MovieChat Forums > On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) Discussion > This film canonised the fact that James ...

This film canonised the fact that James Bond is a code name

posted 3 years ago by FootOfDavros (6712)
53 replies | jump to latest

In this film Lazenby's Bond says "This never happened to the other fella" referring of course to Sean Connery's Bond. It's a clear acknowledgement that he isn't the same person.

We also have the fact that Blofeld does not recognise this "James Bond" despite locking horns with a "James Bond" in the previous film. Again a very clear canonical acknowledgement that they aren't the same person.

Therefore it seems clear that James Bond is a pseudonym employed by the secret service in order to protect the identity / family of new recruits. And thus the powers that be could make anyone they wished have the title in any future installments...

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[–] ProgsReturn (1759) 2 years ago

For your eyes only starts off with Bond (Moore) placing flowers on Tracy's grave. Bond isn't a pseudonym. It's even more hammered in at the end of Skyfall with the gamekeeper and the gravestone.

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[–] FootOfDavros (6712) 2 years ago

I already addressed this further up:-

Sorry but the Tracy point is irrelevant here - I think there is some conflation at play whereby people think saying Lazenby is a different Bond means they are ALL different Bonds when the actor changes. That's not the argument.

It's simply that Lazenby's Bond can - as far as what is seen on screen is concerned - be considered the first act of a different Bond. He says "This never happened to the other fella" at the beginning of the film not after Tracey is killed at the end.

Therefore everything up to the end of YOLT = Bond 1. Everything after (and yes including Connery in DAF) = Bond 2.

Bond 2 continues through to the end of the Brosnan run.

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[–] ProgsReturn (1759) 2 years ago

Yes I missed that! But as also already mentioned, other reoccurring characters have different actors playing them. Does your argument apply to Blofeld as well?

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[–] FootOfDavros (6712) 2 years ago

Well I gave a facetious response to that very question in the post below yours.

However in the case of Blofeld we'd be better off asking if Dikko Henderson faked his death in YOLT then stole the title from the real Blofeld in DAF.

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[–] ProgsReturn (1759) 2 years ago

OK I kind of get your point - that is there's no reference to Tracy after Brosnam steps down. But it does hinge heavily on the line "This never happened to the other fella" being taken literally and not as a joke. There is already another thread about the opening scene being out of place as it's never established who the assailants are, but as this is a new movie with a new actor in the lead role, it makes sense to have an action sequence to establish Lazenby as the new Bond. Comic relief, if you will, even if Connery also got beaten up before this (From Russia with love, for example)
In IMDB trivia section, there's a suggestion that Bond underwent plastic surgery to explain the new actor which never made it into the film. Makes sense as Blofield doesn't recognize him.

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[–] FootOfDavros (6712) 2 years ago

In IMDB trivia section, there's a suggestion that Bond underwent plastic surgery to explain the new actor which never made it into the film. Makes sense as Blofield doesn't recognize him.

That sounds even more outlandish! Although having said that, you could argue that Blofeld didn't recognize him because he was in his Japanese "disguise" when last they met!

Anyway, yes you need to take him saying the line humorously to himself for it to work. Take that with Blofeld's non recognition and if you want you can interpret it as him being a different man. If you wish.

I only raised the possibility as I'd read so many people saying - like the 007 - that the name itself is also transferrable. Obviously that was not Fleming's intention, nor what they were worrying about back in the days before everyone getting so excited about realism and continuity in their fantasy films (!) but funnily it does fit in as a possibility with what is presented within the film canon.

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[–] pjl69 (2430) 2 years ago

Is Felix Leiter also a code name, he was also played by different actors? Miss Moneypenny?

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[–] FootOfDavros (6712) 2 years ago

I don't know - Is there a specific scene where we know he is Felix Leiter yet complains that something "never happened to the other fella" or other characters do not recognise him?

If so, you could - as per Bond - argue that it was a possible interpretation based simply upon what has been presented...

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[–] Quint (935) 2 years ago

OMG, its a joke, cause the audience had to deal with a different actor playing Bond. No there is no canon telling that Bond istn one person. Learn to live with simple facts.

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[–] FootOfDavros (6712) 2 years ago

mmm, I take it you decided not to read any of this thread before posting.

As I stated several times, everyone knows the original intention. Nonetheless, the interpretation does exist based upon what is seen onscreen.

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