Review of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) by David C — 20 Apr 2013

A long, troubled Bond film with a barely coherent plot and loose ends left dangling. Why was Blofeld (the inimitable Telly Savalas, who is given too little to do) so concerned with creating a fake genealogy for himself? We never learn the answer, despite the fact that Bond's cover story hinges on it and that M takes the time to remark on the strangeness of it.

Lazenby is a poor choice for the role of Bond. He exudes youth and fecklessness, as when he flips through a Playboy magazine while trying in vain to appear nonchalant. The only really good aspect of the film is Diana Rigg's portrayal of Contessa Teresa "Tracy" di Vicenzo, Bond's only wife so far in the series.

Self-assured, experienced, erudite, and capable of defending herself, she is the benchmark by which Bond women should be measured.