“You know, being a world-threatening criminal mastermind is kind of tiring. Maybe I could just retire from this business. Yeah. All I’d have to do is blackmail the world into letting me retire.”
-the short short version
OK. I have been watching the James Bond movies in order. One about every 2 weeks. So I was up to “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Yes, the one with George Lazenby, who was fired after one movie and Sean Connery was brought back.
It is not all the lead actor’s fault. He is certainly not as charismatic, as Sean Connery, but the plot of the movie basically boils down to my made-up quote above. That is what Blofeld’s motive is – blackmail the world into pardoning him so he can enjoy his new title of count during his retirement.
At least, that is what I gathered after all 2 hours and 22 minutes. Too long for one thing; parts of it just seem to drag on and on. Could have used a bit more trimming in some of the slow parts.
Telly Savalas as Blofeld is just … bad. Maybe Blofeld realized he was losing his ability to be a criminal mastermind and should retire, because this is about the worst portrayal of a master villain I have ever seen. No contingency plans for escape. He personally chases Bond down a mountain on skis along with his minions.
At least he manages to avoid what looks like his death, and reappears at the end so his henchwoman can shoot Bond’s woman in the head.
Roll credits.
It had been 25 years since I remember seeing this on TV, and barely remembered any of it. Not sure I did myself any favors by having this in my memory now.
Perhaps it has some value in an RPG context after all – how NOT to portray a master villain.
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