Monday, November 30, 2009

Bringing in the Christmas Season With James Bond (and John Barry & Louie Armstrong)


One may not think of a James Bond film as traditional holiday fare, but every Christmas season I watch On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

The film, which was released in December of 1969, has a Christmas setting and takes place in the snow-covered Swiss Alps.

The film, despite not having the great Sean Connery as Bond, is one the best in the series, in my view.

Considering that the new Bond, George Lazenby, had to follow Connery in the role, and that he had not acted before, I believe he delivered a better than fair portrayal of Bond.

He looked like Ian Fleming's Bond and he was very good in the fight and action scenes.

The film was also graced with Diana Rigg as Tracy, a strong, yet troubled woman with whom Bond has a serious - if ultimately tragic - love affair.

Telly Savalas was a commanding and truly mad Ernst Stavro Blofeld and the supporting actors were also very good.

The director of this fine film was Peter Hunt. Hunt, who edited the earlier Bond films, was faithful to Ian Fleming's novel, even going with the thriller's dark ending. Hunt gave us a true Bond thriller.

You can watch a trailer of the film via the below link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVP2n_GcdlQ

And you can listen to John Barry's great love song song by the late jazz great Louie Armstrong via the below link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-BQTnw7g-s

Merry Christmas from Bond, James Bond.

No comments:

Post a Comment