‘My apologies for the way you were brought here. I wasn’t sure you’d accept a formal invitation.’
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service / EON Productions / 1969
On Sunday September 29 2019 London’s British Film Institute (BFI) hosted a triple day of Bond anniversary bullets. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), Moonraker (1979) and The World is Not Enough (1999) marked their 50th, 40th and 20th anniversaries respectively with sold-out houses, Aston Martins, Bond directors, Bond girls, Bond composers and a real James Bond.
To mark the golden celebrations of 007’s rogue bullet OHMSS, the BFI and host David Walliams also secured the mission help of the second 007 himself, Mr George Lazenby. Not only did beautiful prints of all the films tease and enthrall the visiting fans, movie creatives and cine-minded guests, Mr Walliams hosted Mr Lazenby in a fun, sometimes frank and entertaining post-film interview. The standing Double-O-vation Lazenby received upon entering Screen 1 at the BFI was a nice touch and solidified the growing critical and audience’s adoration for OHMSS in the Bond timeline.
- Aston Martin’s V8 flanks the BFI in readiment for its newest movie appearance in 2020 / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- The limited edition Aston Martin OHMSS DBS Superleggera / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- George Lazenby meets David Walliams ahead of their BFI chat and 50th anniversary presentation of OHMSS / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- A Bond fan and a Bond take a backseat on the bonnet of a Bond car classic / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- George Lazenby remembers his modelling roots for the BFI / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- Fleming’s biographer meets Fleming’s creation as Andrew Lycett chats to George Lazenby / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- George Lazenby / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- George Lazenby and Andrew Lycett (IAN FLEMING) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- A bullet catcher meets the second James Bond / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- David Walliams interviews George Lazenby on the BFI Stage (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- David Walliams interviews George Lazenby on the BFI Stage (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- George Lazenby on the BFI Stage (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- David Walliams interviews George Lazenby on the BFI Stage (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- George Lazenby on the BFI Stage (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- David Walliams interviews George Lazenby on the BFI Stage (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- David Walliams interviews George Lazenby on the BFI Stage (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- Mark O’Connell meets three two-time Bond actresses – (from left) Sylvana Henriques (You Only Live Twice & OHMSS), Carole Ashby (Octopussy & A View to a Kill) and Martine Beswick (From Russia with Love & Thunderball) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- A panel of Bond stars, creatives and admirers take to the BFI stage – (from left) Carole Ashby, David Arnold, Martine Beswick, David Walliams, John Glen and the BFI’s Justin Johnson (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- A panel of Bond stars, creatives and admirers take to the BFI stage – (from left) Carole Ashby, David Arnold, Martine Beswick, David Walliams, John Glen and the BFI’s Justin Johnson (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- A panel of Bond stars, creatives and admirers take to the BFI stage – (from left) Carole Ashby, David Arnold, Martine Beswick, David Walliams, John Glen and the BFI’s Justin Johnson (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- A panel of Bond stars, creatives and admirers take to the BFI stage – (from left) Carole Ashby, David Arnold, Martine Beswick, David Walliams, John Glen and the BFI’s Justin Johnson (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- A panel of Bond stars, creatives and admirers take to the BFI stage – (from left) Carole Ashby, David Arnold, Martine Beswick, David Walliams, John Glen and the BFI’s Justin Johnson (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- A panel of Bond stars, creatives and admirers take to the BFI stage – (from left) Carole Ashby, David Arnold, Martine Beswick, David Walliams, John Glen and the BFI’s Justin Johnson (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
- A panel of Bond stars, creatives and admirers take to the BFI stage – (from left) Carole Ashby, David Arnold, Martine Beswick, David Walliams, John Glen and the BFI’s Justin Johnson (September 2019) / Photo © Mark O’Connell
This bullet catcher would like to thank George Lazenby, David Walliams, Anders Frejdh, John Glen, Carole Ashby, Andrew Lycett, Ajay Chowdhury, Justin Johnson and the whole BFI team.