In 1953 Ian Lancaster Fleming created a protagonist that should soon become one of the most important icons of its age. Inspired by the name of an ornithologist he called his main character “James Bond”, not knowing what gigantic ball he set rolling. Between 1953 and 1964 he authored twelve novels and three short stories reporting the adventures of the secret service agent James Bond. Up to today there have been 22 movies published, staring six actors as the MI6 Agent, each of which introduced his own interpretation of Bond. This paper will focus on the eleventh novel and sixth movie of the series: “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (OHMSS).
Published in 1963 it took six years for the novel to be shown on the big cinema screens. Released on the 18th December 1969 it was the first Bond movie featuring a new leading actor. George Lazenby stepped into Connery’s shoes, which will turn out to be far too big, according to some critics.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Why “On Her Majesty's Secret Service\" is far better than its reputation
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (OHMSS)
- The Suicide Attempt and the “Different Feller”
- Bond's Departure and the “Angels of Death”
- The Disillusioning End and the “Time in the World”
- The New Bond
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to demonstrate that "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (OHMSS) is a superior Bond film, despite its often-criticized reception. It explores the film's unique characteristics and how it reflected the social and political landscape of the late 1960s.
- The evolution of the James Bond character and its reflection of societal changes
- The film's distinctive portrayal of love, loss, and emotional vulnerability in contrast to previous Bond films
- The film's departure from the stereotypical action-driven Bond narrative and its focus on deeper themes
- The impact of the film's darker tone and ambiguous ending on its initial reception
- The role of George Lazenby as James Bond and his contribution to the franchise's evolution
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The chapter introduces the film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (OHMSS) and its context within the James Bond franchise, highlighting its unique characteristics and its departure from the traditional Bond formula. The chapter delves into the film's narrative, focusing on the initial encounter between James Bond and Contessa Teresa Vincenzo (Tracy), and the subsequent events leading to their relationship.
- This chapter focuses on Bond's pursuit of Blofeld, his decision to leave MI6, and his undercover investigation in the Swiss Alps. It delves into the introduction of the "Angels of Death" and the escalating conflict between Bond and Blofeld's organization.
- The chapter analyzes the film's controversial ending, highlighting its departure from the typical action-driven Bond narrative and its exploration of darker themes. It examines the impact of the film's disillusioning tone on the audience of the late 1960s and its reflection of the socio-political climate of that era.
- This chapter delves into the portrayal of George Lazenby as James Bond and the challenges he faced in replacing Sean Connery. It explores the producers' efforts to introduce Lazenby as a distinct and compelling Bond and discusses the evolution of the Bond character throughout the franchise.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the text are: James Bond, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (OHMSS), George Lazenby, Sean Connery, 1960s, social change, political climate, film analysis, character evolution, disillusionment, darker tone, ambiguous ending.
- Quote paper
- Nathalie Gerlach (Author), 2010, The best Bond movie ever Or: Why “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” is far better than its reputation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/175800
