OHMSS AT 50

On Her Majesty's Secret Service has its London premiere on this day in 1969! It was the sixth major film in the Bond franchise and marked the last project that would capture a 1960s vibe. Replacing Sean Connery in the lead was Australian model George Lazenby, who brought a special cocktail of athleticism, good looks, and youthful swagger to the role. OHMSS also featured a stellar cast and crew, including Diana Rigg (The Avengers), Telly Savalas (Kojak), Joanna Lumley (The New Avengers), designs by Syd Cain, and one of John Barry's very best scores. Often voted as the best of the series by fans, I think the film found its success by going deeper into Bond's emotional life and by capturing much of the rich adventure found in Ian Fleming's original novel. This Bond had heart! As a kid, I could enjoy the Connery and Moore films as hero-fantasy, but it was Lazenby who made me feel empathy for the character. It was such a favorite of mine that I even recorded a tape cassette off the TV speakers so I could listen to the story as an audio thriller. One of the main ways we create memory is by making emotional connections to our experiences. And as filmmakers hope to create those few indelible moments, my imagination is forever filled with Bond's breakneck escape down a mountain on skis at night, his visceral fear on screen as he tried to elude the killers in a crowd, and his relief seeing the woman of his dreams come to his rescue. Thank you, George. If you ever get a chance to see the movie screened in film on the big screen, don't miss it! In celebration of OHMSS Day, I want to guide Spy Vibers back to Episode #3 of Spy Vibe on the Cocktail Nation radio show. In this episode I talk about my favorite Bond film and 007 theme, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. My segment starts at 8:28 on Cocktail Nation. Also in this episode: Koop talks Hugh Hefner and plays a swinging version of Man From Thrush. Also, I want to encourage readers to please check out the recent George Lazenby documentary, Becoming Bond (on Hulu and region 2 DVD). It's great fun and really provides some valuable insights, humor- and even wisdom! Related recent post: George Lazenby returns to MI6 in a new audio drama, Passport to Oblivion! Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Italian Job 50th OST, Charles Schulz Modern, Paul Desmond, Python 50th, Randall Hopkirk 50th, Thunderbirds Day, Lazenby Returns to MI6, Dr. John R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Lupin III, Lupin Ska, Spy Vibe Prime, Zigomar Translation, The Village: Part 1, Monkey Punch R.I.P., Bubble Girl 63, ITC Soundtracks, Spy Vibe Radio: Public Eye, UFO Prime, Spaceship to Mars, Modesty Blaise Companion, Spy Vibe Radio: Fantomas, George Day, Fantomas Blu, Dark Shadows Doc, Bedazzled Blu-ray, Mary Quant Exhibit, Laika Calypso, Lost in Space Japan, Spy Dust Calypso, Atomic Cafe, John Barry Mono, Interview: John Barry Book, Land of the Giants Score, Skyfall Concert, Dearest Emma, Spy Vibe Radio: Upperseven, Ogilvy at Elstree, Mabuse Propaganda, Bond Beatles Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Liquidator, Diabolik LP, Fab Dresses, Eurospy Music Collection, Beetle Bailey in West Berlin, Why Mort Walker?, Spy Vibe radio: The Beatles Help!, Avengers Critical Guide, The Spotnicks, Benny Spies, James Pond 0017', Satire Stones, Annette Andre Book, Cat Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Get Smart, Caine: My Generation, Interview: Ian Ogilvy, Horror of Party Beach, Sylvie Vartan Renown, Ringo At 78, Dark Shadows Strips, Spy Vibe Radio: Flint, Archie Batman 66, Paul at 76, Beatles Pac-Man, Spy Vibe Radio: Jerry Cotton, The Invaders, 007 Horowitz Book Tour, McGoohan/Prisoner Event at Elstree, The Prisoner Interviews Vol 1, British Underground Press, Interview: Fab4 Mania, Bond Cocktail Book, Bond at Bletchley, Spy Smasher, Spy Vibe Radio: Peter Gunn, Agent Zero M, New Prisoner Comic, Dr. No Villains Edition,  Spy Vibe Radio: Danger Diabolik, Dr. No 60th, Oy-Oy-Seven, Spy Vibe Radio (UFO), Cold War Comic Strips, Thunderball Event, Mission to India, Mort Walker Celebration,  Peter Wyngarde Celebration, Batman 66 Exhibit, Prisoner Fifty Event, Ian Fleming Publications 2017-2018, Interview: Ed Hulse Pulp, Avengers Audio Drama, Interview: Callan At 50, Interview: Playboys, Spies, Private Eyes, TWA Returns, Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

