If you ever thought you were bad at your job, just remember an agent once told someone *NOT* to star in James Bond because it wasnt going to be relevant after the 1960s...
He wasn't wrong though. Bond completely went into 70's Camp from DaF onwards while the early movies are not necessarily realistic but somewhat serious. That means that the Producers were themselfs aware that they need to change in order to go with the time to stay successful.
A revenge driven, Diamond Are Forever, with George Lazenby, and directed by Peter Hunt would have cemented Lazenby as one of, if not the best Bond ever. OHMSS is one of the greatest Bond films.
I doubt that very much! OHMSS was not as successful as Connery's Bond films EON was desparate to get him back, hence the million dollar fee. But even then, Diamonds... wasn't the great hit it was expected to be. OHMSS was a better movie, tho.
@@spatrick1441 The film only recently has been reassessed by fans and critics I feel in the last decade or so. It use to be sort of be the black sheep of the franchise since Lazenby was one and done. Also, Bond marries the girl which was against the norm back then and stylistically it was very different than the previous Bonds as well. A lot of people didn’t want an emotional Bond…they wanted the womanizing Sean Connery damnit!
@@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ Yes, I’m aware. What I mean is they didn’t want Bond to settle down and be a one woman man which he is by the end of the film. In general, audiences of the time weren’t necessarily looking for a courtship/ love story in a Bond film.
Me too. And even without Connery, OHMSS is still my favorite of the classic Bond films. The direction and cinematography were maybe the best the series would look for a long time. I like Moore's era well enough, but visually they were a big step backwards. Diamonds already was, but Moore's films just looked bland. Even if that skydiving sequence from Moonraker is absolutely incredible. Shame it's in kind of a crap movie, because what a sequence that was!
The scene of him breaking down emotionally lost as the henchmen close in is fantastic and not something we'd see from a Bond. It's a great adaption of a great novel and I don't think audiences were ready for that at the time.
I'm massive Bond fan myself. Lazenby was fantastic as Bond and I truly wish he would have stayed on as the character. This sequel sounds like it would have been groundbreaking for its time and truly fantastic to watch. I strongly recommend everyone who watches to also checkout the documentary "Becoming Bond," it was released in 2017 and has several interviews with Lazenby himself talking about how he got the role. It's been a while since I watched it, so I don't remember the exact details, but I remember feeling that he had regret over losing the role
@@davidjames579 I agree completely. Qauntum of Solace which became the first direct sequel in the franchise, is arguably the weakest of Daniel Craig's run in my opinion. This sounds like it would have truly been a classic and on the upper tier of Bond films. Unfortunately we will never know.
@@QuintonLeo This also had a lot to do with the writer’s strike at the time. No professional writers could edit the script and they went into production with it really not being ready. Craig was having to do rewrites with the director day off in some cases onset.
It's odd how On Her Majesty's Secret Service is considered a bit of an outlier in the Bond franchise when it's by far the most influential film in the series. Hell, look at how most of Austin Powers came out directly out of it: Austin's iconic outfit, the character of Frau, even Dr. Evil's portrayal is mostly based on this particular version of Blofeld. It would have been interesting to see the series continue in that direction. We would have gotten a more grounded Bond long before Daniel Craig.
you jest of course... Thunderball was more influential; in a certain film called True Lies, Arnold Shwarzenegger wears a tuxedu under a wetsuit. And he also has a "Breather" later in that movie. And a jet is stolen in that movie And of course the film was virtually remade into Never Say Never Again. etc.
Frau was based on a Rosa Klebb from From Russia with Love and Dr. Evil was based on the You Only Live Twice version of Blofeld. All in all Diamonds are Forever seems like a heavier influence on Austin Powers.
Part that kills me the most about that film is his rambling genealogy speech to the ladies and how he referred to himself using the nickname "Hildie". Never did quite get used to him as Bond.
Correction: Felix didn’t die in Licence to Kill. His bride Della did, but Felix was only mauled by Sanchez’s shark. He’s still alive at the end of the film taking to Bond on the phone.
@@garethpeck3607in the Licence To Kill novelisation it's Felix's SECOND leg to be bitten off by a shark. As following novel Canon he'd already lost one to shark torture in Live And Let Die. In the book he even comments on the bad luck of running foul of two independent sets of baddies who feed victims to sharks.
@@benjaminfisher5351 lol I know it's like something out of Austin Powers. But the writer was told to keep the novelisation of the film a sequel to the Fleming novels. Despite the films not being in continuity to the novels (the shark attack was not used in the film of Live And Let Die but held off until Licence To Kill).
It's a really odd one. The pre credits scene is awful , particularly as it's the only reference to the previous film. Then the first hour or so is pretty good. Tiffany Case is an interesting character as are Whit and Kidd. But then it just goes completely off the rails like another director came on board😮.
On her Majesty's Secret Service is one of the best Bond flicks in my opinion, storywise at least, and with a very strong and unexpected ending. Mr Lazenby himself is also a perfect gentleman and, put it simply, just a very nice guy. That's my memory of him as I've met him and had a lengthy discussion with him regarding his career and life in general. He did tell me the full story behind him not continuing on as Bond, as this video do only partially reveal. But it is a shame we did not see him in more of them, as he himself has since then regretted. He was however, as I perceived it, content with the life he lived with several children.
The interviewers in Japan kept addressing him as James Bond and didn't want to see him as anything but that, e.g wanting to discuss other roles he was doing or would like to.
Mine too! I saw it when it first came out. It was my favourite then and still is. Lazenby was surprisingly good and supported by Savalas as one of the best villains and Diana Rigg as the heroine, wow. The fight scenes and ski sequences were all outstanding. How could you ask for more.
On Her Majestys Secret Service was the most underrated bond film ever made. I would've to have seen a revenge driven version of Diamonds are Forever. And yes, I know I already made a comment like this, but this is how much I wish Lazenby was given another Bond film.
The original Goldeneye script, by Michael France, would make a good What Could Have Been. It’s online to read. I couldn’t picture Dalton, as it was originally for him, and I couldn’t picture Brosnan either, as he starred in it, because I kept picturing Craig because it has a more serious tone like his Bond movies. Alec Trevelyan was older and a mentor to Bond, and aspects of the script got used in later Bond movies
Anthony Hopkins (who was also offered the role of Elliot Carver in *"Tomorrow Never Dies")* was considered for the role of Augustus Trevelyan, but he turned it down. Also, Alan Rickman was considered but he too turned it down, stating that he was getting tired of playing a villain.
