User Reviews

Documentary/pictography of the life of the enigma that is George Lazenby. The only 'actor' or should that be model to play the role of James Bond once. Are all the stories narrated by George Lazenby's of his life true? I beg to differ with some of them. It is a fascinating story if true. However they are shown excellently and quite comically in some scenes so well done there. The actors do a good job in bringing Lazenby's narration to the screen. The archive footage of publicity around his only Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service is obviously real and fascinating. I find that Bond film fascinating to be honest. Why didn't he just sign the god damn contract (for six more Bond films)?

George Lazenby is perhaps the lesser known of all the actors to have played James Bond 007 onscreen, having only appeared in one film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. But his story leading up to him being cast, and his departure from the role, is a stranger-than-fiction, and the focus of this documentary drama. George Lazenby is interviewed with re-enactments telling his story with his voiceover dialogue. George was born in Australia and was predicted to die as an infant. He also suffered the humiliation, having constantly caused trouble in school, to receive a recognition during graduation. Being a good-looking young man, George found it fairly easy to approach women and have sex with them. George (Josh Lawson) found work as a car mechanic, but he longed the more glamorous lifestyle that he noticed car salesmen were getting. He tried and failed at selling cars for some time, but he learned the lesson to "listen first and let the other person do the talking". Despite having no real knowledge of cars, George soon became successful at selling them. It is through this job that he met and was smitten with Belinda (Kassandra Clementi), who happened to be the daughter of an Australian politician. Despite already having a boyfriend at the time, she left him for George, and they had a long relationship. When she moved to London, he followed her, going on a ship that wound up stopping in various countries on the journey. But eventually he reached England but found that she had moved on to be with a player on the Oxford University cricket team. He decides to remain in England, finding another car salesman job, and tries to win her back, accepting her proposal for a "platonic" relationship. One day, George is approached by a professional photographer and asked to pose for various pictures. He becomes well known in the modelling world and appears in an advertisement for Fry's chocolate. But he cannot help but give into temptation being seduced by European female models during shoots. Belinda, who was allowing herself to fall for George again, is heartbroken when she finds out. One day, out of the blue, George is called by agent Maggie Abbott (Jane Seymour) who suggests he should walk into the office of producer Harry Saltzman (Jeff Garlin) who is looking for a new actor to play James Bond, as Sean Connery is quitting. George rushes past the woman at the desk and bursts into the office to meet with Harry. He uses only his gift of the gab (like selling cars), mentioning many countries he knows that they cannot check on, and relying on his good looks to convince Harry that he is the right man for the job. Harry is charmed by George and agrees to pay him a fee to audition. George confesses the truth to the casting director, that he has never acted in his life, but this is only met by laughter, and he succeeds in securing the role. George struggles with is first few days during filming, especially doing the iconic gun barrel sequence, but eventually he settles into it and enjoys himself, working alongside Telly Savalas and Diana Rigg. Filming of the new Bond movie, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, is completed in 1969, but George ignores certain demands, despite agreeing to all terms after signing his contract. Famously he ignored producers who wanted him to shave off his beard when attending the Royal Premier for the film, which he did not. The film slowly gained acclaim and was a box office success, and Lazenby was on the path to becoming a star of Hollywood. But he did not feel comfortable being mostly associated by the character, and he famously turned the opportunity to film another five or six Bond movies, despite being offered a deal worth up to $1 million. He found his acting career dwindling, eventually shunning fame and fortune, becoming somewhat reclusive, only appearing on television playing golf in tournaments. He settled back in Australia, becoming a realtor, married, raised a family, and led a happy and normal life. In the present day, Lazenby has found in everything he has done in his life before and after becoming Bond. In modern times, his single appearance is praised by fans and critics alike, perhaps as a cult classic, but nonetheless a great movie, considered one of the finest in the franchise. Also starring Dana Carvey as Johnny Carson, Teressa Liane as June Green, and Landon Ashworth as Ken Gherety. Lazenby has led an interesting and surprising life, and not afraid to talk about all the perks and downsides he experienced throughout his life, from his enjoyment of fame allowing him to sleep with many beautiful women, to the bad times with no acting experienced and being recognised only by his looks. It must be said that actor Lawson does not look anything like the real Lazenby, and gives a rather cheesy performance, but in a way, it kind of works, and the support of Clementi works. The story being re-enacted is interesting and does keep you watching, and I was glad they included the real archive footage from the various press coverage, making of the film, and other stuff as well, overall, it is a worthwhile docudrama. Good!

