Always loved Charles Gray in Diamonds, Devil Rides Out and as a snickering Saville Road tailor in an Orson Welles comedy skit. I'll take silky urbane villains over real world arrested-teen-baseball-cap-wearing tech baddies anytime.
This is probably the first Bond film made entirely for the money, with a plot cobbled together from various sources and a cast that looks like it's seen better days or been up all night at a great party. It's only a heartbeat away from the great Bond films, so there's still something of that style lingering on, plus some neat innovations and, as you say, it still feels authentic and Bondian unlike so much of what is to come. Definitely worth a Bank Holiday re-viewing, so thanks for flagging it up!
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is my favourite too. Diamonds are Forever is one of my least favourites, with only Die Another Day, Quantum of Solace, The World is Not Enough, A View to a Kill, and Licence to Kill ranking lower. I wouldn't say it feels tired, but you're right to describe it as "seedy". There's a greyness to it, and much of it feels needlessly cruel, even mean-spirited. It's disjointed too. You're completely right in saying that the Amsterdam and the Vegas segments feel totally different, and other commenters have noted that the plot's "cobbled together from various sources". The beginning of the end? I wouldn't say so, as I much prefer many of the films that followed. But the first major misstep in the series.
What could you cover next? I don't know when you last saw For Your Eyes Only, but if it's been a while, you might find that it's a lot better than you remembered. There's a sunniness and a positivity to that film, I find. And I hope you tackle Moonraker and Golden Gun - neither are at all grounded in reality, but they're irresistibly fun, and as far removed from the brutal, po-faced Craig films as it's possible to get.
Plus, Goldeneye is a god-tier Bond film (it's in my top five!) and Tomorrow Never Dies is highly underrated.
Many thanks! Funnily enough, I’ve already covered Golden Gun- https://lukehoney.substack.com/p/the-man-with-the-golden-gun-1974 is one of my favourites, but probably for all the wrong reasons. For Your Eyes only? Really not sure I can bring myself to do that one. It was on television a few weeks ago. WEEKEND FLICKS is supposed to be a film recommendation Substack. Need to get my thinking cap on…
Always loved Charles Gray in Diamonds, Devil Rides Out and as a snickering Saville Road tailor in an Orson Welles comedy skit. I'll take silky urbane villains over real world arrested-teen-baseball-cap-wearing tech baddies anytime.
Quite. He could well be my number one Bond villain. Altho' I have a sneaky liking for Telly S in OHMSS.
This is probably the first Bond film made entirely for the money, with a plot cobbled together from various sources and a cast that looks like it's seen better days or been up all night at a great party. It's only a heartbeat away from the great Bond films, so there's still something of that style lingering on, plus some neat innovations and, as you say, it still feels authentic and Bondian unlike so much of what is to come. Definitely worth a Bank Holiday re-viewing, so thanks for flagging it up!
It's the last Bond film in the old style, isn't it? I like Live and Let Die, but it's entirely different. And yet only two years separate them.
Enjoyable read Luke! Hope you still own that Corgi Moon Buggy?!
Alas, no. Went long, long ago. No idea what happened to it. In any event, condition not great and box chucked.
Same as my childhood toys… so annoying!
I love/hate this one big time. I love the Vegas parts and Willard White, but it's an objectively shit movie. Still, buckets of lighthearted fun.
Much better when stoned.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is my favourite too. Diamonds are Forever is one of my least favourites, with only Die Another Day, Quantum of Solace, The World is Not Enough, A View to a Kill, and Licence to Kill ranking lower. I wouldn't say it feels tired, but you're right to describe it as "seedy". There's a greyness to it, and much of it feels needlessly cruel, even mean-spirited. It's disjointed too. You're completely right in saying that the Amsterdam and the Vegas segments feel totally different, and other commenters have noted that the plot's "cobbled together from various sources". The beginning of the end? I wouldn't say so, as I much prefer many of the films that followed. But the first major misstep in the series.
What could you cover next? I don't know when you last saw For Your Eyes Only, but if it's been a while, you might find that it's a lot better than you remembered. There's a sunniness and a positivity to that film, I find. And I hope you tackle Moonraker and Golden Gun - neither are at all grounded in reality, but they're irresistibly fun, and as far removed from the brutal, po-faced Craig films as it's possible to get.
Plus, Goldeneye is a god-tier Bond film (it's in my top five!) and Tomorrow Never Dies is highly underrated.
Many thanks! Funnily enough, I’ve already covered Golden Gun- https://lukehoney.substack.com/p/the-man-with-the-golden-gun-1974 is one of my favourites, but probably for all the wrong reasons. For Your Eyes only? Really not sure I can bring myself to do that one. It was on television a few weeks ago. WEEKEND FLICKS is supposed to be a film recommendation Substack. Need to get my thinking cap on…
Charles Gray was a superb actor. Also dubbed the voice of Jack Hawkins after his cancer diagnosis
Thanks. Yes. Excellent point. I had forgotten that.