George had also got into The Counter Culture (and LSD) and genuinely believed Bond was old news, and in fact a bully of the state. He used his brief clout to get a film made that addresses this, Universal Soldier (1971). In the film, Lazenby plays an ace hit man who retires after giving up violence and embracing peace.
Even though Lazenby had a short stint as Bond, I believe if he had more films he would have grown into the role. Plus on her majesty secret service theme is so cool.
The great composer John Barry, wrote an incredible score for this movie, perhaps the best of his Bond scores. It's here on youtube ua-cam.com/play/OLAK5uy_na2bQww286MtcLwf7kBN2eiBasfztuDhY.html
Honestly not the biggest fan of Timothy Daltons bond, but you have to commend the man for understanding that James Bond should be older than his 20’s. Very cool of him to pass on the role at first, it shows that he understood who the character of Bond is.
Agree. I'm not a big fan of his Bond, but he was probably the actor who thought most about what's right for the character. I didn't even know until now that he was already considered so early for the role...crazy.
I prefer *Tony* Dalton's James Bond in _Better Call Saul_ .The Lalo character is obviously based on 007, with him coming to a hilariously inverted end.
@@johnclements6070part of the fun of the Bond fandom is passing on things found out. Yes you could look that up on Wikipedia, but don't put someone down for passing on something they've found out. There's excitement in talking about anything to do with Bond. No need to be snarky.
To quote Star-Lord, “finally”. Nice work. You should dive into James Brolin almost being Bond in Octopussy. He even did a screen test with Maud Adams and got pretty close until they brought Roger Moore back to compete against Sean Connery and Never Say Never Again.
I grew up in the 80s so my first Bond was Octopussy and as a kid I loved Roger Moore but as I got older and I started watching all of them in order and when I got to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, that became my new favorite! In my top 5 Bond movies.
Yes I was the same. I utterly loved Roger Moore as Bond. Why? He was the one I saw first. People forget the 70s was a pretty grim time. Moore was the perfect Bond for that era, the over the top fun and brilliant adventures. Live and Let Die is good, The Spy Who Loved me is utterly superb and Moonraker is bonkers fun, For Your Eyes only is brilliant as well...All the Bonds had at least one great Bond movie. The thing I liked most about Moore though, is he was a true gent. He was as sophisticated, suave and urbane as the characters he played. He was also a true Englishman of the old school, old fashioned type. I always thought Connery when I saw him as Bond was a bit too...I dont know...smug maybe. Moore never moaned about the role off screen unlike a lot of the others as well, he got on with it and made the best of it and stuck with it as he knew it made him a lot of money. Why complain about something that makes you rich and famous and opens doors? Connery, Lazenby and Craig should have kept that in mind....
Based on what you shared, I would have loved Dalton to star in OHMSS and to have a LTK inflected DAF as his sequel. The Bond Series over the years has had many missed opportunities and yet many have kept coming back for more. In the end though, we got Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig. We got all the “good bits” just out of order. One wishes we could have a total reboot and could start from scratch with a great Bond and all of the best bits in some sort of coherent order from book and screen.
Dalton with Judi Dench as Traci Draco ☺... but seriously... other Bond books have been written by other authors and as it stands.. The Man With the Golde gun is a contiuation of the YOLT plot lines that were used in NTTD.
Richard Maibaum also wrote an early Batman screenplay before being replaced by Tom Mankiewicz yet again. It’s in the Maibaum archives at the University of Iowa. Good luck getting ahold of that one! 😊
The movie was better than the actor. Not that he came off too terribly, but I wouldn't have minded him being recast again, with a story in the same vein.
Damn. The original script for lazenby in diamonds is actually quite entertaining. Blofeld's original death seems a bit anticlimactic though. Great video
On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the first Bond film I ever saw (edited for television in the 1980s). That movie (& Lazenby) remain the definitive Bond story for me. All the rest that I eventually saw either measured up to it, or failed miserably. Casino Royale came close. OHMSS is the bar.
Yes, I'm the same! Might have been the same showing! It meant I had a different view of the Bond series from a lot of people, since the early 80s was peak Roger Moore.
@@juniorjames7076 That was probably the one: I was very young and ABC lost its franchise in the early 80s! I'll never forget seeing that ending: it really hit me at such an early age.
I'm probably in a minority when I say this, but I'm much happier that we got DAF with Connery in the end, and that the film was a somewhat campy segway into the Moore films. I've never been a fan of OHMSS and I really don't like Lazenby, and it's probably better that he got one film so his one film stands out.
Maybe one day AI can show us what both versions of the scrapped DAF could've looked like. I think the Goldfinger II angle would've done better at the Box Office, but the OHMSS II version, that would've aged like fine wine. As TravisMiddleton8218 said below, either of these would've been better than what we got.
i must say that the plot for if diamonds are forever was a sequel to majesties is really interesting in my opinion, wouldve probably been interesting to see how would it have played out in motion
OHMSS is one of my favourite films...I wish this was the real 'Diamonds are Forever' because I would 100% watch this. George Lazenby is so underrated as Bond and it's clear to me that his take on Bond and the uniqueness of OHMSS was used later in Craig's 007 films (I love them as well). Fantastic video
Liked Lazenby, bad mistake turning 6 picture deal down! OHMSS is one of the best and one of my guilty pleasures! Do wish Lazenby had given it another go!
I don't dislike Sean Connery's diamonds but I do think that George Lazenby one would have been a lot better. I know there's a few Bond stories that Ian Fleming wrote that has yet been made into films I think they should go that route and make it a period film.
Apparently one of the reasons EON are against doing a period Bond is a large part of their funding comes from product placement and you can't sell new phones and watches in a period film.
To this day, I really wished we would’ve gotten the original Richard Maibaum script instead of Mankiewicz one that we got in Diamonds are Forever. Besides the script being poor and Hamilton’s over-the-top direction in the film, my main issue was that it should’ve been a direct sequel to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service where Bond’s revenge towards Blofeld needed to be throughout the movie, not just have it wrap up during the opening sequence. As for whether it should’ve been Connery and Lazenby returning on Bond, I honestly don’t care because both actors did exceptional work with the character, but the one actor I did wished return was Savalas as Blofeld along with Hunt returning to direct it.