Personally I think it's "documentary" with some funny scripts to make it lively. I'll give it 10 cause it's really refreshing and with bright side of energy. I guess what George tried to convey is a concept to live a life you want. While he was bond, he would not be like Sean Connery, he made his bond. What if he had next 6 bond movies? Do the money and fame he make worth the sacrifice he made in his life? Actually George kinda regreted letting go of bond, which is never expected,causing the end of his acting career. But because of this he found out his origin and spent a life he longed for(achievements in other field). Therefore, I respect this dude.

The way the interviews are filmed remind me of going to a fan convention and listening to the celebrity tell a story, George gets into the role and is a fantastic story teller, are some of the stories a little exaggerated? Probably but who really cares, the film is entertaining, it gives you some insight into the man, the role and the times. The reenactments are also exaggerated but they are very entertaining, one of the best scenes in the film is when a young George is trying to sell cars and he fails miserable, until he goes to a class and takes one thing away from that class, he learns to listen. Once he does that he starts selling cars. People need to watch the film, listen to the stories and enjoy the reenactments for what they are stories about a mans life and career.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service was possibly the best Bond Movies ever, the story of how George Lazenby became James Bond is not quite as good as OHMSS but it gives the Bond fan something to think about.

Let's look at the good, the bad, and the meh:

The good: Jayne Seymour's in it! Still gorgeous, still talented. The Chapter titles are cute and a hoot. The breaking of the fourth wall is amusing as is the overdubbing by Lazenby. Much of the interview with Lazenby is thoughtful and engaging, so much so that one wonders why they didn't just leave this "documentary" as a series of interviews.

The bad: The actor playing Harry Saltzman (Jeff Garlin) looks and sounds nothing like him. He does look and sound like the father from the Goldbergs which is who he is.

And speaking of not looking or sounding like the original, Josh Lawson, aside from a chin dimple, is barely passable as Lazenby. His hair looks horrible throughout (is that a paint brush hanging from the back of his head?). He does an OK job with acting the part, but the more they put up original footage of Lazenby, the worse he fairs by comparison. Some of the period details are awful, too. What is that yellow Honda doing there? Twice!

Do you enjoy scenes with farting and diarrhea? You're in luck because there's one that goes on forever (one thing the Bond films of this era excelled at was editing!!!! - not so here). And there's one tasteless threesome sex scene that made me cringe. Doesn't matter if it happened in real life or not. Some things are best left to the imagination (if there!).

The meh: There is little sense of time or place. We don't even here of 007 or the Beatles or anything else "60s!" until 3/4s of the way through. Speaking of period correctness, John Piscitello's score is serviceable for catching the mood of the situations but there's no 60s spy-vibe to it a la Laurie Johnson, Edwin Astley, or (eh hem) John Barry.

In closing there is very little of Lazenby becoming Bond at all, just enough to whet the viewer (work on his accent and walk, for example). There's no mention of the reasons Lazenby left the film. First, he was not treated well on set with orders given not to speak to him directly (Peter Hunt had an assistant address the actor). And two, he was told by people he trusted that the Bond craze was just about finished anyway and he shouldn't be shackled to a has-been character. Not touching on these is like a bio on Napoleon that neglects Waterloo.

I still like George Lazenby so the film didn't ruin that, but it did ruin itself.

This is not a movie about James Bond, it is about George Lazenby. Bond isn't even brought up until 2/3 through the movie (not counting the intro). With that aside, this is a pretty good movie. George Lazenby is very amusing, and most people will at least get a few laughs out of this. Most of the movie follows his love life and if you are looking for a movie about his love life then you're in luck, but if you're looking for a bond movie then look somewhere else.