Do I count this as a Bond film? Eh, not seriously, but I’ll include it in my retrospective for context. The movie is very loosely based on the Bond books and is a very stereotypical late sixties comedy. None of the crew from the Eon films has anything to do with this production, so it’s jarring to see how wildly different everything is from cinematography to tone.
The music doesn’t come out unscathed either, but still works. The theme by Herb Alpert (and coresponding credits sequence) is much more retrograde by comparison and very light. Try remembering it after just having listened to it. It works well enough for the movie though, I suppose.
Of more note is the incidental score by Burt Bacharach and the inclusion of Dusty Springfield’s “The Look Of Love”, which is excellent, of course!
I am conflicted about this movie. I have to see it in a very peticular mood, otherwise I’ll easily become annoyed. No, it’s not typical Bond. Does stretching it this far break the premise? Does acknowledging its existence shade the greatness of others? No on both counts, but I wouldn’t say this excursion did the franchise any favors either.
Bond Themes Retrospective will return (in earnest) with- On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