It's a pity that EON gave up on the chance to do an interesting exploration of the character. They'd been planning OHMSS since 1964 as the big one, and they when they finally released it they got scared it wasn't Bond enough and hadn't made enough money. It cost less than YOLT and made not much less than it. Lazenby leaving gave them the perfect excuse to hit reset and pretend OHMSS had never happened. I think it was an overreaction. OHMSS wasn't universally hated or a bomb. Neither was Lazenby. But EON decided they wanted another Goldfinger and set about bringing in the personnel from there. As much as I love Diamonds it was still a cop out. A variety show rather than where does Bond go after his wife is murdered.
I wish Lazenby would have done DAF and then maybe walked away. I've heard they offered him a 6 picture deal , they didn't want him back , the studio heads wanted Connery back. So many different stories we'll probably never know.
I was a huge Bond fan in my youth. Saw Goldfinger in the theater at age 11, shortly thereafter United Arttists re-released Dr. No and From Russia With Love as a double feature. By the time You Only Live Twice was released, fans saw Sean Connery AS James Bond… myself included. As a result, OHMSS was a huge disappointment to me because Lazenby was an “imposter”. Of course as time marched on and several actors were cast in the role I think OHMSS got a second look without the Connery factor being as big a deal and it has rightly established itself as one of the best Bond films.
A great what if.... Had Lazenby stayed on, he could have ran until he was too old or bored which ever came first. Lazenby could have conceivably been Bond, Retiring at 50 plus in the 90s. He could have been just the second Bond, with Brosnan taking over in 1995?
Sean Connery orginally signed a six picture deal and then felt left behind. George Lazenby could have been the Bond of the 1970's, but wasn't accustomned to the pace of movie making.
God I love the early Bond movies, OHMSS definitely included even though I prefer Connery. I hope the Bond franchise achieves a return to form, but I'm not very hopeful after the last few movies and all the rhetoric coming from the producers.
What a fabulous, inventive, far-reaching, long-ranging re-imagining of "what might have been". Kudos for your imagination - and thanks for a great laugh. Your creativity is appreciated.
Damn, this plot sounds WAY better than what we ended up with. We finally would’ve got 008 who has yet to show up. I think Idres Elba will be perfect for the roll.
I always thought Diamonds are Forever was a direct sequel anyway to OHMSS (just a return to the original actor). It makes total sense that Bond's anger in hunting for Blofeld at the beginning of Diamonds was to avenge Tracey's death from OHMSS. Its almost like a quick Bond "Taken" montage... "Where is this guy? I want to kill him and I'll kick anyone's ass in my way." And the minute he thinks he found Blofeld. He just kills the guy. No talk. Just throws him into boiling mud. "Welcome to hell." He wasn't on any case for MI6, it was personal.
That's interesting about the nature of Irma Bunt's death as Maibaum repurposed a deleted sequence from On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Partially filmed, and then abandoned because of the shoot overrunning, it involves Bond pursuing a SPECTRE spy who works at The Royal College Of Arms. We in fact see him in the film. He shows the Bond Coat Of Arms to Bond in his meeting with Sir Hillary Bray. He then leaves the room. As filmed, but deleted he's listening in on the conversation via a bug in a statue he gave to Bray. Bond picks up on this, finds the bug, and goes after the spy. A chase ensures. Filming stopped at the beginning of this, outside the college. The sequence would have continued with Bond pursuing the spy to a post office where he manages to post the recording of Bond and Bray's meeting to Blofeld. Bond chases after him, ending up on the underground railway, but rather than the tube, this is Mail Rail, a real life means of transporting mail across London. It also features in Hudson Hawk, doubling as the Vatican's Mail Rail. Bond kicks the spy onto the electrified rail. The sequence would then have continued with not only the parcel being intercepted so Blofeld doesn't get it, but an elaborate fake train crash being enacted to explain the spy's death so Blofeld wouldn't get suspicious why contact had stopped. We would see this. Due to expense and the production falling behind, this was never shot. But in fairness it probably wouldn't have made the final cut as the film was already the longest Bond film then, which concerned the producers. Tbf the sequence while great would have brought the film to a standstill, and is unnecessary. There is however a reference to it in the released film. After Bond first arrives in Switzerland we can see his contact reading a newspaper. One headline reads ".......killed in rush hour train crash". This was a nod to that, that was presumably added when the pursuit sequence was still intended to be shot.
Growing up I was a huge bond fan and when I got my first job the first videos I bought were the Star Wars trilogy and Bond films. OHMSS is my favourite bond film, but I only came to that conclusion after countless viewings of all the films. It's a great shame that Lazenby didn't continue, if he did we would have had some intense dramatic films.
OHMSS is so underrated. Lazenby made Bond human and is the key to the character of Bond in so many later Bond movies. Diana Rigg is magnificent as always and the rumour that Lazenby was actually tripping on set while filming some scenes just makes its magic unsurpassable. Can you imagine Connery on drugs? A true moment in cinema history.
It is great to read so many people praising Lazenby as Bond. I think it’s a terrible shame he didn’t continue. Connery was too old for Diamonds are Forever and Roger Moore was just not right. We were too used to seeing his winking-at-the-audience TV role as The Saint.
Connery was too old in ''Never Say Never Again''. Moore, especially from ''The Spy Who Loved Me'', was the right man at the right time (except the last film). 28.01- 29.06 ua-cam.com/video/vQ5PC7m45_0/v-deo.html
I have long been fascinated by the idea of a Lazenby led DAF, and so had been hoping for ages that you might do this video! Big props to you for the excellent end result - it clearly must’ve taken a lot of time and effort 👏🏼. I do wonder if the passing of Ilse Steppat (Irma Bunt) just 4 days after OHMSS’s international release was a contributing factor in plans changing. It may have confused audiences if the part had been re-cast in DAF for little more than a cameo appearance.
If Bunt is for most of her appearance in DAF looking like a man, I wonder if Lazenby could have chased and fought a stuntman, then Bunt's only appearance is when the disguise is removed. Could they have got away with it after Steppat's death? Maybe used a double, but with her eyes closed and obscured by a dark railway tunnel. And turn have Bond and M discuss Bunt's death, so we know it's her.
Never forget, that one line survived the version of _Diamonds Are Forever_ that we got, albeit delivered in different circumstances by the other character: (On Blofeld's Death) *BOND* Well, well, well ... look what the cat dragged in.
