Au service secret de Sa Majesté

Lazenby is not charismatic but rather arrogant, the Bond girl is an unsympathetic bitch, and the bland script lets 007 sail through a story where absolutely nothing happens for the first hour. Then, documents are stolen in Switzerland, there’s a bit of skiing, and finally, the Blofeld mansion is attacked. Two and a half hours of cruel boredom. PS: The fact that Blofeld doesn't recognize Bond in their first scene together (given that the film sort of picks up from the previous film) amazes me more than the sloppy wedding. (27/12/2012)

A great Bond film with one mammoth and inherent BUT. Almost everything works the way it is supposed to for agent 007 – a very decent script, excellent action scenes (unless they happen to be spoiled by the editor with his epileptic and illogical alternation of views), a truly exceptionally charismatic Bond girl, the traditionally excellent John Barry in the orchestra pit, and Blofeld in the luxurious version of Telly Savalas. Peter R. Hunt directed the film with an overview, and the only BUT also relates to his work. The BUT is George Lazenby, playing the lead role of Agent 007, the man on which it all hinges. I have nothing against Lazenby trying to do Bond his own way, give him some warmth of the family fireplace and a desire to settle down. The real stumbling block is the lack of acting skills of the main protagonist, who takes Bond into the role of a wooden doll whose catchphrases sound so starchy and forced that after a while they get on one's nerves. Although Lazenby had excellent physical qualifications, he did not sell them in the film, because he could not smuggle real passion or aggression into Bond. He's just riding along with the rest of the movie, and his chosen Diana Rigg, even his opponent Telly Savalas, are better actors. It's a shame that Albert Broccoli met Lazenby three years before making this film at the barber's. It’s too bad he caught his eye, and it's a shame that no one noticed that this guy might have the skills to play a mannequin and an advertising actor, but he's desperately not suitable for a big film. On Her Majesty's Secret Service could have been one of the best Bond films – it has strength, momentum, tension, a touching and rough finish, but it doesn't have the main thing. A hero. Truly a pity... ___ Bond Song: John Barry: “On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (25/11/2004)

Awkward exaggeration, confused action, and overall too different, albeit earnestly ironic Bond film. The final sequence is daring for its time and light-hearted tendencies, but it doesn't fit here. (15/08/2005)

Laziness is far from the biggest problem of this bizarre Bond film with the breathtaking scenery of the Swiss Alps. The most noticeable is a new director who tries to take the persona of Bond in a completely different direction than before. The result is a mission of agent 007 with a story that is much more intertwined with personal adventures rather than serving the country. Unfortunately, the technical side of the film is highly questionable as well. The fights push the envelope a bit, but the editing is incredibly chaotic and there are no impressive visual effects. Essentially, Bond without juice, plus a very long running time. (05/01/2014)

With much hindsight, and having finally seen this Bond film in its original version, I have to admit that it's not bad at all. I'd even argue that it's a great pity Lazenby didn't (want to) get another chance. He plays 007 quite convincingly, although he lacks Connery's charm. He's tough and his fights, for example, are a joy to watch. The film also features the first of Bond's ski chases, an impeccably shot avalanche scene, a bobsled chase, and a final mega-action set piece with helicopters. Blofeld, with the face of Telly Savalas, once again has an admirable diabolical plan, and the Bond girl (Bond wife?), who always gives me goosebumps, is really hot. There's a wonderful song to go with it (when Louis Armstrong sings John Barry's tune, everything is perfect). Five stars. (24/04/2010)

Je ne comprends pas vraiment le ressentiment général envers ce film de la série, qui, malgré ses nombreuses références aux numéros précédents, peut fonctionner comme une entité autonome et est l'un des rares de la série à tenter une approche et un ton différents. Vous ne trouverez pas, dans les premiers – et peut-être même tous les – films de Bond, une séquence plus émouvante que le final de celui-ci. George Lazenby a beau n’avoir pas duré dans le rôle de Bond, il évolue dans le film comme un poisson dans l’eau et, dans une dimension parallèle, j'aurais souhaité voir plus d'épisodes avec lui (ainsi que Timothy Dalton par la suite). Pour moi, la seule ombre au tableau reste, même après toutes ces années, le montage objectivement sens dessus dessous des scènes d'action ; les cinéastes n'avaient décidément pas encore le tour à cette époque-là. Et ils auraient dû couper le générique de fin, ou plutôt sa mélodie, quelques secondes plus tard. Moi, je l’aurais laissé sans son. (16/11/2021)

The people who have a problem with Lazenby may be mostly the ones who consider Connery a good actor, so in my case there was no problem. On the contrary, I might have welcomed a new face (shown on my favorite Portuguese beach, Praia de Guincho) after that tired old man from You Only Live Twice. Although the beginning suggested that this was going to be one of those classic, scripted Bond gaslights (a mob boss asks an agent, renowned for shagging half a hotel lobby before breakfast, to marry his daughter and tighten her belt), eventually the film starts to earn points with its focus, which doesn't rush anywhere, allowing you to slowly enjoy the unique filming locations, costumes, and the slow unfolding of the devious plan of Bond's nemesis. A nice change from the last installment, with ninjas hopping all over a fake volcano to stop the launch of some rocket that will eat other rockets. Telly Savalas was an excellent choice for the role of Blofeld here, by the way, due to his verisimilitude. He exudes that slow, deep, squinty-eyed charisma. The charisma of a man who doesn't have to get out of his chair because someone else will do everything else for him. Then, when he goes off to chase Bond on skis along with the other villains, you begin to realize what else he might be capable of, and that's exactly how he inspires the respect and nervousness we should feel towards him. Speaking of action scenes, thus far this installment has cleared the bar with ease, tossing in one fantastically shot sequence after another from the middle of the film onwards. The handheld camera work during the ski chase is breathtaking, even after all these years, and the car chase that follows almost seamlessly itself mesmerizes you with its perfect stunt work. We frequently see truly unusual shooting angles, and the editing of the action sequences alone is basically a formalistic work. The fact that Bond purists are wearing this film out is a good thing, because it sort of proves that after the demented You Only Live Twice, they started to think about how Bond would survive the coming New Hollywood era, and without a change of approach the seventies might not have been able to sustain this franchise at all. (08/07/2019)

This film has faced plenty of negative criticism over the years, which I think is totally undeserved. I get that George Lazenby is the main problem. I certainly agree that he comes across as wooden and even a bit sleazy. Except for the lead, I have no major complaints, though. I enjoyed the story, it had some funny lines, if I ignore the ridiculous reference to Connery in the beginning. The pace was great, plus, Bond vs. Kojak! (03/08/2016)

After the departure of Sean Connery (who returned in the following James Bond film as one of the highest-paid actors of his time), the expectations were high. It is very noticeable on Lazenby himself how he tried to fulfill them, maybe he was even forced to do so. Perhaps if he played a little more according to himself and not like Connery, he would have sounded a bit more believable. Nevertheless, I still think it wasn't a wrong move. But what interested me the most in this Bond movie was Diana Rigg. She is simply amazing. I literally fell in love with her in the series "The Avengers", where she was the best woman for the character of John Steed. Perfect chemistry. Here, too, she demonstrated how she can sell her charm and captivated me again. Despite its criticism, the film cannot be denied to be entertaining and action-packed, but it is a bit lengthy due to its runtime. But the ending... (03/03/2014)