Helfenstein knows the real secrets of James Bond.
The Associated Press
Top-notch research.
NBC News
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. Charles Helfenstein has done a fabulous job illuminating one
of the greatest of all Bond films. Make all the time in the world to read it!
Raymond Benson, author of the The James Bond Bedside Companion and
Bond anthologies THE UNION TRILOGY and CHOICE OF WEAPONS
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.
John Cork, author of the The James Bond: The Legacy and
The James Bond Encyclopedia and Bond Girls are Forever
The Making of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is quite simply the ultimate companion to Peter Hunt’s cinematic masterpiece.
OHMSS is undoubtedly
the ‘David Lean movie’of the Bond series, and Helfenstein’s research and
staggering picture content in this attractively designed volume is simply
breathtaking, matching the movie in its scope and detail.
It’s difficult to
imagine that any other James Bond film will ever have such a scholarly
written and pictorial history, or deserve it!
Graham Rye
Editor & Publisher
007 MAGAZINE
This is the most comprehensive look behind the scenes of a James Bond movie EVER...There is just too much here to go into, but know that there is, literally, a
major revelation on every page. There is more information contained in the photo captions than you'll find in the entire text of most "making of" books. Even if
you're not a James Bond buff, seeing the day to day production of a movie
made in the swinging '60s is a real treat. The book is also jam-packed with
never-before-published photographs, publicity material, and OHMSS
collectibles. Visually, it's a mind blower!
John Cox, The Young Bond Dossier
'The Making of OHMSS' is a dream come true.
It's everything I wanted to know, see and read about this film in one book.
Martijn Mulder, On the Tracks of 007
Bloody Fantastic! I see it as a prime example on how a
book on a single film should be done.
Heiko Baumann, Commanderbond.net
This is the perfect guide to the ultimate Bond film: imagine a literary version of Peter Hunt's labour of love and here it is. Full of indepth insight from the genesis of Fleming's novel, through production and, of course, the movie's notorious aftermath. Lovingly written and imaginatively illustrated, I doubt there is an image left that has not been reproduced here, showing the progress from Fleming's creation to today, the "feel" of OHMSS wonderfully recreated.
David Schofield
Literally no stone unturned...if you think you know this film, think again.
Delmo Walters, Jr.
In a word, MAGNIFICENT!!! The level of production detail is astonishing and the arrangement of illustrations and minutiae is nothing short of spectacular. So many books of this type can often come across as sloppily produced or not well-written, but none of that is to be found here. The information on earlier drafts of the script is priceless, as is details on footage cut from the film (mostly part of a never fully realized sequence) and also how the initial drafts of "Diamonds Are Forever" planned to play up the revenge angle. This takes the place alongside "Battle For Bond" as the two greatest books on Bond movie production ever written, and this is by far the clear #1 winner. Well done!
Eric Paddon
The Book I've Been Waiting 40 Years to Read - The Making of OHMSS...Charles Helfenstein has done the ultimate job of collecting all this information and combined it with interviews, photographs, his personal collection, obscure magazines, movie memorabilia and much, much more to produce a book which is the OHMSS fans ultimate source to all things Piz Gloria...I have been waiting 40 years for such a book and read it from cover to cover in just a few days. I think what was ultimately satisfying was that there was somebody out there who was a bigger fan than me and was willing to put in the time and effort to produce such a book and then to share all his research and findings with the public. Thank you Mr Helfenstein you have done a great service to the James Bond community.
Dr. Mark Merryweather
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! 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...
Tom Mulhall Above and beyond, The Making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service is easily one of the best-researched, well-documented--and best of all--most enjoyable books I've ever laid my hands on. It's incredibly rare to come across a Bond book that so perfectly molds together excellent research and writing with stunning, never-before-seen photographs--but here we have a prime example of how to do it.
Devin Zydel