The producers liked to reuse cut ideas. Die Another Day deals with conflict diamonds, and in Licence to Kill Bond goes into the villain's inner circle after the deaths of agents. The plot of this DAF would've been great, even if the final film is closer to the novel.
It would have been interesting having John Gavin as James Bond. After all, he would eventually be American ambassador to Mexico. Imagine a James Bond actor having Diplomatic Immunity
Lazenby ❤wasn’t bad and who knows what his Bond could have been … each new Bond needs 2-3 bond films before they can define their version of Bond. I believe strongly he could have been the Daniel Craig of his era ❕
Thats fascinating..... I actually like the idea of a specter civil War.... It sounds spiritually like the last Bond movie at least from the point of view of specter going to war with itself.
@@ianbrewster8934 it was dropped as EON no longer had the rights to SPECTRE or Blofeld. Cubby Broccoli also considered it too political as the younger villains were Socialist Revolutionaries looking to bring about a New World Order. This got somewhat diluted into Stromberg wanting to create a non-political New World Order. By nuking the existing ones. The idea though was eventually used to some extent in No Time To Die with Safin and his organisation as the young usurpers. His motivation is possibly Eugenics, its not very clear.
If you ever thought you were bad at your job, just remember an agent once told someone *NOT* to star in James Bond because it wasnt going to be relevant after the 1960s...
Worst. Agent. Ever....
A Government Secret Agent 🕵️♂️?
@@KellymatthewBarnesjohnny rivers?
Reminds me of Dick Rowe from Decca records who did not sign The Beatles because he thought guitar bands were out.
He wasn't wrong though. Bond completely went into 70's Camp from DaF onwards while the early movies are not necessarily realistic but somewhat serious. That means that the Producers were themselfs aware that they need to change in order to go with the time to stay successful.
A revenge driven, Diamond Are Forever, with George Lazenby, and directed by Peter Hunt would have cemented Lazenby as one of, if not the best Bond ever. OHMSS is one of the greatest Bond films.
Would've fitted into the Crime Films of 1971 like Dirty Harry and The French Connection
Decent film but it wouldn't have suddenly given Lazenby charisma. Which remains a problem with OHMSS. What a twit for leaving the series too.
There’s a great documentary on this with Lazenby telling his story. He did the whole thing on a whim anyway so you really cant blame him for quitting!
@@benjaminfisher5351 Yes! "Becoming Bond" (2017), delightfully directed by Josh Greenbaum.
I doubt that very much!
OHMSS was not as successful as Connery's Bond films
EON was desparate to get him back, hence the million dollar fee.
But even then, Diamonds... wasn't the great hit it was expected to be.
OHMSS was a better movie, tho.
This is one of my biggest what ifs ever…I actually enjoyed George Lazenby as Bond and OHMSS is one of the most underrated Bond films of the series.
i don't know about underrated - ohmss is counted as one of the best bond films in terms of story and character
@@spatrick1441 The film only recently has been reassessed by fans and critics I feel in the last decade or so. It use to be sort of be the black sheep of the franchise since Lazenby was one and done.
Also, Bond marries the girl which was against the norm back then and stylistically it was very different than the previous Bonds as well. A lot of people didn’t want an emotional Bond…they wanted the womanizing Sean Connery damnit!
@@chase138 And in this film Bond is womanizing.
@@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ Yes, I’m aware. What I mean is they didn’t want Bond to settle down and be a one woman man which he is by the end of the film. In general, audiences of the time weren’t necessarily looking for a courtship/ love story in a Bond film.
@chase138 Originally Bond was going to have a regular girlfriend. Eunice Grayson played her in the first two movies then the character was dropped.
I actually like George Lazenby, he makes Bond more emotionally relatable and likeable
Me too. And even without Connery, OHMSS is still my favorite of the classic Bond films. The direction and cinematography were maybe the best the series would look for a long time. I like Moore's era well enough, but visually they were a big step backwards. Diamonds already was, but Moore's films just looked bland. Even if that skydiving sequence from Moonraker is absolutely incredible. Shame it's in kind of a crap movie, because what a sequence that was!
True. Somehow i had the impression that he was more "modest".
The scene of him breaking down emotionally lost as the henchmen close in is fantastic and not something we'd see from a Bond. It's a great adaption of a great novel and I don't think audiences were ready for that at the time.
@@TheGrenadier97 The funny thing is that the actor himself was the opposite of that impression that he made.
@@davidjames579 Yeah same way they weren't ready for Lazenby. Too gritty for a lot of people. Yet Daniel Craig was a huge hit with audiences.
I'm massive Bond fan myself. Lazenby was fantastic as Bond and I truly wish he would have stayed on as the character. This sequel sounds like it would have been groundbreaking for its time and truly fantastic to watch.
I strongly recommend everyone who watches to also checkout the documentary "Becoming Bond," it was released in 2017 and has several interviews with Lazenby himself talking about how he got the role. It's been a while since I watched it, so I don't remember the exact details, but I remember feeling that he had regret over losing the role
I feel it could have potentially have been a Dark Knight or Dune Part Two of the series in the way it expands the character and his journey.
@@davidjames579 I agree completely. Qauntum of Solace which became the first direct sequel in the franchise, is arguably the weakest of Daniel Craig's run in my opinion. This sounds like it would have truly been a classic and on the upper tier of Bond films. Unfortunately we will never know.
It was his choice to act like an obnoxious ass and walk away from the role of a lifetime.
@@shib2352 yeah, he agrees with you on that.
@@QuintonLeo This also had a lot to do with the writer’s strike at the time. No professional writers could edit the script and they went into production with it really not being ready. Craig was having to do rewrites with the director day off in some cases onset.
It's odd how On Her Majesty's Secret Service is considered a bit of an outlier in the Bond franchise when it's by far the most influential film in the series. Hell, look at how most of Austin Powers came out directly out of it: Austin's iconic outfit, the character of Frau, even Dr. Evil's portrayal is mostly based on this particular version of Blofeld. It would have been interesting to see the series continue in that direction. We would have gotten a more grounded Bond long before Daniel Craig.
Don’t be silly.
you jest of course...
Thunderball was more influential;
in a certain film called True Lies, Arnold Shwarzenegger wears a tuxedu under a wetsuit.
