Friday, September 08, 2023

Top Ten George Lazenby Performances

 In honour of his 84th birthday even if he is cancelled now

1. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) - the best Bond. No alternative opinions are welcomed. The Daniel Craig films constantly riff on this one.
2. Saint Jack (1979) - great movie. Lazenby’s role v small but effective as a gay American senator. Kind of weird he's in this but it's the best drama he ever appeared in.
3. The Man from Hong Kong (1975) - Lazenby gets set on fire and beaten up by Jimmy Wang Yu in what is still the greatest Oz karate flick.
4. The Operation (1973) - rare lead role for Lazenby with him very good in this British TV as a property developer who gets up to key party shenanigans. Terribly written. Not good as a drama but Lazenby gives a strong performance.
5. Is There Anybody There (1976) - solid Aussie TV movie from Robert Bruning, a riff on something like Diabolque, with gaslighting, red rehearings, murder and Wendy Hughes
6. Cover Girls (1977) - Lazenby makes a good villain in this pilot for a Charlies Angels rip off that didn’t go to series - Don Johnson is in this
7. Universal Soldier (1971) - not a good movie but utterly fascinating - Lazenby blew all his chits on the improvised tale of a mercenary who discovers drugs, hippies and peace, an allegory for what Lazenby’s own journey - it stars the woman who became his wife, alongside Germaine Greer and Cy Enfield who directed
8. Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) - only has a cameo as himself playing himself in a mock trailer but it’s very fun and one of Lazenby’s best movies even if he’s just in one scene
9. Stoner (1974) the first of Lazenby’s three picture deal with Random Harvest (Man from Hong Kong was the second, A Queen’s Ransom was the third) this is a decent ish flick with Lazenby as the hero alongside Angela Mao
10. Who Saw Her Die? (1972) - Italian slasher (giallo) quite stylishly done but also full on.

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