George Lazenby is perhaps the lesser known of all the actors to have played James Bond 007 onscreen, having only appeared in one film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. But his story leading up to him being cast, and his departure from the role, is a stranger-than-fiction, and the focus of this documentary drama. George Lazenby is interviewed with re-enactments telling his story with his voiceover dialogue. George was born in Australia and was predicted to die as an infant. He also suffered the humiliation, having constantly caused trouble in school, to receive a recognition during graduation. Being a good-looking young man, George found it fairly easy to approach women and have sex with them. George (Josh Lawson) found work as a car mechanic, but he longed the more glamorous lifestyle that he noticed car salesmen were getting. He tried and failed at selling cars for some time, but he learned the lesson to "listen first and let the other person do the talking". Despite having no real knowledge of cars, George soon became successful at selling them. It is through this job that he met and was smitten with Belinda (Kassandra Clementi), who happened to be the daughter of an Australian politician. Despite already having a boyfriend at the time, she left him for George, and they had a long relationship. When she moved to London, he followed her, going on a ship that wound up stopping in various countries on the journey. But eventually he reached England but found that she had moved on to be with a player on the Oxford University cricket team. He decides to remain in England, finding another car salesman job, and tries to win her back, accepting her proposal for a "platonic" relationship. One day, George is approached by a professional photographer and asked to pose for various pictures. He becomes well known in the modelling world and appears in an advertisement for Fry's chocolate. But he cannot help but give into temptation being seduced by European female models during shoots. Belinda, who was allowing herself to fall for George again, is heartbroken when she finds out. One day, out of the blue, George is called by agent Maggie Abbott (Jane Seymour) who suggests he should walk into the office of producer Harry Saltzman (Jeff Garlin) who is looking for a new actor to play James Bond, as Sean Connery is quitting. George rushes past the woman at the desk and bursts into the office to meet with Harry. He uses only his gift of the gab (like selling cars), mentioning many countries he knows that they cannot check on, and relying on his good looks to convince Harry that he is the right man for the job. Harry is charmed by George and agrees to pay him a fee to audition. George confesses the truth to the casting director, that he has never acted in his life, but this is only met by laughter, and he succeeds in securing the role. George struggles with is first few days during filming, especially doing the iconic gun barrel sequence, but eventually he settles into it and enjoys himself, working alongside Telly Savalas and Diana Rigg. Filming of the new Bond movie, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, is completed in 1969, but George ignores certain demands, despite agreeing to all terms after signing his contract. Famously he ignored producers who wanted him to shave off his beard when attending the Royal Premier for the film, which he did not. The film slowly gained acclaim and was a box office success, and Lazenby was on the path to becoming a star of Hollywood. But he did not feel comfortable being mostly associated by the character, and he famously turned the opportunity to film another five or six Bond movies, despite being offered a deal worth up to $1 million. He found his acting career dwindling, eventually shunning fame and fortune, becoming somewhat reclusive, only appearing on television playing golf in tournaments. He settled back in Australia, becoming a realtor, married, raised a family, and led a happy and normal life. In the present day, Lazenby has found in everything he has done in his life before and after becoming Bond. In modern times, his single appearance is praised by fans and critics alike, perhaps as a cult classic, but nonetheless a great movie, considered one of the finest in the franchise. Also starring Dana Carvey as Johnny Carson, Teressa Liane as June Green, and Landon Ashworth as Ken Gherety. Lazenby has led an interesting and surprising life, and not afraid to talk about all the perks and downsides he experienced throughout his life, from his enjoyment of fame allowing him to sleep with many beautiful women, to the bad times with no acting experienced and being recognised only by his looks. It must be said that actor Lawson does not look anything like the real Lazenby, and gives a rather cheesy performance, but in a way, it kind of works, and the support of Clementi works. The story being re-enacted is interesting and does keep you watching, and I was glad they included the real archive footage from the various press coverage, making of the film, and other stuff as well, overall, it is a worthwhile docudrama. Good!
Review of Becoming Bond
