’s command of his cigarette smoking.
  32. The hanging gondola sequence.
  33. Bond’s powder blue ski outfit and his bulbous ski goggles.
  34. The ski action sequence.
  35. Tracy’s driving skills.
  36. The Tracy/Bond barn scene.
  37. The second ski action sequence.
  38. Blofeld’s bulbous yellow ski goggles.
  39. The blaring Bond theme during the Piz Gloria action sequence.
  40. Bond simultaneously shooting and sliding on his stomach down an icy path.
  41. The bobsled chase.
  42. Tracy’s wedding ring.
  43. The wedding reception.
  44. The “Just Married” Aston Martin.
  45. Tracy’s tears of happiness marrying Bond.
  46. Mr. and Mrs. Bond cutting the wedding cake.
  47. Moneypenny’s sadness/happiness that Bond got married.
  48. The drive-by assassination.
  49. Bond holding his dead wife in his arms…”We have all the time in the world.”
  50. The gunshot windshield.
Poster for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Happy Global James Bond Day 2019!

Happy Global James Bond Day 2019!

57 years ago today, the first James Bond movie, Dr. No premiered.

The below graphic is composed of letters from different James Bond movies. Can you name the movie for each letter?

Happy Global James Bond Day 2019!

Happy Global James Bond Day 2019!

Check the answers for each letter after the jump!

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"James Bond Will Return" from the end of From Russia With Love (1963)

All “James Bond Will Return” Screenshots

“James Bond Will Return” is a signature phrase splashed at the end of (almost) every James Bond movie that promotes 007’s never-give-up/against-all-odds attitude and shows a sense of pride in the world’s longest running movie series.

Throughout the years, it has been used to reveal the movie title of the forthcoming James Bond movie, albeit sometimes in error. It has also not been used at all. Some quick facts:

Regardless, below are all of the instances where “James Bond Will Return” appears in the credits from all of the movies:

Which is your favorite?

Characters from previous Bond movies are shown during the pre-title sequence of On Her Majesty

OHMSS #TBT

Characters from previous Bond movies are shown during the pre-title sequence of On Her Majesty

Characters from previous Bond movies are shown during the pre-title sequence of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), including Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) and Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) from Dr. No (1962), Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) from From Russia With Love (1963) and Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) from Goldfinger (1964)

A few other scenes/characters appear in another sequence right after this one…a great Throwback Thursday!

James Bond (George Lazenby) awakes to a Christmas tree in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Happy Holidays, 007!

James Bond (George Lazenby) awakes to a Christmas tree in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

James Bond (George Lazenby) awakes to a Christmas tree in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

George Lazenby advocates for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) in the form of the Change My Mind meme

How would you change Laz’s mind?

George Lazenby advocates for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) in the form of the Change My Mind meme

George Lazenby advocates for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) in the form of the Change My Mind meme

Sean Connery as James Bond in...On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)?!

Lazenby in DAF or Connery in OHMSS?

Which would you prefer?

Sean Connery as James Bond in...On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)?!

Sean Connery as James Bond in…On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)?!

George Lazenby as James Bond in...Diamonds Are Forever (1971)?!

George Lazenby as James Bond in…Diamonds Are Forever (1971)?!

James Bond in ransom letters, made up from various Bond movie posters

James Bond Ransom

James Bond in ransom letters, made up from various Bond movie posters

Can you guess which movie poster each letter comes from in the above ‘ransom note’ collage? The answers after the jump!

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This mashup of the end of Spectre (2015) and the tragic end of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) would definitely have been amazing!

Screenshot Movie Mashup – Spectre (2015) – Spectre Alternate Ending

This mashup of the end of Spectre (2015) and the tragic end of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) would definitely have been amazing!

This mashup of the end of Spectre (2015) and the tragic end of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) would definitely have been amazing!

Would this have been a better ending for Spectre?

James Bond (George Lazenby) lights up at the beginning of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Filthy Habit

James Bond (George Lazenby) lights up at the beginning of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

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