And he also has a "Breather" later in that movie.
And a jet is stolen in that movie
And of course the film was virtually remade into Never Say Never Again.
etc.
Frau was based on a Rosa Klebb from From Russia with Love and Dr. Evil was based on the You Only Live Twice version of Blofeld. All in all Diamonds are Forever seems like a heavier influence on Austin Powers.
@@bobrew461 The tuxedo under the wet suit gag is from Goldfinger not Thunderball
Austin Powers was taken directly from Donald Plesence as Blofeld in ' You Only Live Twice'.
OHMSS had one of the best Bond climaxes ever-the great shoot outs on the peaks, and the bobsled battle. Fine epilogue as well.
Part that kills me the most about that film is his rambling genealogy speech to the ladies and how he referred to himself using the nickname "Hildie".
Never did quite get used to him as Bond.
Correction: Felix didn’t die in Licence to Kill. His bride Della did, but Felix was only mauled by Sanchez’s shark. He’s still alive at the end of the film taking to Bond on the phone.
High as a kite too haha. But yes, thnx for the correction
It's a pretty unlikely survival though...
@@garethpeck3607in the Licence To Kill novelisation it's Felix's SECOND leg to be bitten off by a shark. As following novel Canon he'd already lost one to shark torture in Live And Let Die. In the book he even comments on the bad luck of running foul of two independent sets of baddies who feed victims to sharks.
Wow that’s ridiculous.
@@benjaminfisher5351 lol I know it's like something out of Austin Powers. But the writer was told to keep the novelisation of the film a sequel to the Fleming novels. Despite the films not being in continuity to the novels (the shark attack was not used in the film of Live And Let Die but held off until Licence To Kill).
Both of these versions of Diamonds would have been better than what we got.
True, easily the worst of the Connery Bond movies.
It's so ridiculous and camp that it's entertaining.
It's a really odd one. The pre credits scene is awful , particularly as it's the only reference to the previous film. Then the first hour or so is pretty good. Tiffany Case is an interesting character as are Whit and Kidd. But then it just goes completely off the rails like another director came on board😮.
At least the climatic battle between Bond and Blofeld is top shelf, the way he bashes the minisub into things is thrilling cinema.
@@tedbailey3673Nice.
Always wished we saw more interaction between Bond and other double 0’s
006 was always killed before 007 was put on the case.
@@brucegilbert7243 I always thought there were several double 0’s out in the field at once?
@@whiskeyfx_7893008 is mentioned but never seen in Goldfinger.
@@brucegilbert7243 double 0 agents do work together, GoldenEye. Wish we saw more of that
Right? I loved Sean Bean as Alec Trevelyan in GoldenEye! I kind of wish they'd let him live in the end, and have him return as a recurring villain.
Bond fans are doomed to never receive a satisfying conclusion to Blofeld/SPECTRE.
SPECTRE most likely disbanded, and Blofeld got dumped down a smokestack in the beginning of "For Your Eyes Only."
@@Kutanamar I don't consider that scene in FYEO to be canon.
@@mayerbasic7004 I couldn't stand that. For me, it was more insulting than DAF ignoring OHMSS.
On her Majesty's Secret Service is one of the best Bond flicks in my opinion, storywise at least, and with a very strong and unexpected ending. Mr Lazenby himself is also a perfect gentleman and, put it simply, just a very nice guy. That's my memory of him as I've met him and had a lengthy discussion with him regarding his career and life in general. He did tell me the full story behind him not continuing on as Bond, as this video do only partially reveal. But it is a shame we did not see him in more of them, as he himself has since then regretted. He was however, as I perceived it, content with the life he lived with several children.
What's the story he told you?
OHMSS is still my favorite Bond. Lazenby nailed it first time out. He would have been terrific in six more films.
Lazenby was too wooden acting but would have liked to see more of Diana Rigg...
Lazenby played the best physical fighting Bond until Daniel Craig 37 years later. And Telly Savalas the best Blofeld.
Daniel Craig looks too Russian to be a Brit Bond...
"I'm not James Bond, I'm Sean Connery" What a legend.😅
The interviewers in Japan kept addressing him as James Bond and didn't want to see him as anything but that, e.g wanting to discuss other roles he was doing or would like to.
As an avid Bond film fan myself, I have been waiting for this video for a long time now and I'm glad I got to finally see it.
Lazenby was great, OHMSS was my favourite Bond film
Mine too! I saw it when it first came out. It was my favourite then and still is. Lazenby was surprisingly good and supported by Savalas as one of the best villains and Diana Rigg as the heroine, wow. The fight scenes and ski sequences were all outstanding. How could you ask for more.
On Her Majestys Secret Service was the most underrated bond film ever made. I would've to have seen a revenge driven version of Diamonds are Forever.
And yes, I know I already made a comment like this, but this is how much I wish Lazenby was given another Bond film.
Would've fitted into the Crime Films of that Year like Dirty Harry and The French Connection
He was given another Bond film, in fact he was given 4 or 6 Bond films, but refused on the advice of his agent…..The rest they say is history!!!!!
The original Goldeneye script, by Michael France, would make a good What Could Have Been. It’s online to read. I couldn’t picture Dalton, as it was originally for him, and I couldn’t picture Brosnan either, as he starred in it, because I kept picturing Craig because it has a more serious tone like his Bond movies. Alec Trevelyan was older and a mentor to Bond, and aspects of the script got used in later Bond movies
Anthony Hopkins (who was also offered the role of Elliot Carver
in *"Tomorrow Never Dies")* was considered for the role of Augustus Trevelyan, but he turned it down. Also, Alan Rickman was considered but he too turned it down, stating that he was getting tired of playing a villain.
I easily pictured Dalton
Dalton was the man
OOH ,,,Alan Rickman as a Bond Villian that would have great (Elliot Carver springs to mind ) ,,,,
Oh George. If only he had a different agent. He would have ruled the 70s. This is the diamonds that should have been.
George had also got into The Counter Culture (and LSD) and genuinely believed Bond was old news, and in fact a bully of the state. He used his brief clout to get a film made that addresses this, Universal Soldier (1971). In the film, Lazenby plays an ace hit man who retires after giving up violence and embracing peace.
@davidjames579 And a right load of old Tosh it is ,,,,
I wish lazenby came back honestly I love majesty
Check out the Lazenby documentary “Becoming Bond” starring him!
