The Making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service [Paperback]

Charles Helfenstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 18, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0984412603 | ISBN-13: 978-0984412600

Step back in time to the late 1960s, when Sean Connery resigned from playing James Bond, producers Harry Saltzman and Cubby Broccoli decided to gamble and doubled down with an untested director and an unknown star and came up with the crown jewels: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Based on years of research, hundreds of interviews, and exclusive access to the archives of author Ian Fleming, screenwriter Richard Maibaum, and director Peter Hunt, this inside look features never-before-published script details, storyboards, production documents, interviews, memos, marketing material, call sheets, and hundreds of rare, behind-the-scenes photographs of the cast and crew, including sequences and entire sets not seen in the film. From novel to script to screen, this book details the incredible journey of making the most unique entry in the James Bond film series, the longest running, most successful film franchise in history. This is not the white-washed "authorized" story, but the real story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The depth of the research is jaw-dropping, the pictorial content is amazing, and the labor of love that obviously went into this valuable addition to the Bondian library is palpable.
--James Bond author Raymond Benson

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Spies LLC (December 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984412603
• ISBN-13: 978-0984412600
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #822,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The AMAZING story of an amazing film!!!!, May 20, 2010

By 

John Cork (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Paperback)

The Making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service is a landmark book for anyone interested in cinema and popular culture. Charles Helfenstein has dug deep into the archives for amazing depth, uncovering many unreported facts about the Bond film most cherished by hard-core fans. Where Helfenstein shines best is his research into the development of the film with screenwriter Richard Maibaum and the influence of director Peter Hunt. He gives fans everything they could ask for with an abundance of information on the film's release and promotion. The section covering the film's production gives a wonderful overview of the film's complex shooting and challenging locations.

As someone who has personally been through many of the core production documents on this movie, read scripts and interviewed many of the cast and filmmakers, I was stunned how much Helfenstein uncovered that I never knew!

The book shines with passion for the film. This is, in its own way, a love story, a compelling exploration of the sixth official James Bond film, the one that almost killed the series but ignited a fire in the hearts of many Bond fans. The book itself is part of a larger story of one of the most successful and enduring film series every produced, yet it stands on its own. The book takes you inside this often over-looked, but deeply influential film.

I give this my highest recommendation.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! This Never Happened to the Other Feller!, April 20, 2010

By 

T. Mulhall "OHMSSDBS" (San Francisco, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Paperback)

Stunning as the view of a snow capped alp from a helicopter! As thorough as the diggings into the geneology of a certain Balthazar de Bleuchamp by the Sable Basilisk Persuivant. As exciting as the most exciting James Bond epic ever filmed!

I have always been a fan of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," and have fancied myself as a resident expert, collector, and enthusiast on the film. I have even lived out my OHMSS dream by visiting many of the locations from the film, dressing as George Lazenby and recreating his famous lamp post promo photos, and even restored an Aston Martin DBS. After receiving my copy of "Making Of OHMSS," I realized that there is someone light years ahead of me in the enthusiasm, knowledge, and research of this marvellous film. I sit now far behind in the cheap seats, as author Charles Helfenstein takes the first cabin, captain's table, and front row of the OHMSS fan coach!

I thought that I was someone special, with a photo of George Lazenby and I together, and, lo and behold, there are many of them, and other Bond folks, with the author! He is a fan, and you can definitely tell in his fabulous work!

There are so many photos, tidbits, stories, etc in this book that I have never seen before, that I poured over it for three days, enjoying every moment.

I though that I had every point of reference for my DBS, and after looking closely at some of the wonderful photos, I found that I had missed a detail in my restoration!

Not only is this a great sourcebook, but an excellent read. Helfenstein follows Fleming's style of sweeping narrative, without any of the "Company Line" that plagues some other movie related books.

As a now former #1 fan of OHMSS, I can state that if you are a Bond fan, you need this book. If you are a fan of movie production, fashion, and anything '60's, you need this book. You get far up, far more, with "The Making of OHMSS!"

The other feller should have been so lucky to have been in this film, or received the fantastic attention to detail that Charles Helfenstein provides...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! A Must for any true Bond fan, July 15, 2010

By 

Perry (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Paperback)

At first, the price of the book sort of kept me away. However, I read about this book on a Bond site and decided to buy it. This book is amazing. No James Bond fan can be without this book. There a discussion on everything from the novel, On Her majesty's Secret Service, to movie campaign art. It goes into great details about the script process including screen treatments as far as 5 years before the movie premiered. It is packed with many photographs. It also covers a Parkour and free standing that was cutout of the movie that inspired the "Madagascar Rundown" in the 2006 Casino Royale. If you love James Bond movies, it is definitely worth it!!!