BOND BY DESIGN

New release: Bond By Design. Welcome to the season of 007! With a new film coming next month, a new comic series from Dynamite, and great Bond-related books out by Ajay Chowdhury, Anthony Horowitz and Fergus Fleming, a new must-see edition was just released yesterday by DK Publishing. Bond By Design is a deluxe (and massive!) celebration of the history of production art and story boards from the James Bond movie franchise, and features pieces from Dr. No to this year's SPECTRE (one SPECTRE image as far as I can tell so far). Created in the same large slipcase fashion as their Bond: 50 Years of Movie Posters book, Bond By Design makes a great companion piece and is an essential addition to your Spy Vibe library. From the press release: "Bond By Design: The Art of the James Bond Films gives an exclusive tour through EON Productions' James Bond archives - a treasure trove of set, storyboard, vehicle, gadget and costume designs, many of which have never been published before. Accessing EON Productions' vast archive of more than 50 years of art and design, featuring the work of legendary Bond film designers such as Ken Adam, Peter Lamont and Syd Cain, the book provides a unique, spectacular and fascinating insight into the longest-running film franchise of all time. Revealing the craft behind the creation of famous sets, such as Stromberg's Atlantis base in The Spy Who Loved Me and Drax's shuttle launch site in Moonraker, as well as technical drawings of Bond's gadget-laden Aston Martin DB5, the book includes two exclusive, full-colour prints of Bond film designs. Bond By Design: The Art of the James Bond Films also brings the James Bond story right up to date with behind-the-scenes artwork from the newest film, SPECTRE." Order from Amazon and AmazonUK. Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe posts: Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Diana Rigg Event, Ian Fleming Letters, New Gillette 007 Covers, Pirate Radio, Spectre Advanced Poster, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Radiophonic Exhibit, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, Jeremy Duns on Bond, John Buss interview, Avengers Season 5 Titles, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Art of Modesty, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, No 6 Festival, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton

COMIC: ROCK KENT

Comic Strip Saturday: Rock Kent. The Third Man (1949) is not the only gem that sprang from director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene. The two talents also united in 1958, when Reed brought Greene's whimsical espionage film, Our Man in Havana, to the big screen. Alec Guinness plays a vacuum cleaner salesman, who is recruited by Noel Coward to spy for England. Guinness decides to simply invent his network of spies and to regularly send fictitious intelligence back to London to earn his paycheck. All goes smoothly until London sends people to question the make-believe pilot about a recent 'mission.' Guinness panics. What to do? A daily comic strip called Rock Kent inspires a scheme. The comic strip in the film shows hero Rock Kent going down in his plane. Although it is just a one-off comic, I like to imagine it as a cliffhanger that could have continued with new installments. The comic is credited to Art Director, Syd Cain, who famously went on to design many James Bond films. Cain passed away in 2011. You can learn more about Syd Cain in the obituaries posted by Lee Pfeiffer of Cinema Retro, Graham Rye of 007 Magazine, and by Kim Newman of The Guardian.

Did you know that Spy Vibe has a Pinterest page? You can see Spy Vibe graphics, dynamic vintage action, cliffhanger serials, Japanese designs from the 1920s, vintage mystery novels, and more! Visit our Ian Fleming Image Archive here. Also in Spy Vibe news, I have a spy novella coming out soon! Stay tuned for more info. 