Even though Lazenby had a short stint as Bond, I believe if he had more films he would have grown into the role. Plus on her majesty secret service theme is so cool.
💯 He was the proto-Dalton/Craig. More serious and grounded
The great composer John Barry, wrote an incredible score for this movie, perhaps the best of his Bond scores. It's here on youtube ua-cam.com/play/OLAK5uy_na2bQww286MtcLwf7kBN2eiBasfztuDhY.html
No divas allowed!
Best bond theme full stop
Honestly not the biggest fan of Timothy Daltons bond, but you have to commend the man for understanding that James Bond should be older than his 20’s. Very cool of him to pass on the role at first, it shows that he understood who the character of Bond is.
Agree. I'm not a big fan of his Bond, but he was probably the actor who thought most about what's right for the character. I didn't even know until now that he was already considered so early for the role...crazy.
I prefer *Tony* Dalton's James Bond in _Better Call Saul_ .The Lalo character is obviously based on 007, with him coming to a hilariously inverted end.
I never liked Dalton as Bond until I read the books, and realized that Dalton was the most accurate Bond of them all.
Fun Fact: Hugh Jackman, Tom Hardy, Sam Worthington And Ewan McGregor Were All Considered For The Role Of James Bond Before Daniel Craig Was Cast
“Hello there”
“Mr. Bond, you are a bold one”
@@johnclements6070part of the fun of the Bond fandom is passing on things found out. Yes you could look that up on Wikipedia, but don't put someone down for passing on something they've found out. There's excitement in talking about anything to do with Bond. No need to be snarky.
And Jude Law
So was Clive Owen.
All terrible choices.
To quote Star-Lord, “finally”.
Nice work. You should dive into James Brolin almost being Bond in Octopussy. He even did a screen test with Maud Adams and got pretty close until they brought Roger Moore back to compete against Sean Connery and Never Say Never Again.
I saw ohmss last week for the first time and the ending hit me
I really wish we got more lazenby
OHMSS IS my favourite Bond movie, I would have loved to see his take on Diamonds Are Forever ❤
I grew up in the 80s so my first Bond was Octopussy and as a kid I loved Roger Moore but as I got older and I started watching all of them in order and when I got to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, that became my new favorite! In my top 5 Bond movies.
Yes I was the same. I utterly loved Roger Moore as Bond. Why? He was the one I saw first. People forget the 70s was a pretty grim time. Moore was the perfect Bond for that era, the over the top fun and brilliant adventures. Live and Let Die is good, The Spy Who Loved me is utterly superb and Moonraker is bonkers fun, For Your Eyes only is brilliant as well...All the Bonds had at least one great Bond movie. The thing I liked most about Moore though, is he was a true gent. He was as sophisticated, suave and urbane as the characters he played. He was also a true Englishman of the old school, old fashioned type. I always thought Connery when I saw him as Bond was a bit too...I dont know...smug maybe. Moore never moaned about the role off screen unlike a lot of the others as well, he got on with it and made the best of it and stuck with it as he knew it made him a lot of money. Why complain about something that makes you rich and famous and opens doors? Connery, Lazenby and Craig should have kept that in mind....
This is the best 007 info I have ever seen on youtube. I salute you!
Wow, thanks!
Oh man, Sean Connery being stalked and photographed in the loo is next level paparazzi 😖😖😖😖
Based on what you shared, I would have loved Dalton to star in OHMSS and to have a LTK inflected DAF as his sequel.
The Bond Series over the years has had many missed opportunities and yet many have kept coming back for more. In the end though, we got Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig. We got all the “good bits” just out of order.
One wishes we could have a total reboot and could start from scratch with a great Bond and all of the best bits in some sort of coherent order from book and screen.
Dalton with Judi Dench as Traci Draco ☺... but seriously... other Bond books have been written by other authors and as it stands.. The Man With the Golde gun is a contiuation of the YOLT plot lines that were used in NTTD.
Richard Maibaum also wrote an early Batman screenplay before being replaced by Tom Mankiewicz yet again. It’s in the Maibaum archives at the University of Iowa. Good luck getting ahold of that one! 😊
Mankiewicz's script had some good ideas but it was far too campy.
Thank you for this video. I love the Bond film series!
I liked Lazenby. OHMSS was very good. Would have for sure like to see more of Lazenby.
The movie was better than the actor. Not that he came off too terribly, but I wouldn't have minded him being recast again, with a story in the same vein.
Dang we missed out on what could’ve been a nice sequel
Damn. The original script for lazenby in diamonds is actually quite entertaining. Blofeld's original death seems a bit anticlimactic though. Great video
Yeah. That was the only part I wasn't all that keen on. Seems like a silly way to end such an iconic foe.
another banger as always boss, your the man with this lol
Diamonds are forever forever forever🎶
And ever.
@@frankstrawnation AND EVER!
Search for Shirley Bassey singing "Where Do I Begin". She sounds like she's singing a Bond theme even when she's not!
On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the first Bond film I ever saw (edited for television in the 1980s). That movie (& Lazenby) remain the definitive Bond story for me. All the rest that I eventually saw either measured up to it, or failed miserably. Casino Royale came close. OHMSS is the bar.
Yes, I'm the same! Might have been the same showing! It meant I had a different view of the Bond series from a lot of people, since the early 80s was peak Roger Moore.
@@DomH75 ABC SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES!!!
@@juniorjames7076 That was probably the one: I was very young and ABC lost its franchise in the early 80s! I'll never forget seeing that ending: it really hit me at such an early age.
Been waiting a while for this… did not disappoint! 🤩
I'm probably in a minority when I say this, but I'm much happier that we got DAF with Connery in the end, and that the film was a somewhat campy segway into the Moore films. I've never been a fan of OHMSS and I really don't like Lazenby, and it's probably better that he got one film so his one film stands out.
Maybe one day AI can show us what both versions of the scrapped DAF could've looked like.
I think the Goldfinger II angle would've done better at the Box Office, but the OHMSS II version, that would've aged like fine wine.
As TravisMiddleton8218 said below, either of these would've been better than what we got.
Really wish Lazenby got at least one more Bond film to get a second chance to show off what's hes capable of as an actor, but, oh well.
i must say that the plot for if diamonds are forever was a sequel to majesties is really interesting in my opinion, wouldve probably been interesting to see how would it have played out in motion
Diana Rigg wiped the floor with her talents as a bond girl.
