October 7th 2012. Pick Of The Day

HARD choices today, as Nitehawk Cinema kicks the day's doings off with a noon screening of THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, Film Forum presents silent comedy master Harold Lloyd in THE FRESHMAN, BAM sates our Hitchcock thirst with a 35mm unspooling of THE BIRDS, Moving Image's Kenji Misumi series gives with the swordplay flash of FIGHT, ZATOICHI FIGHT, and even the otherwise cinematically moribund Symphony Space screens the once and future best film of all time CITIZEN KANE, as part of their Thalia Film Class series. Yet I choose none of these. Why, you ask, mouth agape? I mean why you ask mouth agape? Clos'a yoo mouth.

ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE was once the black sheep of the Bond franchise, certainly in the eyes of its producers, Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli, if not for reasons box office then surely because their Connery replacement admittedly let the lucky casting break go to his head. George Lazenby shares the distinction of having played Bond only once with American actor Barry Nelson, who played "Jimmy Bond" in an episode of TV's Climax theater in the late 50's. Also hastening Lazenby's exit was Connery's rethink of his decision to leave the role and decision to return for the seventh entry DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. For all intent and purpose, it was an agreement assumed between creators and audience that the sixth entry would be generously regarded a misstep and forgotten.

Except the opposite happened, and why wouldn't it? OHMSS stands out as an excellent action/adventure flick regardless of it's cinematic lineage, and the Bond fans were quick to reappraise this worthy effort in the genre and the series. Lazenby isn't as bad as originally assessed, though indeed he remains no Connery, and the film entire has merits that would over time raise the regard in which it was held by the Bond fanatic. Indeed, some claimed it was the best in the series in spite of not featuring the most iconic essayer of the title role. Diana Rigg absolutely shines as Tracy Drago, and Telly Savalas stood in for Donald Pleasance as Dr. Evil's dad Blofeld, and it's a shame he only got one crack at Bond villainy because he chews the role up with abandon. Rigg and Savalas were surely cast to provide some star power to balance the new unknown entity, but it's worth noting that no expense was spared among the film's various departments to deliver a knockout punch of an action film for fear of ruining the brand. The stunts and fight choreography are top-notch, the art and set design are as lavish as any preceding it, and the direction of previous series editor Peter Hunt is slick and taut. He too, sadly, only got one crack at the franchise.

The climax involves a helicopter siege on a snowy mountain fortress, and the conclusion features for the first time a devastating defeat that will personally haunt our hero. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE may be the odd duck in the franchise for several reasons, but its prestige has only grown for fans of Fleming's super-spy and it proved for the first time that the role was bigger than any one actor who'd wear a tuxedo under their wet suit. Screening today at 5:30pm in glorious 35mm at MOMA. For the full month's overview scroll down to the OCTOBER 2012 article. Be sure to join the Facebook group. Twitter feed coming soon! Excelsior, suckahz!