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about 60th Anniversary of Casino Royale events, Cold War Photography, Operation Kid Brother (MST3K), the discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, PG Tips Brooke Bond, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, 1960s espionage writers, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, my review of SKYFALL, 007 at the Intnl Spy Museum, Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot and more. Here are the links from my recent series about Ian Fleming's music: Noel Coward,Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr. 

Want to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you!

DESIGNING 007 EXHIBIT

An exciting new exhibit running between July 6th and September 5th will celebrate 50 years of designing the James Bond universe. "The Barbican marks the 50th anniversary of the James Bond franchise, from 1962's Dr No to this year's Skyfall, with a unique exhibition showcasing the inside story of the design and style of the world's most influential and iconic movie brand. 

In collaboration with EON Productions and with unprecedented access to their archives, Designing 007 will be a multi-sensory experience, immersing audiences in the creation and development of Bond style over its auspicious 50 year history. It will explore the craft behind the screen icons, the secret service and villains, tailoring and costumes, set and production design, automobiles, gadgets and special effects, graphic design and motion graphics, exotic locations, stunts and props.

Highlights include gadgets and weapons made for Bond and his notorious adversaries by special effects experts John Stears and Chris Corbould, along with artwork for sets and storyboards by production designers Sir Ken Adam, Peter Lamont and Syd Cain, and costume designs by Bumble Dawson, Donfeld, Julie Harris, Lindy Hemming, Ronald Patterson, Emma Porteous, and Jany Temime." More info at the exhibit site at Barbican. Find 007 books and other treasures in Spy Vibe's Amazon Associates Store.

DAVID FOSTER: OUR MAN IN AUSTRALIA

GUEST SET LISTS
Spy Vibe continues its series on Spy TV/film production design and the influence of Art and design movements, Playboy, Hugh Hefner, adventure story conventions, and the Space Race.

Guest Set Lists: Lee Pfeiffer, Jeremy Duns, Armstrong Sabian, Steve Bissette, Roger Langley, Matthew Bradford, Wesley Britton, David Foster, Matt Kindt.

Spy Vibe's Set For Adventure here, Set Countdown #10, #9, #8 ,#7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, #1.

DAVID FOSTER: OUR MAN IN AUSTRALIA

agent DAVID lives in Melbourne, Australia, which has often been surmised is the birthplace of the evil organization THRUSH. Melbourne has a population of 3.74 million people of which David is now considered the city’s 3,729,845th most dangerous man (and potential recruit for said evil organization). He spends his time working as a low rent Graphic Designer and writing reviews for Teleport City and his Spy Blog Permission To Kill.


1. For me, as the ultimate spy film set, I cannot go past the hollowed out volcano in You Only Live Twice. I know that Ken Adam laid the groundwork for this marvel with his work on previous Bond films, but this one has it all – Rocket Launch Pads, Heliports, Crater Guns, and most importantly ‘Swank’ living quarters out the back. An area where Blofeld can kick back with a few close friends, and sink a few balloons of brandy. And if the evening doesn’t go well, he can always feed his guests to the piranha fish in the pond.


2. This next choice may be a little controversial (not really). I am going to select Syd Cain’s underwater villains lair from the film The Road To Hong Kong. The film was released a good four months before Dr. No and Cain’s underwater lair for The Third Echelon, and gizmo’s that go with it, are quite visionary. Of course, Cain would later go on to contribute to the Bond series. The controversial bit is – did Cain see the Bond designs prior to his work on The Road To Hong Kong – after all he did work under Ken Adam on Dr. No?


3. Eurospy films generally had pretty poor villains lairs, or bachelor pads for their leading men. Producer Dino De Laurentis threw a little bit more money at his films than many other Italian producers, and that’s why I have chosen Kiss The Girls And Make Them Die. The villain’s lair is pretty spectacular – predominantly red and silver -almost comic book style. The production designer was Mario Garbuglia – who would later work on Barbarella. Many people consider this film as the inspiration for Moonraker.