Thank you for the video! Interesting stuff!
OHMSS is one of my favourite films...I wish this was the real 'Diamonds are Forever' because I would 100% watch this. George Lazenby is so underrated as Bond and it's clear to me that his take on Bond and the uniqueness of OHMSS was used later in Craig's 007 films (I love them as well).
Fantastic video
Liked Lazenby, bad mistake turning 6 picture deal down! OHMSS is one of the best and one of my guilty pleasures! Do wish Lazenby had given it another go!
I don't dislike Sean Connery's diamonds but I do think that George Lazenby one would have been a lot better. I know there's a few Bond stories that Ian Fleming wrote that has yet been made into films I think they should go that route and make it a period film.
Apparently one of the reasons EON are against doing a period Bond is a large part of their funding comes from product placement and you can't sell new phones and watches in a period film.
@@davidjames579 true but you can say that they're experimental in that time period. Just got to be a little creative
George Lazenby also played Bond in the Man from Uncle movie to.
To this day, I really wished we would’ve gotten the original Richard Maibaum script instead of Mankiewicz one that we got in Diamonds are Forever. Besides the script being poor and Hamilton’s over-the-top direction in the film, my main issue was that it should’ve been a direct sequel to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service where Bond’s revenge towards Blofeld needed to be throughout the movie, not just have it wrap up during the opening sequence. As for whether it should’ve been Connery and Lazenby returning on Bond, I honestly don’t care because both actors did exceptional work with the character, but the one actor I did wished return was Savalas as Blofeld along with Hunt returning to direct it.
It's a pity that EON gave up on the chance to do an interesting exploration of the character. They'd been planning OHMSS since 1964 as the big one, and they when they finally released it they got scared it wasn't Bond enough and hadn't made enough money. It cost less than YOLT and made not much less than it. Lazenby leaving gave them the perfect excuse to hit reset and pretend OHMSS had never happened. I think it was an overreaction. OHMSS wasn't universally hated or a bomb. Neither was Lazenby. But EON decided they wanted another Goldfinger and set about bringing in the personnel from there. As much as I love Diamonds it was still a cop out. A variety show rather than where does Bond go after his wife is murdered.
This also begs the question, what if Timothy Dalton returned for Goldeneye in 1995?
I have a video on that
No, no, no. Too late for that! 1987: TIMOTHY DALTON!!! & 1995: PIERCE BROSNAN!!!
The question for me is, what if Timothy Dalton starting in ''A View to a Kill'' 1985?
I come to your channel for everything movie related! Thank you for another banger of a video!
I wish Lazenby would have done DAF and then maybe walked away. I've heard they offered him a 6 picture deal , they didn't want him back , the studio heads wanted Connery back. So many different stories we'll probably never know.
The Lazenby/Hunt version of Diamonds is one of cinema’s great missed opportunities.
I was a huge Bond fan in my youth. Saw Goldfinger in the theater at age 11, shortly thereafter United Arttists re-released Dr. No and From Russia With Love as a double feature. By the time You Only Live Twice was released, fans saw Sean Connery AS James Bond… myself included. As a result, OHMSS was a huge disappointment to me because Lazenby was an “imposter”. Of course as time marched on and several actors were cast in the role I think OHMSS got a second look without the Connery factor being as big a deal and it has rightly established itself as one of the best Bond films.
A really interesting video. A revenge thriller would have been much better than the film we got.
A great what if.... Had Lazenby stayed on, he could have ran until he was too old or bored which ever came first. Lazenby could have conceivably been Bond, Retiring at 50 plus in the 90s.
He could have been just the second Bond, with Brosnan taking over in 1995?
thanks for your hard work
As a lifelong Bond fan who devours any knowledge I can find about the subject this was breath taking as I'd never heard this ever before.
Sean Connery orginally signed a six picture deal and then felt left behind. George Lazenby could have been the Bond of the 1970's, but wasn't accustomned to the pace of movie making.
I've been looking forward to this one. Thank you
Lazenby was highlynunderrated. Though he wasnt an actor, he was a model.
So good to hear so much support for this film which is, truly among the best of the franchise - Hunt's aesthetic decisions were right on the mark.
God I love the early Bond movies, OHMSS definitely included even though I prefer Connery. I hope the Bond franchise achieves a return to form, but I'm not very hopeful after the last few movies and all the rhetoric coming from the producers.
Damn that plot actually sounded very good.
OHMSS is my favorite Bond film. This was the only film that actually allowed the Bond character to change form the beginning to the end.
It's a great James Bond film! My Top-10 is: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1995.
Awesome video as always say man 🌍🌟
Could you talk about Guillermo Del Toro Hellboy 3 ???
Could you talk about Guillermo Del Toro Pacífic Rim 2 ???
That revenge driven sequel would have been incredible!
What a fabulous, inventive, far-reaching, long-ranging re-imagining of "what might have been". Kudos for your imagination - and thanks for a great laugh. Your creativity is appreciated.
Thank you very much!
Been waiting for this
Indeed a Sean Connery OHMSS would be great
Damn, this plot sounds WAY better than what we ended up with. We finally would’ve got 008 who has yet to show up. I think Idres Elba will be perfect for the roll.
Some suggestions:
WCHB: Total Recall
WCHB: Neil Blomkamp's Alien and his Robocop.
I always thought Diamonds are Forever was a direct sequel anyway to OHMSS (just a return to the original actor). It makes total sense that Bond's anger in hunting for Blofeld at the beginning of Diamonds was to avenge Tracey's death from OHMSS. Its almost like a quick Bond "Taken" montage... "Where is this guy? I want to kill him and I'll kick anyone's ass in my way." And the minute he thinks he found Blofeld. He just kills the guy. No talk. Just throws him into boiling mud. "Welcome to hell." He wasn't on any case for MI6, it was personal.
I wished Connery had done OHMSS. Would've been something to see him play against Diana Rigg.
