****

This BOND film is a failed masterpiece. This could have been the very best BOND if it only had Sean Connery as Agent 007. It is nearly catastrophic that Connery is missing here, for this film DEMANDS his presence. The BOND producers are entirely to blame for this. If it hadn't been for their extreme greed, Sean Connery might have made several more James Bond movies. It is also the producers' fault for hiring George Lazenby as a 'replacement.' It completely staggers the imagination to fathom just exactly what they were thinking. The woefully inexperienced Lazenby didn't stand a chance here and the blame lies entirely with the BOND producers and not at all with him -- the poor guy! Despite this major flaw, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE is one incredibly well crafted James Bond adventure.

What makes up for Sean Connery's absence is the fact that everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, is quite superb: the rest of the casting, the script, the directing, editing and the action sequences. The only real failings are found in some of the humor ( that quip about "lots of guts" and the stupidly gratuitous bit involving a certain men's magazine for just a lame plug ) and a few of the special effects sequences ( the use of back projection is rather shaky and that ludicrous stunt dummy on skis ). Finally, we get a Richard Maibaum screenplay without any collaborators messing up the proceedings. On the basis of this solo effort on Maibaum's part, one wonders what all of the other BOND film screenplays would've been like without any co-writers. Richard Maibaum's screen adaptation of one of Ian Fleming's finest James Bond novels is absolutely brilliant.

Maibaum's adaptation allows Teresa di Vicenzo far more to do than in the novel. Not only does Tracy become more involved in 007's mission, she clearly earns the right to share James Bond's name. Of course, I may be a bit biased since the actress portraying Tracy di Vicenzo is none other than Diana Rigg -- Mrs. Emma Peel from British television series THE AVENGERS. Emma Peel just happens to be my favorite superheroine of all time, so I most definitely cannot argue with the casting of Diana Rigg as the Mrs. James Bond. Tracy is the epitome of the ideal BOND Girl: intelligent, strong, athletic, resourceful and, last but not least, very beautiful. Tracy is most worthy of the name Bond!

Although there are some that have problems with the casting of Telly Savalas as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, I don't number myself among them. Let's face the facts of the matter: on one hand, there has been Donald Pleasance in this particular role, and on the other, the soon to be cast Charles Gray. Need I say more? There is really no question as to who has portrayed the very best Blofeld in the EON James Bond film productions: it's Savalas, who does an admirable job. Although his Blofeld doesn't come off as truly sophisticated, Savalas is quite menacing here and all of his threats are actually believable -- more so than what Pleasance and Gray can muster up! Plus, he's clearly having a grand ol' time with his part. His Blofeld takes a direct hand in matters and his SPECTRE organization appears to be a tighter knit group and very capable under his extensive control. Plus he still has that cool white Persian cat. This may be a new Ernst Stavro Blofeld, but it's still the Blofeld from the first BOND films.

As I mentioned earlier, I refuse to place all the blame on George Lazenby substituting for Sean Connery. However, his performance as Agent 007 is truly lackluster by any standard. It is only through repeated viewings that I've grown accustomed to his particular James Bond interpretation. Lazenby definitley has a certain kind of BOND look and he moves well and is excellent in all of the fight and action scenes. His voice and general manner are all wrong, however. He comes off as way too cheerful sounding and his whole style is so youthful. Sure, George Lazenby is literally much younger than Sean Connery, but he doesn't have to play it that way. Bond is supposed to be somewhat jaded and rather world weary, not so sweet and naive. Just examine closely how George Lazenby delivers that infamous James Bond signature line in the pre-credit sequence. In my opinion, it acts as a kind of moment of truth, but Lazenby blows it completely. I rest my case.

I've always been a huge fan of Peter Hunt's BOND editing style. Here he gets to run the whole show as the director. This was his big chance and he does not disappoint. Even though this is the longest running BOND film -- clocking in at 140 minutes, it is still quite engrossing -- unlike a few of John Glen's more recent BOND efforts. Peter Hunt keeps the pace rather tight and at times it is quite furious. But that stinger of an ending definitely needs an actor of stature. Again I must say that this film needs Sean Connery. If I were in Hunt's position at the time, I would have cried and begged endlessly until a deal could've been reached and Connery was signed on. Along with FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, Sean Connery could have been in both of the film adaptations of the two best Ian Fleming James Bond novels. But, alas, it was not to be. Woe to all BOND fans!