The Amazing Story Of One Man “Becoming Bond!”
Fans of the James Bond 007 series have their favorite films – and favorite Bonds – but here is the amazing true story of one very unique 007 – in a great new documentary “Becoming Bond!”
This new Hulu documentary has the incredible story of the only man to ever play 007 – once! Yes, here is the trailer for the story of George Lazenby, who made his motion picture debut in the most coveted role in the world – James Bond!
I can’t wait to see this documentary – although as the trailer shows, there are plenty of re-enactments as well. The Daily Mail has lots of inside stories to dish – like these:
“‘Becoming Bond’ details how his sex-fueled life helped him bluff his way into getting the role. Lazenby heard about the role from a girl he and his best friend, another Australian model, were having a threesome with – one of dozens he enjoyed in the London of the swinging 60s – and bluffed his way into playing the role Sean Connery had abandoned. It found him fame and he slept with a series of women on set but he walked away from the role because of a contract he thought made him a ‘slave’. Now 77 he says in the documentary: ‘It was the craziest sexual time I’ve ever had. I lived my life the way I wanted to.'”
The film that Lazenby starred in, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” is widely considered one of the best Bond films ever – even though his acting is noticeably dicey at times…
The film, however has depth, emotion and a great love story between
Bond and Diana Rigg, who is one of the best “Bond girls” ever…
If you want to see more on the most memorable “Bond girls”, here is my story on that subject:
https://johnrieber.com/2017/02/07/00-7-great-bond-girls-brains-brawn-beauty-oh-james/
“OHMSS” is still the only Bond film where 007 gets married, and the only one to have a tragic ending…the film is a GREAT 007 film, and Lazenby should always be proud of that…
Downhill Racer!
“OHMSS” holds up for its terrific action scenes as well, especially the numerous skiing sequences – and Lazenby gets in several great 007 quips – the script is smart, with the usual touch of humor and “larger than life” elements that make the 007 films so great…
While the film was critically acclaimed and did brisk box office, it was a case of “one and done” for Lazenby.
The Daily Mail goes on to report that being the most famous Actor in the world didn’t mean a thing to Lazenby.
“Then he threw it all away by refusing a then unheard of $1million offer to do six more Bond films because he did not like being told what to do by the studio.After appearing in just one Bond film Lazenby’s name became a punchline and ‘the George Lazenby of’ became a gag for late night TV shows.”
The now 77-year old Actor says in the documentary that he doesn’t regret his decision…but imagine being the star of the biggest action franchise in the world…and just walking away…
In “Becoming Bond” Lazenby also reveals he was broke for a while – but then got into real estate, and says he’s had a comfortable life.
Here’s the whole story from The Daily Mail, full of lots more stories of swinging 60’s, threesomes and much much more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4452610/Sex-secrets-let-George-Lazenby-James-Bond.html
Lazenby didn’t act much after his stint as James Bond, but he did make a short appearance in the hilarious 70’s film “Kentucky Fried Movie.”
You can read more about this hilarious comedy from the makers of “Airplane” by clicking on my link here:
https://johnrieber.com/2013/06/03/big-jim-slade-fistfuls-of-yen-its-the-kentucky-fried-movie/
Finally, if you want to argue about who was the best and worst Bond, knock yourself out…I love talking about the best and worst Bond theme songs!
OK, we all know that Paul McCartney wrote the greatest Bond them of all time, but what are some of the others? Check them out here:
https://johnrieber.com/2013/11/05/rock-on-007-the-best-and-worst-james-bond-theme-songs/
Let me know what you think of the revelations in the new Bond doc!
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johnrieber 
That’s an interesting way to discover you’ve got the part.
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A really smart idea for a docu – the only “one and done” 007
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Yeah, it sounds entertaining.
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Interesting tidbits, Lazenby served in the Australian Army due to conscription. Reports vary of whether he was PT instructor a Special Forces unit or just a grunt. Might come up in the doco. I’ve also seen him in a great Aussie action film The Man from Hong Kong where he played the bad guy. It’s a fantastic movie from another era with a fight on top of Ayers Rock and a car chase for the ages long before Max Max. I think you might like it. Lazenby again does some great stuntwork including being set alight. He wouldn’t do it unless the director did it himself first which he did.
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I will look for that one – thanks so much!
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Thanks John, he’s a fascinating guy old Lazenby. When I was kid, Lazenby was seen as the guy who didn’t gel as Bond. Woeful even and while he remains perhaps the weakest actor he also remains one of the better in regards to his stuntwork. The film of course has been rediscovered now as one of the best for the reasons you cited above. I wouldn’t go that far but there’s a lot to love here. Bond is vulnerable and I think Lazenby brings that to the part. I would have loved a vulnerable lovestruck Connery followed by him being awesomely vengeful in Diamonds are Forever but fate had other plans. Maybe we’ll get that with Craig now. Diana Rigg and Louis Armstrong remain the MVPs of the film for me.
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Lloyd, his acting was wooden to be sure, but the film has gone down in Bond history as one of, if not THE best 007 film of all – how ironic!
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Is it your favourite? Mine is Goldfinger but each of the other actors would one of their pictures in my Top 6. I wrote a post about it. You?
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OHMSS is an important Bond film in India as it was the first Bond film to get a ‘U’ certificate before which all its 5 predecessors and the non-official Casino Royale had been certified for exhibition to ‘Adults only’ (18 and above). The same U certificate was subsequently awarded to Diamonds are Forever and Live and Let Die, before the Indian censors reverted to ‘Adults only’ from The Man with the Golden Gun onwards. Finally, with the coming of Octopussy, which was partly set in India, the new U/A certificate was awarded (below 12s or 13s to be accompanied by parents), and the same certificate was awarded to the non-official Never Say Never Again.
Incidentally, in the Cold War years, owing to India’s closeness with the USSR, From Russia with Love had to be retitled From 007 with Love for release in this country!
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GREAT trivia – thanks for sharing!
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He actually makes a re-appearance as Bond in the made for TV “Return of the Man From Uncle” driving the Astin-Martin. Lazenby was pretty wooden but he didn’t get much help from his director. Instead of having Lazenby do a character voice and then dubbing that voice on to the character he was to impersonate (who only had a few lines), they did it backwards and instead put that actor’s voice into their star’s mouth. Again and again and again. You gotta protect your star better than that. You can’t let him look like he’s an actor in a “Godzilla” picture,
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