On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Director:

Peter R. Hunt

Writers:

Simon Raven (additional dialogue)
Richard Maibaum (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

18 December 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

James Bond 007 is back!

Plot:

James Bond woos a mob boss's daughter and goes undercover to uncover the true reason for Blofeld's allergy research in the Swiss Alps that involves beautiful women from around the world.

Plot Keywords:

Switzerland | British | Virus | Mission | Criminal

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

George Lazenby	...	James Bond
Diana Rigg	...	Tracy Di Vicenzo
Telly Savalas	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Gabriele Ferzetti	...	Marc Ange Draco
Ilse Steppat	...	Irma Bunt
Angela Scoular	...	Ruby Bartlett
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Catherine Schell	...	Nancy (as Catherina Von Schell)
George Baker	...	Sir Hilary Bray
Bernard Lee	...	M
Bernard Horsfall	...	Shaun Campbell
Desmond Llewelyn	...	Q
Yuri Borionko	...	Grunther (as Yuri Borienko)
Virginia North	...	Olympe
Geoffrey Cheshire	...	Toussaint
Irvin Allen	...	Che Che
Terence Mountain	...	Raphael (as Terry Mountain)
James Bree	...	Gebrüder Gumbold
John Gay	...	Hammond
Julie Ege	...	The Scandinavian Girl
Mona Chong	...	The Chinese Girl
Sylvana Henriques	...	The Jamaican Girl
Sally Sheridan	...	The American Girl (as Dani Sheridan)
Joanna Lumley	...	The English Girl
Zaheera	...	The Indian Girl (as Zara)
Anouska Hempel	...	The Australian Girl (as Anoushka Hempel)
Ingrid Back	...	The German Girl (as Ingrit Back)
Helena Ronee	...	The Israeli Girl
Jenny Hanley	...	The Irish Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sam Ammon	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
David Brandon	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
George Cooper	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Leslie Crawford	...	Waiter (uncredited)
John Crewdson	...	Draco's Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
David de Keyser	...	Draco (voice) (uncredited)
Takis Emmanuel	...	Kleff (uncredited)
Thomas Gould	...	Blofeld's Man (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	...	Draco's Driver (uncredited)
Brian Grellis	...	Aide to Sir Hilary Bray (uncredited)
Reg Harding	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Peter R. Hunt	...	Man Reflected in Universal Export Sign (uncredited)
Dudley Jones	...	Hall Porter (uncredited)
George Leech	...	Strangled SPECTRE Skier (uncredited)
Martin Leyden	...	Chef de Jeu Hussier (uncredited)
Bessie Love	...	American Guest (uncredited)
Norman McGlen	...	Janitor (uncredited)
Bill Morgan	...	Kleff, Draco's Man (uncredited)
Willy Oehrli	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Steve Plytas	...	Greek Tycoon (uncredited)
Lenny Rabin	...	Casino Guest (uncredited)
Robert Rietty	...	Casino Baccarat Official (uncredited)
Guerra Rugosto	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Andreas Schlunegger	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Hans Schlunegger	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Elliott Sullivan	...	American Guest (uncredited)
Salli Tomaso	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Nikki Van der Zyl	...	Various (voice) (uncredited)
Joseph Vasa	...	Piz Gloria Receptionist (uncredited)
Rudi Wehren	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Brian Worth	...	Manuel (uncredited)
Bruno Zryd	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)
Stefan Zürcher	...	Piz Gloria Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter R. Hunt		(as Peter Hunt)

Writing credits
Simon Raven		(additional dialogue)
Richard Maibaum		(screenplay)
Ian Fleming		(novel) uncredited

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Harry Saltzman	....	producer
Stanley Sopel	....	associate producer

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Michael Reed		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Glen

Production Design by
Syd Cain

Art Direction by
Robert W. Laing		(as Bob Laing)

Set Decoration by
Peter Lamont

Costume Design by
Marjory Cornelius

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist
Eileen Warwick	....	hairdresser

Production Management
David Middlemas	....	production supervisor
Hubert Fröhlich	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Ernst	....	assistant director
John Glen	....	second unit director
Anthony Squire	....	stock car sequence director

