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Quick Big Mi6 Actor Ranking Game - 5th PLACE

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Comments

  • 007ClassicBondFan007ClassicBondFan
    Posts: 2,662
    While time has been remarkably kind to OHMSS, Lazenby's reputation amongst Bond fans continues to be as divisive as ever - especially going by recent discussions here on the forum. As someone who likes ALL of the Bond actors and what they each brought to the role, I can see the positives in Lazenby's short lived tenure. For one thing, I think he is the most physically impressive and imposing Bond (until the arrival of Craig of course) and I sort of like how upbeat he is compared to other Bonds which makes the ending scene hit all the harder. I've maintained before that no other Bond actor could do as good a job as Lazenby when it came to that final scene - and I still stand by that opinion. Having said all that - Lazenby came in at Number 6 for me. Despite the admirable job he did - he simply falls short of the other actors here in this game.

    I still can't believe he somehow managed to rank higher Brosnan - the world has truly gone mad :D.
  • Reflsin2bourbonsReflsin2bourbons
    Posts: 497
    He's certainly pulled quite a coup! While I enjoy Majesty's, Lazenby is ultimately carried by the great actors around him. No particular moment stands out as great (outside of the ending), and the character on page isn't that far removed from Connery's character.

    The Bedlam/resignation scene is a pretty big example for me. With the other actors I put higher I feel as if they'd add something more to it, more facial reaction or change in line reading.

    Lazenby was certainly a bit lucky with being a one-film wonder; imagine how loved Craig would be if quit after Casino Royale! I think out of the EON Bonds, all of them could do an alright job in a good film. But with all the other Bonds, I see elements in their performance that show that they could carry a "bad" film or elevate a less serious work.
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 8,493
    #5 is where I placed George. He appeared in one of THE best Bond movies of the series, and I agree with @R1s1ngs0n , for someone with so little experience he did extremely well. Yes, physically he was tremendous and he had a swagger about him (his first appearance in the casino descending the stairs is a doozy!) But I do think he does well in some dramatic scenes, his resignation, and of course all his scenes with Rigg, and I dont see Connery handling that final scene as well as him! He does a terrific gunbarrel too
    All in all the guy done good, and I agree with the ranking, I'd take George over Brossa any day of the week!
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,764
    At the risk of repeating myself, I am and have always been a Lazenby defender. He was the first to make Bond human, yet without losing that style and elegance. Something perfected later on only by Tim imo.

    That final scene remains one of, if not THE best acted scene in the series and it's carried by George all on his own. Furthermore, he's the absolute best of the bunch in the fight scenes.

    I know his behaviour of camera was reportedly not the best, but that doesn't take anything away from his stellar performance in his one Bond film.

    I ranked George second. Proudly so.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited 9:26am Posts: 18,866
    I think he's pretty bad, sorry. He has no presence at all, you can't tell what he's thinking at any point as there's just no life behind the eyes, he seems awkward and out of place a lot of the time, and he was obviously so poor at the comedy bit of the film he had to be dubbed by someone else. He's just not an actor, and definitely not a lead actor. Look at the sparkle and raw charisma of a Connery in FRWL or GF; Lazenby is a blank next to that. He's just not there.

    I think of those scenes like the cable car room or ski chase, where the other actors, when they're on their own in similar situations, can still engage the audience: they communicate to you what's going on, what they're thinking; you're on their side. In these scenes in OHMSS you're just kind of a spectator because GL can't do that. I even find the cable car room scene a bit boring: I reckon with exactly the same edit but a real actor it would be fine. I was thinking also of that scene in Spectre at the funeral, where Craig somehow lets you know that he's recognised Oberhauser, whilst his eyes are obscured by sunglasses and he barely moves a muscle at all.

    Yes, he does better than some of the leads of the Bond ripoffs you'd see from Italy or wherever at the time, and he carries himself better than Neil Connery or whoever, but it's a low bar. He is good in the fight scenes, I'll give him that.
    I guess I'd have ranked him above Nelson just because the film carries him to some extent, but I could never put Niven's name above him because y'know: David Niven. The man was a legend.
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 8,493
    Thats Brosnan you're describing 😂😂😂
  • 007ClassicBondFan007ClassicBondFan
    Posts: 2,662
    You mean the guy who actually had charisma and a film star like quality about him? Yeah okay.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 15,326
    I think George does mostly a 'good' job in the film, but to say he's the most imposing, carries the best acted scene in the series or overall ranks higher than Pierce is pretty hilarious, if not a slap in the face to the professional actors that took on the role. It's a mad world indeed.
  • 007HallY007HallY
    Posts: 5,797
    Lazenby’s performance is pretty frustrating. It ranges from a handful of good moments to some of the most wooden acting I’ve seen in a major film. And on top of that you have this otherwise great movie he’s in. As others have said he doesn’t quite have the ability to convey what he’s thinking onscreen. Good physicality though.

    I think it’s actually when he’s doing less that he excels. The final scene is actually an example. From what I understand he wanted to cry for it, and Hunt told him no, James Bond doesn’t cry. Actually, Hunt was right in his own way! The moment is one of shock on Bond’s part, to the point he’s even trying to deny to himself Tracy is dead (‘she’s just having a rest’.) That’s what made the moment in the novel so tragic, and it’s the same here. Seeing Bond holding back tears in this moment was more impactful. Even if Lazenby could cry convincingly onscreen (and let’s be honest, he’s no Sean Connery or Daniel Craig) it would have been the wrong choice.

    Anyway, a very strange, even contradictory Bond performance.
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