4. The spy films from Shaw Brothers Hong Kong Studio generally had excellent lairs to house their villains in, and I could have picked any one of quite a few. Both ‘Angel’ films had great lairs – the first having fantastic circular corridors which mimicked the Bond gunbarrel logo. But I am going to pick an undersea lair once again – and the film is The Golden Buddha. I don’t know who the production designer was, but the lair was colourful and dynamic with traps set into the floor, bullet proof glass shields, and housed a bizarre ‘sound laser gadget’ (?) which came across as an evil aberration of the laser that Goldfinger threatened Bond with.






5. And finally, for across the board swanky coolness, how could I go past Modesty Blaise? Yeah, the film is garbage, but it looks absolutely fantastic. The mod, op art sets are out of this world, man! I am not sure who was responsible for what, but the Production Designer was Richard Macdonald, and the Art Director was Jack Shampan.

JEREMY DUNS: OUR MAN IN SWEDEN

GUEST SET LISTS
Spy Vibe continues its series on Spy TV/film production design and the influence of Art and design movements, Playboy, Hugh Hefner, adventure story conventions, and the Space Race.

Guest Set Lists: Lee Pfeiffer, Jeremy Duns, Armstrong Sabian, Steve Bissette, Roger Langley, Matthew Bradford, Wesley Britton, David Foster, Matt Kindt.

Spy Vibe's Set For Adventure here, Set Countdown #10, #9, #8 ,#7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, #1.

JEREMY DUNS: OUR MAN IN SWEDEN

agent JEREMY was born in 1973 and lives in Sweden with his wife, kids, and massive collection of vintage spy thrillers. His first novel, Free Agent, set in Nigeria in 1969, will be published by Simon & Schuster in the UK on May 5 and by Viking Penguin in the US on June 25. It's the first in a trilogy featuring British double agent Paul Dark and has been praised by David Morrell, Gayle Lynds, Eric Van Lustbader, Christopher Reich and Jeff Abbott. Jeremy's picks from #1-5:


1. DR NO (1962). Ursula Andress' bikini-clad introduction is the most iconic moment in the film - perhaps in the whole of the Bond series, perhaps in the whole of spy cinema - but Ken Adam's sets, from the low-ceilinged ante-rooms of No's lair to the oriental elegance of Miss Taro's bachelorette pad to the strangely-angled cell Bond must escape from, gave the film a sleek claustrophobic sheen.


2. THE IPCRESS FILE (1965). Ken Adam again, and more peculiar angles. But despite Palmer's own bachelor pad tendencies, the effect here is less glamorous than in the Bond films - and the disused warehouse would never be the same again.


3. BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN (1967). This was probably the weakest of the Harry Palmer films (the originals, I mean – not the later ones!), but it had great Syd Cain sets, from the banks of computers of the title to the swinging furniture in Finland.


4. ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (1969). Syd Cain again, and almost as snowy as Billion Dollar Brain. The sets are less extravagant, and perhaps less obviously ‘Bond’ than even Billion Dollar Brain, but they are nevertheless rich, atmospheric and perfectly suited to the story, from Blofeld’s groovy mountain clinic-cum-fortress Piz Gloria to the magnificent casino that James Bond (George Lazenby) walks through early in the film. It helps that the film itself is terrific.


5. A DANDY IN ASPIC (1966). Another of the lesser known British Sixties spy flicks, starring Laurence Harvey as double agent Alexander Eberlin – both this and Derek Marlowe’s novel, from which it was adapted, were major influences for me. The film has its problems but I find the look and atmosphere of it compelling, from a firing range to a military airfield. There’s a haunting scene as Eberlin walks around the tiny London flat of his burned-out, drug-addicted handler Pavel (Per Oscarsson): as he squeezes past lampshades and picks up a photograph of Pavel’s wife back in Russia, the bleak life of a spy hits home.