George Lazenby and Diana Rigg enjoying themselves during the filming. Although Rigg said of her co-star in 1969: “I can no longer cater for his obsession with himself. He is utterly, unbelievably . . . bloody impossible”
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, released in 1969, was the sixth film in the James Bond series. Sean Connery had decided to retire the role after You Only Live Twice, Eon Productions replaced him with the almost unknown Australian actor and model, George Lazenby. The director Peter R. Hunt, who had been film editor and 2nd Unit director on the previous Bond films told the Washington post before the movie was released:
We wanted someone who oozed sexual assurance, and we think this fellow has that. Just wait til the women see him on screen … I am not saying he is an actor. There is a great deal of difference between an actor and a film star. Didn’t they find Gary Cooper when he was an electrician?
The movie was based on the tenth novel in Ian Fleming’s Bond series and was first published in the United Kingdom by Jonathan Cape on 1 April 1963. Over 60,000 copies of the book were sold in the first month. Fleming had written it at his home in Jamaica while Dr. No was being filmed nearby.
British cinema poster for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, designed and illustrated by Robert McGinnis and Frank McCarthy.
The Jonathan Cape first edition cover of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, published in 1963. It’s the second book in what is known as the “Blofeld trilogy”, which begins with Thunderball and concluded with You Only Live Twice.
Diana Rigg, Countess Tracy di Vicenzo – Marc-Ange Draco’s daughter, who, unlike nearly all other women he encounters, captures Bond’s heart. Like Honor Blackman in Goldfinger before her, Rigg was noticed through her work on The Avengers, where she played Emma Peel from 1965–68.
George Lazenby and the ‘Bond girls’.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service original soundtrack cover.
Back cover of the original soundtrack.
Actor George Lazenby with actress Diana Rigg during a press conference for the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ in London, 14th October 1968. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
One of the Bond hopefuls after Sean Connery’s decision to resign from the role, John Richardson reacts as his screen-test costar pulls out a gun, 1967
George Lazenby offers Helena Ronee a light during a break from filming.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, German lobby card, 1969.
Isabelle Aubret La Chanson du Film James Bond. The French dubbed version anyway.
Robert Campbell, who auditioned for the role of James Bond in OHMSS, 1967
Robert Campbell looks in the mirror between filming scenes for his James Bond audition, 1967.
James Bond audition candidate John Richardson (left), in profile, 1967 audition.
Hans De Vries (another Bond hopeful) and France Anglade, James Bond audition, 1967.
George Lazenby and Bond Girl hopeful Agneta Eckemyr during the auditions, 1967.
George and the OHMSS Bond Girls including Julie Ege, Jenny Hanley, Anouska Hempel, Joanna Lumley, Catherina von Schell, Angela Scowler and Mona Chong.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, German lobby card. 1969
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. Cover designed by Raymond Hawkey. London- Pan Books, 1965.
French film magazine Ciné Revue profiles the Bond girls of OHMSS.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, German lobby card, 1969.
Daily Express strip of OHMSS drawn by John McLusky.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service director Peter R. Hunt oversees a test love scene between John Richardson and an actress audition.
James Bond hopeful George Lazenby fiddles with a knife while chatting with Bond director Peter R. Hunt, 1967
George Lazenby leans against a bar during a moment away from James Bond auditions, 1967.
George Lazenby twirls a gun beside potential Bond Girl Marie-France Boyer, 1967.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, German lobby card, 1969.
Diana Rigg who plays Countess Tracy di Vicenzo – Marc-Ange Draco’s daughter, who, unlike nearly all other women he encounters, captures Bond’s heart. Like Honor Blackman in Goldfinger before her, Rigg was noticed through her work on The Avengers, where she played Emma Peel from 1965–68.
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