James Bond- On Her Majesty-s Secret Service -19... -

To understand the legacy of OHMSS, one must understand the climate of 1969. Sean Connery was James Bond. He had defined the role with a brutish charm and effortless cool that seemed irreplaceable. When Connery announced he was stepping down after You Only Live Twice , producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman found themselves in a crisis.

The real hero of OHMSS is director Peter Hunt. The film editor on five previous Bond films (including Dr. No and Goldfinger ), Hunt understood the rhythm of 007 better than anyone. For his directorial debut, he threw away the green-screen kitsch of You Only Live Twice and demanded realism. James Bond- On Her Majesty-s Secret Service -19...