I’ve just seen a truly great and very clever documentary film directed by Josh Greenbaum ‘Becoming Bond’ about another Australian devil-may-care actor, George Lazenby. Infamous for being the forgotten 007 of a single Bond film, 1969’s ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. I couldn’t help but draw parallels between Lazenby’s attitude, charm and charisma to that of fellow Aussie Errol Flynn. They both lived life their way, not pandering to Hollywood. After completing OHMSS Lazenby turned down a 6 picture deal and a $1 million bonus from the producers to continue playing Bond. For one he thought in the era of Make Love Not War the Bond franchise wouldn’t last (wrong!), secondly the ridiculously restrictive contract would have been a straight-jacket for him (good call!). He walked away, bought a yacht and sailed the Mediterranean thinking he’d get easy money doing Italian movies. That didn’t really turnout as he planned, but a rich and ultimately lucrative life followed never the less – 2 marriages, kids, B movies, TV movies and guest spots and amassing a fortune in real estate.
Not that Errol would have been a Bond, like Lazenby he was far too independent for that, and why would he need to act as Bond when in many ways he was already living the life.
Lazenby’s here in Perth as part of the Revelation Perth International Film Festival promoting the film. Becoming Bond has had a couple screenings accompanied by a Q&A with George, and he’ll again make an appearance today following a screening of OHMSS. Highly recommended.
Trailer:www.youtube.com…
Here’s a run down – it’s streaming on Hulu:
decider.com…
— Philip
Gentleman Tim
July 9, 2017 at 7:26 am
Thanks, Philip! He looks like a real character& and the movie looks like a lot of fun! Era
[img]http://www.007museum.com/George_Lazenby_London.jpg[/img]
shangheinz
July 9, 2017 at 5:48 pm
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/lazy.jpg[/img]
Despite starring in what could have been the best Bond film ever, George Lazyboy will forever be remembered for throwing it all away. His daredevil- may- care attitude merely was a front. He sneaked in and out the film business on a “laundry slip” and therefore called it quits before they could slip him the pink slip. OHMSS still is one heck of a movie though. His panache to walk up on Broccoli with no acting to his credit was very Flynn- like indeed. Read all about it here: shorewalker.com…
Philip
July 11, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Yes Shangheinz, I do know all about it. Thanks for your comment. A sad tale on one hand, but I can understand his point of view on another. He may have made a mistake, but he’s big enough to admit it and have lived with it. He had to forge a mighty big uphill battle to regain a foothold for himself, even if only raising to B grade, but at least it was an honest one