Who should have played Tracy in OHMSS?

[Count_Lippe]

I don't think Diana Rigg was very suitable for the role of Tracy.

I think Rigg was too tough, while the Tracy in the book was supposed to be more vulnerable and even a bit neurotic.

As the story goes they needed an experienced actress to help Lazenby in the love scenes though.

But I don't think the result was very successful, OHMSS lacks any genuine romance and there's no real chemistry between Lazenby and Diana Rigg.



Two others actresses that have been mentioned as better choices were Brigitte Bardot and Julie Christie.

Bardot even starred opposite Sean Connery in Shalako (1968) and might have been an exellent choice had Connery done OHMSS.



My own choice would be Madeline Smith of course.



What do you think?

[The Saint 007]

I actually liked Diana Rigg as Tracy. I guess part of it has to do with the fact that I'm a fan of The Avengers TV series, but she was pretty cool as Tracy, though.

Brigitte Bardot may have been a good alternative, as depicted in this fan made poster:

[Barry Niven]

Aside from the BIG "What If Pierce Brosnan got his 5th Bond Movie to end his era" topic, I don't believe in any of these "What If?" discussions simply because I find it pointless and tiresome to speculate on things that never were or could've been. I just accept the Bond movies as they were and deal with it (except for this Craig-Bond thing, which I try to ignore whenever I can).

Therefore, I don't support any alternate casting of Tracy in OHMSS because I loved Diana Rigg in the role which I saw as a major improvement on the novel's passive bystander whose rescuing of Bond after Piz Gloria amounted to little more than being his chauffeur since he only had to step out of the car and switch a 'danger' sign around for the pursuers to meet their death, and none of the gunfire-dodging, stock-car race stunt-driving, ski-chasing, avalanche-covering, Blofeld's-flirting, and Gunther-fighting that movie-Tracy braved to cement her super-coolness as Mrs. James Bond.

Besides, I didn't like Brigitte Bardot in Shalako anyway. And since THAT movie did pair her off with Sean Connery after all, I think the limp chemistry between the two should put to rest any more alternate theories that they would've been ideal as Bond & Tracy in OHMSS. At least, it does for me.

[Count_Lippe]

Diana Rigg is sort of Lazenby's big sister, rescuing her little brother from the bad guys over and over.

Joking aside I find it very interesting to speculate about different casts etc for the Bond films.

Anyway as it is OHMSS is primarily an action movie and not quite as strong when it comes to drama.

The strong points are the alpine locations, cinematography, John Barry's music, the epic story and the action scenes.

Unfortunately there is a lot of cheesiness here and there also, and the cast could have been better.

[James]

I would have to respectfully disagree there Count. I think OHMSS is the most human of the Bond films and the only one that has a touching and believable romance. There is no scene more affecting in the entire franchise than the death of Tracey. I like the scene in the barn too when they take shelter from the snowstorm and joke about where they'll live when they get married. Diana Rigg was pure class and great casting. Everyone loves Madeline Smith but I don't think she was enough of an actress to play that part. She spent most of her career playing decorative supporting roles in British comedy shows of the seventies. I'm not sure the film would have been improved by Connery either as he was bored of the role around that time and wouldn't have had the vulnerable quality that Lazenby brought to the role. It's ironic by the way that Lazenby was about 28 in that film and looks young yet was playing an established agent. It makes Daniel Craig supposedly being a rookie agent in Casino Royale look preposterous.

[Count_Lippe]

Good for you James, but to me all of the drama and romance in OHMSS feel hollow and fake.

I think there is a lot in that film that could have been improved.

[James]

Yes, it's my favourite Bond film but sure, any film can be improved. One thing I do notice is that Lazenby starts to look bored in the end during the first meeting between Bond and Draco. He doesn't want that camera on him for too long. He did a good job though considering he wasn't an actor.

[Count_Lippe]

Btw, Ingrid Pitt would have been cool as Irma Bunt.

Although Ilse Steppat was good in the role she looked more like Blofeld's mother than his woman.

[Jim]

Diana Rigg was fantastic. A beautifully, creatively and ineffably perfect companion for a fantastic Bond in Lazenby.