20 Things You Didn’t Know About On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

14. “Do Not Kill Me, Mr Bond! At Least, Not Until We’ve Had A Drink.”

George Lazenby Bond OHMSS
Eon Productions

The filmmakers cast Gabriele Ferzetti as Tracy’s father, Marc-Ange Draco after seeing him in Elio Petri’s film, We Still Kill the Old Way (1967), even though he was only 13 years older than Diana Rigg. Additionally, due to his thick Italian accent, he was voice dubbed by British actor, David de Keyser in post-production, who appeared as Blofeld’s (Charles Gray’s) plastic surgeon in Diamonds Are Forever (1971).

The attention to detail in Draco's office on A Stage at Pinewood Studios was meticulous, incorporating photographs of Diana Rigg and her mother, Beryl Rigg.

George Lazenby and professional knife thrower, Jessie Fosset struggled to hit the mark when hurling a knife into Draco's wall calendar, so special effects supervisor, John Stears filmed the knife already attached to the calendar and pulled it out with a wire, allowing Peter Hunt and editor, John Glen to run the scene in reverse.

Ferzetti was due to return in Diamonds Are Forever, helping Bond to avenge Tracy’s murder, until most of the revenge plot was discarded.

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I started writing for WhatCulture in July 2020. I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I have contributed to several short story competitions and I have occasionally been fortunate enough to have my work published. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I also started reviewing films on my Facebook page. Numerous friends and contacts suggested that I should start my own website for reviewing films, but I wanted something a bit more diverse - and so here I am! My interests focus on film and television mainly, but I also occasionally produce articles that venture into other areas as well. In particular, I am a fan of the under appreciated sequel (of which there are many), but I also like the classics and the mainstream too.