That's interesting about the nature of Irma Bunt's death as Maibaum repurposed a deleted sequence from On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Partially filmed, and then abandoned because of the shoot overrunning, it involves Bond pursuing a SPECTRE spy who works at The Royal College Of Arms. We in fact see him in the film. He shows the Bond Coat Of Arms to Bond in his meeting with Sir Hillary Bray. He then leaves the room. As filmed, but deleted he's listening in on the conversation via a bug in a statue he gave to Bray. Bond picks up on this, finds the bug, and goes after the spy. A chase ensures. Filming stopped at the beginning of this, outside the college. The sequence would have continued with Bond pursuing the spy to a post office where he manages to post the recording of Bond and Bray's meeting to Blofeld. Bond chases after him, ending up on the underground railway, but rather than the tube, this is Mail Rail, a real life means of transporting mail across London. It also features in Hudson Hawk, doubling as the Vatican's Mail Rail. Bond kicks the spy onto the electrified rail. The sequence would then have continued with not only the parcel being intercepted so Blofeld doesn't get it, but an elaborate fake train crash being enacted to explain the spy's death so Blofeld wouldn't get suspicious why contact had stopped. We would see this. Due to expense and the production falling behind, this was never shot. But in fairness it probably wouldn't have made the final cut as the film was already the longest Bond film then, which concerned the producers. Tbf the sequence while great would have brought the film to a standstill, and is unnecessary. There is however a reference to it in the released film. After Bond first arrives in Switzerland we can see his contact reading a newspaper. One headline reads ".......killed in rush hour train crash". This was a nod to that, that was presumably added when the pursuit sequence was still intended to be shot.
Would it been possible to do what would of been Tarantinos Casino Royale or Star Trek
Already have
@@Bulletsandblockbusters whoops, I thought you did just wasn't sure
after all the polls, diamonds are forever fans can finally find peace at last
Hahaha
Growing up I was a huge bond fan and when I got my first job the first videos I bought were the Star Wars trilogy and Bond films. OHMSS is my favourite bond film, but I only came to that conclusion after countless viewings of all the films. It's a great shame that Lazenby didn't continue, if he did we would have had some intense dramatic films.
If George Lazenby would not have taken such bad advise at the time . I really think he would have ben very good as Bond James Bond
Wow both scripts sound so much better than what we ended up with.
The agent for Lazenby was a real genius!! LOL! Lazenby quickly went on to obscurity, which I don't mind as Connery was and always is Bond!
OHMSS is so underrated. Lazenby made Bond human and is the key to the character of Bond in so many later Bond movies. Diana Rigg is magnificent as always and the rumour that Lazenby was actually tripping on set while filming some scenes just makes its magic unsurpassable. Can you imagine Connery on drugs? A true moment in cinema history.
Now do the Connery version of Her Majesty's Secret Service would it have been the same?
It is great to read so many people praising Lazenby as Bond. I think it’s a terrible shame he didn’t continue. Connery was too old for Diamonds are Forever and Roger Moore was just not right. We were too used to seeing his winking-at-the-audience TV role as The Saint.
Connery was too old in ''Never Say Never Again''. Moore, especially from ''The Spy Who Loved Me'', was the right man at the right time (except the last film).
28.01- 29.06 ua-cam.com/video/vQ5PC7m45_0/v-deo.html
I have long been fascinated by the idea of a Lazenby led DAF, and so had been hoping for ages that you might do this video! Big props to you for the excellent end result - it clearly must’ve taken a lot of time and effort 👏🏼.
I do wonder if the passing of Ilse Steppat (Irma Bunt) just 4 days after OHMSS’s international release was a contributing factor in plans changing. It may have confused audiences if the part had been re-cast in DAF for little more than a cameo appearance.
I’m sure it played a part
It is funny after keeping continuity after Lazenby and Steppat not returning they then cast Charles Grey again but as Blofeld this time.
Wouldn’t have made a difference. They recast Blofeld in every movie he was in in the 60s and 70s and they didn’t care about that.
If Bunt is for most of her appearance in DAF looking like a man, I wonder if Lazenby could have chased and fought a stuntman, then Bunt's only appearance is when the disguise is removed. Could they have got away with it after Steppat's death? Maybe used a double, but with her eyes closed and obscured by a dark railway tunnel. And turn have Bond and M discuss Bunt's death, so we know it's her.
@@thefonzkiss True - but his character was easily recognisable to audiences (the suit, the white cat, etc) in a way that Bunt was not.
Thanks for the amazing video ❤
Never forget, that one line survived the version of _Diamonds Are Forever_ that we got, albeit delivered in different circumstances by the other character:
(On Blofeld's Death)
*BOND*
Well, well, well ... look what the cat dragged in.
Buddy hell these versions are a million times better than the original ones that I love also lol
Diamonds are Forever had a hopelessly convoluted plot no matter which way it would have gone.
The Diamond satellite was used in both Die Another Day and Batman forever George Clooney.
I don't really have a horse in this race, but I always thought Lazenby was all wrong for Bond, especially as Connery's successor.
This direct sequel idea for Diamonds are Forever story sounds awesome. Too bad Lazenby's agent gave him poor advice.
The producers liked to reuse cut ideas. Die Another Day deals with conflict diamonds, and in Licence to Kill Bond goes into the villain's inner circle after the deaths of agents. The plot of this DAF would've been great, even if the final film is closer to the novel.
It would have been interesting having John Gavin as James Bond. After all, he would eventually be American ambassador to Mexico.
Imagine a James Bond actor having Diplomatic Immunity
Lazenby ❤wasn’t bad and who knows what his Bond could have been … each new Bond needs 2-3 bond films before they can define their version of Bond. I believe strongly he could have been the Daniel Craig of his era ❕
Thats fascinating..... I actually like the idea of a specter civil War.... It sounds spiritually like the last Bond movie at least from the point of view of specter going to war with itself.
The idea would be renewed then dropped for The Spy Who Loved Me with Spectre being destroyed by a younger, newer more ruthless competitor.
@@davidjames579 oh WOW did not know about that either
@@ianbrewster8934 it was dropped as EON no longer had the rights to SPECTRE or Blofeld. Cubby Broccoli also considered it too political as the younger villains were Socialist Revolutionaries looking to bring about a New World Order. This got somewhat diluted into Stromberg wanting to create a non-political New World Order. By nuking the existing ones. The idea though was eventually used to some extent in No Time To Die with Safin and his organisation as the young usurpers. His motivation is possibly Eugenics, its not very clear.
Probably the best Bond film
In my head-canon Diamonds are Forever takes place before On Her Majesty's Secret Service and after You Only Live Twice.
2:32 Interesting how Moore and Dalton were initial picks to be Bond before Lazenby was cast, ended up playing the character later on.