As five decades have come and gone since On Her Majesty's Secret Service's rocky release, fans have started to look back on the film with a lot more fondness. James Bond fans have done a complete 180 on OHMSS, with the reputation of the film going from divisive to beloved over time.
Along with Skyfall, both filmmakers and fans view the movie as a serious contender for Goldfinger's spot as the best 007 movie of all time. With that being said, there is a lot of things that went on behind the scenes of the only Bond movie with a one-time James Bond.
It Was Supposed To Be The Man With The Golden Gun
The Man With The Golden Gun came out five years after OHMSS and many fans of the franchise feel that it pales in comparison in regards to overall quality. However, official sources have revealed that the producers of the Bond series wanted it to follow You Only Live Twice.
What got in the way, however, was that the desired filming location, Cambodia, was suffering from some political unrest at the moment. Also, Roger Moore, their desired replacement for Sean Connery, was sadly unavailable at the time.
Why Sean Connery Dropped Out
George Lazenby ended up making his short-lived debut as James Bond because Sean Connery vacated the role. There are just as many factors that explain why Connery ended up leaving the role as there are for why he returned for Diamonds Are Forever.
In short, Sean Connery was simply fed up with the role. Despite his tenure as Bond being incredibly profitable, he felt he was constantly underpaid, mobbed by fans at every turn, and at the time was not on speaking terms with producer, Cubby Broccoli.
Timothy Dalton Could've Debuted Here
Despite his eventual turn as 007 being one of the more overlooked tenures in the franchise, Timothy Dalton was in high demand for the role of James Bond. He was also later considered for the role in For Your Eyes Only.
However, although he was offered the role, Dalton wound up turning it down, as he felt that at 23, he was too young to play the character. The producers eventually settled on Australian model George Lazenby after spotting him in a Fry's Ice Cream commercial.
A Major Upgrade For Peter Hunt
Peter Hunt had served as the editor of the Bond movies, doing what some fans felt was a better job at making them the legendary films that they are now than most of the Bond directors. For example, Hunt is responsible for the Bond pre-credits scene, coming up with the new staple during the tumultuous production of From Russia With Love.
After years of editing, Peter Hunt was promoted to director of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, lending the movie a more grounded, gritty style, as opposed to prior films' lavish style. Though Hunt's tenure with James Bond ended here, he cemented his legacy as one of the best Bond directors.
The Final Film For Irma Bunt
Irma Bunt, played excellently by German actress Ilse Steppat, is a memorable character in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but that fact may be a bit bittersweet for those involved. Alas, Steppat only lived long enough to see the film's premiere.
The movie came out on December 18th, 1969. Three days later, Steppat sadly passed away from a heart attack. Bunt was supposed to return for Diamonds Are Forever, but her untimely passing made this impossible.
Piz Gloria
Ernst Stavro Blofeld, now portrayed by Dirty Dozen star, Telly Savalas, found a new home in Piz Gloria in OHMSS. The location was found by the production team while they were scouting for locations in Switzerland before shooting.
Piz Gloria, which was intended to be a revolving restaurant, was only partially completed, so the producers put up the money to finish it, providing them with the villain's lair they desired. Piz Gloria is still in operation today, with the restaurant serving as a must for Bond fans vacationing in The Alps.
Lazenby's Desire For Emotion
Though the criticisms towards Lazenby's wooden acting are valid, most fans feel he does an amazing job in the finale. Cradling the body of Diana Rigg's Tracy Bond in his arms, Lazenby's performance and the scene's overwhelming sadness will bring any Bond fan to tears.
Though the scene is perfect, Lazenby apparently wished to cry along with the fans, requesting that Bond cry at the death of his wife, as the scene in the novel provoked an emotional reaction from Lazenby when he read it. The idea was shot down by director Peter Hunt, as he felt Bond would never cry.
Louis Armstrong's Swan Song
Sadly, Ilse Steppat was not the only one to end their career with On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Louis Armstrong was and still is a superstar in the music industry and he provided his legendary vocals to the song "We Have All The Time In The World."
According to composer John Barry, Armstrong was extremely sick when they recorded the song, to the point that he couldn't perform with his iconic trumpet. "We Have All The Time In The World" was one of the last songs Armstrong performed before he passed away in 1971.
Lazenby's Departure
There was a lot of pressure on George Lazenby when he played James Bond. Not only was he not an actor, but he also was replacing the man who originated the role, so it's understandable that he didn't appreciate the scrutiny.
Though he was signed to do at least one more film, the whole thing came crashing down when George took advice from a friend who told him that Bond was passé. In the end, Lazenby bid Bond adieu, with Sean Connery returning for the next film.
It's Biggest Fan
OHMSS has earned a strong fanbase long after its release, with its biggest fan being a fairly famous director. Director Christopher Nolan counts On Her Majesty's Secret Service as his favorite Bond movie.
Nolan loves the mix of action and emotion, calling the film the most emotional of the Bond films. He even compares the movie to his own film, Inception, mainly in how both movies have a strong love story at the core of their respective plots.