Here’s one for ski season – a German poster for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

OHMSS is one of my favourite James Bond films and the only one to star George Lazenby as 007.  When it came out it did not do well – mainly because it didn’t star Sean Connery. Its reputation has grown over time and I much prefer its more grounded approach to the volcano lairs and moon buggy chases in the Bond films either side of this one. 

Yes, Lazenby is a bit wooden. However, he delivers some memorable lines (notably quipping “this never happened to the other fella” in the pre-credits sequence when the girl he has just saved from thugs drives off without a word).

The action sequences are also all first-rate. This was the first time in the movies Bond ventured onto skis and there are plenty of thrilling moments, brilliantly shot in the mountains. I particularly like a rather cool shot of Bond sliding over ice firing a machine gun. The theme tune (without lyrics, for once) is also terrific.

OHMSS has a number of memorable posters, many of which feature a rather silly image of Bond in a tuxedo on skis (with co-star Dian Rigg in hot-pants – duh). I would love to own the UK quad for this one, but I made do with this smaller (and much cheaper) German poster. I actually prefer this composition, which wisely keeps Bond in a ski-suit.

I have had this poster for many years and unfortunately when I got it framed I did not pay to get museum-quality sun-protection glass, so consequently it has become somewhat faded by sunlight over the years. This was an expensive lesson learned – anything I get framed now I make sure to insist on UV-protection glass.

I also have this one on DVD, which comes with some interesting behind the scenes documentaries on this 2-disc special edition.