Art Department
John Chisholm	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist (as Gordon McCallum)
Harry Miller	....	dubbing editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Nicholas Stevenson	....	dubbing editor
Maurice Askew	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Otto Snel	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Stears	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Cliff Culley	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Roy Field	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
George Leech	....	stunt arranger
Gillian Aldam	....	stunts (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	....	ski double: Bond (uncredited)
David Brandon	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Lane Cooper	....	stunts: Bunt henchman (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Eaves	....	stunt skier (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Gallant	....	stunts (uncredited)
Erich Glavitza	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	....	stunt double: George Lazenby (uncredited)
Alf Joint	....	stunts (uncredited)
Heinz Lau	....	bobsleigh stunt double: Bond (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunts (uncredited)
Luki Leitner	....	stunt double: George Lazenby (uncredited)
Joe Powell	....	stunt double: Blofeld (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Smart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Stacey	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Street	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chris Webb	....	stunt double: George Lazenby (uncredited)
Bill Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert Zimmerman	....	bobsleigh stunt double: Blofeld (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Barbey	....	ski cameraman
Willy Bogner	....	ski cameraman (as Willy Bogner Jnr.)
Roy Ford	....	camera operator: second unit
John Jordan	....	aerial cameraman
Alec Mills	....	camera operator
Egil S. Woxholt	....	camera operator: second unit (as Egil Woxholt)
Adrian Biddle	....	assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Martin Body	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Ron Drinkwater	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Bob Penn	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jackie Cummins	....	wardrobe mistress

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
John Barry	....	music arranger
Hal David	....	lyricist
Monty Norman	....	composer: James Bond theme
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Erich Glavitza	....	rally driver and consultant (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main title
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Joan Davis	....	continuity
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
John Crewdson	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Danjaq
• Eon Productions

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1969) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Artistes Associés)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976) (USA) (TV)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• C.B. Films (1969) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1969) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1969) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• United Artists (1969) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (worldwide) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (worldwide) (VHS)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
• Warner Home Video (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Mi Casa Multimedia  DVD audio restoration & mastering 5.1 (uncredited)
• Ford Motor Company  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of (as The Ford Motor Company)
• Her Majesty's College of Arms and Heralds  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of
• Pinewood Studios  studio
• Schilthornbahn A.G. of Mürren, Switzerland, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the help and co-operation of
• Studios CTS  music recorded at

Also Known As:

"Ian Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)

Runtime:

142 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Iceland:12 | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/18 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1994) | West Germany:16 | UK:A (original rating) (cut)

Filming Locations:

St. Moritz, Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland

Company:

Danjaq

Trivia:

Blofeld's headquarters was a partially completed restaurant on top of Mount Schilthorn. The owners allowed filming on condition EON paid $125,000 to refit the interior and construct a helicopter pad. When the restaurant opened it was given the name Piz Gloria used in the film. The only public access to the restaurant is by cable car (from Mürren or Stechelberg). The Piz Gloria was the first established revolving mountain restaurant in the world.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the fourth attacker approaches Bond on the beach, he picks up a grappling hook. The grappling hook is facing towards the right on the ground. The camera cuts away quickly and cuts back, and then when the man picks up the hook, it is facing towards the left.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Q:I've been saying for years, sir, that our special equipment is obsolete. And now, computer analysis reveals an entirely new approach: miniaturization. For instance, radioactive lint. When placed in an opponent's pockets, the anti-personnel and location fix seems fairly obvious.
M:What we want is a location fix on 007.

Movie Connections:

Features Goldfinger (1964)

Soundtrack:

We have all the time in the world

Best Bond?

Yeah, I think so. Like most people who are interested in James Bond, I saw the films over and over on TV before I read any of the books. I then got round to buying Casino Royale, and being knocked out by it - this was somewhat different to Moonraker and all that Roger Moore stuff. So I read the books in their sequence, seriously the best way, and by the time OHMSS came round, I had a pretty good idea of who James Bond was. And, I'm sorry to inform all the Seanophiles, James Bond is not Connery, Moore, Dalton (though he came close, but is Welsh..)or Brosnan. Oddly enough, given the choices, he's kind of like George Lazenby.

Sure, Sean Connery was suave, sexy, and spoke rather curiously, Timothy Dalton had the serious side sorted, Brosnan is sophisticated etc, Roger Moore.. well, another time, maybe.

George Lazenby, maybe due to his lack of experience, (though why is his debut so widely mulled over in that respect.... it's not something that most actors are subjected to?) is not so at ease with his surroundings, not so cocksure that everything is going to work out fine as the others, and this is the real James Bond. The one in the books. You can almost believe in this one. And when things don't work out fine, you feel a weird familiarity with him. He's just a man, though admittedly he's disproportionately talented at a pretty impressive range of activities, from skiing to flying, swordsmanship, shooting people, jumping out of things, carnal endeavours etc.. Oh no, sorry, that's me. Well, anyway, I'm quite tired now. OHMSS is the best of the films, though From Russia With Love contains possibly the finest fight scene of all and maybe the best trio of baddies (including a slightly peripatetic Blofeld)and is Connery's best.

George Lazenby is the best Bond, because his talents - a certain naturalistic charm, physical dexterity, and a capacity for possible failure - are used brilliantly, and he is closer by far than any of the others to the book-Bond.

There you go.

Oh, and Diana Rigg is the best 'Bond girl', though that description is not very fair to her, We Have All The Time In The World is the best Bond song, and the theme tune is possibly John Barry's finest work.. let alone being the best Bond title theme.

There you go again.

Thanks for reading, and if you happen to disagree, well... you're wrong. Cheers.