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How an Unknown Model Became James Bond!

Diamond Plus Documentary

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Sean Connery had become synonymous with James Bond. But when the world's most famous 007 decided he was done, Eon Productions faced a seemingly impossible question: Who could possibly replace him?

This documentary explores the turbulent chapter that followed Connery's rise to Bond superstardom. Behind the success of Thunderball, tensions were growing between Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, while Connery demanded a better deal and ultimately announced that You Only Live Twice would be his final Bond film.

The search for a new 007 became one of the biggest casting challenges in Hollywood. After considering major stars, producers took a huge gamble on an unknown Australian model named George Lazenby.

From his unlikely discovery and intense screen test to the making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, we explore how Lazenby stepped into Connery's shoes, the challenges he faced on set, his relationship with director Peter Hunt, and the decision that shocked the Bond franchise: refusing a massive multi-picture contract.

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11 Comments

@richardjohnson9543 3 weeks ago

Imagine the career Lazenby could've had if he'd appreciated the opportunity he'd been given and committed himself both to 007 and an acting career. For a guy who'd never acted he didn't do badly at all, but he treated the whole thing like someone tossing away a winning lottery ticket

@BenGar-q2z 3 weeks ago

I think it was a big mistake for the producers not to give Sean Connery his share of the money he was the one that made James Bond so famous and even though it went on with Rodger Moore I don't think it was ever as good if they would have gave Sean Connery a percentage of the films he probably would have continued playing Bond through to 70s maybe even into the 1980s

@rohanmarkjay 1 day ago

I was really impressed by Lazenby. He portrayed the Bond of the Books most accurately of all the Bond. A close second to Lazenby and who was very good who portrayed the Bond of the books the next most accurate was Timothy Dalton only after Timothy Dalton do you have Sean Connery who sometimes can portray Bond of the Books other times like a comic book character out of Marvel comics. Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig potrayed a superhero type Bond like Moore had less to do with original books and more with marvel comics. So in order of the Bonds who portrayed the Bond of the Books most accurately in order would be. Lazenby, Dalton, Connery, Daniel Craig, Brosnan and Moore. My favourite Bond is actually moore he was great fun and the movies were great but he potrayed Bond of the books the least accurately. In terms of entertainment value. Connery, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, Craig and Lazenby. Showing Lazenby potrayed Bond the most accurately but he was the least entertaining of the Bonds if that makes sense. Thats because the Bond of the Books was not supposed to be entertaining like in the movies.

@angloaust1575 3 weeks ago

Even connery was relatively
Unknown before bond

@stoplookingforit 3 weeks ago (edited)

I like the Lazenby Bond film simply for the lore detailing his pain losing his love and how it comes up in later installments. However, I do not like Lazenby as a person.

@TerAnce-s3f6o 3 weeks ago (edited)

Looks like George had a good time too bad his ego got in the way he would have gotten better

@thomaschacko6320 3 weeks ago (edited)

Aww, what a pity George Lazenby is too blunt, too direct for so many people with delicate nerves! There are those who found Connery’s departure so traumatic; those who prefer Moore’s faux humility and superficial delivery. (By the way, it was Connery who declared publicly that smacking a woman around may sometimes be justified.)

Dame Diana was given plenty of opportunities to rant against Lazenby — BBC, newspapers, etc — but he didn’t respond in kind. (He may have become annoyed with her knocking back the champagne in-between takes.) She built up the story of the so-called “garlic incident.” Perhaps a male model was beneath her exalted status.

Lazenby made mistakes, such as skiing against directives from the insurance people. He also pulled a stupid horseback stunt that frightened Bernard Lee. For every bit of negative gossip about Lazenby (even before the film’s release), there are many who found him good to work with: Angela Scoular, Joanna Lumley, Terence Mountain, Vic Armstrong, and others. Harry Saltzman had planned other projects with Lazenby, which unfortunately didn’t come to pass.

Regardless, Lazenby proved to be the best Bond — physically, athletically, and with regard to his natural confidence. His Australian accent didn’t impede his dialogue delivery, any more than Connery’s Scottish brogue did. Best Bond, best film.